List of wars involving Kievan Rus' explained

This is a list of wars involving Kievan Rus' (9th century–1240). These wars involved Kievan Rus' (also known as Kyivan Rus') as a whole, or some of its principalities up to 1240.

*e.g. result unknown or indecisive/inconclusive, result of internal conflict inside Kievan Rus', status quo ante bellum, or a treaty or peace without a clear result.

Date	Conflict	Combatant 1	Combatant 2	Result
830s	Paphlagonian expedition of the Rus'			Unclear. The historicity of this conflict is questioned
860	Rus'–Byzantine War (860)			Victory. The historicity of this conflict is questioned
880s, 913, 943, 965, 1041	Caspian expeditions of the Rus'		Southern Caspian coastal regions	Unclear
907	Rus'–Byzantine War (907)			Victory^[1]
920–1036	Siege of Kiev (968)		Pechenegs	Victory After the Battle of Kiev in 1036, the Pechenegs stopped raiding Rus'
941	Rus'–Byzantine War (941)			Defeat
944/945	Rus'-Byzantine War (944/945)			Victory.^[2] The historicity of this conflict is questioned.
945–947		Olga of Kiev	Drevlians	Olga victory. The historicity of this conflict is questioned
964–965			Khazar Khaganate	Victory Destruction of the Khazar Khaganate
967/968–971	Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria			Defeat Byzantine victory
972–980	Casus belli: death of Sviatoslav I of Kiev	Kiev (Yaropolk I †) Polotsk (Rogvolod †)	Drevlians (Oleg of Drelinia †) Novgorod (Volodimer)	Volodimer victory
981		(Volodimer I of Kiev)	Duchy of Poland (Mieszko I?)	Victory Cherven Cities incorporated into Kievan Rus'
985	Volodimer I of Kiev's campaign against Volga Bulgaria		Volga Bulgaria	Military victory, then agreement
987–989	Rebellion of Bardas Phokas the Younger	Byzantine emperor Basil II	Bardas Phokas the Younger	Agreement
1015–1019	Kievan succession crisis (also known as or) Bolesław I's intervention in the Kievan succession crisis (June–Sept. 1018)	loyal to Svyatopolk I Duchy of Poland (1018) Kingdom of Hungary (1018)	loyal to Yaroslav I	Yaroslav victory
1022	Yaroslav the Wise's attack on Brest		Duchy of Poland	Defeat
1024	Battle of Listven	Yaroslav the Wise	Principality of Chernigov Mstislav of Chernigov	Chernigovian victory
1024	Rus'–Byzantine War (1024)			Defeat
1030	Yaroslav the Wise's campaign against the Chud		Chud	Victory Estonian tribes start paying tribute to Kievan Rus'
1030–1031	Yaroslav the Wise's campaign for the Cherven Cities		Duchy of Poland	Victory
1038–1047	Miecław's Rebellion	Duchy of Poland	Miecław's State Duchy of Pomerelia Yotvingians	Polish victory
1042–1228	Finnish–Novgorodian wars	(until 1136) Novgorod Republic	Yem people	Various results, mostly victories The wars' effect on the Finns' society contributed to the eventual Swedish conquest of western Finland circa 1249
1043	Rus'–Byzantine War (1043)			Defeat
1061	Sosols raid against Pskov		Sosols	Defeat Yaroslav the Wise's conquests in Estonia are lost
1068–1185	Rus'-Cuman battles (from Alta River to Igor's Campaign; the historicity of Igor's Campaign is disputed)		Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Mixed results, mostly Kievan Rus' victories
1065–1069	Rebellion of Vseslav of Polotsk Sieges of Pskov and Novgorod (1065–1067) Battle on the Nemiga River (1067) Kiev uprising of 1068 Polish intervention, restoration of Iziaslav I of Kiev (1069)	Principality of Kiev Principality of Chernigov Principality of Pereyaslavl Kingdom of Poland (1069)	Principality of Polotsk	Allied victory Principality of Polotsk is defeated (1067) Vseslav briefly reigned in Kiev (1068–May 1069) Restoration of Iziaslav I of Kiev (May 1069)
1074	Bolesław II the Generous's raid on Kievan Rus'		Kingdom of Poland	Defeat
1076	Bolesław II the Generous's raid on Bohemia	Kingdom of Poland	Duchy of Bohemia	Polish–Kievan victory
1076–1077	Kievan succession crisis Casus belli: death of Sviatoslav Yaroslavich (26 December 1076) Vsevolod besieged Iziaslav in Volyn (1077) Boris Sviatoslavich captured Chernigov, but Vsevolod ousted him (May 1077) Iziaslav recovered Kiev with Polish support (July 1077)	Iziaslav Yaroslavich Kingdom of Poland----Boris Sviatoslavich		Compromise Iziaslav and Vsevolod concluded peace Iziaslav recovered Kiev Vsevolod retained Chernigov Sons of Sviatoslav exiled to Tmutorakan
