# Prince of Novgorod

The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: князь новгородский, romanized: knyaz novgorodsky) was the title of the ruler of Novgorod in present-day Russia. From 1136, it was the title of the figurehead leader of the Novgorod Republic.
The position was originally an appointed one until the late 11th or early 12th century, then became something of an elective one until the early 14th century, after which the grand prince of Vladimir (who was almost always the prince of Moscow) was almost invariably the prince of Novgorod as well.
The title originates sometime in the 9th century when, according to tradition, the Varangian chieftain Rurik and his brothers were invited to rule over the East Slavic and Finnic tribes of northwest Russia, but reliable information about it dates only to the late 10th century when Vladimir, the youngest son of Sviatoslav I, was made the prince of Novgorod.
During the reign of Ivan III, the title was restored and Novgorod was included in the title of the Russian monarch, which lasted until the abdication of Nicholas II of Russia in 1917. After Novgorod was formally annexed by Moscow in 1478, Ivan assumed the title of sovereign of all Russia.

## History

From the early 12th century, the prince's power in the Novgorod Republic was more nominal. Imperial and Soviet-era scholars often argued that the office was ineffectual after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was dismissed by the Novgorodians, and that Novgorod could invite and dismiss its princes at will. In this way, the prince of Novgorod was no longer the "ruler" of Novgorod but became an elective or appointed official of the city-state.
That being said, the traditional view of the prince being invited in or dismissed at will is an oversimplification of a long and complex history of the office. In fact, from the late 10th century until its formal annexation in 1478, the princes of Novgorod were dismissed and invited only about half the time, and the vast majority of these cases occurred between 1095 and 1293, and not consistently so during that period. That is, the office was elective for perhaps two centuries and even then it was not always elective. Even during this period, the nadir of princely power in the city, more powerful princes could assert their power independently over the city, as did Mstislav the Bold in the early 13th century, Alexander Nevsky in the 1240s and 1250s, his brother Iaroslav in the 1260s and 1270s, and others.
According to a remark in the chronicles, Novgorod had the right, after 1196, to pick their prince of their own free will, but again, evidence suggests that even after that, princes were chosen and dismissed only about half the time, and Novgorod often chose the most powerful prince in Rus' as their prince. That usually meant that the prince in Kiev, Vladimir or Moscow (who retained the title of grand prince of Vladimir from about the 1320s onward, although there were several interruptions), either took the title himself or appointed his son or other relative to be prince of Novgorod. At times other princes, from Tver, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and elsewhere, also vied for the Novgorodian throne. Thus, Novgorod did not really choose its prince, but considering the political climate, they often very prudently went with the most senior or most powerful prince in the land if he did not impose himself (or his candidate) upon them.
What was different about Novgorod, then, was not so much that Novgorod could freely choose its princes – it could not. Rather, what was unique was that no princely dynasty managed to establish itself within the city and take permanent control over the city. Rather, while other Rus' cities had established dynasties, the more powerful princes vied for control of Novgorod the Great, a most-desirable city to control given the vast wealth (from trade in furs) that flowed into the city in the medieval period.
In the absence of firmer princely control the local elites, the boyars, took control of the city and the offices of posadnik and tysyatsky became elective. The veche (public assembly) played a not insignificant role in public life, although the precise makeup of the veche and its powers is uncertain and still contested among historians. The posadnik, tysiatsky, and even the local bishop or archbishop (after 1165) were elected at the veche, and it is said the veche invited and dismissed the prince as well.

## List of princes

List based on Michael C. Paul (2008).

