Archangel Cathedral - NE column, 1st lev

Konstantin Vsevolodovich (russian: Константи́н Все́володович) (18 May 1186 in

Rostov Rostov ( rus, Росто́в, p=rɐˈstof) is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, one of the oldest in the country and a tourist center of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero, northeast of Moscow. Population: While t ...

– 2 February 1218) was the eldest son of

Vsevolod the Big Nest Vsevolod III Yuryevich, or Vsevolod the Big Nest ( rus, Все́волод III Ю́рьевич Большо́е Гнездо́, Vsévolod III Yúr'yevich Bol'shóye Gnezdó) (1154–1212), was Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1176 to 1212. Durin ...

and

Maria Shvarnovna Maria Shvarnovna (c. 1158 - 19 March/19 May 1205/1206) was the first wife of Vsevolod III Big Nest, and gave birth to at least 14 children (hence Vsevolod's sobriquet of "Big Nest"). Four of her sons, Konstantin, George, Yaroslav and Sviatoslav, ...

. In 1206 and 1207, he was the prince of

Novgorod Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ol ...

. In 1207, his father sent him to rule the towns of

and

Yaroslavl Yaroslavl ( rus, Ярослáвль, p=jɪrɐˈsɫavlʲ) is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historic part of the city is a World Heritage Site, and is located at the confluence ...

. In consequence of one domestic squabble, Vsevolod disinherited Konstantin on his deathbed and bequeathed his capital

Vladimir Vladimir may refer to: Names * Vladimir (name) for the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovenian spellings of a Slavic name * Uladzimir for the Belarusian version of the name * Volodymyr for the Ukr ...

to a younger son,

Yuri II Yuri II (russian: Ю́рий–II), also known as George II of Vladimir or Georgy II Vsevolodovich (26 November 11884 March 1238), was the fourth Grand Prince of Vladimir (1212–1216, 1218–1238) who presided over Vladimir-Suzdal ...

. In the

Battle of Lipitsa The Battle of Lipitsa (russian: Ли́пицкая би́тва) was the decisive battle in the succession struggle over the Grand Princely throne of Vladimir-Suzdal following the death of Vsevolod the Big Nest. In the battle, fought on April 22, ...

(1216), Konstantin and his ally Mstislav of Novgorod soundly defeated Yuri and occupied Vladimir. Upon Konstantin's death in 1218, Yuri returned to the throne. Konstantin's descendants, meanwhile, retained the towns of Rostov and Yaroslavl, where they would reign until the late 15th century. Thus, numerous princely families of Russia issue from this prince. Konstantin is also remembered for building the new Assumption Cathedral in Rostov and three brick cathedrals in Yaroslavl.

Further reading