1078	Chernigov succession crisis Sviatoslavichi and Cumans initially defeated Vsevolod	Iziaslav Yaroslavich † Yaropolk Iziaslavich Vsevolod Yaroslavich Vladimir Monomakh	Oleg Sviatoslavich Boris Sviatoslavich Cumans	Iziaslav–Vsevolod victory
1092	Kievan–Cuman raid on Poland^[3]	Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Kingdom of Poland	Kievan–Cuman victory
1093	Cuman invasion of Kievan Rus' Siege of Torchesk		Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Defeat
1093–1097		Izyaslavychi Svyatopolk II Izyaslavych of KyivMonomakhi Volodimer II of Pereyaslavl Izyaslav Volodimirovych of Murom †	Svyatoslavychi	Council of Liubech
1096-1116	Monomakh's campaign against the Cumans Battle of the Salnitsa river		Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Victory
1097–1100		Kingdom of Hungary Principality of Volhynia (until 1098)	Principality of Peremyshl Zvenyhorod Principality Principality of Terebovlya Principality of Volhynia (from 1098)	Peremyshl victory
1101	Kievan–Cuman raid on Poland	Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Kingdom of Poland	Kievan–Cuman victory
1120	Kievan–Cuman raid on Poland	Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Kingdom of Poland	Kievan–Cuman victory
1132–1134	1132–1134 Pereyaslavl succession crisis Casus belli: Pereyaslavl succession after death of Mstislav I Volodimerovich of Kiev 1134 resumption: Viacheslav, given Pereyaslavl in 1132 compromise, left for Turov	Yaropolk II Volodimerovich of Kiev Vsevolod Mstislavich of Pskov Iziaslav Mstislavich of Volhynia	Yuri Dolgorukiy of Suzdalia---- Olgovichi of Chernigov	Compromise Andrey Volodimerovich gained Pereyaslavl (1135) Monomakhovichi split into rival Mstislavichi and Yurievichi
1132–1350	Swedish–Novgorodian Wars	(until 1136) Novgorod Republic	Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Norway (from 1319)	Stalemate after Black Death^[4]
1139–1142	Battles between Duchy of Masovia and Kievan Rus'		Bolesław IV the Curly	Victory
1139–1142	1139–1142 Kievan succession crisis Casus belli: death of Yaropolk Volodimerovich II of Kiev	Viacheslav I of Kiev----Yurievichi Yuri Dolgorukiy of Rostov-Suzdal Rostislav Yuryevich (r. Novgorod 1138–40, 41–42) ---- Novgorod Republic (repeatedly switched sides)	Olgovichi of Chernigov----Mstislavichi Iziaslav Mstislavich of Volhynia Sviatopolk Mstislavich of Pskov ---- Novgorod Republic (repeatedly switched sides)	Mixed results Viacheslav lost Kiev and Pereyaslavl Yurievichi of Suzdalia lost Novgorod Olgovichi of Chernigov gained Kiev Iziaslav Mstislavich of Volhynia gained Pereyaslavl Sviatopolk Mstislavich of Pskov gained Novgorod
1146–1159	1146–1159 Kievan succession crisis (also known as ) Casus belli: death of Vsevolod Olgovich II of Kiev	Iziaslavichi (senior Mstislavichi): Iziaslav of Volhynia (1146–54) Mstislav of Pereyaslavl Novgorod Republic (1146–55; 57–58) ---- Olgovichi of Chernigov	Rostislavichi (junior Mstislavichi): Rostislav of Smolensk Yaroslav of Halych (1158) Novgorod Republic (1158–59) ---- Yuri Dolgorukiy of Suzdalia (1146–57) Cuman allies (1147) Novgorod Republic (1155–57)	Mixed results Olgovichi of Chernigov lost Kiev Iziaslavichi of Volhynia lost Pereyaslavl and Novgorod Rostislavichi of Smolensk gained Kiev and Novgorod Yurievichi of Suzdalia gained Pereyaslavl
1147	Bolesław IV the Curly's raid on Old Prussians	Bolesław IV the Curly	Old Prussians	Bolesław IV the Curly's victory
1167–1169	1167–1169 Kievan succession crisis Casus belli: death of Rostislav I of Kiev Iziaslavichi of Volhynia gained control over Kiev and Novgorod (1167–1168) Sack of Kiev (1169) by a Rostislavichi–Yurievichi–Olgovichi coalition Siege of Novgorod (1170)	Iziaslavichi of Volhynia Principality of Kiev Principality of Volhynia Novgorod Republic	Andrey Bogolyubsky's coalition Yurievichi of Suzdalia Olgovichi of Chernigov Rostislavichi of Smolensk	Coalition victory Yurievichi gained control over Kiev (1169) Novgorodians & Iziaslavichi defeated coalition (1170) Novgorodians expelled the Iziaslavichi (1170) Yurievichi gained control over Novgorod (1171)
