Dukes · Principality of Ryazan with Pronsk · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Roman of Ryazan

The senior prince of Ryazan since about 1180.

Captured with his father by Vsevolod III in 1177 and freed at the request of his father-in-law Sviatoslav of Chernigov, Roman tried to rule his younger brothers and keep the Chernigov alliance; it brought Vsevolod's armies down on Ryazan in 1180 and again in 1186-1187, when Roman besieged his brothers in Pronsk. After the peace of 1187 he served Vsevolod: he was at Konstantin's wedding feast in Vladimir in October 1196, and in 1199 the Ryazan princes called Vsevolod to lead the campaign against the Cumans.

Who he is

Name
Roman Glebovich
Title
Prince of Ryazan (senior)
Since
about 1180
Born
not pinned
Family
Eldest son of Gleb Rostislavich of Ryazan (d. 1177 or 1178, a prisoner at Vladimir). Wife: a daughter of Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, grand prince of Kiev (d. 1194), her name not pinned. Children: none securely attested (not pinned). Brothers: Igor (d. 1194), Vsevolod (Pronsk), Sviatoslav, Vladimir and Yaroslav (Ilovaisky names these six sons of Gleb).
Confidence
high

Ilovaisky 1858 pp. 72-89 (search snippets); en.wikipedia Principality of Ryazan

Overlord

Vsevolod III of Vladimir, in practice

What it holds

  • Old Ryazan with its land on the middle Oka
  • Pereyaslavl (Ryazansky) on the Trubezh, a lesser town (holder not pinned, most likely the senior prince)
  • the senior prince's rights over Kolomna and Rostislavl on the upper Ryazan Oka (who held them in 1200 is not pinned)

How it was acquired

Inherited seniority as Gleb's eldest son; confirmed in Ryazan by Vsevolod III after the war of 1180 (Ilovaisky).

Allies and rivals

Rival of his brothers at Pronsk (1180, 1186); dependant of Vsevolod III; kin by marriage of the Olgovichi of Chernigov (his wife's brother Vsevolod Chermny); enemy of the Cumans.

How things stand that morning

Rules Old Ryazan as senior prince, at peace with his brothers and obedient to Vsevolod III since 1187.

Wealth

The Oka trade and tolls at the capital, the princely domain round Old Ryazan, tribute from the forest peoples (thin).

Military

His retinue (druzhina) and the Ryazan town host; the great earthworks of Old Ryazan.

Threats

  • Vsevolod III
  • the Pronsk branch
  • the Cumans

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. 1207 (after this year)Arrested by Vsevolod III on the Oka with his brother Sviatoslav and several nephews; dies in captivity in 1216.Depends on: his nephews' accusation and Vsevolod's suspicion Stopped by: nothing that is in play in 1200

Places of note

  • Old Ryazan: his seat
  • Pereyaslavl (Ryazansky): lesser town

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Known from the Laurentian Chronicle's notices of Ryazan, assembled by Ilovaisky.

On the map: The split of the Ryazan land among the brothers in 1200 is not recorded; this block is the capital's land only.

Primary sources for Ryazan

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.

Sources and studies

  1. D. I. Ilovaisky, Istoriya Ryazanskogo knyazhestva (Moscow 1858), full text searched on archive.org
  2. Laurentian Chronicle, PSRL vol. 1 (Leningrad 1926), archive.org (year 6707 = 1199 at p. 285)
  3. en.wikipedia: Principality of Ryazan

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.