Yaropolk II Volodymyrovych

Yaropolk II Volodymyrovych, b 1082, d 18 February 1139 in Kyiv. Prince of Pereiaslav (1113–32) and grand prince of Kyiv (1132–9); son of Volodymyr Monomakh. He participated in his father's campaigns against the Cumans in 1103, 1109, 1111, and 1113 and defeated them roundly in 1116 and 1120. Yaropolk lived in harmony with his father and his older brother, Mstyslav I Volodymyrovych the Great. As grand prince Yaropolk II Volodymyrovych minded the unity of the Kyivan Rus’ state and battled with the Olhovych house of Chernihiv princes (particularly Vsevolod Olhovych), who desired to capture the Kyiv throne and enlisted the aid of the Cumans in their attempt to do so. As mentioned in the chronicles, Yaropolk distinguished himself by his courage and won great fame for his successful campaigns against the Cumans. He married Olena, the daughter of an Ossetian prince, whom he had taken prisoner during one of the campaigns against the Cumans. Yaropolk II Volodymyrovych was buried in the Yanchyn Monastery in Kyiv.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 5 (1993).]