### First princes

| Prince | Born | Reign | Death | Consort | Notes |
| Rurik I | ? | 862-879 | 879 | Unknown at least one son | |
| Oleg the Seer | ? | 879-912 | 912 | Unknown | Varangian kniaz of Novgorod and Kiev. His relationship with the family is unknown. He was probably a regent, in name of Igor, son of Rurik. |
| Igor I the Old Igor Rurikovich | c.878 Son of Rurik I | 912-945 | 945 Iskorosten aged 66–67 | 901 or 902 at least one son | Son of Rurik. |
| Saint Olga of Kiev | c.890 Pskov | 945-962 | 11 July 969 Kiev aged 78–79 | 901 or 902 at least one son | Regent on behalf of her minor son, she was baptized by Emperor Constantine VII but failed to bring Christianity to Kiev. |
| Sviatoslav I the Brave Sviatoslav Igorevich | c.942 possibly Kiev Son of Igor I and Olga | 962-969 | March 972 | Predslava c.954 two children Malusha/Malfrida c.958 at least one son | |

### Dominance of Grand Prince of Kiev (970–1088)

From 970 to 1088, the Grand Prince of Kiev was the patron of the Prince of Novgorod.
| Prince | Born | Reign | Death | Consort | Notes |
| Vladimir I the Great Vladimir Sviatoslavich | c.958 Budnik Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha/Malfrida | 969-977 979-988 | 15 July 1015 Berestove, Kiev aged 57–58 | Olava/Allogia c.977 at least one son A Greek nun (widow of his brother) c.980 at least one son Rogneda of Polotsk c.978 (possibly in bigamy) eight children Adela (of Bulgaria?) at least two children (maximum four) Malfrida (of Bohemia?) Before 1000 two children Anna Porphyrogenita of Byzantium 988 Cherson three children Regelindis (?) of Saxony (granddaughter of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor) After 1011 one or two daughters Unknown two children | His early rule is characterized by a staunch pagan reaction but in 988 he was baptized into Orthodoxy and successfully converted Kievan Rus' to Christianity. |
| Yaropolk I Yaropolk Sviatoslavich | c.950 Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava | 977-979 | 980 Fort of Roden, near Kaniv aged 29–30 | A Greek nun at least one son | |
| Viacheslav I Viacheslav Vladimirovich | 977 Son of Vladimir I and Olava/Allogia | 988-1010 | c.1010 Novgorod aged 32–33 | Anna before 1052 at least two children | |
| Yaroslav I the Wise Yaroslav Vladimirovich | c.978 Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk | 1010-1034 | 20 February 1054 Vyshhorod aged 75–76 | Ingigerda of Sweden 1019 Novgorod eight or nine children | During his reign Kievan Rus' reached the pinnacle of its power. |
| Vladimir II Vladimir Yaroslavich | 1020 Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden | 1034-1052 | 4 October 1052 Novgorod aged 31–32 | Anna before 1052 at least two children | |
| Iziaslav I Iziaslav Yaroslavich | c.1024 Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden | 1052-1054 | 3 October 1078 Nizhyn aged 53–54 | Gertrude of Poland 1043 three children | First King of Rus', Pope Gregory VII sent him a crown from Rome in 1075. |
| Mstislav I Mstislav Iziaslavich | before 1054 Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland | 1054-1067 | 1069 aged at least 14-15 | Unknown one child | |
| Gleb I Gleb Sviatoslavich | 1052 Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia | 1067-1078 | 30 May 1078 Novgorod aged 25–26 | Unmarried | |
| Sviatopolk I Sviatopolk Iziaslavich | 8 November 1050 Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland | 1078-1088 | 26 April 1113 Vyshhorod aged 62 | (Barbara?) of Bohemia c.1085 three children Olenna of the Kipchaks c.1094 four children | Also Grand Prince of Kiev |

### Contested control (1088–1230)

From 1088 to 1230, control over Novgorod was contested between various princely houses, and between them and the city itself. In 1136, the citizenry of Novgorod established the Novgorod Republic, and henceforth – in theory, though not always in practice – elected and dismissed its city officials, including the prince.
| Prince | Born | Reign | Death | Consort | Notes |
| Mstislav II the Great Mstislav Vladimirovich | 1 June 1076 Turov Son of Vladimir II Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex | 1088-1094 1095-1117 | 14 April 1132 Kiev aged 55 | Christina of Sweden 1095 ten children Liubava Dmitrievna of Novgorod 1122 two children | After his reign Kievan Rus' fell into recession starting a rapid decline. |
| David I David Sviatoslavich | 1050 Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia | 1094-1095 | 1123 Chernigov aged 72–73 | Teodosia five children | Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev. |
| Vsevolod Mstislavich | 1103 | 1117-1132 | 11 February 1138 | Anna before 1125 four children | Son of Mstislav the Great. 1st time. |
| Sviatopolk Mstislavich | After 1096 | 1132 | 20 February 1154 | Euphemia of Olomouc 1143 or 1144 no children | Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov. Son of Mstislav the Great. 1st time. |
| Vsevolod Mstislavich | 1103 | 1132-1136 | 11 February 1138 | Anna before 1125 four children | 2nd time. |
| Sviatoslav Olgovich | 1106/1107 | 1136-1138 | 1164 | Unknown six children | Son of Oleg I of Chernigov. 1st time. |
| Sviatopolk Mstislavich | After 1096 | 1138 | 20 February 1154 | Euphemia of Olomouc 1143 or 1144 no children | 2nd time. |
| Rostislav Yurevich | ? | 1138-1140 | 6 April 1151 | Unknown before 1151 three children | Son of Yuri Dolgoruki. 1st time. |
| Sviatoslav Olgovich | 1106/1107 | 1140-1141 | 1164 | Unknown six children | 2nd time. |
| Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich | 1123 | 1141 | 25 July 1194 | Maria of Polotsk 1143 eight children | Son of Vsevolod II of Kiev. |
| Rostislav Yurevich | ? | 1141-1142 | 6 April 1151 | Unknown before 1151 three children | 2nd time. |
| Sviatopolk Mstislavich | After 1096 | 1142-1148 | 20 February 1154 | Euphemia of Olomouc 1143 or 1144 no children | 3rd time. |
| Yaroslav Iziaslavich | 1132 | 1148-1154 | 1180 | Unknown 1149 four children | Son of Iziaslav II of Kiev. |
| Rostislav Mstislavich | 1110 | 1154 | 14 March 1167 | Unknown eight children | Son of Mstislav the Great. |
| David Rostislavich | 1140 | 1154-1155 | 23 April 1197 | Unknown before 1197 seven children | Son of the predecessor. |
| Mstislav Yurevich | ? | 1155-1158 | after 1161 | Unknown | Son of Yuri Dolgoruki. |
| Sviatoslav Rostislavich | ? | 1158-1160 | 1170 | Unknown | Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. 1st time. |
| Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyeless | before 1151 | 1160-1161 | 20 April 1178 | Unknown two children Unknown no children | Son of Rostislav Yurevich. 1st time |
| Sviatoslav Rostislavich | ? | 1161-1168 | 1170 | Unknown | 2nd time. |
| Roman Mstislavich the Great | 1152 | 1168-1170 | 19 June 1205 | Predslava of Kiev 1170 or 1180 two children Anna Angelina of Byzantium c.1197 two children | Son of Mstislav II of Kiev. Also King of Galicia-Volhynia. |
| Rurik Rostislavich | before 1157 | 1170-1171 | 1215 | Unknown 1163 Anna of Turov before 1176 six children | Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. |
| Yuri Andreevich I Bogolyubsky | c.1160 | 1171-1175 | c.1194 | Tamar I of Georgia 1185 (annulled 1187) no children | Son of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky. |
| Sviatoslav Mstislavich | ? | 1175 | after 1176 | Unknown | SOn of Mstislav Rostislavich. |
| Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyeless | before 1151 | 1175-1176 | 20 April 1178 | Unknown two children Unknown no children | 2nd time. |