1171–1173	1171–1173 Kievan succession crisis Casus belli: death of prince Gleb of Kiev Siege of Vyshgorod (1173)	Kiev and allies Rostislavichi of Smolensk Iziaslavichi of Volhynia Principality of Galicia? ----- Olgovichi of Chernigov (joined Kiev near end)	Andrey's second coalition Yurievichi of Suzdalia Novgorod Republic various other princes ----- Olgovichi of Chernigov (defected to Kiev near end)	Kiev & Rostislavichi victory Andrey's coalition defeated Yurievichi lost power Andrey murdered by own boyars (1174)
1174–1177	Casus belli: murder of prince Andrey Bogolyubsky of Vladimir-Suzdal	Yurievichi of Suzdalia	Yurievichi of Suzdalia	Vsevolod the Big Nest's victory
1187	Ruthenian raid on Lesser Poland	Principality of Halych	Casimir II the Just	Victory
1188–1189	Béla III's military campaign against Halych	Principality of Halych	Kingdom of Hungary	Defeat
1189	Casimir II the Just's raid on Halych	Kingdom of Hungary Principality of Halych	Casimir II the Just	Defeat
1195–1196	Casus belli: death of Sviatoslav III of Kiev	Olgovichi	Monomakhovichi	Indecisive
1203–1234	Campaigns of Rus' princes against the Livonian Brothers of the Sword	Vladimir-Suzdal Principality of Polotsk Principality of Smolensk Novgorod Republic Baltic peoples Baltic Finnic peoples	Livonian Brothers of the Sword Baltic Germans	Defeat The crusaders captured Baltic lands up to the borders of Kievan Rus' and Lithuania
1205	Roman the Great's raid on Poland Battle of Zawichost	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Leszek I the White	Defeat. Death of Roman the Great.
1206–1210		Principality of Chernigov Principality of Turov Cumans Principality of Ryazan (until 1207) ---- Principality of Galicia-Volhynia (since 1206) Principality of Pereyaslavl (since 1206) Vladimir-Suzdal (since 1209)	Principality of Smolensk Novgorod Republic Kingdom of Hungary Vladimir-Suzdal (until 1209) ---- Principality of Ryazan (from 1207) Kingdom of Poland (from 1208) Principality of Volhynia (from 1208)	Mixed results Olgovichi of Chernigov captured Kiev and Galicia Yurievichi of Suzdalia captured Ryazan Rostislavichi of Smolensk captured Novgorod
1207	Leszek I the White's raid on Rus'	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Leszek I the White Konrad I of Masovia	Defeat
1212–1216	Vladimir-Suzdal war of succession^[5] Casus belli: death of Vsevolod the Big Nest	Konstantin of Rostov Mstislav Mstislavich	Yuri II of Vladimir Yaroslav II of Vladimir	Konstantin victory Konstantin became Grand Prince of Vladimir
1213–1214, 1219, 1233–1234	Andrew II's military campaigns against Halych	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Kingdom of Hungary	Victory. Hungarian retreat.
1214	Leszek I the White's raid on Volodymyr-Volynskyi	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Leszek I the White Kingdom of Hungary	Defeat
1218–1221	Polish–Hungarian–Ruthenian War	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Leszek I the White Kingdom of Hungary	Victory
1223	Battle of the Kalka River (first Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus')	Principality of Kiev Principality of Galicia–Volhynia Principality of Chernigov Principality of Smolensk Cuman–Kipchak Confederation	Mongol Empire Brodnici	Crushing defeat Armies of the Rus' principalities and Cumans mostly destroyed Mongols plundered some towns and retreated east towards Volga Bulgaria, where they were defeated in the Battle of Samara Bend
1226		Michael Vsevolodovych Yuri Vsevolodovych Vasylko Kostiantynovych		Michael victory
1228–1236/40	Casus belli: death of Mstyslav Mstyslavych Udatnyi	Principality of Volhynia Principality of Kiev Principality of Smolensk	Principality of Novgorod-Seversk Cumania	Daniel of Galicia victory
1236–1237 1236	War between Konrad I of Masovia and Galicia–Volhynia Battle of Czerwień	Principality of Galicia–Volhynia	Konrad I of Masovia	Victory
1237–1241	Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' (second) (see also List of battles of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus')	Kiev Galicia–Volhynia Vladimir-Suzdal Novgorod Republic Smolensk Turov and Pinsk Chernigov Ryazan Pereyaslavl	Mongol Empire Brodnici	Decisive defeat Kievan Rus' destroyed Most surviving Rus' principalities became vassals of the Mongol Golden Horde.

