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YURI II VSEVOLODOVICH (1188 -1238)

 
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He was born in 1188, the son of Vsyevolod III Yur'evich "Bolshoye gniensdo," great prince of Vladimir and Vsyevolod's first wife, Maria Shvarnovna, princess of Ossetia. He married Agraf'yea, daughter of Vsyevolod Svyatoslavich Chermni, prince of Chernigiv. His sons were Vsyevolod, prince of Novgorod; Mstislav, Vladimir, Dmitri, prince of Vladimir, and his daughter was Yelena. He was grand prince of Vladimir in 1212-1216 and 2nd time 1218-1238. He died in battle with Tatar-Mongols on the river Siti on March 4th, 1238. His family died at Vladimir during the Mongol siege. The family is shown on this chart.
Chronology:
1202 - his father, Vsyevolod, sends his brother, Yaroslav, to rule Periyaslavl (south)
1204 - his future father-in-law, Vsyevolod Svyatoslavich Chermni, becomes prince of Chernigiv.
1205 - his father sends one brother, Konstantin, to replace another, Svyatoslav, at Novgorod.
1207 - his future father in law again captures Kyiv. But his father opposes and Vsyevolod Svyatoslavich is unable to maintain himself at Kyiv. Yuri's father is also heavily engaged in struggle over control of Novgorod.
1211 - he marries Agraf'yea as noted above.
1212 - his father, Vsyevolod III dies. Struggle for control of Vladimir and the other Suzdal towns begins. Yaroslav is his ally against Konstantin and Svyatoslav. He is grand prince Vladimir 1212 -1216. Struggle draws in Ryazan and Novgorod as well.
1212 - his father in law driven out of Kyiv again.
1215 - his brother, Yaroslav, heavily engaged in conflict at Novgorod. Struggle between Yurii and Yaroslav intensifies.
1216 - In third clash of the Vsyevolodichi for control of Vladimir. Konstantin has Rostislavichi and Novgorod allies. Yurii and Yaroslav and Svyatoslav have troops from Murom and the Brodniki. Battle of Lipitsa River near Yur'yev-Pol'ski on 21 April. In this bloody battle regiments from Novgorod fight those from Suzdal. One contains 13 styagi and the other 17. (A styag was a banner, signifying a company under the command of a junior boyar or prince) A "kop'ya" or lance was the smallest unit composed of a commander and a small number of retainers. (Both these nomenclatures are similar to corresponding west European organizations). The Novgorodian contingent is commanded by Mstislav Mstislavich Udaloi. Konstantin and the Rostoslavichi win full victory. Yurii flees to Vladimir. Yaroslav flees to Periaslavl Zaleski. Yurii surrenders when Rostoslavichi (Smolensk) troops reach Vladimir. Mstislav sends him to Gorodets. Yurii gets Suzdal back. Konstantin rules as grand prince Vladimir.
1218 - Konstantin dies and Yurii again becomes grand prince.
1220 - Yurii Eastern Campaign. He sends druzhina of four princes (Svyatoslav Vsyevolodovich of Suzdal, Vasil'ko Konstantinovich of Rostov, and two Murom princes, Svyatoslav Davidovich and Oleg Yur'yevich (son if Yurii Igoryevich, prince of Ryazan) against Volga Bolgar. They sail down the Volga to Oshel (Ashla) and capture it after siege. Three Bolgar embassies sue for peace. He replaces Rostislavichi prince in Novgorod with his own son.
1221 - Rus-Bulgar 6 year truce sign at Gorodetz-na-Oka near Kasimov by Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, Yurii II Vsyevolodovich, and a Bulgar ambassador- this is the border of two principalities - they agree to exchange prisoners. Yurii establishes frontier fortress town at Nizhni-Novgorod at confluence of Oka and Volga.
1227 - Yurii sends Vsyevolod Konstantinovich to rule Periaslavl.
1230 - 36 - his brother, Yaroslav, is again ruling Novgorod. Yaroslav is engaged in frequent warfare with the Teutonic Knights.
1238 - Yurii, killed in battle with Mongols at battlee of Siti River on 4 March. His sons killed at Moscow and Vladimir. The entire principality is conquered by multiple Mongol armies. Ryazan captured on 12 Dec 1237, then Moscow, then Vladimir on 8 Feb. 1238 after week-long siege.

 
     

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