Dynasty of Chernigov, 1146–1246

Historians in pre-revolutionary Russia, in the Soviet Union, in contemporary Russia, and in the West have consistently relegated the medieval dynasty of Chernigov to a place of minor importance in Kievan Rus'. This view was reinforced by the evidence that, after the Mongols invaded Rus' in 1237, the two branches from the House of Monomakh living in the Rostov-Suzdal' and Galicia-Volyn' regions emerged as the most powerful. However, careful examination of the chronicle accounts reporting the dynasty's history during the second half of the twelfth and the first half of the thirteenth century shows that the Ol'govichi of Chernigov successfully challenged the Monomashichi for supremacy in Rus'. Through a critical analysis of the available primary sources (such as chronicles, archaeology, coins, seals, 'graffiti' in churches, and architecture) this 2003 book attempts correct the pervading erroneous view by allocating to the Ol'govichi their rightful place in the dynastic hierarchy of Kievan Rus'.

"...all readers will be impressed with the hard work and great erudition Dimnik exhibits in this volume." Eve Levin, American Historical Review, "This new monograph serves as the superlative reference work on the chronology of the many peoples, events, and places related to the political history of Chernigov, meticulously reconstructed by the author based on the oft-overwhelming data of the chronicles. The importance of Dimnik's book also lies in its rehabilitaion of the commonly neglected but important Chernigov dynasty." Speculum Roman K. Kovalev, College of New Jersey

Martin Dimnik is Professor of Medieval History, Senior Fellow and President Emeritus, Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Toronto.