Mstislav I of Kiev

Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great ( Russian Мстислав Владимирович; * June 1076 in Turau, † April 1132 in Kiev ) was 1125-1132 Grand Duke of Kievan Rus, eldest son and successor, Vladimir Monomakh and his wife Gytha of Wessex, daughter of Harald II. of England. In Scandinavian sagas, Mstislav I was named after his grandfather, also called Harald.

Life

As the eldest son Wladmimir Monomakh he was given dominion over Novgorod (1088-1093 and 1095-1117, in the meantime over Rostov ). The time as Prince of Novgorod was marked by battles with Chud ( Estonians ), Cumans and his uncle and godfather Oleg of Chernigov, he drove in 1096 from Murom, Rostov and Suzdal. He built many church buildings, of which outlast the St. Nicholas Cathedral and St. Anthony's Monastery in Novgorod until today. After 1117 he was co-regent and Prince Monomakh in Belgorod on the Dnieper River. After Monomakh's death in 1125, he followed them, as Grand Duke.

Little is known about Mstislaws reign. 1129 he ravaged the principality of Polotsk and banished the local Prince David, a son of Vseslav, and several of his cousins ​​to Byzantium. However, the Polotsk City population distribution used by him as his son Prince Sviatopolk 1139 and called back their old rulers. He led in 1130 also campaigns against the Cumans and Lithuanians and let his sons suppress the Chud.

After Mstislaws death and his brother Jaropolk II in 1139 broke the rule over Kiev a series of battles between the descendants Monomakh ( Monomachowitschi ) and those of his old rival Oleg of Chernigov ( Olgowitschi ), which eventually led to the collapse of the Rus and the rise of the Principality of Vladimir - Suzdal under Mstislaws brother Yuri Dolgoruky beneficiary.

Marriage and issue

1095 or 1096 married Mstislav Christina of Sweden († 1122), daughter of King Inge I. With her he had numerous descendants. :

From his second marriage to the daughter of a Novgorod nobles gave the world: