Theme 3. Galicia-Volyn State between the 13th and the First Half of the 14th Centuries

The purpose of the theme is to give understanding of the policy of Galicia-Volyn State and foreign and domestic circumstances due to which this Ukrainian state came to the decline, and in the 14^th century its territories were annexed by the other states (Hungary, Poland and Lithuania).

This theme covers the following main topics: the internal war in Galician and Volyn principalities; the Poles and the Hungarians in Halychyna and Volhynia; Danylo's war for the uniting of Halychyna and Volhynia; the reign of Danylo Galician in the Galicia-Volyn State; the Mongol-Tatar invasion; the Golden Horde; the reign of Danylo in Galician-Volyn State under the Mongols; the reign of Lev I Danylovych in Galician principality; the reign of Volodymyr in Volyn principality; the reign of Mstyslav Danylovych in Volyn principality and restoring Galicia-Volyn State by Lev Danylovych; the reign of Yurii I in Galicia-Volyn State; the reign of Andrii and Lev II in Galicia-Volyn State; the reign of Yurii II Boleslaw in Galicia-Volyn State.

The internal war in Galician and Volyn principalities. Anna, the widow of deceased Roman I, got help from the King of Hungary Andrew II. Soon Andrew II proclaimed himself "the king of Galicia and Volodymeria". In turn, Galician boyars welcomed the Princes Ihorovyches of Chernihiv-Siversk principality. Anna fled from Halychyna to Volhynia, where she hoped to find loyal boyars. However, from whence she was forced to run away to the town of Krakow, where the Prince Leszek Biaty ruled. Danylo lived at the Court of the Hungarian King [23].

Meanwhile, in Galician principality one of the boyar parties made alliance with the Hungarians. The latter forced Ihorovyches to retreat. However, in 1211 they returned with a large army and sentenced more than 500 boyars. Then some boyars asked the Hungarian King to send them Danylo.

However, in 1215 Volyn and Galician boyars revolted and forced Anna and her children to flee. In Halychyna rebels proclaimed the ruling of boyar Vladyslav Kormylchych [23].

The Poles and the Hungarians in Halychyna and Volhynia. The Polish Prince Leszek and the King of Hungary Andrew II planned to divide Volhynia and Halychyna between themselves. They agreed to merry Leszek's daughter Solomonia to son of Andrew II and to give them Halychyna. Leszek, in his turn, was going to take most part of Volhynia (southern Pobuzhzhia, Berestia land, the northern part of Cherven land and Western Halychy- na) [23].

However, both foreign rulers, Leszek and Andrew, fell in a quarrel. In 1218 Leszek invited his relative Mstyslav the Bold, who at the time was the Prince of Novgorod. Mstyslav easily seized Halych.

Mstyslav the Bold married his daughter to the Hungarian Prince Andrew and gave them the town of Peremyshel. In 1227 Mstyslav abdicated in favour of Andrew, the King of Hungary [23].

Danylo's war for the uniting of Halychyna and Volhynia. Meanwhile, Danylo, supported by Volyn boyars and town dwellers, annexed the Berestia, Zbuzhsk (Kholmschyna), Lutsk, and Peresopnytsia. He got almost the whole Volhynia. The Berestia was given by Danylo to his brother Vasylko.

In 1227 Leszek, the Prince of Poland, died. It led to the long internal war in Poland. In this war Danylo supporting the Prince Konrad Mazovian took the town of Liublin in 1243.

In 1220 Danylo made alliance with Lithuania and married his sister Solomia to Sviatopolk, the Prince of Pomorie Slavic tribes. Since 1230 Danylo had waged war against the Hungarians and local boyars for Halychyna. The fortress of Galician boyars was Peremyshl.

After the death of the Hungarian King Andrew II and his son Andrew in 1235 Bela IV became the new King of Hungary.

Lithuania, the Polish Mazovia, Austria, the Prussian order of crusaders also participated in the war. The foreigners fought on the both sides.

