Principality of Murom

The Principality of Murom (Russian: Муромское княжество), also referred to as the Murom-Ryazan Principality (Russian: Муромо-Рязанское княжество) until the mid-12th century,^[1] was a principality with its capital in Murom, now in Vladimir Oblast, Russia. Murom lay in an area that was strongly Finnic and for much of its medieval history, located in the homeland of the Muromians. In 1392, it was incorporated into the Grand Principality of Moscow.

Principality of Murom Муромское княжество (Russian)
1127–1392
Principality of Murom c. 1350
Status	Principality Personal union with Ryazan
Capital	Murom
Common languages	Russian
Religion	Russian Orthodoxy
Government	Monarchy
Prince
• 1097–1129 (first)	Iaroslav Sviatoslavich
History
• Established	1127
• Disestablished	1392
Today part of	Russia

History

It appears to have been an important Finnic settlement in the 9th century, with an archaeologically noticeable Scandinavian presence from the 10th century, as evidenced by Frankish swords, a tortoiseshell brooch and a sword chape.^[2]

The Primary Chronicle alleges that Murom came under the control of the Rus' in the 9th century.^[3] Gleb Vladimirovich, son of Vladimir the Great, ruled the principality in the early 11th century.^[4] Murom was part of the territory of the Principality of Chernigov in the late 11th century, controlled by the Sviatoslavichi, the descendants of Yaroslav the Wise; probably it was retained by Vsevolod Yaroslavich even after this prince of Chernigov became the grand prince in 1076.^[5]

Oleg Sviatoslavich, a grandson of Yaroslav and the prince of Chernigov, ruled Murom through a posadnik in the early 1090s, and it was recognised as Oleg's sphere of influence at the Liubech Conference of 1097.^[6] Here Oleg's brother Davyd was made co-ruler of Chernigov, and Oleg's lands were parcelled out between Oleg, Davyd and their brother Iaroslav; the latter obtained Murom with Ryazan.^[7]

Murom appears to have been destroyed or at least devastated by the Mongol invasion of Rus' in 1237–1238. Khan Batu came to the frontier of Ryazan in the winter of 1237, and demanded tribute from the princes of Ryazan, Murom and Pronsk. This was rejected, and devastation of these lands followed.^[8]

In 1392, Vasily I, the grand prince of Vladimir and Moscow, obtained a patent from Khan Tokhtamysh authorising the annexation of the Murom principality, along with the principalities of Nizhny Novgorod and Gorodets.^[9]

List of princes

Main article: Prince of Murom

• Iaroslav Sviatoslavich, 1097–1129
• Iurii Iaroslavich, 1129–1143
• Sviatoslav Iaroslavich, 1143–1145
• Rostislav Iaroslavich, 1145–1147
• Vladimir Sviatoslavich, 1147–1149
• Rostislav Iaroslavich (again), 1149–1155
• Vladimir Sviatoslavich (again), 1155–1161
• Iurii Vladimirovich, 1161–1174
• Vladimir Yuryevich, ?–1203
• Davyd Yuryevich, 1203–1228
• Iurii Davydovich, ?–1237
• Igor Yuryevich, 1203–?
• Iaroslav Yuryevich, 1237–?

After Iaroslav and the destruction of Murom by the Mongols, the princes of Murom disappear for nearly a century, resuming with:

• Vasily Iaroslavich, ?–1344 x 8
• Iurii Iaroslavich, 1344 x 8–1353
• Fedor Glebovich, 1353–x 1392

Notes

1. Fennell, John (2014). The crisis of medieval Russia, 1200-1304. London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis. pp. 11–12. ISBN 9781317873143.
2. Franklin & Shepard, Emergence, pp. 38-9, 46.
3. Franklin & Shepard, Emergence, p. 48.
4. Franklin & Shepard, Emergence, p. 185.
5. Martin, Medieval Russia, p. 31.
6. Franklin & Shepard, Emergence, p. 185.
7. Dimnik, Dynasty of Chernigov, p. 12.
8. Dimnik, Dynasty of Chernigov, pp. 342-7.
9. Martin, Medieval Russia, p. 228.

References

• Dimnik, Martin, The Dynasty of Chernigov, 1146-1246, (Cambridge, 2003)
• Franklin, Simon, and Shepard, Jonathan, The Emergence of Rus, 750-1200, (Longman History of Russia, Harlow, 1996)
• Martin, Janet, Medieval Russia, 980-1584, (Cambridge, 1995)

59°56′N 30°20′E