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He was born in 1030 the fifth son of
Yaroslav I Vladimirovich, the wise, prince of Kyiv,
and Ingigerd, daughter of King Olaf of Sweden. He married first in 1046 the
daughter of Constantine IX Monomachus, Byzantine Emperor, from whose title
comes the appelation of their son, Vladimir Monomakh. After his first wife died
in 1067, Yaroslav then married in 1067-8 the daughter of a Polovtsi khan. She
died in 1111. His son by the first wife was Vladimir II, prince of Kyiv (d 1125). His son by his
second wife was Rostislav, prince of Periaslavl
(d 1093). And they had daughters, Joan, Abbess of Yanchin (d 1113) and
Yevpraxia (Adelheid) (d 1109) who married first Henry
Margrave of Nordmark who died in 1087 and then the Holy Roman Emperor (German
king) Henry IV, who died in 1106. She was forced by Henry into orgies. Then she
fled to Countess Matilda of Tuscany, Henry's enemy, and reported his activities
to the Pope. When he died, Yevpraxia returned to Kyiv and became a nun at her
sister's convent. The family iis shown on this chart.
Vsyevolod was prince of Periaslavl from 1054 and then of Chernigiv in 1077-8
and of Rostov and prince of Kyiv in 1077 and 1078-93). He was good natured.
From Periaslavl he supported his brother, Izyaslav,
at Kyiv against the Polovtsi and the usurper Vseslav I
Bryacheslav. He stayed out of it when their brother, Svyatoslav, took the
throne at Kyiv (1073-76) but supported Izyaslav again on his return in 1077. He
then moved to Chernigiv. But Oleg Svyatoslavich, son
of the former holder of Chernigiv, was not willing to compromise. He brought a
Polovtsi army to attack Vsyevolod in 1078. Vsyevolod fled to Kyiv where his
brother, Izyaslav, quickly organized a relief army. Then, when Izyaslav died in
battle with their nephew, Oleg Svyatoslavich, in the
battle outside Chernigiv, Vsyevolod moved to Kyiv. In the family compromise
Oleg received Chernigiv. When Vsyevolod died in 1093, his son and heir,
Vladimir Monomakh, followed his father's lead and
did not contest the throne, inviting Izyaslav's son, Svyatopolk II to rule. Then, when Svyatopolk died in
1113 Vladimir moved to Kyiv where he ruled until 1125. But the war between
Oleg's heirs, the Ol'govichi, and Vladimir's heirs, the Monomashchi, continued
for many years. Vsyevolod was the last surviving son of Yaroslav the wise. He
managed to maintain control of most of the central region, that around Kyiv and
the Dniper valley. But with the family rapidly proliferating and economic
resources and power spreading from Galicia to Suzdal regions it was bound to be
a loosing struggle. And he was continually pestered by his nephews seeking more
lucrative towns to rule (loot). Coming late to the throne at Kyiv after an
already active life, he ruled for 15 years and was much beloved by the people.
Chronology:
1054 AD - When his father, Yaroslav, dies, Vsyevolod is ruler of Pereyaslavl
south of Kyiv, the most exposed of the Rus frontier towns. He dutifully
supports his brother, Izyaslav, prince of Turov, as the new prince of Kyiv.
1054 AD - Vsyevolod attacks the Torks, a Turkish tribe living along the
southern border. The Polovtsi, newly arrived on the frontier steppe, quickly
march north in retaliation but Vsyevolod managed to make peace with them,
temporarily at least.
1060 AD - Vsyevolod joins his brothers, Izyaslav and Svyatoslav in a major
campaign against the Torks who flee.
1061 AD - The result of the Tork campaign is that the Polovtsi return in force
in February and defeat Vsyevolod.
1067 AD - Vsyevolod again joins his brothers, Izyaslav and Svyatoslav for a
campaign, this time against Vseslav Bryachislav of Polotsk, who had captured
Novgorod. They take Vseslav's town, Minsk. Then they capture Vseslav and put
him in prison in Kyiv. See Izyaslav for more
details.
1068 AD - With the brothers in the north the Polovtsi attack again. This time
the three brothers march back south and are severely defeated at the Al'ta
river. Vsyevolod has to flee with Izyaslav to Kyiv. At this the Kyivan city mob
demands Izyaslav return to battle and when he refuses they chase him out and
put Vseslav on the throne. Vsyevolod returns to Pereyaslavl and Svyatoslav goes
back to Chernigiv.
