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Izyaslav II Mstislavich was the second son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, prince of Kyiv and Mstislav's
first wife, Khristina Ingovna, a Swedish princess. He married first a lady
whose name is not known, then a Lithuanian princess and then in 1154 a Abazin
princess. His sons were Mstislav II, appanage
prince of Kursk, and prince of Kyiv; Yaropolk,
appanage prince of Lutsk, and Yaroslav, prince of
Kyiv. They are shown on this chart and this
chart. Izyaslav was prince of Vladimir-in Volynia
around 1136, then appanage prince of Periaslavl around 1143,and then prince of
Kyiv (1146-49, and 1151-1154). During the second reign he ruled jointly with
his uncle,Vyacheslav Vladimirovich as a way to fend
off Vyacheslav's younger brother, Yuri Dolgoruki.
In 1134 Izyaslav gained his brother's help in acquiring an appanage on Suzdal
lands, which was followed by incursions of the Novgorodians into Suzdal lands
also in the following year. Known for his veiled threat, when his demands were
rejected by the Great Prince Yaropolk Vladimirovich, "Otdayu delo na sud
Bozhii!," (let God be my witness), or (let God's hand settle the affair),
which for the bands of warriors were fighting words and meant the matter would
be settled on the battle field. Following the death of his second cousin,
Vsyevolod II Ol'govich, in 1146, Izyaslav succeeded
him in the middle of August and kept the Monomashichi, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, out of his chance as next in
line to the throne. He was an outstanding personality, grandson of Vladimir
Monomakh, son of the Great Prince of Kiev, the half-English, Mstislav I and the
Swedish Queen Christina. However, he was a ruthless cut-throat, who would spill
innocent peasants' blood, such as when he attempted to wrestle the Pereyaslavl
lands away from the other Monomashichi. The protracted struggle with his uncle,
Yuri Dolgorukii, of Suzdal for the title of great prince is vividly portrayed
in the chronicles and is used as the litmus test for all internecine struggles.
Following Izyaslav's death the throne of the great prince went first to his
brother, Rostislav, but was lost to Yuri Dolgorukii and Izyaslav III Davidovich, then regained by Izyaslav's
brother, Rostislav Mstislavich, who decided to
rule jointly with his uncle, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich (1161-67). It was then
held by Izyaslav's son, Mstislav Izyaslavich until 1169 when Yuri's son,
Andrei Bogoliubskii stormed Kiev. When in 1167
following the death of Rostislav, the population of Kiev invited to reign
Mstislav Izyaslavich, there was a crowd of people in the procession in other
words he was invited by popular acclaim. Soon however he had to leave Kiev.
Upon his return in 1172, once again to rule he was obliged to toe the line of
city elders. In this regard, is an episode recounted in the chronicle in 1154.
Prince Izyaslav while campaigning against Yurii, learned of the death of his
co-ruler and uncle Vyacheslav. Izyaslav returned to Kiev, disbursed the riches
to the monasteries, churches and the destitute and then rushed off in valiant
pursuits. He joined his ranks and held council with Svyatoslav Vsyevolodovich
and with Mstislav Iziaslavich, his son, and with his men, proposing a campaign
against Chernigiv. The men met this proposal with alarm and even had the
insolence to tell him to go alone if he was inclined.
In naval warfare Prince Izyaslav II Mstislavich of Kiev is credited with
the invention of a new type of warship, used by him on the Dnieper River. The
appearance of the vessel is described, in the Kievan chronicle, in the
following words: "Izyaslav built boats in an ingenious way: the oarsmen
were invisible, only the oars could be seen, and the men were not, since the
boat was decked. And the soldiers stood on the deck in armor and shot arrows.
And there were two helmsmen, one in the bow and one in the stern; and they
could steer the boat where they wanted without turning it." Polnoye
Sobraniye Russkoy Letopisi, II, str. 59 1151.
Chronology:
1127 Izyaslavich holds Kursk, he then went to Polotsk, Minsk, Turov, Pinsk and
Novgorod
1134 -
1146 - Kiev population rejects Yuri Dolgoruki and accepts Izyaslav for prince -
war with Yuri follows -
1149 - Yuri captures Kyiv but Izyaslav retakes it
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