Prince of Polatsk

Principality of Polotsk
Полацкае княства
Vassal of Kievan Rus' to 1021 Part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1307
987–1397
Seal
Capital		Polotsk
Languages		Old East Slavic
Religion		Eastern Orthodox Church
Government		Principality
Prince of Polotsk
•	1044–1101	Vseslav
Legislature		Veche
History
•	Established	987
•	Incorporation into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania	1397
Succeeded by Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Today part of		Belarus  Latvia  Lithuania  Russia

The Principality of Polotsk, also known as the Kingdom of Polotsk or the Duchy of Polotsk (Belarusian: По́лацкае кня́ства; Russian: По́лоцкое кня́жество), was a medieval principality of the Early East Slavs. The origin and date of state establishment is uncertain. The Russian chronicles mention Polotsk being conquered by Vladimir the Great, and thereafter it became associated with the Rurik dynasty and Kievan Rus'.

The Principality was supposedly established around the ancient town of Polotsk (modern Polatsk, Belarus) by the tribal union of Krivichs. In the second half of the 10th century Polotsk was governed by its own dynasty; its first ruler mentioned in the chronicles was the semi-legendary Rogvolod (?-978), better known as the father of Rogneda. The Principality was heavily involved in several succession crises of the 11th-12th centuries and a war with the Land of Novgorod. By the 13th century it was integrated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

At the time of its greatest extent the principality stretched over large parts of today's northern and central Belarus and a smaller part of today's southeastern Latvia, including (besides Polotsk itself) the following towns: Vitebsk, Drutsk, Minsk, Izjaslaw (now Zaslawye), Lahojsk, Barysaw, Brachyslaw (now Braslaw), Kukeinos (now Koknese) and others.

...
Wikipedia