Princes of Novgorod

The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: Князь новгородский, knyaz novgorodskii) was the chief executive of Veliky Novgorod. The office was originally an appointed one until the late eleventh or early twelfth century, then became something of an elective one until the fourteenth century, after which the Prince of Vladimir (who was almost always the Prince of Moscow) was almost invariably the Prince of Novgorod as well.

The office began sometime in the ninth century when, according to tradition, the Viking (Varangian) Riurik and his brothers were invited to rule over the Eastern Slavs,^[1] but real reliable information on the office dates only to the late tenth century when Vladimir Svyatoslavich was prince of Novgorod. The office or title technically continued up until the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917 – among one of his titles (although his list of titles was rarely given in complete form) was Prince of Novgorod the Great.

After the chief Rurikid prince moved to Kiev in the late ninth century, he usually sent either his son or a posadnik (mayor), to rule on his behalf. Thus Svyatoslav I sent his son |Vladimir Svyatoslavich to rule in Novgorod, and after Vladimir became Grand Prince of Kiev, he sent his son, Yaroslav the Wise to reign in Novgorod.

Republican period[]

From the early twelfth century to 1478, the prince's power in the Republic of Novgorod was more nominal. Imperial and Soviet-era scholars often argued that the office was ineffectual after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was dismissed by the Novgorodians, and that Novgorod could invite and dismiss its princes at will.^[2] In this way, the prince of Novgorod was no longer "ruler" of Novgorod but became an elective or appointed executive official of the city-state.^[3]

That being said, the traditional view of the prince being invited in or dismissed at will is an oversimplification of a long and complex history of the office. In fact, from the late tenth century to the fall of Novgorod in 1478, the princes of Novgorod were dismissed and invited only about half the time, and the vast majority of these cases occurred between 1095 and 1293, and not consistently so during that period. That is, the office was elective for perhaps two centuries and even then it was not always elective.^[4] Even during this period, the nadir of princely power in the city, more powerful princes could assert their power independently over the city, as did Mstislav the Bold in the early 13th century, Alexander Nevsky in the 1240s and 50s, his brother Iaroslav in the 1260s and 70s, and others.^[5]

According to a remark in the chronicles, Novgorod had the right, after 1196, to pick their prince of their own free will,^[6] but again, the evidence indicates that even after that, princes were chosen and dismissed only about half the time, and Novgorod often chose the most powerful prince in Rus' as their prince.^[7] That usually meant that the prince in Kiev, Vladimir or Moscow (who retained the title Grand Prince of Vladimir from about the 1320s onward, although there were several interruptions), either took the title himself or appointed his son or other relative to be prince of Novgorod. At times other princes, from Tver, Lithuania, and elsewhere, also vied for the Novgorodian throne. Thus Novgorod did not really choose its prince, but considering the political climate, they often very prudently went with the most senior or most powerful prince in the land if he did not impose himself (or his candidate) upon them.

What was different about Novgorod, then, was not so much that Novgorod could freely choose its princes - it really couldn't. Rather, what was unique was that no princely dynasty managed to establish itself within the city and take permanent control over the city. Rather, while other Rus' cities had established dynasties, the more powerful princes vied for control of Novgorod the Great, a most-desirable city to control given the vast wealth (from trade in furs) that flowed into the city in the medieval period.^[8]

In the absence of firmer princely control the local elites, the boyars, took control of the city and the offices of posadnik and tysyatsky became elective.^[9] The Novgorod veche (public assembly) played a not insignificant role in public life, although the precise makeup of the veche and its powers is uncertain and still contested among historians. The posadnik, tysiatsky, and even the local bishop or archbishop (after 1165) were elected at the veche, and it is said the veche invited and dismissed the prince as well.

