Simeon Olelkovich

Simeon or Simon Olelkovich^[a][1] (1420–1470)^[2] was the last prince of Kiev from 1454 to 1470.^[3] He was also the prince of Slutsk from 1443 to 1455.^[4]

Simeon Olelkovich
Simeon visiting his grandmother and uncle in Moscow, miniature from the Illustrated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible (16th century)
Prince of Kiev
Reign	1454–1470
Predecessor	Alexander Olelko
Successor	Position abolished
Born	1420 Slutsk
Died	1470 (aged 50) Kiev
Burial	Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Spouse	Maria, daughter of Jonas Goštautas
Dynasty	Olelkovich
Father	Alexander Olelko
Religion	Eastern Orthodox

Life

A member of the Olelkovich family, he descended from Ruthenianized Eastern Orthodox branch of the Gediminid dynasty, and was a great-grandson of Algirdas, the grand duke of Lithuania. After his father's death, he inherited the Principality of Kiev.

He conducted an independent policy, fought with the Crimean Tatars, maintained close ties with the Principality of Moldavia, the Genoese colonies and the Principality of Theodoro in the Crimea. However soon after, the Principality of Theodoro was conquered by the emerging Crimean Khanate.

He married Maria (d. 1501), daughter of Jonas Goštautas, by whom he had three children, Vasily Semyonovich [ru] (d. 1495), Alexandra, wife of Fedor Ivanovich Borovsky [ru], and Sophia (d. 1483), wife of Mikhail III of Tver, the last prince of Tver.^[5]

After the death of Simon Olelkovich, the Principality of Kiev was transformed into the Kiev Voivodeship. His son received the Principality of Pinsk as compensation, but he died young and was succeeded first by his mother, Maria, and then by his brother-in-law, Fedor, after her death. None of his children had any issue.^[6]

Notes

1. Belarusian: Сямён Алелькавіч; Ukrainian: Семен Олелькович; Russian: Семён Олелькович; Lithuanian: Simonas Olelkaitis.