Igor Svyatoslavich

Igor Svyatoslavich^[a] (3 April 1151 – c. 1201),^[3][2][4] nicknamed the Brave, was Prince of Novgorod-Seversk (1180–1198) and Prince of Chernigov (1198–1201/1202).^[2][5]

Igor Svyatoslavich
The escape of Igor Svyatoslavich from Polovtsian captivity
Prince of Chernigov
Reign	1198–1201/2
Predecessor	Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich
Successor	Oleg III Svyatoslavich
Born	3 April 1151 Novgorod-Seversk
Died	1201 or 1202
Spouse	Euphrosyne Yaroslavna
Issue	Vladimir of Galicia Unnamed daughter Svyatoslav III of Vladimir-Volynsk Roman II of Galicia
House	Olgovichi
Father	Sviatoslav Olgovich
Mother	Catherine of Chernigov
Seal

Life

The son of Sviatoslav Olgovich, prince of Chernigov, in 1169 Igor took part in the war against Mstislav Iziaslavich of Kiev on the side of Andrey Bogolyubsky. In order to counter Cuman raids on the lands of southern Rus', in 1185 he organized a campaign against the nomads, without the knowledge of the Grand Prince of Kiev. After an initial victory, Igor's army was surrounded on the Kaiala River [uk]. The prince himself was captured, but managed to escape. After Igor's defeat, the Cumans raided the Principality of Pereyaslavl.^{[6][better source needed]}

In culture

Igor's defeat from the Cumans is the subject of the epic Lay of Igor's Campaign, whose central theme is the fate of Rus' territories during the period of feudal division between various princes. The work describes in detail Igor's preparations for the campaign and the course of the three-day battle between Rus' forces and the nomads. The text is concluded with a praise of the prince, his younger brother and comrade-in-arms Vsevolod Sviatoslavich, as well as his son Vladimir.^{[7][better source needed]}

Marriage and children

Before 1170: Euphrosyne (possibly)^[b] Yaroslavna, the second daughter of prince Yaroslav Osmomysl of Halych by his first wife Olga Yuryevna of Kiev^[2]

• Prince Vladimir Igorevich of Galicia (October 8, 1170 – 1211 or after)^[2]
• Unnamed Igorevna (1171/1173 – after 1196), wife of David Olegovich^[2]
• Oleg Igorevich (b. 1174) died at an early age^[2]
• Prince Svyatoslav III Igorevich of Vladimir-in-Volhynia (1176 – September, 1211)^[2]
• Prince Roman II Igorevich of Galicia (1177/1179 – September, 1211)^[2]

Ancestors

Ancestors of Igor Svyatoslavich[2]
16. Yaroslav I Vladimirovich, grand prince of Kiev 8. Svyatoslav II Yaroslavich, grand prince of Kiev 17. Ingegerd of Sweden 4. Oleg I of Chernigov 18. Count Etheler of Dithmarschen 9. Kilikia of Dithmarschen 19. Ida of Elsdort 2. Sviatoslav Olgovich, prince of Chernigov 10. Ossolur, Cuman khan 5. Unnamed 1. Igor Svyatoslavich 6. Petrilla, posadnik of Novgorod 3. Catherine

See also

• Prince Igor
• Cuman people
• Battle of Kalka River
• Solar eclipse of 1 May 1185

Notes

1. Old East Slavic: Игорь Святъславичь, romanized: Igorĭ Svjatŭslavičĭ; Russian: Игорь Святославич; Ukrainian: Ігор Святославич, romanized: Ihor Svyatoslavych, Ihor Sviatoslavych;^[1] Old Norse: Ingvar Sveinaldsson; Christian name: Yury^[2]
2. Basing their observations on the evidence of the Lay of Igor’s Campaign, a number of historians have suggested that her name was Evfrosinia and that she may have been Igor’s second wife; on the other hand, the chronicles neither give Yaroslavna’s name nor suggest that she was Igor’s second wife^[8]