Principality of Polotsk
Belarus, 900 CE–1397. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Principality of Polotsk was a medieval principality. The principality was supposedly established around the town of Polotsk by the tribal union of Krivichs. At the time of its greatest extent, the principality stretched over large parts of present-day northern and central Belarus and a smaller part of today's southeastern Latvia. By the 13th century, it was integrated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Seat of power: Polatsak
Rulers
Izyaslav of Polotsk
Head of state, 988 CE–1001
He was the first to make Polotsk autonomous from the grand prince of Kiev. His principality carried a wide degree of autonomy that later was passed on to his descendants.
Portrait of Izyaslav of Polotsk: User: Waishund, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Bryachislav of Polotsk
Head of state, 1003–1044
Under his rule, Polotsk attempted to distance itself from Kiev. He extended the territory of his principality and established the city of Braslaw.
Culture
- The cathedral is probably the oldest church in Belarus.
- It stands at the confluence of the Polota River and the Western Dvina River on the eastern side of the city.
- The cathedral originally had seven domes.
- The burial vaults of 16 Polotsk princes dating back to the eleventh century have been uncovered.
Picture
The Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Polotsk was built by Prince Vseslav of Polotsk between 1044 and 1066 and now serves as a concert hall.
Image: Александр Липилин, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.