Volodymyr Davydovych

Volodymyr Davydovych [Davydovyč], b ?, d 12 May 1151. Kyivan Rus’ prince; elder son of Davyd Sviatoslavych. He received lands in the Siversk principality from his cousin, Vsevolod Olhovych, in 1127. After helping Vsevolod take the Kyivan throne in 1139, he was granted the Chernihiv principality, which he ruled until his death. In 1142 Vsevolod also gave Volodymyr and his brother, Iziaslav Davydovych, several towns, including Dorohychyn. When Iziaslav Mstyslavych became grand prince of Kyiv in 1146, tensions between the Olhovych house and the descendants of Volodymyr Monomakh continued to rise. In 1148 Iziaslav surrounded Chernihiv and ravaged a large part of the principality. Volodymyr then joined Yurii Dolgorukii of Suzdal in his fight against Iziaslav. Volodymyr was killed in battle near the Ruta River.

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