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The Grand Princes of Novgorod (Новгород).
From Vadim the Bold to Ivan III of Moscow.
Overview
The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: Князь новгородский, knyaz novgorodskii) was the chief executive of Novgorod the Great. The office was originally an appointed one until the late eleventh or early twelfth century, then became something of an elective one until the fourteenth century, after which the Prince of Vladimir (who was almost always the Prince of Moscow) was almost invariably the Prince of Novgorod as well.
The office began sometime in the ninth century when, according to tradition, the Viking (Varangian) Riurik and his brothers were invited to rule over the Eastern Slavs, but real reliable information on the office dates only to the late tenth century when Vladimir the Great was prince of Novgorod. The office or title technically continued up until the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917 - among one of his titles (although his list of titles was rarely given in complete form) was Prince of Novgorod the Great.
After the chief Rurikid prince moved to Kiev in the late ninth century, he usually sent either his son or a posadnik (mayor), to rule on his behalf. Thus Sviatoslav I sent his son Vladimir the Great to rule in Novgorod, and after Vladimir became Grand Prince of Kiev, he sent his son, Yaroslav the Wise to reign in Novgorod.
Republican period
From the early twelfth century to 1478, the prince's power in the Republic of Novgorod was more nominal. Imperial and Soviet-era scholars often argued that the office was ineffectual after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was dismissed by the Novgorodians, and that Novgorod could invite and dismiss its princes at will. In this way, the prince of Novgorod was no longer "ruler" of Novgorod but became an elective or appointed executive official of the city-state.
That being said, the traditional view of the prince being invited in or dismissed at will is an oversimplification of a long and complex history of the office. In fact, from the late tenth century to the fall of Novgorod in 1478, the princes of Novgorod were dismissed and invited only about half the time, and the vast majority of these cases occurred between 1095 and 1293, and not consistently so during that period. That is, the office was elective for perhaps two centuries and even then it was not always elective.. Even during this period, the nadir of princely power in the city, more powerful princes could assert their power independently over the city, as did Mstislav the Bold in the early 13th century, Alexander Nevsky in the 1240s and 50s, his brother Iaroslav in the 1260s and 70s, and others. According to a remark in the chronicles, Novgorod had the right, after 1196, to pick their prince of their own free will, but again, the evidence indicates that even after that, princes were chosen and dismissed only about half the time, and Novgorod often chose the most powerful prince in Rus' as their prince. That usually meant that the prince in Kiev, Vladimir or Moscow (who retained the title Grand Prince of Vladimir from about the 1320s onward, although there were several interruptions), either took the title himself or appointed his son or other relative to be prince of Novgorod. At times other princes, from Tver, Lithuania, and elsewhere, also vied for the Novgorodian throne. Thus Novgorod did not really choose its prince, but considering the political climate, they often very prudently went with the most senior or most powerful prince in the land if he did not impose himself (or his candidate) upon them. What was different about Novgorod, then, was not so much that Novgorod could freely choose its princes - it really couldn't. Rather, what was unique was that no princely dynasty managed to establish itself within the city and take permanent control over the city. Rather, while other Rus' cities had established dynasties, the more powerful princes vied for control of Novgorod the Great, a most-desirable city to control given the vast wealth (from trade in furs) that flowed into the city in the medieval period.. In the absence of firmer princely control the local elites, the boyars, took control of the city and the offices of posadnik and tysyatsky became elective. The veche (public assembly) played a not insignificant role in public life, although the precise makeup of the veche and its powers is uncertain and still contested among historians. The posadnik, tysiatsky, and even the local bishop or archbishop (after 1165) were elected at the veche, and it is said the veche invited and dismissed the prince as well.
