Andrew of Galicia

Andrey Yurevich or Andrew of Galicia (unknown - 1323) was the last Rus' king of Galicia-Volhynia in 1308–1323 (according to other sources since 1315). He was the son of Yuri I of Galicia (1252-1308) whom he succeeded on the royal throne of Galicia. After the death of his father, he ruled the kingdom together with his brother Lev II. Though the kingdom was one being managed together, there are sources informing that Andrew was seated in Vladimir-in-Volhynia and Lev II in Galicia.

Fighting Lithuania and Tatars

It is known that in the second decade of 14th century, Lithuanian strengthened its pressure upon Galicia-Volhynia taking Dorohychyn and Berest lands away. The years of rule of brothers were in constant fight with Gediminas of Lithuania.

Ha had established firm relations with Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high and Teutonic order and attempted to weaken dependence from the Golden Horde. For some time king Andrew had been fighting the Mongol-Tatars and Lithuania.

They were also in union with the allies of Władysław I the Elbow-high - Scandinavian and Pomorian kings against margrafs of Brandenburg (1315).

Death

According to some historians he died together with his brother Lev II battling the Mongol-Tatars or Lithuanians while defending Podlasie.

Both king Andrew and his brother Lev II were much respected on the west. In May 1323, the Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high in his letter to the Pope wrote with regret: "The two last Ruthenian kings, that had been firm shields for Poland from the Tatars, left this world and after their death Poland is directly under Tatar threat."

After their death the line of direct descendants of Roman Mstislavich broke and the Galician state remained without a dynasty. Galician boyars (nobility) attempted to rule the state themselves. That perhaps was the reason that that they sought the protection of the Tatars, which Władysław I the Elbow-high became afraid of. But soon more conservative elements took hold among the boyars and the Galician throne was given to the Mazovian duke Boleslaw Trojdenowicz (related to the deceased royal brothers through marriage to their sister Maria), who took the the name Yuri II and who ruled Galicia from 1323 until 1338. Boleslaw Treojdenowicz was married to Andrew's sister Maria who ruled along with the husband. She was daughter of Yuri I of Galicia and his second wife, Eufemia of Kujavia (d. 1308). Her niece, Eufemia, heiress of Volhynia ruled in Lutsk.

External links

* [http://worldroots.com/cgi-bin/gasteldb?@I15269@ Worldroots] (Note: All names are spelled in German")
* [http://exlibris.org.ua/greathistory/r13.html Great history of Ukraine: Galician-Volhynian state] (in Ukrainian)