Yurii II Boleslav

Yurii II Boleslav [Jurij; Troidenovych], b ca 1306, d 7 April 1340 in Volodymyr (in Volhynia). Last ruler of the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia (1323–40); son of Prince Trojden II of Mazovia and grandson of Prince Yurii Lvovych, thus a member of both the Polish Piast dynasty and the Rus’ Romanovych dynasty. He was initially known as Bolesław and raised as a Catholic. He converted to Orthodoxy, evidently in connection to his candidacy for the throne of Galicia-Volhynia, assumed the name Iurii, and ascended to the princely seat of Volodymyr principality. He maintained friendly relations with Lithuania (he married Yevfymiia-Ofka, daughter of the grand duke of Lithuania, Gediminas) and the Teutonic Knights, with whom he signed treaties in 1325, 1327, 1334, 1335, and 1337. He was met with hostility by Poland and Hungary, however. Yurii sought to strengthen his rule by supporting towns and burghers, protecting German colonists, and encouraging the influx of foreigners. Under his rule Sianik was granted rights under Magdeburg law. The boyars rebelled against him, and he was poisoned in suspicious circumstances. His death marked the end of the Romanovych dynasty of Galician-Volhynian princes as well as the end of the Princely era of Ukraine.

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