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Galicia–Volhynia Wars

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The Galicia–Volhynia Wars were several wars fought in the years 1340–1392 over the succession in the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia , also known as Ruthenia . After Yuri II Boleslav was poisoned by local Ruthenian nobles in 1340, both the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland advanced claims over the kingdom. After a prolonged conflict, Galicia–Volhynia was partitioned between Poland ( Galicia ) and Lithuania ( Volhynia ) and Ruthenia ceased to exist as an independent state. Poland acquired a territory of approximately 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) with 200,000 inhabitants.

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19-478: Brothers Andrew and Leo II died ca. 1322, leaving no male successor in Galicia–Volhynia. Instead of promoting his son Liubartas (who was married to Andrew's daughter) and causing a war with Poland, Gediminas of Lithuania compromised with Władysław I of Poland . Both parties agreed to install fourteen-year-old Yuri II Boleslav , a Masovian prince and nephew of Lev and Andrew. Yuri Boleslav, born Bolesław,

38-569: A large campaign against the pagan Lithuanians with a special permission from Pope Innocent VI . After the campaign did not achieve the desired results, Casimir contemplated an alliance with the Lithuanians. In 1366, Casimir, allied with Siemowit III of Masovia and nephews of Liubartas, resumed the war. As Algirdas was involved in conflicts in the east and Kęstutis fought with the Teutonic Knights, Liubartas had to defend alone and

57-530: A relative of Simeon of Moscow , and Algirdas married Uliana of Tver , sister-in-law of Simeon. In spring 1351, Lubartas was taken prisoner by Louis, but was released in summer after a truce was agreed upon with Kęstutis. The deal fell through and more military attacks followed in 1352. Another truce, rather favorable to the Lithuanians, was signed in fall 1352: Lubartas received not only Volhynia and Podolia , but also Belz and Chełm . However, already in 1353, Liubartas attacked again. Casimir responded by organizing

76-491: Is known that in the second decade of 14th century, the Lithuanians strengthened their pressure upon Galicia-Volhynia attempting to take the lands of Dorohychyn and Berestia away. During these years of rule Andrew and his brother were in a constant fight with Gediminas of Lithuania. He had established firm relations with Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high and Teutonic order and attempted to weaken dependence from

95-581: The Battle of Strėva by the Teutonic Knights in 1348, Liubartas lost all territories except for eastern Volhynia with Lutsk to Casimir and his ally Louis I of Hungary (Louis was promised the territories if Casimir died without an heir). Liubartas' brothers Algirdas and Kęstutis organized several expeditions to Poland and Red Ruthenia . Lithuanians allied themselves with Muscovy : Liubartas married an unnamed daughter of Konstantin of Rostov ,

114-537: The Golden Horde . They were also in union with the allies of Władysław I the Elbow-high - Scandinavian and Pomeranian rulers against the margraves of Brandenburg (1315). According to some historians he died together with his brother Lev II battling the Mongol-Tatars or Lithuanians while defending Berestia . Both king Andrew and his brother Lev II were much respected in the west. In May 1323,

133-528: The Kingdom of Hungary . After Louis death in 1382, Liubartas captured castles ruled by Hungarians (including Kremenets and Przemyśl ), but did not renew a full-scale war. At the time Lithuania, Poland, and Hungary, all three main contenders for the former Galicia–Volhynia, were engulfed in dynastic succession disputes. Polish nobles crowned Hungarian Jadwiga of Poland as their king and invited Lithuanian Jogaila to become her husband. Jadwiga and Jogaila signed

152-808: The Union of Krewo in 1385, creating a personal union between Poland and Lithuania. In 1387, Jadwiga attached Galicia to Poland for good. Liubartas died ca. 1384 and his throne was inherited by his son Fëdor. Jogaila started limiting Fëdor's sovereignty in Volhynia. Jogaila, hoping to reconcile with his cousin Vytautas after the Lithuanian Civil War (1381–84) even promised Lutsk and Volodymyr to Vytautas. However, that did not appease Vytautas, who sought to regain his patrimony in Trakai and gain power in

171-676: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and he started the Lithuanian Civil War (1389–92) . The civil war ended with the Ostrów Agreement of 1392, which settled Galician–Volhynian issue for good: Poland took Galicia adopting title Dei gratia rex Polonie et Russie , nec non Cracovie, Sandomirie, Siradie, Lancicie, Cuiavie, et Pomeranieque Terrarum et Ducatuum Dominus et Heres , while Lithuania controlled Volhynia. Andrew of Galicia Andrew ( Ukrainian : Андрій Юрієвич , romanized :  Andrii Yuriievych ) (unknown – 1323)