See also

• Military of Kievan Rus'
• Armies of the Rus' principalities
• List of wars and battles involving Galicia–Volhynia
• List of wars involving the Novgorod Republic
• List of wars involving the Principality of Moscow
• List of wars and battles involving the Principality of Smolensk
• List of wars involving Belarus
• List of wars involving Lithuania
• List of wars involving Poland
• List of wars involving Russia
• List of wars involving Ukraine

Bibliography

Primary sources

• Book: Cross . Samuel Hazzard . Sherbowitz-Wetzor . Olgerd P. . 1953 . 1930 . The Russian Primary Chronicle, Laurentian Text. Translated and edited by Samuel Hazzard Cross and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetzor . Cambridge, Massachusetts . The Mediaeval Academy of America . 325. (The first 50 pages are a scholarly introduction).

Literature

• Book: Katchanovski . Ivan . Kohut . Zenon E. . Zenon Kohut . Nesebio . Bohdan Y. . Yurkevich . Myroslav . 2013 . Historical Dictionary of Ukraine . Lanham, Maryland. Scarecrow Press . 992 . 9780810878471 . 22 January 2023 . 23 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230423152841/https://books.google.com/books?id=-h6r57lDC4QC . live .
• Book: Kohn, George Childs . 2013 . Dictionary of Wars. Revised Edition . Londen/New York . Routledge . 9781135954949.
• Book: Martin . Janet . 1995 . Medieval Russia, 980–1584 . Cambridge . Cambridge University Press . 450 . 9780521368322.
• Book: Martin, Janet . Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book . 2007 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 978-0-511-36800-4.
• Book: Martin, Janet . Freeze . Gregory . Russia: A History . From Kiev to Muscovy: The Beginnings to 1450 . Oxford . Oxford University Press . 2009b . 1–30 . 978-0-19-150121-0 . 27 January 2023 . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127141118/https://books.google.com/books?id=GNeFDyRSp0wC . live . (third edition)
• Book: Logan . F. Donald . F. Donald Logan . 2005 . The Vikings in History. Third edition. . Abingdon . Routledge . 224 . 9781136527166.
• The Contest for the "Kievan Succession" (1155–1175): The Religious-Ecclesiastical Dimension . Jaroslaw . Pelenski . Harvard Ukrainian Studies . 1988 . 12/13 . 761–780 . 41036344.
• Book: Гумилев, Лев . От Руси к России . Moscow . Москва . 2023. 978-5-17-153845-3 .

Notes and References

1. Janet Martin. Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia. Cambridge University Press, 2004. P. 115
2. Vilhelm Ludvig Peter Thomsen. The Relations Between Ancient Russia and Scandinavia, and the Origin of the Russian State. (2010), p. 25. Cambridge University Press.
3. Hypatian Codex
4. Kari, Risto: Suomalaisten keskiaika, 2004. . See page 163; Paul, "Archbishop Vasilii Kalika of Novgorod," 266-269.
5. Alef . Gustave . 1956 . A history of the Muscovite civil war: the reign of Vasili II (1425–1462) . PhD . 7 May 2023. ProQuest . 11 . When Vsevold died in 1212 he divided his territories among his sons, the largest portion going to the second oldest, Iuri. Immediately the sons began to war amongst themselves, each striving to achieve a more favorable position and lands which contributed to the decline of the Suzdal-Vladimir principality..