Mstislav of Chernigov
| Mstislav Vladimirovich | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Tmutarakan | |
| Reign | 988 or after–c. 1035 |
| Predecessor | new creation (?) |
| Successor | united with Kievan Rus' (from 1054 Sviatoslav I) |
| Prince of Chernigov | |
| Reign | 1024–c. 1035 |
| Predecessor | new creation (?) |
| Successor | united with Kievan Rus' (from 1054 Sviatoslav I) |
| Died | c. 1035 |
| Burial | Holy Savior Cathedral, Chernigov (Chernihiv, Ukraine) |
| Issue | Eustaphius |
| Dynasty | Rurik |
| Father | Vladimir the Great |
| Mother | Rogneda of Polotsk or a Czech woman |
Mstislav Vladimirovich (Belarusian: Мсціслаў Уладзіміравіч; Russian: Мстислав Владимирович; Ukrainian: Мстислав Володимирович) was the earliest attested prince of Tmutarakan and Chernigov in Kievan Rus'. He was a younger son of Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev. His father appointed him to rule Tmutarakan, an important fortress by the Strait of Kerch, in or after 988.
He invaded the core territories of Kievan Rus', which were ruled by his brother, Yaroslav the Wise, in 1024. Although Mstislav could not take Kiev, he forced the East Slavic tribes dwelling to the east of the Dniester River to accept his suzerainty. Yaroslav the Wise also accepted the division of Kievan Rus' along the river after Mstislav had defeated him in a battle fought at Listven by Chernigov (Chernihiv, Ukraine). Mstislav transferred his seat to the latter town, and became the first ruler of the principality emerging around it.
Mstislav was one of the many sons of Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev.His exact position in Vladimir's family is disputed, because Vladimir, who had seven wives and many concubines before his conversion, fathered two sons called Mstislav, according to the Russian Primary Chronicle. One of them was born to Rogneda of Polotsk, the first wife of Vladimir who married him by force in the late 970s. The second Mstislav was born to a Czech woman. Historians debate whether the future prince of Tmutarakan and Chernihiv was the son of Rogneda or Vladimir's Czech wife: for instance, the first option is preferred by George Vernadsky, the second by Janet Martin.
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