1069 AD - When Izyaslav returns with Polish troops, Vseslav flees and Vsyevolod
and Svyatoslav interceed to spare the Kyivan population from a sack.
1070 AD - Vsyevolod has a son named Rostislav. He founds the Church of St
Michael at his monastery.
1073 AD - Vsyevolod believes Svyatoslav's story that Izyaslav is conspiring
with Vseslav against them. He then supports Svyatoslav who throws Izyaslav out
of Kyiv again. When Svyatoslav moves to take the throne at Kyiv, Vsyevolod
moves to the throne at Chernigiv.
1076 AD - Svyatoslav dies while ruling Kyiv and Vsyevolod promptly moves in
January 1077 to take that throne. But now Izyaslav returns a second time with
Polish support. Vsyevolod goes to meet him at Volynia. They make peace and
Vsyevolod loyally now supports Izyaslav to regain the throne at Kyiv. In the
agreement Vsyevolod is to keep Chernigiv.
1078 AD - At this, Oleg Svyatoslavich, who demands his father's throne, refuses
to live in Chernigiv and goes to Tmutorokan. Oleg and Boris bring a Polovtsi
army to attack Chernigiv from the north. Vsyevolod is defeated at the Sozhitsa
River and flees back to Kyiv. There Izyaslav agrees to help him. Izyaslav and
his son, Yaropolk, with Vsyevolod and his son,
Vladimir, march on Chernigiv. There they take the city and defeat the Polovtsi
and Oleg's forces. Boris is killed but Oleg escapes again to Tmutorokan.
Izyaslav also dies in this battle. So again Vsyevolod becomes prince of Kyiv.
1078 AD - With Vsyevolod again in Kyiv he places his son, Vladimir at Chernigiv
and Izyaslav's son, Yaropolk, at Vladimir-in-Volynia and Turov.
1079 AD - Vsyevolod again marches out when Roman
Svyatoslavich brings another Polovtsi army to the Voin. Vsyevolod remains at
Pereyaslavl and arranges peace with the Polovtsi. They then kill Roman
Svyatoslavich. At this the Khazars capture Oleg at Tmutorokan and send him
prisoner to Byzantium. Vsyevolod appoints Ratibor as his voyevod at Tmutorokan.
1080 AD - The Torks at Pereyaslavl attack again and Vsyevolod sends his son,
Vladimir, to defeat them.
1081 AD - David Igor'yevich and
Volodar Rostislavich flee in May to Tmutorokan
where they capture Ratibor and take over as princes.
1083 AD - Oleg Svyatoslavich returns from captivity at Rhodes to Tmutorokan and
captures David and Volodar. He then kills many Khazars and later releases David
and Volodar. Volodar and Vasil'ko Rostislavich move from Tmutorokan to
Vladimir-in-Volynia to live with Yaropolk.
1084 AD - Yaropolk visits Vsyevolod in Kyiv. While he is gone, the two sons of
Rostislav seize Vladimir. Vsyevolod then sends his son, Vladimir,to throw the
sons of Rostislav out. Then he places Yaropolk on the throne at
Vladimir-in-Volynia. In 1084 also David captures the merchants going to
Byzantium and takes their goods. Vsyevolod tries to stop this practice by
bringing David in and assigning him to Dorogobuzh.
1085 AD - Yaropolk is talked into planning to attack Vsyevolod. Vsyevolod
responds by sending Vladimir against him. Yaropolk flees into Poland. When
Vladimir reachs Lutsk in Volynia the town surrenders. Vladimir then puts David
in charge of Vladimir-in-Volynia and takes all Yaropolk's property.
1086 AD - Vsyevolod founds the Church of St. Andrew in Kyiv. Properly
chastized, Yaropolk returns from Poland and sues for peace from Vladimir. While
Yaropolk goes back to Vladimir-in-Volynia, Vladimir Monomakh returns to
Chernigiv. But Yaropolk is soon murdered while on the road to Zvenigorod in
Galicia.
1087 AD - Metropolitan John consecrats the Crypt Church of the Holy Virgin.
Also Metropolitan Ephraim consecrats the Church of St Michael in Pereyaslavl.
1093 AD - Vsyevolod Yaroslavich dies in April. Present are his sons, Vladimir
Monomakh and Rostislav. See the life of Vladimir
Monomakh for the way he solved the succession crisis.
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