| Yaroslav Mstislavich the Red | ? | 1176-1177 | 1199 | Unmarried | Son of Mstislav Yurevich. |
| Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyeless | before 1151 | 1177-1178 | 20 April 1178 | Unknown two children Unknown no children | 3rd time. |
| Yaropolk Rostislavich | ? | 1178 | 1182 or after 1196 | Unknown | Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. |
| Roman Rostislavich | before 1149 | 1178-1179 | 14 June 1180 | Maria of Novgorod 9 January 1149 three children | Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. |
| Mstislav Rostislavich the Brave | 1143 | 1179-1180 | 13 July 1180 | Two unknown wives three children | Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. |
| Vladimir Sviatoslavich | after 1143 | 1180-1181 | 1200 | Maria of Vladimir-Suzdal 1178 five children | Son of Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich. |
| Yaroslav Vladimirovich | ? | 1182-1184 | after 1176 | Unknown Alanian wife three children | Son of Vladimir III of Kiev. 1st time. |
| Mstislav Davidovich | ? | 1184-1187 | 1189 | Unknown | Son of David Rostislavich. |
| Yaroslav Vladimirovich | ? | 1187-1196 | after 1176 | Unknown Alanian wife three children | 2nd time. |
| Yaropolk Yaroslavich | after 1174 | 1197 | between 1212 and 1223 | Vasilissa (of Chernigov?) no children | Son of Yaroslav II of Chernigov. |
| Yaroslav Vladimirovich | ? | 1197-1199 | after 1176 | Unknown Alanian wife three children | 3rd time. |
| Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich | 27 March 1196 | 1200-1205 | 3 February 1252 | Eudokia of Murom one child | Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir. 1st time. |
| Konstantin Vsevolodovich | 18 May 1185 | 1205-1207 | 2 February 1218 | Agafia of Kiev three children | Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir. |
| Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich | 27 March 1196 | 1207-1210 | 3 February 1252 | Eudokia of Murom one child | 2nd time. |
| Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold | 1176 | 1210-1215 | 1228 | Maria of Cumania nine children | Son of Mstislav Rostislavich. 1st time. |
| Yaroslav Vsevolodovich | 8 February 1191 | 1215-1216 | 30 September 1246 | Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children | Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir. 1st time. |
| Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold | 1176 | 1216-1217 | 1228 | Maria of Cumania nine children | 2nd time. |
| Sviatoslav Mstislavich | ? | 1217-1218 | 1239 | Unknown | Son of Mstislav III of Kiev. |
| Vsevolod Mstislavich [ru] | ? | 1218-1221 | 1239 | Unknown | Son of Mstislav III of Kiev. |
| Vsevolod Yurevich | 1212 or 1213 | 1221 | 7 February 1238 | Marina of Kiev 1230 no children | Son of Yuri II of Vladimir. 1st time. |
| Yaroslav Vsevolodovich | 8 February 1191 | 1221-1223 | 30 September 1246 | Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children | 2nd time. |
| Vsevolod Yurevich | 1212 or 1213 | 1223-1224 | 7 February 1238 | Marina of Kiev 1230 no children | 2nd time. |
| Saint Michael Vsevolodovich | 1185 | 1224-1226 | 20 September 1246 | Helena of Galicia-Volhynia 1210 or 1211 seven children | Son of Vsevolod IV of Kiev. 1st time. |
| Yaroslav Vsevolodovich | 8 February 1191 | 1226-1228 | 30 September 1246 | Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children | 3rd time. |
| Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky | 13 May 1221 | 1228-1229 | 14 November 1263 | Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children | Son of the predecessor. 1st time. |
| Saint Michael Vsevolodovich | 1185 | 1229 | 20 September 1246 | Helena of Galicia-Volhynia 1210 or 1211 seven children | 2nd time. |
| Rostislav Mikhailovich | after 1210 | 1229-1230 | 1262 | Anna of Hungary 1243 five children | Son of the predecessor. |

