Town · The Chernigov land of the Olgovichi · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Starodub

Starodub, on the Babinets in the old Radimichi country west of the Desna, is one of the oldest towns of the Chernigov land: in 1096 Oleg Sviatoslavich held out in it against Sviatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh.

It is an appanage seat of the Olgovichi; by ru.wikipedia it is Vsevolod the Red's from 1198 to 1201.

Who holds it

Name
Vsevolod Sviatoslavich the Red (by ru.wikipedia, 1198-1201)
Title
Lord of the town
Since
See the lord's record
Confidence
low

Lord in 1200

Vsevolod Sviatoslavich the Red (by ru.wikipedia, 1198-1201)

How things stand that morning

Held for the Olgovichi; holder low confidence.

Charter

None: Rus' towns of this age have no charters; the townsmen live under the prince's law (the Russkaya Pravda) and his officers' courts.

Council

None recorded.

Communities

Retainers and townsmen.

Militia

The town host.

Walls and castle

Timber and earth fort.

Trade and crafts

Furs, honey and wax of the Radimichi forests; the roads to Smolensk and Gomel.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Old and well attested as a town; its prince in 1200 rests on one modern account.

Primary sources for Chernigov (the Olgovichi)

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 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 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

Sources and studies

  1. Vsevolod Sviatoslavich Chermnyi (ru.wikipedia)
  2. Chernigov principality (ru.wikipedia)

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