Vsevolod I of Kiev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vsevolod I |
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Portrait in the Tsarsky titulyarnik (1672)
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| Grand Prince of Kiev | |||||
| Reign | 1076–1077 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sviatoslav II | ||||
| Successor | Iziaslav I | ||||
| Reign | 1078–1093 | ||||
| Predecessor | Iziaslav I | ||||
| Successor | Sviatopolk II | ||||
| Prince of Chernigov | |||||
| Reign | 1073–1078 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sviatoslav II of Kiev | ||||
| Successor | Vladimir II Monomakh | ||||
| Prince of Pereyaslavl | |||||
| Reign | 1054–1073 | ||||
| Born | c. 1 February 1030 | ||||
| Died | 13 April 1093 (62–63) Vyshgorod |
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| Spouse | Anastasia (?–1067) Anna, a daughter of the Cuman Khan (?–1111) |
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| Issue | with Anastasia: Vladimir, Ionna with Anna: Eupraxia, Rostislav, Catherine, Maria |
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| House | Rurik | ||||
| Father | Yaroslav the Wise | ||||
| Mother | Ingegerd Olofsdotter | ||||
Vsevolod I Yaroslavich (born around 1030 – died 13 April 1093) was an important ruler in Kievan Rus'. He became the Grand Prince of Kiev in 1078 and ruled until his death in 1093. He was known for his wisdom and for speaking many languages.
Contents
Who Was Vsevolod I Yaroslavich?
Vsevolod was the fifth son of Yaroslav the Wise, a very famous Grand Prince. His mother was Ingegerd Olofsdotter. Vsevolod was born around February 1, 1030. His baptismal name was Andrew.
Vsevolod's Family and Marriages
To help make peace with the Byzantine Empire, Vsevolod married a Byzantine princess around 1046. Her name is thought to have been Anastasia or Maria. Their son, Vladimir Monomakh, later became a very important ruler himself.
After his first wife died in 1067, Vsevolod married a princess from the Kipchaks, a nomadic group. Her name was Anna Polovetskaya. They had several children together.
Vsevolod's Early Life and Rule
When his father, Yaroslav the Wise, died in 1054, Vsevolod received several towns to rule. These included Pereiaslav, Rostov, Suzdal, and Beloozero. These lands stayed with his family for a long time.
Working with His Brothers
Vsevolod worked closely with his older brothers, Iziaslav and Sviatoslav. They formed a group of three princes who ruled together. They fought against nomadic groups like the Polovtsy. They also helped create the Russkaya Pravda, which was the first set of laws for their state.
Early Conflicts and Challenges
In 1055, Vsevolod led a fight against the Turks. He also made peace with the Cumans, another nomadic group, who had just arrived in Europe. However, the Cumans attacked his lands in 1061 and defeated Vsevolod in a battle.
In 1068, the Cumans invaded again. Vsevolod and his brothers fought them but were defeated at the Alta River. After this loss, Vsevolod went back to Pereyaslav. People in Kiev were upset and removed Iziaslav from power. Vsevolod and Sviatoslav did not try to help Iziaslav get his throne back.
Vsevolod later supported Sviatoslav against Iziaslav. They forced Iziaslav to leave Kiev in 1073. After Sviatoslav died in 1076, Vsevolod ruled Kiev for a few months. When Iziaslav returned, he gave Vsevolod the lands that used to belong to Sviatoslav. However, Sviatoslav's sons felt these lands were theirs.
One of Sviatoslav's sons, Oleg, teamed up with the Cumans and attacked. Iziaslav came to help Vsevolod, but Iziaslav was killed in the battle.
Vsevolod's Time as Grand Prince
After Iziaslav's death, Vsevolod became the Grand Prince of Kiev in 1078. He was the only son of Yaroslav the Wise still alive. This meant he ruled over the three main areas of Kievan Rus': Kiev, Chernigov, and Pereyaslavl. He made his oldest son, Vladimir Monomakh, the ruler of Chernigov.
The old historical record, Primary Chronicle, says that during Vsevolod's later years, people found it hard to get fair justice. Judges sometimes took bribes. Vsevolod also started listening more to younger advisors instead of his older, more experienced ones.
Vsevolod's Skills and Challenges
Vsevolod was very smart and could speak five different languages. His son, Vladimir Monomakh, wrote about this. Historians think these languages likely included Greek and Cuman because of his wives. He might have also known Latin, Norse, and Ossetian.
Even though he was smart, Vsevolod often lost battles. His son, Vladimir Monomakh, was a great warrior and did most of the fighting for his father. In his last years, Vsevolod was very sick. Vladimir Monomakh took over running the government for him.
Vsevolod's Children
Vsevolod had children with both of his wives.
Children with Anastasia
- Vladimir II Monomakh (1053 – 19 May 1125): He became a very famous Grand Prince of Kiev.
- Ianka or Anna Vsevolodovna (died 3 November 1112): She was supposed to marry a prince named Constantine Dukas but never did. She became a nun and started a school for girls.
Children with Anna Polovetskaya
- Rostislav Vsevolodovich (1070 – 26 May 1093): He drowned while trying to escape after the Battle of the Stugna River.
- Eupraxia of Kiev (1071 – 20 July 1109): She married two important European rulers.
- Catherine Vsevolodovna (died 11 August 1108): She became a nun.
- Maria Vsevolodovna (died 1089).
Images for kids
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Vladimir Monomakh, Vsevolod's son
See also
In Spanish: Vsévolod I de Kiev para niños
