Yaropolk Izyaslavich

Yaropolk Iziaslavich (died 22 November 1086/1087) Since the Kievan succession war of 1015–1019, the Polish ruler Bolesław had taken an interest in Kievan Rus', hoping to gain control of the land of Red Ruthenia (Czerwien Grody), seized by Vladimir the Great.

Despite some initial success, the expedition of Bolesław to Kiev in 1018 failed to establish Sviatopolk Vladimirovich (Bolesław's son-in-law), the prince of Turov, on the Kievan throne.

In 1042, Yaroslav forced Casimir of Poland to settle for a peaceful deal. Casimir recognised Ruthenian control of Red Ruthenia and returned 800 Ruthenian prisoners who had been in Polish custody since being captured two decades before by Bolesław. Iziaslav's rule and thus Yaropolk's security were however quickly challenged by Iziaslav's brother Sviatoslav and by his cousin Vseslav Briacheslavich. At this time among the Rurikids, there were two senior branches that could claim the grand princeship through descent from Vladimir the Great; namely, the descendants of Yaroslav Vladimirovich and the descendants of Iziaslav Vladimirovich. With Polish assistance, Iziaslav returned in May 1069, expelled Vseslav and retook the throne. This victory for Iziaslav secured the Kievan throne for the descendants of Yaroslav Vladimirovich, and thereafter the descendants of Iziaslav Vladimirovich confined themselves to Polotsk where they reigned with semi-independent status.

Iziaslav sent Yaropolk to Rome to request aid from Pope Gregory VII. The letter noted that Yaropolk, called "Peter", had given his own as well as his father's fidelity to the pope, and that it had been requested that the "kingdom of the Ruthenians" be held of St Peter. Two papal legates were sent to Iziaslav, and Iziaslav was urged to give them his full co-operation. After his uncle Vsevolod had become the grand prince, Yaropolk was given Vladimir-in-Volhynia and Turov, while Monomakh received Chernigov.

Little is known for the following eight years, but by 1085, Vsevolod and Yaropolk are reported to have become entrenched against each other. The laconic account of these developments in the Primary Chronicle makes the course of events far from transparent. Vasilko and Vladimir Rostislavich, two Galicia-based princes unhappy with territorial settlement under Vsevolod, were said to have attempted to expel Yaropolk in 1084, but Grand Prince Vsevolod's son Vladimir Monomakh drove these Rostislavchi away.

Following this, a gift made by the grand prince to Davyd Igorevich, which included land in Volhynia and control of trade with the Byzantine Empire, is said to have made Yaropolk hostile to the Grand Prince. By 1085, Vsevolod and Yaropolk are reported to have become entrenched against each other, and Vsevolod ordered his son, Vladimir Monomakh to march against Yaropolk. Lacking confidence in his own resources, Yaropolk fled Volhynia to Poland, leaving his followers (and mother) at Lutsk. Vladimir captured Lutsk and Yaropolk's family, attendants and treasure, and assigned his whole principality to Davyd Igorevich.

Death and legacy Miniature from the Radzivil Chronicle allegedly depicting the death of Yaropolk. In the following year, Yaropolk returned and reportedly came to an agreement with Vladimir Monomakh, but nothing specific is known of the terms other than Yaropolk being reinstated. Yaropolk was murdered, and the circumstances of his murder are not clear, but the Primary Chronicle suggested the complicity of Rurik Rostislavich, the prince of Peremyshl, and his brother Vasilko Rostislavich, the prince of Terebovl. His murderer was a man called Neradets, who put a sword through Yaropolk before fleeing to hide with Rurik in Peremyshl; the date given is 22 November. He died in 1086 or 1087. His body was taken to Kiev and buried in the church of Saint Peter on 5 December, the church which Yaropolk himself had endowed. Whether by Kunigunde or not, Yaropolk had several children whose names have come into the record. A daughter, Princess Yaropolkovna of Minsk, married her far relative Gleb Vseslavich, the prince of Minsk who was a member of the Polotsk branch of the Rurikid family. The Annalista Saxo records another daughter, and that she married Günther, Count of Schwarzburg, though it does not mention her name.

Embedded in the Primary Chronicle is a eulogy to Yaropolk, and among the honors assigned to him, is that he was in the habit of assigning a "tenth part of his wealth to the Mother of God". Probably due to his personal devotion to the papacy and to St Peter, Yaropolk established a new church of St Peter at the monastery of St Demetrios in the city of Kiev. He was said to have left all his wealth to the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. The Primary Chronicle's eulogy is the first indication of saintly regard, and indeed today he is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, with his feast day falling on the reported day of his death, 22 November.

Ancestry

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Family Wife – Kunigunde, daughter of Otto I Princess Yaropolkovna of Minsk (daughter), married Gleb Vseslavich (Prince of Minsk) Volodar Rostislav Mechtild (daughter), married Günther I (House of Schwarzburg) Sizzo III Yaroslav (son) (?–1102) Viacheslav (son) (?–1104) Vasilko (son)

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