### Dominance of Grand Prince of Vladimir (1230–1478)

From 1230 to 1478, the Grand Prince of Vladimir was either himself the Prince of Novgorod, or the patron of the Prince of Novgorod. There was fierce competition between the princes of Tver, Moscow, and Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal for the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir, after 1400 increasingly granted by yarlik (patent) of the khan of the Golden Horde by winning his favour, which eventually the Daniilovichi of Moscow did.
| Prince | Born | Reign | Death | Consort | Notes |
| Yaroslav Vsevolodovich | 8 February 1191 | 1230-1236 | 30 September 1246 | Unknown 1205 no children Rostislava of Novgorod 1214 (annulled 1216) no children Theodosia of Ryazan 1218 twelve children | 4th time. |
| Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky | 13 May 1221 | 1236-1240 | 14 November 1263 | Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children | 2nd time. |
| Andrey Yaroslavich | 1220 | 1240-1241 | 1264 | Justina of Galicia three children | Son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. |
| Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky | 13 May 1221 | 1241-1252 | 14 November 1263 | Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children | 3rd time. |
| Vasily Alexandrovich | ? | 1252-1255 | 1271 | Unmarried | Son of Alexander Yaroslavich. |
| Yaroslav Yaroslavich | 1230 | 1255 | 16 September 1272 | Natalia before 1252 two children Saint Xenia of Tarusa 1265 four children | Son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. 1st time. |
| Vasily Alexandrovich | ? | 1255-1257 | 1271 | Unmarried | 2nd time. |
| Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky | 13 May 1221 | 1257-1259 | 14 November 1263 | Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk 1239 five children Vassilissa before 1263 no children | 4th time. |
| Dmitry Alexandrovich | 1250 | 1259-1263 | 1294 | Unknown four children | Son of Alexander Yaroslavich. 1st time. |
| Yaroslav Yaroslavich | 1230 | 1264-1272 | 16 September 1272 | Natalia before 1252 two children Saint Xenia of Tarusa 1265 four children | 2nd time. |
| Dmitry Alexandrovich | 1250 | 1272-1273 | 1294 | Unknown four children | 2nd time. |
| Vasily Yaroslavich | 1236 or 1241 | 1273-1276 | 1276 | Unknown | 3rd time. |
| Dmitry Alexandrovich | 1250 | 1276-1281 | 1294 | Unknown four children | 3rd time. |
| Andrey Alexandrovich | 1255 | 1281-1285 | 27 July 1304 | Vasilissa of Rostov 1294 three children | Son of Alexander Yaroslavich. 1st time. |
| Dmitry Alexandrovich | 1250 | 1285-1292 | 1294 | Unknown four children | 4th time. |
| Andrey Alexandrovich | 1255 | 1292-1304 | 27 July 1304 | Vasilissa of Rostov 1294 three children | 2nd time. |
| Saint Michael Yaroslavich | 1255 | 1304-1314 | 22 November 1318 | Saint Anna of Rostov 1294 five children | Son of Yaroslav Yaroslavich. 1st time. |
| Afanasi Danilovich | ? | 1314-1315 | 1322 | Anna no children | Son of Daniel of Moscow. 1st time. |
| Saint Michael Yaroslavich | 1255 | 1315-1316 | 22 November 1318 | Saint Anna of Rostov 1294 five children | 2nd time. |
| Afanasi Danilovich | ? | 1316-1322 | 1322 | Anna no children | 2nd time. |
| Yuri Danilovich | 1281 | 1322-1325 | 21 November 1325 | Unknown 1297 one child Konchaka of Mengu-Timur (baptised Agafia) 1317 no children | Son of Daniel of Moscow. |
| Alexander Mikhailovich | 7 October 1301 | 1325-1327 | 29 October 1339 | Anastasia of Galicia 1320 eight children | Son of Michael Yaroslavich. |

#### Daniilovichi Princes of Moscow

* 1328–1337 Ivan I Kalita the Money-bag
* 1337–1353 Simeon the Proud
* 1353–1359 Ivan II the Fair
* 1359–1363 Dmitry II the One-eyed, 1359–1363
* 1363–1389 Dmitry III of the Don

#### Gediminid Grand Dukes of Lithuania

* 1389–1407 Lengvenis

#### Daniilovichi Princes of Moscow

* 1408–1425 Vasily I, 1408–1425
* 1425–1462 Vasily II the Blind, 1425–1462
* 1462–1480 Ivan III the Great