Principality of Toropets (russian: Торопецкое княжество) was a Russian principality or duchy, which existed between 1167 and the 14th century. It was established as a principality dependent on the

Principality of Smolensk The Principality of Smolensk (eventually Grand Principality of Smolensk) was a Kievan Rus' lordship from the 11th to the 16th century. Until 1127, when it passed to Rostislav Mstislavich, the principality was part of the land of Kiev. The princi ...

and was annexed by the

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...

. The capital of the principality was

Toropets Toropets (russian: Торо́пец) is a town and the administrative center of Toropetsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located where the Toropa River enters Lake Solomennoye. Population: History In 1074, when the town was first mention ...

. In terms of modern administrative division of Russia, the area of the principality is split between

Tver Tver ( rus, Тверь, p=tvʲerʲ) is a city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is northwest of Moscow. Population: Tver was formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and a model provincial town in the Russian ...

(western part), Pskov and Novgorod (southern parts) Oblasts. Toropets was first mentioned in chronicles in 1074, when it belonged to the Principality of Smolensk and was the second important town of the principality. Before 1167, Toropets was given to Mstislav the Brave, and thus the Principality of Toropets was established, which was formally subordinate to the Principality of Smolensk. All the subsequent Princes of Toropets mentioned in sources were descendants of Mstislav. In the end of the 13th century, the principality, though not particularly significant, became a buffer state between the Principality of Smolensk, the

Novgorod Republic The Novgorod Republic was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the northern Ural Mountains in the east, including the city of Novgorod and the Lake Ladoga regions of mod ...

, and the duchy of Lithuania. In the beginning of the 13th century, Lithuanians repeatedly attempted to annex the principality, and in 1225/26 even Davyd, the prince of Toropets, was killed in battle. It is not exactly known when in the 13th century they finally won, but Toropets mentioned as independent in 1231, and again in 1239, when Alexander Nevsky had his wedding in Toropets, and in 1248. In 1253, Toropets already belonged to the duchy of Lithuania and was used as a base for attacks on adjacent lands. After the 1250s, Toropets was not mentioned in the chronicles, though the geography of Lithuanian attacks shows that in 1285 it still belonged to Lithuania. Chronicles mention that Toropets was finally annexed by the

in 1355, though

Valentin Yanin Valentin Lavrentievich Yanin (russian: Валентин Лаврентьевич Янин; 6 February 1929 – 2 February 2020) was a leading Russian historian who authored 700 books and articles. He had also edited a number of important journals ...

argued it happened in the 1250s.

Princes

For most of the princes of Toropets, we do not know the extent of their rule; they are typically mentioned in connection to one or several isolated events. For the same reason, we do not know whether the list is complete, and some princes were never mentioned by chronicles. * 1167 Mstislav the Brave * 1208, 1209

Mstislav the Bold Mstislav Mstislavich the Daring (russian: Мстисла́в II Мстисла́вич Удатный, uk, Мстислав Мстиславич Удатний, translit=Mstyslav Mstyslavych Udatnyi; died c. 1228) prince of Tmutarakan and Chern ...

* 1211 Vladimir Mstislavich * 1212-1225/6 Davyd Mstislavich, died in a battle with Lithuania

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tver, Principality Of Medieval Russia Former Slavic countries Former principalities Tver Oblast