190-645: The Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high in his letter to the Pope wrote with regret: "The two last Ruthenian kings, that had been firm shields for Poland from the Tatars , left this world and after their death Poland is directly under Tatar threat." After their death the line of direct descendants of Roman Mstyslavych broke and the Galician state remained without a dynasty. Galician boyars (nobility) attempted to rule

209-407: The Polish king. However, the agreement was short-lived. The data is sparse, but it seems that Galicia–Volhynia was divided between the Lithuanians (Liubartas ruled in Volhynia and its chief city Volodymyr ) and local nobles (Detko ruled Galicia). During the winter of 1340–1341, the Golden Horde (probably with Lithuanian help) attacked Poland and reached Lublin as a result of diminished tribute from

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228-617: The principality to the Mongol khan. John of Winterthur reports attacks by the Mongols on Hungary, the March of Brandenburg and Prussia during this period as well. The raid weakened Polish influence in the principality. In order to assist Casimir, a Hungarian contingent commanded by William Drugeth entered the Ruthenian border and fought against the Mongols. Eufemija, Yuri Boleslav's widow,

247-552: The region. Within days of Yuri Boleslav's murder, Casimir III of Poland invaded the kingdom to save Polish merchants and Catholic residents from attacks in Lviv . In June 1340, Casimir returned with a larger army, conquered Lviv and burned down the Lviv High Castle. After four weeks he reached an agreement with local nobles and their leader Dmytro Dedko : in return for their services, local nobles would enjoy protection from

266-578: The state themselves. That perhaps was the reason that they sought the protection of the Tatars, which Władysław I the Elbow-high became afraid of. But soon more conservative elements took hold among the boyars and the Galician throne was given to the Mazovian duke Boleslaw Trojdenowicz (related to the deceased royal brothers through marriage to their sister Maria), who took the name Yuriy II and who ruled Galicia from 1323 until 1338. Boleslaw Treojdenowicz

285-514: Was defeated. In fall 1366, a treaty was signed: Liubartas retained only eastern Volhynia with Lutsk and became somewhat dependent on Poland (he had to retain neutrality in case Poland attacked Lithuania). Casimir awarded his allies: Yuri, son of Karijotas , received Chełm , his brother Alexander received Volodymyr , and Yuri, son of Narimantas , continued to rule Belz . In 1370, Liubartas took advantage of Casimir's death and captured all of Volhynia, including Volodymyr. Between 1370 and 1387 Galicia

304-466: Was drowned in the Vistula in winter 1342 to keep her out of the succession disputes. Detko, who managed to play Poles, Lithuanians, and Mongols against each other, disappeared from written sources in 1344. The same year direct conflict between Poland and Lithuania renewed, but soon a peace treaty was signed: Volhynia was assigned to Liubartas and Galicia to Casimir. After the Lithuanians were defeated in

323-558: Was ruled by the Hungarian crown. Louis of Hungary appointed Vladislaus II of Opole as his regent in the region. In 1376 the war resumed: Liubartas, Kęstutis, and Yuri of Belz attacked Sandomierz and Tarnów , reaching as far as Kraków and taking many prisoners. After retaliation by Louis, Liubartas had to swear loyalty to Hungary as his sons were taken hostage. Liubartas could expect little help from Lithuania as his brother Algirdas died in 1377. In 1378 Louis attached Galicia directly to

342-558: Was the last king of Ruthenia in 1308–1323 (according to other sources since 1315). He was the son of Yurii I (1252–1308) whom he succeeded on the throne of Galicia. His mother was Euphemia of Kuyavia . After the death of his father, he ruled the kingdom together with his brother Lev II . Though the kingdom was one state managed together, there are sources informing that Andrew was seated in Volodymyr and Lev II in Galicia. It

361-548: Was the son of Trojden I of Masovia from the Polish Piast dynasty , a cousin of Władysław I and nephew of Gediminas' son-in-law Wenceslaus of Płock . To strengthen the compromise, Bolesław was betrothed to Eufemija, daughter of Gediminas. He was poisoned in April 1340 by local nobles who resented growing Polish and Bohemian influence in the court. Yuri Boleslav did not have an heir and his death upset fragile power balance in

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