Roman The Great - Prince of Halych and Vladimir-in-Volhynia

Prince of Halych and Vladimir-in-Volhynia

In 1198 (or 1199) Vladimir II Yaroslavich of Halych died, and his death created a political vacuum that a number of claimants were eager to fill. Ryurik Rostislavich could now claim that, after the dynasty of Halych became defunct, the territory reverted to the jurisdiction of the prince of Kiev; the princes of the two branches of the Olgovichi (the princes of Chernigov) could argue that their marriage ties with the defunct dynasty gave them the right to rule Halych; and the Hungarians had already made a bid for the domain ten years earlier. The Galicians asked Ryurik Rostislavich for his son Rostislav Ryurikovich, but Roman rode to Duke Leszek I of Poland (1194–1227), promising to be at his beck and call if the Polish ruler helped him to win Halych. When the citizens refused to welcome Roman, Duke Leszek I besieged the town, and after capturing it, he forced the townspeople to accept Roman as prince. Roman promised to be subservient to the duke of Poland and to live in peace with his new subjects.

Roman turned his attention to the Cumans, who were threatening Byzantine interests in the Balkan Peninsula, and agreed to come to the assistance of Emperor Alexios III Angelos (1195–1203) and a severe blow was administered to the nomads. In 1200, he married Anna, a Byzantine princess, a relative of Emperor Isaac II Angelos.

Shortly afterwards, Roman began wreaking havoc on domains belonging to Ryurik Rostislavich and other princes. In 1201, Ryurik Rostislavich summoned the Olgovichi to campaign against Roman. Roman pre-empted their attack by rallying the troops of his principality. The Monomashichi and the Black Caps also joined him. The Kievans opened the gates of the podol’ to Roman. He forced Ryurik Rostislavich and the Olgovichi to capitulate; he gave Kiev, with the consent of Vsevolod III Yuryevich, to Prince Ingvar Yaroslavich of Lutsk. However, Ryurik Rostislavich and the Olgovichi re-captured Kiev already on January 2, 1203.

Roman asked Vsevolod III Yuryevich to be pacified with the Olgovichi, and after he had concluded peace with them, he marched against Ryurik Rostislavich in Ovruch on February 16, 1203. Ryurik Rostislavich submitted to Roman and Vsevolod III Yuryevich, and promised to sever relations with the Olgovichi and the Cumans. After that, Roman also advised him to ask Vsevolod III Yuryevich to reinstate him in Kiev and promised to support his request. Consequently, Vsevolod III Yuryevich forgave Ryurik Rostislavich and reappointed him to the town.

That winter Ryurik Rostislavich, Roman and other princes attacked the Cumans and took many captives. After the expedition, they met at Trypillia to allocate domains in accordance with the services that each had rendered in the defense of Rus’. But they quarreled, and Roman seized Ryurik Rostislavich, sent him to Kiev, and had him tonsured as a monk. He also forced Ryurik Rostislavich’s wife and daughter (his own wife whom he had repudiated) to become nuns; and he took Ryurik Rostislavich’s sons (Rostislav and Vladimir Rurikovich) with him to Halych.

Meanwhile, the relations between Roman and Duke Leszek I of Poland deteriorated for both religious and personal reasons. Leszek I was a devout Roman Catholic and it was probably at his suggestion that Pope Innocent III sent his envoys to Roman in 1204, urging him to accept Roman Catholicism and promising to place him under the protection of St Peter’s sword. Roman’s answer, as recorded in the Radziwill chronicle, was characteristic enough: pointing to his own sword he asked the envoys, “Is the Pope’s sword similar to mine? So long as I carry mine, I need no other.”

Duke Leszek I, supported by his brother Duke Konrad I of Masovia, undertook a sudden campaign against Roman. The latter was caught unaware and killed in the first battle at Zawichost.

According to another version, Roman wanted to expand his realm at the expense of Poland and died in an ambush while entering Polish territory.