The war finished when in 1238 dwellers of Halych had opened the gates of their town for the army of Danylo. Rostyslav of Chernihiv fled to Hungary. Galicia-Volyn State was renewed under the ruling of Danylo Romanovych. Since he had possessed Halychyna he was known as the Galician [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The reign of Danylo Galician in Galicia-Volyn State. In 1239 Danylo Galician possessed Kyiv and left there his representative, the boyar Dmytro Yeikovych. In the meantime Danylo continued war against Rostyslav of Chernihiv, who was supported by the Hungarians. In summer of 1245 at the town of Yaroslav the army of Danylo finally defeated the troops of Rostyslav, some Galician boyars and the Hungarians.

After the battle Danylo turned to punitive actions against those Galician boyars, who were in the opposition to him. Lots of these boyars were put to death and many were left without their lands, which had been given by Danylo to the new owners (so-called "sluzhilye boyare" or "servitor boyars"). At the same time Danylo founded the new towns in order to provide himself with more popular support. Danyliv, Lviv and Kholm and near 70 another towns were built there as it is said in the chronicle. Kholm was made the new capital of Galicia-Volyn State. In this town Danylo opened the bishop cathedra, which was occupied by the man named Ivan. In 1242 Danylo also ordered bishops to elect the new Metropolitan in Kyiv and there the man named Kyryl was chosen [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The Mongol-Tatar invasion. At the beginning of 1220s at the eastern boards of Rus the new nomad enemies, the Mongols, appeared. By that time Mongols under the ruling of Genghis Khan had conquered northern China, southern Siberia, Caucasus and Central Asia.

In 1222 nearby the borders of Rus they crushed the Polovtsians, which were forced to retreat to the territory of Russian principalities. In the spring of 1223 the Princes assembled in Kyiv and resolved to join their forces in front of the common threat. The point, where troops had to gather, was appointed the island Khortytsia, at the Dnieper rapids. From there the Princes, including Danylo Romanovych, went to the Kalka River and attacked the Mongols. The battle ended by the defeating of the Russes. Many Princes whether fell in the field of battle or were imprisoned and tortured to death after the battle. Having plundered the outskirts of Kyiv the Mongols went away.

In 1237 the Monogols returned under the leading of Genghis Khan's grandson Batu Khan (Baty-khan). Shortly before, they had conquered the Volga Bulgaria. In 1237 - 1238 in north-eastern Russian principalities the Mongols plundered Ryazan, Vladimir, Suzdal, Moscow, Tver towns, etc.

In 1239 the Mongols seized Pereiaslav and Chernihiv, the main towns of south-western Rus. In 1240 the enemies took Kyiv belonging before to Danylo Galician. The Church of the Tithes (Desiatynna), which had been built by Volodymyr the Great in the 10^th century, was destroyed.

In 1241 the Mongols raided through Western Rus. There they captured such towns as Kolodiazhyn, Kamenetz, Halych and Volodymyr-Volynskyi [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The Golden Horde. In 1242, when the Mongols had known about the death of their Grand Khan Ogedei, they returned to the Volga River and established there the new State, the Golden Horde, with the capital Sarai. They forced Russian Princes to come to town Saray for "yarlik", the letter of permission on ruling the principality.

The reign of Danylo in Galicia-Volyn State under the Mongols. After arriving at home Danylo started the policy for the getting of indepen-dence from the Mongols. For this Danylo searched the allies in the Western Europe and built new fortresses.

Meanwhile, he negotiated with the Pope Innocent IV. Fortunately, their correspondence has partly survived. The letters reveal that Danylo desired to organize the anti-Mongolian coalition. Danylo begged the Pope to launch the Crusade against the Mongols, but the Pope only sought to make the defensive front of a number of frontier states, including Galicia-Volyn State. With this purpose in 1246 the Pope proposed Danylo the crown, but, when Danylo had known that the Pope was not going to make the Crusade against Mongols, he rejected Pope's proposition.

There were a lot of problems for Danylo in his domestic politics. In 1250s some people of Volhynia and Kyiv region required for union with the Mongolian Golden Horde. The centre of such separatists (or "Tatar people" as they were called) was town Bakota, in Ponyzzia region. The "Tatar people" recognized the authority of the Golden Horde and welcomed Khan's baskaks (officers). In return, Danylo's army took Bakota. However, later on Bakota again turned to the Golden Horde.

