Lev Danilovich: Biography

The son of Daniil Romanovich Lev was a Galician and Volyn prince. He had to fight with many opponents: Poles, Lithuanians and Tatars. This ruler was one of the last independent princes of Western Russia.

early years

Galitsky and Volyn prince Lev Danilovich was born around 1228. Little is known about his childhood. He was the second of four sons of Daniil Romanovich. The first mention of the child dates back to 1240. Then he went to Hungary together with his father. Daniel wanted to marry his son to the daughter of the king of this country, Bela, and thus consolidate the political alliance with his neighbor. However, the Hungarian monarch refused the offer. And only ten years later, when Daniel visited the Horde and gained favor with the khan, Bela IV changed his mind. So Leo married Constance of Hungary.

Growing up, the heir participated in several military campaigns of his father. In 1254, Lev Danilovich helped his father-in-law in his conflict with the Czechs. Also, the son of the Galician-Volyn prince led his retinue in a campaign against the Yatvingians. Lev Danilovich even killed their ruler Steikint, bringing his father their weapons. At the same time, the Russian princedoms depended on the Tatars, and Rurikovich had to personally tear down Volyn fortresses by the order of the khan.

The struggle for the throne of Galich

In 1264 Daniel Romanovich died. He divided his power among his sons, giving each one a share. Leo got Przemysl. His elder brother Schwart, thanks to a successful dynastic marriage, became Prince of Lithuania and received Galich and Hill from his father. In parallel with them, Uncle Vasilko Romanovich ruled in Volhynia. The lion was very envious of Schwern, and because of this he went on a real crime.

In Lithuania, Daniel's eldest son reigned along with his brother's brother Wojselkom. Leo invited him to a feast. At first Voyoshel hesitated, but finally agreed to come after the friendly assurances of Vasilko. After a long feast the ruler of Peremyshl killed a Lithuanian. That's what a cunning deed was done by Lev Danilovich. Schwaren outlived his brother-in-law briefly. He died in 1269. In the annals there is no evidence of the nature of his death. Since Schwarn was childless, all his inheritance inherited his brother Lev, who became a full-fledged Prince of Galich.

Lithuanian politics

At the beginning of his reign, Leo supported the Polish King Boleslaw in his internal feudal struggle against the Prince of Vorot. Then the ruler of Galic turned his gaze to the Lithuanians and Yatvingians. He sent an army against this tribe, which captured the town of Zlin. Yatvyagi did not begin to give a general battle, frightened by a strong Russian squad.

Soon Galitsky prince reconciled with the Lithuanian ruler Troyden, began to regularly exchange embassies and gifts with him. Such behavior clearly demonstrated an important character trait of this man, and the characterization of Lev Danilovich without mentioning it would be incomplete: he often changed friends and enemies, focusing only on the interests of his principality.

However, this pragmatic policy had its own flaws. In 1274, the fragile alliance with Troiden collapsed. The Lithuanian prince sent the army to Drogichin. The city was captured, and many residents were killed. Lion began to ask help from the Tatars. Khan Mengu-Timur not only gave him an army, but also ordered the remaining princes of Western Russia to help their relative.

The guards headed to the city of Novogrudok, intending to take an important Lithuanian fortress. Each army went its own way. The Lion's army approached the city one of the first. Together with him was a Tatar squad. The lion decided to seize the fortress without waiting for his allies. The idea was fulfilled at night. The Prince did not begin to notify the Allies of his intentions, despite early agreements. When the squads of Roman Bryansky and Gleb Smolensky approached Novogrudok, they and the other Rurikovichs were angry with Leo. The princes did not like that he did not consider them equal, and went home. After this episode the campaign ended.

Wars with Poland

In 1280, after the death of Boleslaw V Stable, Lev Danilovich tried to take possession of the Polish throne. However, the local nobility refused to recognize his rights to the throne and elected the nephew of the deceased, Leshka the Black, as monarch. Then Prince Lev Danilovich went to the Golden Horde to Nogai, hoping for help from the Tatars in the war with the Poles. Khan really supported the prince. In addition, the eastern despot forced to join Lev other Rurikovich.

The Krakow campaign ended in nothing. Lion boasted that he was going to reach the capital of Poland, but instead his army began to loot and maraud in roadside villages, becoming vulnerable to enemy troops. After a serious defeat, Leo had to return home empty-handed. The following year, Leszek Black attacked Galicia, captured the town of Perevoresk and exterminated its inhabitants.

Relations with Tatars

In 1283 the Tatars came to the possession of the Lion, who were going to fight with Poland. To the west, they did not go, but they began to rob the Volyn and Galician cities. Hordes of Khan Tula-Bugi and Nogaya killed and captured about 25 thousand people. Many residents of Lviv died of hunger.

A few years later, in 1287, the Russian princes again had to go along with the Tatars to Poland. Lev Danilovich Galitsky, like his other relatives, could not fight the hordes of nomads, so he obediently obeyed the orders of the khans, hoping thus to protect their lands from even greater destruction.

Prince of Galicia and Volhynia

At the end of 1288 Volyn Prince Vladimir Vasilkovich died, who was his cousin Leo. According to the will, his throne passed to another son of Daniel - Mstislav. The lion was dissatisfied with the fact that his younger brother, bypassing him, received a rich and important principality. The son of Prince Yuri even captured Brest. Not wanting an open confrontation with Mstislav, Lev gave his offspring the order to leave the city. However, time again played into the hands of the latter.

In 1292, Mstislav died, and his elder brother inherited the Volyn principality, thus combining the two western Russian lands - Galicia and Volhynia. Without resorting to war, Prince Lev Danilovich Galitsky was able to restore the power of his ancestors. He died in 1301. Dying, the ruler ordered to make a funeral without any celebrations. The monks clothed the body in a simple shroud and put a cross in his hand.