Yaroslav Osmomysl: biography, years of government

Like all the princes of Ancient Rus, Yaroslav Osmomysl - Rurikovich. His grandfather - Volodar Rostislavovich, Zvenigorod prince (reigned from 1085 to 1092) - was the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. His father, Vladimir Volodarevich (the youngest son of Volodar Rostislavovich), also known under the nickname Vladimirko (years of life - 1104-1153), became the creator of a unified Galician principality and the founder of the first Galician dynasty.

Prince's roots

Yaroslav Osmomysl himself (about 1130-1187) successfully continued his father's business of collecting all the Galician lands in a single state. Vladimirko was married (by assumption) to Sophia of Hungary, the daughter of Kalman I, or Kolomon I Knizhnik (1070-1116). As can be judged by the nickname, the Hungarian king from the Ariad dynasty was a wise ruler and a well-read man. The son-in-law came to the court, since the nickname "Osmomysl", according to one version of the versions, means "possessing eight minds", and on the other - "knowing eight languages", that is not stupid at all. In 1149 Vladimir Volodarevich concludes with the Moscow prince Yury Dolgoruky the union directed against the Kiev prince Izyaslav Mstislavovich (the first of the Russian princes, whom the Ipatiev chronicle calls "king"), because the Galician princes tried to achieve independence from Kiev. In the reinforcement of the union, the children of the princes marry - Yaroslav Osmomysl takes Olga Yurievna as wife.

Ascension to the throne

In 1153, at the peak of the war with Izyaslav II Mstislavovich, when Vladimirkom had already captured the towns along the Goryn River, the prince died suddenly, and the Galician boyars were put on the throne by Yaroslav Vladimirovich, who in words attempted to assure the great Kiev prince Izyaslav in his filial love and Obedience. In fact, either he himself or his boyars tried to just buy time and did not think to return the conquered cities. And Izyaslav Mstislavovich again goes to war with the rebellious Galich. Under Terebovlev (February 16, 1154), in a bloody battle that lasted all day and ended late at night, no one won a decisive victory, and the troops were withdrawn. Izyaslav did not return the captured cities, and soon, in the same year 1154, died. Yaroslav's father-in-law Yuri Dolgoruky, who was a long-time ally of the Galicians, sits on the throne of Kiev. However, the peace and good relations between Galich and Kiev did not last long, because Yuri Dolgoruky goes to another world in 1157, and Izyaslav III Davydovich sits on the grand prince.

Competitor to the Galician throne

Yaroslav Osmomysl had a sworn enemy in the face of his cousin - the expelled Galician prince Ivan Rostislavovich Berladnik (at the seat in Berlad). Years of life claiming to the Galician throne of Ivan Rostislavovich - 1112-1162. Sowed on the great reign, Izyaslav III patronized Berladnik in the hope that, having occupied the Galician throne, he would return to Kiev all the cities captured by Vladimir. Later, Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl leads an intelligent and subtle policy, concluding alliances with former enemies, for example, with the son of Izyaslav II Mstislav Izyaslavovich. As a result of his reign, the Kyiv principality fell into decay, devastated by the eternal internecine wars of numerous heirs, and Galytsky grew stronger and grew up, gaining new territories.

Expulsion of the inner enemy

Izyaslav III, instigated by Berladnik, having concluded an alliance with the Polovtsians, Turks and Berendeys, attacked Mstislav, who was settling in Belgorod. But after betrayal of the Berendeys he was forced to flee, leaving the Kiev throne. Escaped to a foreign land, Ivan Berladnik died in exile. Allies Yaroslav and Mstislav Izyaslavovich give the throne to Rostislav Mstislavovich. As a result, opponents of Yaroslav Osmomysl did not remain, and external enemies did not dare to attack a strong, capable of rebuffing the state.

Increased Power

Yaroslav Osmomysl, whose reigns strengthened and enriched the Galician land, constantly undertook campaigns against the Polovtsians and intimidated them completely. After sheltering the expelled Byzantine prince Andronik Comnenus, the far-sighted Yaroslav, after reconciling the prince with the Byzantine Emperor Manuel, concluded with the latter an alliance against the Hungarians. In the Galician land wars were not fought, and it was not ruined. Yaroslav's power is also found in The Lay of Igor's Host.

Enmity with the boyars

However, at the beginning of his reign, and then later, Jaroslav overcame the opposition of the boyars all the time. According to historical evidence, nowhere in Russia was the boyars in such power as on the western outskirts. Their self-will came to the point that they publicly and solemnly burned alive at the stake Anastasia, Yaroslav's favorite woman, who bore him no less beloved son of Oleg. Yaroslav himself and his son were kept in custody until he swore to reunite with his wife Olga, who was in Poland, and the throne bequeathed to Vladimir, her son. Olga solemnly returned to Galich at the invitation of the boyars, but released in a year Jaroslav regained his power over the powerful aristocratic elite, reconciled with his son Vladimir, but the throne nevertheless bequeathed to Oleg.

Prosperity of the principality and death of Yaroslav

Defending his principality from external and internal enemies, Yaroslav gave all his strength for the economic development of Galicia. With him flourished crafts, sensible foreigners were recruited. All the trade that went along the Danube depended on Yaroslav Osmomysl, since he owned the port of Maly Galich. Particularly active principality was trading with Bulgaria and Byzantium. Yaroslav Osmomysl, whose biography ended in Galich in 1187, was buried there. Soon after the beginning of the reign, Oleg was poisoned, and Vladimir, whom his father sent to Peremyshl, took over the Galician throne. In 1939, archaeologist Yaroslav Pasternak discovered the burial of Yaroslav Osmomysl.

Results of the Board

The reign of Yaroslav Osmomysl falls to the era of rapid flourishing of feudalism in the states of Prykarpattya. Over the years of sitting on the Galician throne, Yaroslav Osmomysl managed to stop the turmoil in the whole principality. Twice he conquered Kiev and put on the great reign of loyal princes. He strengthened external relations - with the Polish princes, the Hungarian king and Byzantium. With the Moscow Principality, he traditionally maintained friendly relations. For his wise rule from the people who were under his authority, Yaroslav also received the nickname Osmomysl.