Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Principality of Kiev

**jurcek1987** · May 01, 2023, 12:35 PM

Principality of Kiev Main Menu Intro

The region of the Kievan Rus' fragmented in the early XIIth century and a number of semi-autonomous successor states arose. Kiev remained the core of the country and was the center of the spiritual life with the office of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in Kiev. Following the death of Mstislav I of Kiev in 1132, the semi-autonomous states became de facto independent which led to the emergence of the Principality of Kiev as a separate state.

The importance of the Kievan Principality began to decline. In the years 1150–1180 many of its cities such as Vyshhorod, Kaniv, and Belgorod sought independence as individual principalities. The emergence of the principalities of Vladimir-Suzdal and Galicia-Volhynia resulted in the transition of the political and cultural center of Rus' as well as the migration of citizens to cities like Vladimir and Halych.

The Mongol invasion left the Principality of Kiev in a severely ruined state. Following the invasion, it was now under the formal suzerainty of the Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, Alexander Nevsky, who in turn was a vassal to the Mongols. After the Battle of Irpen in 1321 the Lithuanian Duke Gedimindas installed Olgimont Holshanskyi as Prince but there was a power struggle for the Principality between Lithuania and the Golden Horde. After the Battle of the Blue Waters in 1362 Kiev was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania under the Gedimind Dynasty who installed Volodymyr Jagiello as Prince.

Volodymyr increasingly pursued an independent policy. He obtained the restoration of the Kiev Metropolis from Constantinople and in 1375 the Greek Cyprian became Metropolitan. He minted his own coin, acquired Pereyaslav and expanded the Principality significantly to the south and southeast. In 1380 the Lithuanian-Rus forces defeated the Tatars at Kulikovo near Moscow. 1385 the Union of Krewo was signed between Poland and Lithuania according to which the two states were united under the rule of one monarch Vladislav Jagiello , Volodymyr's younger brother. In 1390 Volodymyr supported Vladislav in a civil war against his cousin Vytautas, the units of Kiev storming Grodno. However, in 1394 Volodymyr was removed as Prince by Vladislav in his drive to reduce the power of the principalities within Lithuania.

After another brief reign of Skirgailo the Principality of Kiev was disestablished in 1397 and Vladislav named Ivan Holshanskyi as administrator but the Prince no longer resided in Kiev. In the following period the Kievans as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were involved in several battles, in 1380 the allies defeated the Golden Horde at the battle of Vorskla and in 1408 they defeated the Teutonic Knights at Grunwald. Meanwhile the son and decedent of Volodymyr, Olelko Volodymyrovych expanded his influence within Lithuania, he participated in the siege of Novgorod and was even a candidate to the Lithuanian throne.

In 1432 civil war broke out for the throne of Lithuania between Svidrigaila and Kestutas. Kestutas favoured the Catholic nobility and the close union with Poland whereas Svidrigaila favoured a more independent Lithuania and the Orthodox and Rus nobility. Eventually Kestutas was victorious but Svidrigaila maintained the rule of the Grand Duchy of Rus which included Kiev. In 1440 Kestuats was killed but Svidrigaila was too weak to take control of Lithuania and Casimir Jagiellon became the new Grand Duke. As part of the settlement of the civil war the Principality of Kiev was restored with Olelko Volodymyrovych as the Prince. In 1444 Vladislav Jagiellon, King of Poland and Hungary died at Varna and in 1447 Casimir was elected as King of Poland too.

It is now 1448 and the Olelkovych dynasty rules in Kiev. It is a tenuous rule as the Prince Olelko must balance between Kiev being part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and paying homage to Casimir who is now both Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. The time is now for the Principality of Kiev to rise from its ashes and once again become the heart of all the Rus!

Principality of Kiev Current Situation

It has been 8 years since the Principality of Kiev was restored under the Olelkovych dynasty. Prince Olelko has a difficult task on his hands, he must balance the interests of the Orthodox Rus nobility and the Lithuanian Catholic overlord while at the same time maintaining the autonomy of the Principality.

The greatest challenge will be pushing back against the powerful Casimir Jagiellon, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. After the ruinous civil war in the previous decade and the tragic death of Vladislav at Varna Casimir is looking to consolidate his hold on power. As such, he is currently weak but he will eventually look to encroach on the Principalities within Lithuania just as his ancestor did during the time of Volodymyr. A tenuous coexistence is at play but sooner or later Kiev must declare its independence and will have to face Casimir's Polish-Lithuanian armies in battle.

Hungary is a great Catholic power but it is now in the midst of internal turmoil after the death of King Vladislav. The Hungarians can also act as a counter-balance to Poland and as such diplomatic relations should be initiated with them. Another union or alliance between Poland and Hungary must be prevented at all costs.

The closest Orthodox state in the West is the Principality of Moldova. Currently the Moldavians are stuck between a three way battle for influence between Poland, Hungary and the Ottomans. Relations with Moldova have been good due to the commonality of Orthodoxy and the new Princes of Kiev should continue cultivating this. The Moldavians could be a valuable ally in battle against the Poles.

To the North lies the rest of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which includes several other Rus Principalities such as Smolensk and Vitebsk and further upfield are the lands of Muscovy or Ryazan that have been fighting against the Lithuanian expansion. To the East lie the lands of the Great Horde, much danger comes from this area with the many Tatar raids.

To the South a new player has emerged with the breakup of the Golden Horde and the appearance of the Crimean Khanate. This new Tatar state is actually in conflict with the Great Horde and has been an ally of Lithuania in the past. However, they are still Tatars and as such are still prone to raiding. These lands belonged to the Kievan Rus in the past and if Kiev is to become a powerful state it must occupy Crimea and the Black Sea shores where many Slavs still live.

After almost half a century of being fully integrated into Lithuania the newly emergent Principality of Kiev is looking to restore its former glory. Many centuries ago the Rurikids ruled a great empire with its beating heart in Kiev. It is time to show that through the veins of the Olelkovych flows the blood of the old Rurikids and of the Gediminids and that all of the lands of Lithuania and the Rus will once again be ruled from Kiev!

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