Ryurik Rostislavich (d. 1208?): the Unsung Champion of the Rostislavichi
By Martin Dimnik
Ruthenica, Vol.8 (2009)
Introduction: During the second half of the twelfth century, the Rostislavichi of Smolensk, descended from Vladimir Monomakh’s grandson Rostislav Mstislavich (d. 1167), became one of the most powerful dynasties in Rus’. They emerged as successful contenders for the throne of Kiev against their cousins the Yur’evichi of Suzdalia descended from Yury Dolgorukiy, against their cousins the Izyaslavichi of Volyn’ descended from Izyaslav Mstislavich, and rivals of the Ol’govichi of Chernigov descended from Oleg Svyatoslavich. One of the most active champions of the Rostislavichi fortunes, whose political career the chroniclers record for some fifty years, was Rostislav’s son Ryurik. His career, however, was one of political turmoil.
In the light of his successes and failures he was a controversial figure for both chroniclers and historians who have conflicting views concerning his political importance. They disagree as to just how successful a ruler he was. According to Tatishchev who cites an unidentified chronicler
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…he ruled for 37 years. Four times he was driven out [of Kiev], and he was tonsured, suffering much at the hands of his son-in-law [Roman Mstislavich]. He had no peace from any direction, for he himself was much addicted to drink and was manipulated by women (zhenami vodim be); he paid little attention to the ruling of the land, and his administrators (tiuny) did much evil. For this reason the Kievans had little love for him.
It has been pointed out that this description was composed by a Galician-Volynian or Kievan chronicler who was sympathetic to Roman Mstislavich. Under the year 1199 the Ipat’evskaya letopis gives us a different description of Ryurik. Igumen Moisey of the Vidubitskiy monastery, most likely writing in the chronicle that Ryurik himself had commissioned, records with great enthusiasm an encomium (pokhvala) to Ryurik on the occasion of the completion of the supporting wall below the church of St. Michael in the monastery. Moisey explains that since the church was built by Vsevolod Yaroslavich (d. 1093), four generations of princes ruled Kiev, but not one of them had as much love for the church as Ryurik in the fifth generation. Only Christ loving Ryurik with the goodwill of God completed the wall. Ryurik demonstrated goodwill towards monasteries and to all the churches, and love for their buildings. Igumen Moisey also calls Ryurik ‘tsar’ and dignifies his principality by calling it an autocratic state known not only in the lands of Rus’ but also in distant lands beyond the sea, and to the ends of the universe.
By Martin Dimnik
Ruthenica, Vol.8 (2009)
Introduction: During the second half of the twelfth century, the Rostislavichi of Smolensk, descended from Vladimir Monomakh’s grandson Rostislav Mstislavich (d. 1167), became one of the most powerful dynasties in Rus’. They emerged as successful contenders for the throne of Kiev against their cousins the Yur’evichi of Suzdalia descended from Yury Dolgorukiy, against their cousins the Izyaslavichi of Volyn’ descended from Izyaslav Mstislavich, and rivals of the Ol’govichi of Chernigov descended from Oleg Svyatoslavich. One of the most active champions of the Rostislavichi fortunes, whose political career the chroniclers record for some fifty years, was Rostislav’s son Ryurik. His career, however, was one of political turmoil.
In the light of his successes and failures he was a controversial figure for both chroniclers and historians who have conflicting views concerning his political importance. They disagree as to just how successful a ruler he was. According to Tatishchev who cites an unidentified chronicler
…he ruled for 37 years. Four times he was driven out [of Kiev], and he was tonsured, suffering much at the hands of his son-in-law [Roman Mstislavich]. He had no peace from any direction, for he himself was much addicted to drink and was manipulated by women (zhenami vodim be); he paid little attention to the ruling of the land, and his administrators (tiuny) did much evil. For this reason the Kievans had little love for him.
It has been pointed out that this description was composed by a Galician-Volynian or Kievan chronicler who was sympathetic to Roman Mstislavich. Under the year 1199 the Ipat’evskaya letopis gives us a different description of Ryurik. Igumen Moisey of the Vidubitskiy monastery, most likely writing in the chronicle that Ryurik himself had commissioned, records with great enthusiasm an encomium (pokhvala) to Ryurik on the occasion of the completion of the supporting wall below the church of St. Michael in the monastery. Moisey explains that since the church was built by Vsevolod Yaroslavich (d. 1093), four generations of princes ruled Kiev, but not one of them had as much love for the church as Ryurik in the fifth generation. Only Christ loving Ryurik with the goodwill of God completed the wall. Ryurik demonstrated goodwill towards monasteries and to all the churches, and love for their buildings. Igumen Moisey also calls Ryurik ‘tsar’ and dignifies his principality by calling it an autocratic state known not only in the lands of Rus’ but also in distant lands beyond the sea, and to the ends of the universe.
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