List of princes[]

^[10]

Burivoi (legendary Slovene ruler)
Gostomysl (legendary Slovene ruler)

House of Rurik[]

Part of Kievan Rus'[]

Ruler	Native name	Born	Reign	Death	Parents	Consort	Notes
Rurik I	Рюрик	c832	862-879	879	Unknown	Efanda of Urman	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Oleg the Seer	?	879-912	912	Unknown	Varangian knyaz of Holmgård (Novgorod) and Kønugård (Kiev). His relationship with the family is unknown. He was probably a regent, in name of Igor, son of Rurik. Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Igor I the Old Igor Ryurikovich	c.878 Son of Rurik I	912-945	945 Iskorosten aged 66–67	901 or 902 at least one son	Son of Rurik I. Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Saint Olga of Kiev	c.890 Pskov	945-962	11 July 969 Kiev aged 78–79	901 or 902 at least one son	Regent on behalf of her minor son, she was baptized by Emperor Constantine VII but failed to bring Christianity to Kiev.
Svyatoslav I the Brave Svyatoslav Igorevich	c.942 possibly Kiev Son of Igor I and Olga of Kiev	962-969	March 972	Predslava c.954 two children Malusha (940-1020)^[11]^[12] c.958 at least one son	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Vladimir Svyatoslavich	Владимир Святославич	958	969-977	1015	Svtyatoslav Igorevich Malusha	Olava Uunnamed Greek nun Rogneda Rogvolodovma Malfrida Adela Anna Porphyrogenita Unknown von Schwaben	in 988 baptized the Rus
Yaropolk Svyatoslavich	Ярополк Святославич	c959	977-979	980	Svyatoslav Igorevich
Vladimir Svyatoslavich	Владимир Святославич	958	979-988	1015	Svtyatoslav Igorevich Malusha	Olava Uunnamed Greek nun Rogneda Rogvolodovma Malfrida Adela Anna Porphyrogenita Unknown von Schwaben	in 988 baptized the Rus
Vysheslav Vladimirovich	977	988-1010	c.1010 Novgorod Son of Vladimir I and Olava/Allogia aged 32-33	Anna before 1052 at least two children
Yaroslav Vladimirovich, the Wise	Ярослав Владимирович Мудрый	c978	1010-1034	1054	Vladimir Svyatoslavich Rogneda of Polotsk	Ingigerda of Sweden
Vladimir Yaroslavich Vladimir Yaroslavich	Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden	1034-1052	4 October 1052 Novgorod aged 31-32	Anna before 1052 at least two children
Izyaslav Yaoslavich	c.1024 Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden	1052-1054	3 October 1078 Nizhyn aged 53–54	Gertrude of Poland 1043 three children	First King of Rus', Pope Gregory VII sent him a crown from Rome in 1075.
Mstislav Izyaslavich	before 1054 Son of Izyaslav I and Gertrude of Poland	1054-1067	1069 aged at least 14-15	Unknown one child
Gleb Svyatoslavich	Глеб Святославич	c1048	1067-1078	1078	Svyatoslav Yaroslavich Cecilia of Dithmarschen	Unmarried
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich	Святополк Изяславич	1050	1078-1088	1113	Izyaslav Yaroslavich Gertrude of Poland	Daughter of Bohemia Olena of Kipchak NN	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Mstislav Vladimirovich	Мстислав Владимирович Великий	1076	1088-1094	1132	Vladimir Monomakh Gytha of Wessex	Christina Ingesdotter Lyubava Dmitriyevna
Davyd Svyatoslavich	Давыд Святославич	c1092	1094-1095	1123	Svyatoslav Yaroslavich Cecilia von Dithmarschen	Theodosia
Mstislav Vladimirovich	Мстислав Владимирович Великий	1076	1095-1117	1132	Vladimir Monomakh Gytha of Wessex	Christina Ingesdotter Lyubava Dmitriyevna
Davyd Svyatoslavich	1050 Son of Svyatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia	1117	1123 Chernigov aged 72-73	Teodosia five children

Feudal Period[]