Grand Princes of Novgorodr
Vadim the Bold (legendary)
Gostomysl (legendary)
Oleg
Igor, 913–944
Olga, fl. 955–957
Sviatoslav Igorevich, 941–969
Vladimir the Great, 969–977
Iaropolk Sviatoslavich, 977–979
Vladimir the Great (again), 979–988
Viacheslav Vladimirovich, 988–1010
Iaroslav the Wise, 1010–1034
Vladimir Iaroslavich, 1034–1052
Iziaslav Iaroslavich, 1052–1054
Mstislav Iziaslavich, 1055–1067
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1055–1067
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1069–1073
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1077–1078
Sviatopolk Iziaslavich, 1078–1088
Mstislav Vladimirovich ("the Great"), 1088–1094
Davyd Sviatoslavich, 1094–1095
Mstislav Vladimirovich (again), 1095–1117
Vsevolod Mstislavich, 1117–1132
Sviatopolk Mstislavich, 1132
Vsevolod Mstislavich (again), 1132–1136
Sviatoslav Ol'govich, 1136–1138
Sviatopolk Mstislavich (again), 1138
Rostislav Iurevich, 1138–1140
Sviatoslav Ol'govich (again), 1140–1141
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich, 1141
Rostislav Iurevich (again), 1141–1142
Sviatopolk Mstislavich, 1142–1148
Iaroslav Iziaslavich, 1148–1154
Rostislav Mstislavich, 1154
Davyd Rostislavich of Smolensk, 1154–1155
Mstislav Iurevich, 1155–1158
Sviatoslav Rostislavich of Smolensk, 1158–1160
Mstislav Rostislavich ("the Eyeless"), 1160–1161
Sviatoslav Rostislavich, 1161–1168
Roman Mstislavich, 1168–1170
Riurik Rostislavich, 1170–1171
Iuri Andreevich, 1171–1175
Sviatoslav Mstislavich, 1175–1176
Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyeless (again), 1177
Iaroslav Mstislavich, 1177
Mstislav Rostislavich "the Eyeless" (3rd time), 1177–1178
Iaropolk Rostislavich, 1178
Roman Rostislavich, 1178–1179
Mstislav Rostislavich ("the Bold"), 1179–1180
Vladimir Sviatoslavich, 1180–1181
Iaroslav Vladimirovich, 1182–1184
Mstislav-Boris Davydovich, 1184–1187
Iaroslav Vladimirovich (again), 1187–1196
Iaropolk Iaroslavich, 1197
Iaroslav Vladimirovich (3rd time), 1197–1199
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich, 1200–1205
Konstantin Vsevolodich, 1205–1207
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich (again), 1207–1210
Mstislav Mstislavich, 1210–1215
Iaroslav Vsevolodich, 1215–1216
Mstislav Mstislavich (again), 1216–1218
Sviatoslav Mstislavich, 1218–1219
Vsevolod Mstislavich, 1219–1221
Vsevolod Iurevich (Dmitry), 1221
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (again), 1221–1223
Vsevolod Iurevich (again), 1223–1224
Mikhail Vsevolodich, 1225
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (3rd time), 1224–1228
Fedor Iaroslavich, 1228–1229
Aleksandr Iaroslavich ("Nevsky"), 1228–1229
Mikhail Vsevolodich (again), 1229
Rostislav Mikhailovich, 1229–1230
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (4th time), 1230–1236
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (again), 1236–1240
Andrei Iaroslavich, 1241
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (3rd time), 1241–1252
Vasily Aleksandrovich, 1252–1255
Iaroslav Iaroslavich, 1255
Vasily Aleksandrovich (again), 1255–1258
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (4th time), 1258–1260
Dmitry Aleksandrovich, 1260–1263
Vasily Iaroslavich, 1264–1272
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (again), 1272–1273
Vasily Iaroslavich (again), 1273–1276
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (3rd time), 1276–1281
Andrei Aleksandrovich, 1281–1285
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (4th time), 1285–1292
Andrei Aleksandrovich (again), 1292–1304
Mikhail Iaroslavich, 1308–1314
Afanasii Daniilovich, 1314–1315
Mikhail Iaroslavich (again), 1315–1316
Afanasii Daniilovich, 1318–1322
Iurii Daniilovich, 1322–1325
Aleksandr Mikhailovich, 1325–1327
Ivan Daniilovich (Kalita, "the Money-bag"), 1328–1337
Semen Ivanovich, 1346–1353
Ivan Ivanovich, 1355–1359
Dmitry Konstantinovich, 1359–1363
Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoi), 1363–1389
Lengvenis (Lugveny (Semen) Olgerdovich), 1389–1407
Vasily Dmitr'evich, 1408–1425
Vasily Vasil'evich, 1425–1462
Jonas Vladimiraitis of Lithuania, Duke of Bely (1444–1446)
Ivan Vasil'evich ("the Great"), 1462–1480
Suggested Reading
The Grand Princes of Novgorod (Новгород).
