Mstislav of Smolensk

Who he is

Name

Mstislav Romanovich

Title

prince of Smolensk

Since

1197 (David Rostislavich died on 23 April 1197)

Born

not known

Family

son of Roman Rostislavich (died 1180). Uncle: Rurik Rostislavich of Kiev, head of the house. Cousins: David's sons (one of them, Mstislav, baptised Boris, rules Smolensk 1219-1230; where they hold land in 1200 is not pinned); the Mstislavichi of Toropets; Rurik's sons Rostislav and Vladimir. Wife not pinned. Sons Sviatoslav (later prince of Polotsk 1222-1232 and Smolensk 1232-1238) and Vsevolod (Smolensk 1239-1249) appear in the 1210s; whether they are born by 1 January 1200 is not pinned.

Confidence

high

ru.wikipedia (Давыд Ростиславич; Мстиславль); de.wikipedia (Liste der Fürsten von Smolensk); en.wikipedia (Mstislav III of Kiev: prince of Pskov from 1179)

Overlord

none; defers to Rurik of Kiev as senior

What it holds

• Smolensk with its detinets, trading quarter and near land
• Mstislavl and Krichev (his old appanage)
• Rostislavl (Roslavl) and the upper Desna, unless the appanage there has its own prince (ru.wikipedia: a prince sat there 1197-1206, unnamed)
• Dorogobuzh and the eastern road towards Vyazma
• Kopys on the Dnieper, Propoisk on the Sozh, Kasplya, Krasny and the tribute places of the 1136 charter
• overlordship of the Mstislavichi of Toropets

How it was acquired

Succession on David's death in 1197, as next senior Rostislavich in the north; David's own sons did not succeed.

Allies and rivals

Rurik of Kiev and his sons; Vsevolod III (peace of 1196); the Olgovichi (enemies 1195-1196, now at peace); Polotsk; Roman of Volhynia, Rurik's rival.

How things stand that morning

Holds Smolensk and its towns without challenge that winter.

Wealth

Smolensk's tolls and markets, the polyudye and dues of the charter places, the river trade to the Daugava and the Dnieper.

Military

His retinue and the Smolensk host; captured in battle near Vitebsk in 1195-1196. No figures.

Threats

• a new war between Rurik and the Olgovichi or Roman
• Polotsk on the Vitebsk side

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

1. 1201 (later)Rurik loses Kiev to Roman; Mstislav must choose between his uncle and the new power in the south.Depends on: Roman's break with Rurik Stopped by: a reconciliation in Kiev

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: His accession and capture are in the Hypatian Chronicle as summarised by ru.wikipedia; his acts in 1197-1200 are not recorded.

On the map: The blocks follow the towns named in 1136-1150 and later; their edges are modern.

Primary sources for Smolensk

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

• The Chronicle of Novgorod (kept year by year; the Synodal manuscript written in the 13th and 14th centuries). Novgorod's own record, kept at St Sophia. Read online
• The Hypatian Chronicle (the Kievan Chronicle compiled about 1200 at the Vydubichi monastery; the Galician-Volhynian Chronicle in the 13th century). The southern record. Read online
• The Laurentian Chronicle (the Suzdal continuation kept in the late 12th and 13th centuries; manuscript 1377). The court record of Vsevolod III of Vladimir. Read online
• The birch-bark letters (11th to 15th centuries). Excavated letters and notes on birch bark, dated by the layer they lie in. Read online
• The Tale of Igor's Campaign (about 1187 to 1200 (disputed)). A poem on Igor Sviatoslavich's defeat by the Polovtsians in 1185 that addresses the princes of the day by name: Vsevolod of Vladimir, Rurik and David Rostislavich, Yaroslav of Galich, Roman of Volhynia and the Olgovichi of Chernigov, of whom Igor himself was prince from 1198. Read online