Ruler	Native name	Born	Reign	Death	Parents	Consort	Notes
Vsevolod Mstislavich	Всеволод Мстиславич	c1095	1117-1132	1138	Mstislav Vladimirovich Christina of Sweden	Unnamed daughter of Svyatoslav Davydovich (c1103-c1160)	First time
Svyatopolk II Mstislavich	After 1096	1132	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc^[13] 1143 or 1144 no children	Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov.
Vsevolod Mstislavich	Всеволод Мстиславич	1103	1132-1136	1138	Mstislav Vladimirovich Christina of Sweden	Unnamed daughter of Svyatoslav Davydovich (c1103-c1160)	Second time
Svyatoslav II Olgovich	1106/1107	1136-1138	1164	Unknown six children
Svyatopolk II Mstislavich	c1115 1096	1138	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc^[14] 1143 or 1144 no children	Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov.
Rostislav I Yuryevich	c1108	1138-1140	6 April 1151	Unknown before 1151 three children
Svyatoslav II Olgovich	1106/1107	1140-1141	1164	Unknown six children
Svyatoslav III Vsevolodovich	1123	1141	25 July 1194	Maria of Polotsk 1143 eight children
Rostislav I Yuryevich	c1108?	1141-1142	6 April 1151	Unknown before 1151 three children
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich	After 1096	1142-1148	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc^[15] 1143 or 1144 no children
Yaroslav Izyaslavich	1132	1148-1154	1180	'Unknown 1149 four children
Rostislav Ryurikovich	1110	1154	14 March 1167	Unknown eight children
Davyd Rostislavich		1140	1154-1155	23 April 1197	Unknown before 1197 seven children
Mstislav III	?	1155-1158	after 1161	Unknown
Svyatoslav IV		?	1158-1160	1170	Unknown
Mstislav IV the Eyeless		before 1151	1160-1161	20 April 1178	Unknown two children Unknown no children
Svyatoslav IV		?	1161-1168	1170	Unknown
Roman I the Great	1152	1168-1170	19 June 1205	Predslava of Kiev 1170 or 1180 two children Anna Angelina of Byzantium c.1197 two children	Also King of Galicia-Volhynia.
Rurik II		before 1157	1170-1171	1215	Unknown 1163 Anna of Turov^[16] before 1176 six children
Yuri I Bogolyubsky		c.1160	1171-1175	c.1194	Tamar I of Georgia 1185 (annulled 1187) no children\|
Svyatoslav V		?	1175	after 1176	Unknown
Mstislav IV the Eyeless		before 1151	1175-1176	20 April 1178	Unknown two children Unknown no children
Yaroslav III the Red		?	1176-1177	1199	Unmarried
Mstislav IV the Eyeless		before 1151	1177-1178	20 April 1178	Unknown two children Unknown no children
Yaropolk Rostislavich		?	1178	1182 or after 1196	Unknown
Roman Rostislavich	before 1149	1178-1179	14 June 1180	Maria of Novgorod 9 January 1149 three children
Mstislav V the Brave	1143	1179-1180	13 July 1180
Vladimir Svyatoslavich	Владимир Святославич	c1158	1180-1181	1200	Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich Mariya Vasilkovna	Maria of Vladimir-Suzdal 1178 five children
Yaroslav Vladimirovich		c1155	1182-1184	c1208	Unknown Alanian wife three children
Mstislav VI		?	1184-1187	1189	Unknown
Yaroslav IV		?	1187-1196	after 1176	Unknown Alanian wife three children
[[Yaropolk III	after 1174	1197	between 1212 and 1223	Vasilissa (of Chernigov?) no children
Yaroslav IV		?	1197-1199	after 1176	Unknown Alanian wife three children
Svyatoslav VI	27 March 1196	1200-1205	3 Februaray 1252	Eudokia of Murom one child
Konstantin I	18 May 1185	1205-1207	2 Februaray 1218	Agafia of Kiev three children
Svyatoslav VI	27 March 1196	1207-1210	3 Februaray 1252	Eudokia of Murom one child
Mstislav VII Udatnyi	1176	1210-1215	1228	Maria of Cumania nine children
Yaroslav V	8 February 1191	1215-1216	30 September 1246	Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children
Mstislav VII Udatnyi	1176	1216-1217	1228	Maria of Cumania nine children
Svyatoslav VII		?	1217-1218	1239	Unknown
ru (Vsevolod Mstislavich of Smolensk)		?	1218-1221	1239	Unknown
Vsevolod III	1212 or 1213	1221	7 February 1238	Marina of Kiev 1230 no children
Yaroslav V	8 February 1191	1221-1223	30 September 1246	Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children
Vsevolod III		1212 or 1213	1223-1224	7 February 1238	Marina of Kiev 1230 no children
Mikhail Vsevolodovich	Михаил Всеволодович	1179	1224-1226	1246	Vsevolod Svyatoslavich Maria of Poland	Yelena Romanovna
Yaroslav V	8 February 1191	1226-1228	30 September 1246	Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children
Alexander I Nevsky	13 May 1221	1228-1229	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Mikhail Vsevolodovich	Михаил Всеволодович	1179	1229	1246	Vsevolod Svyatoslavich Maria of Poland	Yelena Romanovna
Rostislav III		after 1210	1229-1230	1262	Anna of Hungary 1243 five children
Yaroslav V	8 February 1191	1230-1236	30 September 1246	Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children
Aleksandr I Nevsky	13 May 1221	1236-1240	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Andrei I		1220	1240-1241	1264	Justina of Galicia three children
Aleksander I Nevsky	13 May 1221	1241-1252	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Vasili I		?	1252-1255	1271	Unmarried
Yaroslav VI	1230	1255-1256	16 September 1272	Natalia before 1252 two children Saint Xenia of Tarusa 1265 four children	Brother of his predecessor.
Vasili I	?	1256-1258	1271	Unmarried
Aleksandr I Nevsky	13 May 1221	1258-1259	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Dmitri I	1250	1259-1263	1294	Unknown four children
Vasili II	1236 or 1241	1264-1266	1276	Unknown
Yaroslav VI	1230	1266-1267	16 September 1272	Natalia before 1252 two children Saint Xenia of Tarusa 1265 four children	Brother of his predecessor.
Vasily II	1236 or 1241	1267-1272	1276	Unknown
Dmitry I	1250	1272-1273	1294	Unknown four children
Vasili II	1236 or 1241	1273-1276	1276	Unknown
Dmitri I	1250	1276-1281	1294	Unknown four children
Andrei Aleksandrovich	1255	1281-1285	1304	Aleksandr Nevsky Aleksandra Bryachislavna	Vasilisa Dmitriyevna
Dmitri I	1250	1285-1292	1294	Unknown four children
Andrei Aleksandrovich	Андрей Александрович	1255	1292-1304	1304	Aleksandr Nevsky Aleksandra Bryachislavna	Vasilisa Dmitriyevna
Michael II	1255	1304-1314	27 July 1304	Saint Anna of Rostov 1294 five children
Afanasii	?	1314-1315	1322	Anna no children
Michael II	1255	1315-1316	27 July 1304	Saint Anna of Rostov 1294 five children
Afanasii	?	1316-1322	1322	Anna no children
Yuri (George) II	1281	1322-1325	21 November 1325	Unknown 1297 one child Konchaka of Mengu-Timur (baptised Agafia) 1317 no children
Alexander II	7 October 1301	1325-1327	29 October 1339	Anastasia of Galicia 1320 eight children

