# Olgovichi

The Olgovichi or Olhovychi were one of the four dominant princely clans of Kievan Rus' in the 12th and 13th century. First mentioned in the Hypatian continuation of the Primary Chronicle (PVL) under the year 1116 and literally meaning "the sons of Oleg", they were named after Oleg I Sviatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov (r. 1094–1097) and Principality of Novgorod-Seversk (r. 1097–1115). He was the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise; ruling dynasty in the Chernigov principality, Novgorod-Seversky principality, as well as with interruptions: in the Kiev, Galicia, Volyn, Pereyaslav principalities, Novgorod lands.

## Overview

The Principality of Chernigov (modern Chernihiv in northern Ukraine) was the main Olgovichi patrimony (hence the term "Olgovichi of Chernigov"), with the Principality of Novgorod-Seversk (modern Novhorod-Siverskyi) serving as the primary appanage. From 1054 to 1186, the Principality of Murom–Ryazan was subordinate to the Olgovichi of Chernigov; then it sought an independent existence between Chernigov and Suzdalia until Vsevolod the Big Nest destroyed and depopulated Ryazan in 1208.
The Olgovichi frequently managed to put one of their clan members on the grand princely throne of Kiev (modern Kyiv), including Michael of Chernigov, who in the wake of the Mongol invasion was executed by Batu Khan in 1246 and later canonised as an Orthodox saint. There is some uncertainty regarding his descendants, who from the late 13th century appear to have expanded Olgovichi control to Bryansk, Kursk, and the Upper Oka Principalities (in the present-day Russian Federation). From 1301 to 1324, the Olgovichi reigned in Kiev again. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Olgovichi principalities were gradually divided between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (where the clan was incorporated into the Ruthenian nobility) and the Principality of Moscow.
The creator of "The Tale of Igor's Regiment" criticized the founder of this family, Oleg Svyatoslavich, Oleg Goreslavich for excessive lust for power and undermining the integrity of the Russian state. The Olgovichs cooperated with the Polovtsian khans the most among all princely clans and fought with them against the rest of the Russian princes.
Slovenian–Canadian Slavistics researcher and priest Martin Dimnik (1941–2020) has published extensive studies on the Olgovichi.
Princely branches of Kiev from Yaroslav the Wise until 1169 :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Volodimerovichi Yaroslav the Wise | Volodimerovichi Yaroslav the Wise | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Sviatoslav II | Sviatoslav II | Sviatoslav II | Sviatoslav II | Sviatoslav II | Sviatoslav II | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Vsevolod I | Vsevolod I | Vsevolod I | Vsevolod I | Vsevolod I | Vsevolod I | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | Olgovichi of Chernigov Oleg I of Chernigov | | | Davyd of Chernigov | Davyd of Chernigov | Davyd of Chernigov | Davyd of Chernigov | Davyd of Chernigov | Davyd of Chernigov | | | | | | | | | | | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | Monomakhovichi Vladimir II Monomakh | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vsevolod II | Vsevolod II | Vsevolod II | Vsevolod II | Vsevolod II | Vsevolod II | Igor II | Igor II | Igor II | Igor II | Igor II | Igor II | | | Iziaslav III | Iziaslav III | Iziaslav III | Iziaslav III | Iziaslav III | Iziaslav III | | | | | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Mstislavichi Mstislav I | Yaropolk II | Yaropolk II | Yaropolk II | Yaropolk II | Yaropolk II | Yaropolk II | Viacheslav | Viacheslav | Viacheslav | Viacheslav | Viacheslav | Viacheslav | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | Yurievichi of Suzdalia Yuri Dolgorukiy | | | | |
| Sviatoslav III | Sviatoslav III | Sviatoslav III | Sviatoslav III | Sviatoslav III | Sviatoslav III | | | | | | | | | | | | | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Izyaslavichi of Volhynia Iziaslav II | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Rostislavichi of Smolensk Rostislav I | Vladimir III | Vladimir III | Vladimir III | Vladimir III | Vladimir III | Vladimir III | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Andrey Bogolyubsky | Gleb | Gleb | Gleb | Gleb | Gleb | Gleb | Mikhail | Mikhail | Mikhail | Mikhail | Mikhail | Mikhail |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mstislav II | Mstislav II | Mstislav II | Mstislav II | Mstislav II | Mstislav II | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |