Prince of Novgorod

The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: Князь новгородский, knyaz novgorodskii) was the chief executive of Novgorod the Great. 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 the Great 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 Sviatoslav I sent his son Vladimir the Great 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 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		Born	Reign	Death	Consort	Notes
Rurik I		?	862-879	879	Unknown at least one son	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Oleg the Seer		?	879-912	912	Unknown	Varangian kniaz 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 Rurikovich		c.878 Son of Rurik I	912-945	945 Iskorosten aged 66–67	901 or 902 at least one son	Son of Rurik. Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Saint Olga of Kiev		c.890 Pskov	945-962	11 July 969 Kiev aged 78–79		Regent on behalf of her minor son, she was baptized by Emperor Constantine VII but failed to bring Christianity to Kiev.
Sviatoslav I the Brave Sviatoslav Igorevich		c.942 possibly Kiev Son of Igor I and Olga	962-969	March 972	Predslava c.954 two children Malusha/Malfrida[11][12] c.958 at least one son	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Vladimir I the Great Vladimir Sviatoslavich		c.958 Budyatychi Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha/Malfrida	969-977 979-988	15 July 1015 Berestove, Kiev aged 57–58	Olava/Allogia c.977 at least one son A Greek nun (widow of his brother) c.980 at least one son Rogneda of Polotsk c.978 (possibly in bigamy) eight children Adela (of Bulgaria?) at least two children (maximum four) Malfrida (of Bohemia?) Before 1000 two children Anna Porphyrogenita of Byzantium 988 Cherson three children Regelindis (?) of Saxony (granddaughter of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor) After 1011 one or two daughters Unknown two children	His early rule is characterized by a staunch pagan reaction but in 988 he was baptized into Orthodoxy and successfully converted Kievan Rus' to Christianity.
Yaropolk I Yaropolk Sviatoslavich		c.950 Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava	977-979	980 Fort of Roden, near Kaniv aged 29-30	A greek nun at least one son	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Viacheslav I Viacheslav Vladimirovich		977 Son of Vladimir I and Olava/Allogia	988-1010	c.1010 Novgorod aged 32-33	Anna before 1052 at least two children
Yaroslav I the Wise Yaroslav Vladimirovich		c.978 Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk	1010-1034	20 February 1054 Vyshhorod aged 75–76	Ingigerda of Sweden 1019 Novgorod eight or nine children	During his reign Kievan Rus' reached the pinnacle of its power.
Vladimir II Vladimir Yaroslavich		1020 Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden	1034-1052	4 October 1052 Novgorod aged 31-32	Anna before 1052 at least two children
Iziaslav I Iziaslav Yaroslavich		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 I Mstislav Iziaslavich		before 1054 Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland	1054-1067	1069 aged at least 14-15	Unknown one child
Gleb I Gleb Sviatoslavich		1052 Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia	1067-1078	30 May 1078 Novgorod aged 25-26	Unmarried
Sviatopolk I Sviatopolk Iziaslavich		8 November 1050 Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland	1078-1088	26 April 1113 Vyshhorod aged 62	(Barbara?) of Bohemia[13] c.1085 three children Olenna of the Kipchaks c.1094 four children	Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Mstislav II the Great Mstislav Vladimirovich		1 June 1076 Turov Son of Vladimir II Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex	1088-1094 1095-1117	14 April 1132 Kiev aged 55	Christina of Sweden 1095 ten children Liubava Dmitrievna of Novgorod 1122 two children	After his reign Kievan Rus' fell into recession starting a rapid decline.
David I David Sviatoslavich		1050 Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia	1094-1095	1123 Chernigov aged 72-73	Teodosia five children	Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev.

Feudal Period

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Consort	Notes
Vsevolod I		1103	1117-1132	11 February 1138	Anna before 1125 four children
Sviatopolk II		After 1096	1132	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc[14] 1143 or 1144 no children	Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov.
Vsevolod I		1103	1132-1136	11 February 1138	Anna before 1125 four children
Sviatoslav II		1106/1107	1136-1138	1164	Unknown six children
Sviatopolk II		After 1096	1138	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc[15] 1143 or 1144 no children	Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov.
Rostislav I		?	1138-1140	6 April 1151	Unknown before 1151 three children
Sviatoslav II		1106/1107	1140-1141	1164	Unknown six children
Sviatoslav III		1123	1141	25 July 1194	Maria of Polotsk 1143 eight children
Rostislav I		?	1141-1142	6 April 1151	Unknown before 1151 three children
Sviatopolk II		After 1096	1142-1148	20 February 1154	Euphemia of Olomouc[16] 1143 or 1144 no children
Yaroslav II		1132	1148-1154	1180	'Unknown 1149 four children
Rostislav II		1110	1154	14 March 1167	Unknown eight children
David II		1140	1154-1155	23 April 1197	Unknown before 1197 seven children
Mstislav III		?	1155-1158	after 1161	Unknown
Sviatoslav IV		?	1158-1160	1170	Unknown
Mstislav IV the Eyeless		before 1151	1160-1161	20 April 1178	Unknown two children Unknown no children
Sviatoslav 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[17] before 1176 six children
Yuri I Bogolyubsky		c.1160	1171-1175	c.1194	Tamar I of Georgia 1185 (annulled 1187) no children|
Sviatoslav 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 II		?	1178	1182 or after 1196	Unknown
Roman II		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 III		after 1143	1180-1181	1200	Maria of Vladimir-Suzdal 1178 five children
Yaroslav IV		?	1182-1184	after 1176	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
Sviatoslav 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
Sviatoslav VI		27 March 1196	1207-1210	3 Februaray 1252	Eudokia of Murom one child
Mstislav VII the Bold		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 the Bold		1176	1216-1217	1228	Maria of Cumania nine children
Sviatoslav VII		?	1217-1218	1239	Unknown
Vsevolod II		?	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
Saint Michael I		1185	1224-1226	20 September 1246	Helena of Galicia-Volhynia 1210 or 1211[18] seven children
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
Saint Alexander I Nevsky		13 May 1221	1228-1229	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Saint Michael I		1185	1229	20 September 1246	Helena of Galicia-Volhynia 1210 or 1211[18] seven children
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
Saint Alexander I Nevsky		13 May 1221	1236-1240	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Andrey I		1220	1240-1241	1264	Justina of Galicia three children
Saint Alexander I Nevsky		13 May 1221	1241-1252	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Vasily 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.
Vasily I		?	1256-1258	1271	Unmarried
Saint Alexander I Nevsky		13 May 1221	1258-1259	14 November 1263	Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children
Dmitry I		1250	1259-1263	1294	Unknown four children
Vasily 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
Vasily II		1236 or 1241	1273-1276	1276	Unknown
Dmitry I		1250	1276-1281	1294	Unknown four children
Andrey II		1255	1281-1285	27 July 1304	Vasilissa of Rostov 1294 three children
Dmitry I		1250	1285-1292	1294	Unknown four children
Andrey II		1255	1292-1304	27 July 1304	Vasilissa of Rostov 1294 three children
Saint Michael II		1255	1304-1314	27 July 1304	Saint Anna of Rostov 1294 five children
Afanasii		?	1314-1315	1322	Anna no children
Saint 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

References

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