Mstislav I of Kiev

Grand Prince Mstyslav I Volodymyrovych builds the Pyrohoshcha Church of the Mother of God in Kyiv

Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great (Russian: Мстислав Владимирович Великий) (June 1, 1076, Turov – April 14, 1132, Kiev) was the Grand Prince of Kiev (1125–1132), the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex. He figures prominently in the Norse Sagas under the name Harald, taken to allude to his grandfather, Harold II of England.

Biography

As his father's future successor, Mstislav reigned in Novgorod the Great from 1088–93 and (after a brief stint at Rostov) from 1095–1117. Thereafter he was Monomakh's co-ruler in Belgorod Kievsky, and inherited the Kievan throne after his death. He built numerous churches in Novgorod, of which St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113) and the cathedral of St Anthony Cloister (1117) survive to the present day. Later, he would also erect important churches in Kiev, notably his family sepulchre at Berestovo and the church of Our Lady at Podil.

St Nicholas Cathedral, built by Mstislav I near his palace at Yaroslav's Court, Novgorod, contains 12th-century frescoes depicting his illustrious family

Mstislav's life was spent in constant warfare with Cumans (1093, 1107, 1111, 1129), Estonians (1111, 1113, 1116, 1130), Lithuanians (1131), and the princedom of Polotsk (1127, 1129). In 1096, he defeated his uncle Oleg of Chernigov on the Koloksha River, thereby laying foundation for the centuries of enmity between his and Oleg's descendants. Mstislav was the last ruler of united Rus, and upon his death, as the chronicler put it, "the land of Rus was torn apart".

In 1095, Mstislav wed Princess Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden, daughter of King Inge I of Sweden. They had many children:

1. Ingeborg of Kiev, married Canute Lavard of Jutland, and was mother to Valdemar I of Denmark
2. Malmfred, married (1) Sigurd I of Norway; (2) Eric II of Denmark
3. Eupraxia, married Alexius Comnenus, son of John II Comnenus
4. Vsevolod of Novgorod and Pskov
5. Maria, married Vsevolod II of Kiev
6. Iziaslav II of Kiev
7. Rostislav of Kiev
8. Sviatopolk of Pskov
9. Rogneda, married Yaroslav of Volinya
10. Xenia, married Briachislav of Izyaslawl

Christine died on January 18, 1122; later that year Mstislav married again, to Liubava Dmitrievna, the daughter of Dmitry Zavidich, a nobleman of Novgorod. Their children were:

1. Vladimir III Mstislavich (1132–1171)
2. Euphrosyne of Kiev, (c. 1130 – c. 1193) married King Géza II of Hungary in 1146

Through Euphrosyne, Mstislav is an ancestor of King Edward III of England and hence of all subsequent English and British monarchs. Through his mother Gytha, he is part of a link between Harold II of England and the modern line of English kings founded by William the Conqueror, who deposed him.

Ancestors

See also

• List of Ukrainian rulers
• List of Russian rulers
• List of people known as The Great

Succession

External links

• His listing in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley.

Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great Rurikovich Born: 1 June 1076 Died: 14 April 1132
Regnal titles
Preceded by Sviatopolk Iziaslavich	Prince of Novgorod 1088–1093	Succeeded by Davyd Sviatoslavich
Preceded by Sviatopolk Iziaslavich	Prince of Rostov 1095–1117	Succeeded by Davyd Sviatoslavich
Unknown	Prince of Belgorod 1117–1125 with Vladimir II Monomakh	Unknown
Preceded by Vladimir II Monomakh	Grand Prince of Kiev 1125–1132	Succeeded by Yaropolk II Vladimirovich

Persondata
Name	Mstislav 01 Of Kiev
Alternative names
Short description	Grand Prince of Kiev
Date of birth	June 1, 1076
Place of birth	Turov
Date of death	April 14, 1132
Place of death	Kiev