- Yuri Dolgoruki
Prince Yuri I Dolgoruki ( _ru. Юрий Долгорукий, "Yuri the Long-arm"), also known as George I of Russia, (c. 1099–15 May 1157) was the founder of
Moscow and a key figure in the transition of political power fromKiev toVladimir-Suzdal following the death of his elder brother Mstislav the Great. He reigned asVeliki Kniaz (Grand Prince ) of Kiev from September 1149 to April 1151 and then again from March 1155 to May 1157.Activities in Rostov and Suzdal
Yuri was the sixth son of
Vladimir Monomakh . Although his birthdate is uncertain, some chronicles report that Yuri's elder brother, Viacheslav, said to him: "I am much older than you; I was already bearded when you were born." Since Viacheslav was born in 1083, this pushes Yuri's birth to c. 1099/1100.In 1108, Yuri was sent by his father to govern in his name the vast Rostov-Suzdal
province in the north-east ofKievan Rus' . In 1121, he quarrelled with the boyars ofRostov and moved the capital of his lands from that city toSuzdal . As the area was sparsely populated, Yuriy founded many fortresses there. He established the towns ofKsniatin in 1134,Pereslavl-Zalesski andYuriev-Polski in 1152, andDmitrov in 1154. The establishment ofTver ,Kostroma , andVologda is also popularly assigned to Yuri.In 1147, Yuri Dolgoruki had a meeting with
Sviatoslav Olgovich in a place calledMoscow . In 1156, Yurifortified Moscow with wooden walls and amoat . Although the settlement probably existed earlier, Dolgoruki is often called "The Founder of Moscow".truggle for Kiev
For all the interest he took in fortifying his Northern lands, Yuri still coveted the throne of
Kiev . It is his active participation in the Southern affairs that earned him the sobriquet of "Dolgoruki", i.e., "the long-armed". His elder brother Mstislav of Kiev died in 1132, and "the Rus lands fell apart", as one chronicle put it. Yuri instantaneously declared war on the princes ofChernigov , enthroned his son inNovgorod , and captured Pereyaslav of the South. The Novgorodians, however, betrayed him, and Yuri avenged by seizing their key fortress,Torzhok .In 1147, Dolgoruki resumed his struggle for Kiev and two years later he captured it, but in 1151 he was driven from the capital of Rus by his nephew Iziaslav. In 1155, Yuri regained Kiev once again. His sudden death, however, sparkled anti-
Suzdal ian uprising inKiev . Yuri Dolgoruki was interred at theSaviour Church in Berestovo , Kiev, but his tomb is empty.Marriages and children
The
Primary Chronicle records the first marriage of Yuri on 12 January 1108. His first wife was a daughter of Aepa Ocenevich, Khan of theCumans . Her paternal grandfather was Osen. Her people belonged to theKipchaks , a confederation of pastoralists and warriors of Turkic origin.His second wife Helena survived him and moved to
Constantinople . Her paternity is not known for certain butNikolay Karamzin was the first to theorise that Helena was returning to her native city. She has since be theorised to be a member of theKomnenos dynasty which ruled theByzantine Empire throughout the life of Yuri. She has been tendatively identified with Helena Komnene, a daughter of Isaac Komnenos. The identification would make her a granddaughter ofAlexios I Komnenos andIrene Doukaina .Yuri had at least fifteen children. The identities of the mothers are not known for certain
*The following are considered elder children and usually attributed to the first wife.
**Rostislav Yuryevich , Prince of Pereyaslavl (d. 6 April 1151).
**Ivan Yuryevich, Prince ofKursk (d. 24 February 1147).
**Olga Yuryevna (d. 1189). MarriedYaroslav Osmomysl .
**Andrei I Bogolyubsky (c. 1111 - 28 June 1174).
**Maria Yuryevna. Married Oleg Sviatoslavich, Prince ofNovhorod-Siverskyi .
**Sviatoslav Yuryevich (d. 11 January 1174).
**Yaroslav Yuryevich (d. 12 April 1166).
**Gleb of Kiev (d. 1171).
**Boris Yuryevich, Prince ofBelgorod andTuraŭ (d. 12 May 1159).
**Mstislav Yuryevich, Prince of Novgorod (d. 1166).
**Vasilko Yuryevich, Prince ofSuzdal (deposed in 1161).
*The following are considered youngest and typically attributed to the second wife
**Mikhail of Vladimir (d. 20 June 1176).
**Vsevolod the Big Nest (1154 - 12 April 1212).
**David Yuryevich.
**Yaropolk Yurievich.Memorials
Muscovites have cherished Yuri's memory as the legendary founder of city. His patron saint,
Saint George appears on thecoat of arms of Moscow slaying a dragon. In 1954, amonument to him was erected on Moscow'sTverskaya Street , the city's principal avenue, in front of the Moscow municipality.Dolgoruki's image was stamped on a
medal "In commemoration of Moscow's 800thanniversary ", introduced in 1947.The nuclear submarine "Yuri Dolgoruki" is named after him.
External links
* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/RUSSIA,%20Rurik.htm#IuriiVladimirovichdied1158B His listing in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley.]
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