From Vadim the Bold to Ivan III of Moscow.
Overview
The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: Князь новгородский, knyaz novgorodskii) was the chief executive of Novgorod the Great. The office was originally an appointed one until the late eleventh or early twelfth century, then became something of an elective one until the fourteenth century, after which the Prince of Vladimir (who was almost always the Prince of Moscow) was almost invariably the Prince of Novgorod as well.
The office began sometime in the ninth century when, according to tradition, the Viking (Varangian) Riurik and his brothers were invited to rule over the Eastern Slavs, but real reliable information on the office dates only to the late tenth century when Vladimir the Great was prince of Novgorod. The office or title technically continued up until the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917 - among one of his titles (although his list of titles was rarely given in complete form) was Prince of Novgorod the Great.
After the chief Rurikid prince moved to Kiev in the late ninth century, he usually sent either his son or a posadnik (mayor), to rule on his behalf. Thus Sviatoslav I sent his son Vladimir the Great to rule in Novgorod, and after Vladimir became Grand Prince of Kiev, he sent his son, Yaroslav the Wise to reign in Novgorod.
Republican period
From the early twelfth century to 1478, the prince's power in the Republic of Novgorod was more nominal. Imperial and Soviet-era scholars often argued that the office was ineffectual after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was dismissed by the Novgorodians, and that Novgorod could invite and dismiss its princes at will. In this way, the prince of Novgorod was no longer "ruler" of Novgorod but became an elective or appointed executive official of the city-state.
That being said, the traditional view of the prince being invited in or dismissed at will is an oversimplification of a long and complex history of the office. In fact, from the late tenth century to the fall of Novgorod in 1478, the princes of Novgorod were dismissed and invited only about half the time, and the vast majority of these cases occurred between 1095 and 1293, and not consistently so during that period. That is, the office was elective for perhaps two centuries and even then it was not always elective.. Even during this period, the nadir of princely power in the city, more powerful princes could assert their power independently over the city, as did Mstislav the Bold in the early 13th century, Alexander Nevsky in the 1240s and 50s, his brother Iaroslav in the 1260s and 70s, and others.
According to a remark in the chronicles, Novgorod had the right, after 1196, to pick their prince of their own free will, but again, the evidence indicates that even after that, princes were chosen and dismissed only about half the time, and Novgorod often chose the most powerful prince in Rus' as their prince. That usually meant that the prince in Kiev, Vladimir or Moscow (who retained the title Grand Prince of Vladimir from about the 1320s onward, although there were several interruptions), either took the title himself or appointed his son or other relative to be prince of Novgorod. At times other princes, from Tver, Lithuania, and elsewhere, also vied for the Novgorodian throne. Thus Novgorod did not really choose its prince, but considering the political climate, they often very prudently went with the most senior or most powerful prince in the land if he did not impose himself (or his candidate) upon them.
What was different about Novgorod, then, was not so much that Novgorod could freely choose its princes - it really couldn't. Rather, what was unique was that no princely dynasty managed to establish itself within the city and take permanent control over the city. Rather, while other Rus' cities had established dynasties, the more powerful princes vied for control of Novgorod the Great, a most-desirable city to control given the vast wealth (from trade in furs) that flowed into the city in the medieval period..
In the absence of firmer princely control the local elites, the boyars, took control of the city and the offices of posadnik and tysyatsky became elective. The veche (public assembly) played a not insignificant role in public life, although the precise makeup of the veche and its powers is uncertain and still contested among historians. The posadnik, tysiatsky, and even the local bishop or archbishop (after 1165) were elected at the veche, and it is said the veche invited and dismissed the prince as well.
