Photograph of Yuri Dolgoruki.
Yuri Dolgoruki

Overview

Yuri Dolgoruki (), also known as George I of Russia, (c. 1099–May 15, 1157) was a key figure in the transition of political power from Kiev to Vladimir-Suzdal following the death of his elder brother Mstislav the Great. He reigned as Veliki Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kiev from September 1149 to April 1151 and then again from March 1155 to May 1157.

Activities in Rostov and Suzdal

Yuri, or rather George in English, was the sixth son of Vladimir Monomakh. Although his birthdate is uncertain, some chronicles report that Yuri's elder brother, Viacheslav, said to him: "I am much older than you; I was already bearded when you were born." Since Viacheslav was born in 1083, this pushes Yuri's birth to c. 1099/1100.

In 1108, Yuri was sent by his father to govern in his name the vast Rostov-Suzdal province in the north-east of Kievan Rus'. In 1121, he quarrelled with the boyars of Rostov and moved the capital of his lands from that city to Suzdal. As the area was sparsely populated, Yuriy founded many fortresses there. He established the towns of Ksniatin in 1134, Pereslavl-Zalesski and Yuriev-Polski in 1152, and Dmitrov in 1154. The establishment of Tver, Kostroma, and Vologda is also popularly assigned to Yuri.

In 1147, Yuri Dolgoruki had a meeting with Sviatoslav Olgovich in a place called Moscow. This first mention of Moscow is considered the traditional date of the city's founding. In 1156, Yuri fortified Moscow with wooden walls and a moat.

Struggle for Kiev

For all the interest he took in fortifying his Northern lands, Yuri still coveted the throne of Kiev. It is his active participation in the Southern affairs that earned him the sobriquet of "Dolgoruki", i.e., "the long-armed". His elder brother Mstislav of Kiev died in 1132, and "the Rus lands fell apart", as one chronicle put it. Yuri instantaneously declared war on the princes of Chernigov, enthroned his son in Novgorod, and captured Pereyaslav of the South. The Novgorodians, however, betrayed him, and Yuri avenged by seizing their key fortress, Torzhok.

In 1147, Dolgoruki resumed his struggle for Kiev and two years later he captured it, but in 1151 he was driven from the capital of Rus by his nephew Iziaslav. In 1155, Yuri regained Kiev once again. His sudden death, however, sparkled anti-Suzdalian uprising in Kiev. Yuri Dolgoruki was interred at the Saviour Church in Berestovo, Kiev, but his tomb is empty.

In memoriam

Muscovites have cherished Yuri's memory ever since and represented his patron saint, Saint George slaying a dragon, on the city's coat of arms. In 1954, a monument to him was erected on Moscow's principal avenue. Dolgoruki's image was stamped on a medal "In commemoration of Moscow's 800th anniversary", introduced in 1947. The nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruki is named after him.

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How is Yuri Dolgoruki connected to Vsevolod the Big Nest? Tell the world.

That biography says:

...1111 – June 28, 1174) was a prince of Vladimir-Suzdal (after 1157). He was the son of Yuri Dolgoruki, who proclaimed Andrei a prince in Vyshhorod (near Kiev). His mother was a Kipchak princess, khan Aepa's daughter...

That biography says:

...In the late 1140s three princes were competing for primacy in Russia: prince Iziaslav II of Kiev was related to Géza II of Hungary and was hostile to Byzantium; Prince Yuri Dolgoruki of Suzdal was Manuel's ally (symmachos), and Vladimirko of Galicia is described as Manuel's vassal (hypospondos)...
How is Yuri Dolgoruki connected to Nikolay Karamzin? Tell the world.

That biography says:

...By his first marriage he had Mstislav, his illustrious heir. Among the children by his second wife were Yuri Dolgoruki, the founder of Moscow, and two daughters: Eufemia, who married King Coloman of Hungary, and Maria, married to the Byzantine pretender who called himself Leon Diogenes...

That biography says:

...1111 – June 28, 1174) was a prince of Vladimir-Suzdal (after 1157). He was the son of Yuri Dolgoruki, who proclaimed Andrei a prince in Vyshhorod (near Kiev). His mother was a Kipchak princess, khan Aepa's daughter...
How is Yuri Dolgoruki connected to Isaac Komnenos (d. 1152)? Tell the world.
How is Yuri Dolgoruki connected to Irene Doukaina? Tell the world.