In 1252 in order to support "Tatar people" the Mongols raided Podillia and Volhynia. The commander of raiders was bekliarbek (governor) Kurem- sa [23].

In 1253 the rumours that the Mongols again were going to plunder Galicia-Volyn State were spread. Then Danylo asked the Pope for help. This time the latter agreed to organize the Crusade coalition of Poland, Czech, Moravia, Serbia and Pomerania. In the new conditions Danylo accepted the crown proposed by the Pope and was crowned in the town of Dorohochyn.

Then Danylo resolved to rely on his own forces in the struggle with "Tatars' people". Lev III, the son of Danylo, raided Mezhybizhzhia, Danylo and his brother Vasylko plundered Bolohiv; another Danylo's son Shvarno seized towns along the rivers Teterev and Slutch. Soon the "Tatars' people" had been subordinated.

Meanwhile Danylo took part in the conflict for the Austrian succession. Danylo's fourth son Roman was married to Gertrude, the daughter of the deceased Duke of Austria Frederick II. Danylo attempted to set Roman on the throne of Austria. But this action failed. The Austrian Duke was proc-laimed the Czech King Pshemislav II Ottokar, the husband of Frederick's sister [23].

In 1258 the Mongols army led by commander Burundai invided Volhynia. Burundai involved Danylo and Vasylko in campaign against the Lithuanian Grand Prince Mindovg. During this war Danylo took a number of Lithuanian towns including the town of Grodno. Mindovg ceded Danylo's son Roman the lands of Chornaya Rus, Novohrudok, Slonim, Volkovyisk. The Mindovg's daughter was married to the youngest Danylo's son Shvarno [23].

The next 1259 Burundai demanded Danylo to destroy ramparts of Kremenets, Luchesk, Danyliv, Stozhek, Lutsk, Lviv and Volodymyr-Volynskyi. Danylo only left for himself the fortification of Kholm. All hopes for the freeing from the Mongols failed. The Mongols led by Burundai invaded Poland, ruined and robbed the towns Liublin, Zavyhvost, Sandomyr, Lisets and Krakow. In such way Burunday showed the Poles the power of the Mongolian army [23].

Although Danylo had failed in his anti-Mongolian policy, he was succes­sful in other foreign affairs. In 1264 after the death of Mindovg, the Danylo's son Shvarno was proclaimed the Grand Prince of Lithuania. However, it was the last Danylo's success. The same year Danylo Galician died, leaving in the social memory as the Great Ukrainian King.

After Danylo's death his brother Vasylko continued to rule the Volhynia, having the residence in the town Volodymyr-Volynskyi. Meanwhile, Danylo's sons had been ruling in Halychyna [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The reign of Lev I Danylovych in Galician principality. In 1269 Shvarno died. Perhaps, he was killed by his brother Lev, who soon after became the single Prince of Galician principality. At the same time the new Grand Prince of Lithuania was proclaimed Troyden, who, according to the legend, hated the Russes.

In the foreign policy Lev helped his nephew Boleslaw of Mazovia to set on the throne of Krakow. The attempt was unsuccessful. Krakow was po­ssessed by the Prince Leszek Czarny. However, during the struggle Lev sei­zed the Polish town Liublin. In 1281 Lev annexed from Hungary the part of Zakarpattia with the town of Mukachevo.

Later on, Lev established good relations with Vaclav II, the King of Czech. In 1289 and 1299 Lev even visited his Court. Lev also kept a peace with the Golden Horde and used to pay it the tribute [23].

The reign of Volodymyr in Volyn principality. Meanwhile, Volyn prin­cipality was ruled by Vasilko's son Volodymyr (1270 - 1289). More part of his own policy he devoted to the foundation of new towns, fortresses, ramparts and churches. Volodymyr was known as "the great scribe and philosopher", because he provided churches with books, which texts he copied himself. Volhynia principality was bequeathed by him to Lev's brother Mstyslav (1289 - 1292) [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The reign of Mstyslav Danylovich in Volyn principality and resto­ring Galicia-Volyn State by Lev Danylovych. Mstyslav took from Lithua-nia the town of Volkovyisk. During his ruling Mstyslav distributed the towns and villages among his boyars. With such measures he wanted to get their support [23].

