principality · Poland, Lithuania and Russia
Principality of Volhynia
Origins
Volhynia, between the Bug and the upper Pripyat, was an old land of Rus' with its centre at Volodymyr. In the mid 12th century it became the hereditary domain of the descendants of Iziaslav Mstislavich of Kiev, and from 1154 his son Mstislav Iziaslavich ruled it as a separate principality.
Rule and society
Volhynia was a fertile land of towns such as Volodymyr, Lutsk and Berestia, trading with Poland and the West. Its princes, the senior branch of Monomakh's family, were among the strongest in Rus' and frequently fought for Kiev. Roman Mstislavich, who succeeded in 1170, was an energetic warrior who fought the Lithuanians and Cumans.
Decline and legacy
In 1199 Roman Mstislavich took Halych after its dynasty died out and joined the two lands into the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia. Volhynia later passed to Lithuania as the Duchy of Volhynia.
Lineage
On the connections map
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- Principality of Belz split from Principality of Volhynia1170 CE
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Principality of Volhynia. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-volhynia
- MLA
- “Principality of Volhynia.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-volhynia. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Principality of Volhynia.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-volhynia.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Principality of Volhynia’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-volhynia (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