Igor Svyatoslavich

Igor Svyatoslavich
Prince Igor by Ivan Bilibin
Spouse(s)	Yaroslavna of Halych
Noble family	Rurik dynasty
Father	Sviatoslav Olgovich
Mother	Catherine
Born	3 April 1151
Died	1201 or 1202

Prince Igor Svyatoslavich the Brave (Old East Slavic: Игорь Святъславичь, Igorĭ Svjatŭslavičĭ; Russian: Игорь Святославич, Igor Svyatoslavich; Ukrainian: Ігор Святославич, Ihor Svyatoslavych; Old Norse: Ingvar Sveinaldsson) (Novhorod-Siverskyi, April 3 / 10, 1151 – the spring of 1201 / December 29, 1202) was a Rus’ prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty). His baptismal name was Yury. Igor was prince of Putivl (1164–1180), of Novgorod-Seversk (1180–1198), and of Chernigov (1198–1201/1202).

Chronicle evidence reveals that he had an enviably successful military career; he led many campaigns against the Cumans from among which the chronicles report only one defeat. But it was his defeat at the river Kayala (the exact location of which has never been definitively established) that has become immortalized through its literary rendering in “The Lay of Igor’s Campaign”, the most celebrated epic of Rus’.

Let us begin this narration, brethren,
from the old times of Vladimir to this present time of Igor,
who strengthened his mind with courage,
who quickened his heart with valor
and, thus imbued with martial spirit,
led his valiant regiments
against the Kuman land
in defense of the Russian land.

During his reign Novgorod Severskiy (today Novhorod-Siverskyi in Ukraine) enjoyed the status of the second most powerful town in the Chernihiv land. Basing their observations on archaeological evidence, a number of investigators proposed that Igor built the Cathedral of St. Savior in the Monastery of the Transfiguration outside of the town. It has also been suggested that he founded the stone church in Putivl.

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