Grand Princes of Novgorodr
Vadim the Bold (legendary)
Gostomysl (legendary)
Oleg
Igor, 913–944
Olga, fl. 955–957
Sviatoslav Igorevich, 941–969
Vladimir the Great, 969–977
Iaropolk Sviatoslavich, 977–979
Vladimir the Great (again), 979–988
Viacheslav Vladimirovich, 988–1010
Iaroslav the Wise, 1010–1034
Vladimir Iaroslavich, 1034–1052
Iziaslav Iaroslavich, 1052–1054
Mstislav Iziaslavich, 1055–1067
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1055–1067
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1069–1073
Gleb Sviatoslavich, 1077–1078
Sviatopolk Iziaslavich, 1078–1088
Mstislav Vladimirovich ("the Great"), 1088–1094
Davyd Sviatoslavich, 1094–1095
Mstislav Vladimirovich (again), 1095–1117
Vsevolod Mstislavich, 1117–1132
Sviatopolk Mstislavich, 1132
Vsevolod Mstislavich (again), 1132–1136
Sviatoslav Ol'govich, 1136–1138
Sviatopolk Mstislavich (again), 1138
Rostislav Iurevich, 1138–1140
Sviatoslav Ol'govich (again), 1140–1141
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich, 1141
Rostislav Iurevich (again), 1141–1142
Sviatopolk Mstislavich, 1142–1148
Iaroslav Iziaslavich, 1148–1154
Rostislav Mstislavich, 1154
Davyd Rostislavich of Smolensk, 1154–1155
Mstislav Iurevich, 1155–1158
Sviatoslav Rostislavich of Smolensk, 1158–1160
Mstislav Rostislavich ("the Eyeless"), 1160–1161
Sviatoslav Rostislavich, 1161–1168
Roman Mstislavich, 1168–1170
Riurik Rostislavich, 1170–1171
Iuri Andreevich, 1171–1175
Sviatoslav Mstislavich, 1175–1176
Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyeless (again), 1177
Iaroslav Mstislavich, 1177
Mstislav Rostislavich "the Eyeless" (3rd time), 1177–1178
Iaropolk Rostislavich, 1178
Roman Rostislavich, 1178–1179
Mstislav Rostislavich ("the Bold"), 1179–1180
Vladimir Sviatoslavich, 1180–1181
Iaroslav Vladimirovich, 1182–1184
Mstislav-Boris Davydovich, 1184–1187
Iaroslav Vladimirovich (again), 1187–1196
Iaropolk Iaroslavich, 1197
Iaroslav Vladimirovich (3rd time), 1197–1199
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich, 1200–1205
Konstantin Vsevolodich, 1205–1207
Sviatoslav Vsevolodich (again), 1207–1210
Mstislav Mstislavich, 1210–1215
Iaroslav Vsevolodich, 1215–1216
Mstislav Mstislavich (again), 1216–1218
Sviatoslav Mstislavich, 1218–1219
Vsevolod Mstislavich, 1219–1221
Vsevolod Iurevich (Dmitry), 1221
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (again), 1221–1223
Vsevolod Iurevich (again), 1223–1224
Mikhail Vsevolodich, 1225
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (3rd time), 1224–1228
Fedor Iaroslavich, 1228–1229
Aleksandr Iaroslavich ("Nevsky"), 1228–1229
Mikhail Vsevolodich (again), 1229
Rostislav Mikhailovich, 1229–1230
Iaroslav Vsevolodich (4th time), 1230–1236
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (again), 1236–1240
Andrei Iaroslavich, 1241
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (3rd time), 1241–1252
Vasily Aleksandrovich, 1252–1255
Iaroslav Iaroslavich, 1255
Vasily Aleksandrovich (again), 1255–1258
Aleksandr Iaroslavich (4th time), 1258–1260
Dmitry Aleksandrovich, 1260–1263
Vasily Iaroslavich, 1264–1272
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (again), 1272–1273
Vasily Iaroslavich (again), 1273–1276
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (3rd time), 1276–1281
Andrei Aleksandrovich, 1281–1285
Dmitry Aleksandrovich (4th time), 1285–1292
Andrei Aleksandrovich (again), 1292–1304
Mikhail Iaroslavich, 1308–1314
Afanasii Daniilovich, 1314–1315
Mikhail Iaroslavich (again), 1315–1316
Afanasii Daniilovich, 1318–1322
Iurii Daniilovich, 1322–1325
Aleksandr Mikhailovich, 1325–1327
Ivan Daniilovich (Kalita, "the Money-bag"), 1328–1337
Semen Ivanovich, 1346–1353
Ivan Ivanovich, 1355–1359
Dmitry Konstantinovich, 1359–1363
Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoi), 1363–1389
Lengvenis (Lugveny (Semen) Olgerdovich), 1389–1407
Vasily Dmitr'evich, 1408–1425
Vasily Vasil'evich, 1425–1462
Jonas Vladimiraitis of Lithuania, Duke of Bely (1444–1446)
Ivan Vasil'evich ("the Great"), 1462–1480