When Mstyslav had died, in 1292 his relative Lev Danylovych annexed Volhynia and, hence, restored Galicia-Volyn State. Lev Danylovych gover-ned this State until his own death about 1301 [23].

The reign of Yurii I in Galicia-Volyn State. Lev left Galicia-Volyn State for his son Yurii I (1301 - 1315). The next year Yurii lost town Liublin, before seized by his father. The residence Yurii replaced from Kholm to Volodymyr- Volynskyi. On his own seal Yurii was titled in Latin as "the King of Rus, the Prince of Ladimerie" ("Rex Russie princeps Ladimerie"). The term "Ladimerie" is the land, where Volodymyr-Volynskyi is located. Unlike his father bearing the title of Prince, Yurii titled himself the King. The times of Yurii I are often shown by historians as the period of economical stability and prosperity of the State. In 1303 Yurii established the separate Metropolia of the Galicia-Volyn Kingdom.

Yurii I had the closest relations with the Polish Princes of Kujawy ancestral line. He married to Euphimia, the sister of the Kujawy Prince Vladislaw Loketok. Also Yurii I made alliance with the Teutonic Order against Lithuania [1; 3; 5; 6; 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

The reign of Andrii and Lev II in Galicia-Volyn State. The sons of Yurii I Andrii and Lev II came to power in 1308 and had been ruling until 1323. It is unclear whether they governed together like co-rulers or divided the State between themselves. In any case in the letters preserved they are titled "the Princes of the whole Rus". In their policy Andrii and Lev II were supported by the Teutonic Order. During their ruling Zakarpattia was lost, when the Hungarians led by their King Karl-Robert had taken the town Mukachevo. Probably Andrii and Lev II waged war with Mongols and were killed in this war in 1323 [23].

In the period between 1323 - 1325 who was the ruler of Galicia-Volyn State is unclear. There is obscure why the Germans Henry Glogovski and his brother Ian, who were the Princes of Poland, titled themselves the Princes of Galicia and Ladimerie [23].

The reign of Yurii II Boleslaw in Galicia-Volyn State. In 1325 the boyars welcomed Boleslaw, the son of the Prince of Mazovia Troyden and the sister of the latest Princes Andrii and Lev Maria. Boleslaw accepted the Orthodox faith and took Orthodox name Yurii.

Yurii II Boleslaw Troidenovych (1325 - 1340) made alliance with

Prussia. In this period the Polish Kingdom appeared under the King Casimir the Great. In 1337 joining with Mongol-Tatars Yurii II unsuccessfully attempt- ted to return the town of Liublin. Before, he had married to Euphemia, the daughter of the Lithuanian Duke Gedimin. This marriage shows that Yurii II had been in good relations with Lithuania. Yurii II was favouring the German colonization of Halychyna and Volhynia. That policy was unpopular among some boyars. However, Yurii II attracted some towns by giving them particular rights, which were similar to German Magdeburg rights (town laws). In 1339 such rights were granted to the town of Sandomyr. Yurii allowed the officer Bartko to collect the third of town's taxes and to make own jurisdiction. It is remarkable that Bartko was titled as "viit" like if he was appointed according to the Magdeburg rights. The dwellers of Sandomyr were freed from paying taxes for the Prince throughout fifteen years.

Although Yurii II had been welcomed by boyars to be the Prince, among the latter was a strong group opposite to him. These boyars accused Yurii II because of his favouring the foreigners. They deprecated against the policy of colonizing Halychyna and Volhynia by the Germans. It was rumoured that Yurii II wanted to return into the Catholicism. As a result of all above said the boyars poisoned Yurii II Boleslaw in 1340 [1; 3; 5 - 7; 10; 12; 14; 17; 18; 23; 28; 30; 32; 38].

Questions

1. Why is Danylo Galician considered to be the Great Prince of Galicia- Volyn State?

2. Define the features of Lev Danylovych's reign.

3. How did boyars and town dwellers influence the politics of Galicia- Volyn State?

4. What relations were between the Rus Princes and the Golden Horde?

5. Describe the relations between Danylo Galician and the Mongol- Tatars.