Part of Moscow[]

1328-1337 Ivan I Kalita the Money-bag
1337-1353 Simeon the Proud
1353-1359 Ivan II the Fair
1359-1363 Dmitry II the One-eyed, 1359–1363
1363-1389 Dmitry III of the Don

Gediminids[]

1389-1407 Lengvenis

House of Rurik[]

1408-1425 Vasily III, 1408–1425
1425-1462 Vasily II the Blind, 1425–1462
1462-1480 Ivan III the Great

References[]

^ Dmitry Likhachev, ed. and trans., Povest Vremennikh Let (Moscow and Augsburg: Im Werden Verlag, 2003), 7.
^ Boris Grekov, “Revoliutsiia v Novgorode v XII veke,” Uchenye zapiski Instituta Istorii Rossiiskoi assotsiatsii nauchno-issledovatel’skikh institutov obshchestvennykh nauk (RANION) vol. 4 (1929): 13-21; V. L. (Valentin Lavrent’evich) Yanin, “Problemy sotsial'noi organizatsii novgorodskoi respubliki,” Istoriia SSSR, 1 (1970), 44; Valentin Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki (Moscow: Yazyki Slavianskoi kul'tury, 2003), 64-135.
^ Michael C. Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 56, No. 1 (Spring 2008): 72-113.
^ Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 94-97.
^ Michael C. Paul, “The Iaroslavichi and the Novgorodian Veche 1230-1270: A Case Study on Princely Relations with the Veche,” Russian History/ Histoire Russe 31, No. 1-2 (Spring-Summer, 2004): 39-59.
^ Arseny Nasonov, ed., Novgorodskaia Pervaia Letopis Starshego i mladshego izvodov (Moscow and Leningrad, ANSSSR, 1950), 43, 236; Novgorodskaia chetvertaia letopis, vol. 4 of Polnoe Sobranie Russkikh Letopisei (Moscow: Iazyki russkoi kul'tury, 2000), 177; George Vernadsky, Kievan Russia (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1948), 197.
^ N. L. (Natalia L’vovna) Podvigina, Ocherki sotsial’no-ekonomicheskoi i politicheskoi istorii Novgoroda Velikogo v XII-XIII vv. (Moscow: Vysshaia shkola, 1976), 114; Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 82-94.
^ On the fur trade, see Janet Martin, Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985); Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-Rate Bureaucrat' after 1136?"; see also the relevant sections (re: Novgorod) in Janet Martin, Medieval Russia: 980-1584, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995).
^ See Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki.
^ See also the list in Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 109-113.
^ Vladimir Plougin: Russian Intelligence Services: The Early Years, 9th-11th Centuries, Algora Publ., 2000
^ History of Ukraine-Rus': From prehistory to the eleventh century, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, 1997
^ Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
^ Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
^ Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
^ Template:ВТ-МЭСБЕ

External links[]

Минникес И.В.Основания и порядок избрания князя в русском государстве Х-XIV вв.\АКАДЕМИЧЕСКИЙ ЮРИДИЧЕСКИЙ ЖУРНАЛ №4(6)(октябрь-декабрь) 2001 г.\\Иркутское ГНИУ Институт Законодательства и правовой информации

[1] Dmitry Likhachev, ed. and trans., Povest Vremennikh Let (Moscow and Augsburg: Im Werden Verlag, 2003), 7.

[2] Boris Grekov, “Revoliutsiia v Novgorode v XII veke,” Uchenye zapiski Instituta Istorii Rossiiskoi assotsiatsii nauchno-issledovatel’skikh institutov obshchestvennykh nauk (RANION) vol. 4 (1929): 13-21; V. L. (Valentin Lavrent’evich) Yanin, “Problemy sotsial'noi organizatsii novgorodskoi respubliki,” Istoriia SSSR, 1 (1970), 44; Valentin Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki (Moscow: Yazyki Slavianskoi kul'tury, 2003), 64-135.

[3] Michael C. Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 56, No. 1 (Spring 2008): 72-113.

[4] Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 94-97.

[5] Michael C. Paul, “The Iaroslavichi and the Novgorodian Veche 1230-1270: A Case Study on Princely Relations with the Veche,” Russian History/ Histoire Russe 31, No. 1-2 (Spring-Summer, 2004): 39-59.

[6] Arseny Nasonov, ed., Novgorodskaia Pervaia Letopis Starshego i mladshego izvodov (Moscow and Leningrad, ANSSSR, 1950), 43, 236; Novgorodskaia chetvertaia letopis, vol. 4 of Polnoe Sobranie Russkikh Letopisei (Moscow: Iazyki russkoi kul'tury, 2000), 177; George Vernadsky, Kievan Russia (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1948), 197.

[7] N. L. (Natalia L’vovna) Podvigina, Ocherki sotsial’no-ekonomicheskoi i politicheskoi istorii Novgoroda Velikogo v XII-XIII vv. (Moscow: Vysshaia shkola, 1976), 114; Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 82-94.

[8] On the fur trade, see Janet Martin, Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985); Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-Rate Bureaucrat' after 1136?"; see also the relevant sections (re: Novgorod) in Janet Martin, Medieval Russia: 980-1584, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995).

[9] See Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki.

[10] See also the list in Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 109-113.

[11] Vladimir Plougin: Russian Intelligence Services: The Early Years, 9th-11th Centuries, Algora Publ., 2000

[12] History of Ukraine-Rus': From prehistory to the eleventh century, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, 1997

[13] Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ

[14] Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ

[15] Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ

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