Vyachko: Difference between revisions
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'''Vetseke''' ({{lang-ru|Вячко}}) was a [[Rus' (people)|Russian]] prince who fought against the expansionism of the [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[Livonian Knights]] at the turn of the 13th century. His name is the [[Old Novgorod dialect]] form of '''Vyacheslav''' and his father is supposed to have been a [[Rurikid]] Prince of [[Drutsk]]. |
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Prince '''Vyachko of Koknese''',<ref>Also spelled as [http://books.google.com/books?ei=iijpSM3iEpbAM_qgmRA&as_brr=0&q=Vyachko%2C+Prince+of+Kuikenos&btnG=Search+Books Kuikenos]</ref> the king of [[Principality of Kukenois|Koknese]] ({{lang-la|Rex Vesceka de Kukenois}}; {{lang-ru|Вячко}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Foreword to the Past |last=Bojtár |first=Endre |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1999 |publisher=Central European University Press |location= |isbn=9789639116429 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5aoId7nA4bsC&pg=PA125 }}</ref>) or '''Vetseke of Kokenhusen'''<ref>{{cite book |title=The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia |last=Brundage |first=James |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2003 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location= |isbn=9780231128889 |pages=52 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=UtRs1QecqIsC&pg=PA68 }} </ref> was a [[Rus' (people)|Rus']]ian prince, a vassal of [[Principality of Polotsk|Polotsk]] who fought against the expansionism of the [[Livonian Knights]] at the turn of the 13th century. |
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| ⚫ | At the time in the beginning of the 13th century, when [[Germans]] led by [[Albert of Buxhoeveden]] and the [[Northern Crusades|crusading]] [[Livonia]]n [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Order]] began to occupy the shores of the [[Gulf of Riga]], Vyachko ruled the fortress of Kukeinos (modern [[Koknese]], Latvia) some 100 [[kilometre|km]] southeast. Although his principality is believed to have been subject to [[Polotsk]], senior princes did nothing to help him withstand the Knights' pressure. According to other sources, it was indeed in return for protection against [[Lithuanians]] and Polotsk, that Vyachko gave half of his land to Albert in 1205. During one of the raids he was captured by Albert of Buxhoeveden and delivered in chains to [[Riga]], where a local archbishop set him free. Thereupon Vyachko burnt his capital and the fortress of Kes' (presentely [[Cēsis]], Latvia) and retreated to [[Kievan Rus'|Rus]]. By 1209 Kukeinos had been taken over by the Order and the formal sovereignty of Polotsk was finally revoked in 1215. |
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==Identity of Vyachko== |
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| ⚫ | In 1223, the [[Novgorod Republic]] sent Vyachko to [[Estonian Crusade|defend the Estonian fortress]] of Yuryev (modern [[Tartu]], [[Estonia]]) against the Knights. Although his [[druzhina]] was small, Vyachko managed to install himself in the fortress with support from local [[Estonians]] and to launch several raids against the Knights. In response, Albert besieged Yuryev in 1224 with a large force and offered a peace settlement. However, Vyachko refused to surrender, choosing to die with all of his supporters when the Knights stormed the fortress. |
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His name is the [[Old Novgorod dialect]] form of '''Vyacheslav''' and his father is supposed to have been a [[Rurikid]] Prince of [[Drutsk]].{{Fact|date=October 2008}} |
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Another interpretation, based on evidence from the ''[[Chronicle of Henry of Livonia]]'', is that Vyachko was a local élite, perhaps a [[Livonian people|Liv]], who converted to [[Orthodox Christianity]] and became a vassal of Polotsk, whereupon he changed his name to the East Slavic ''Vyachko''. This interpreation is supported by the fact that ''Chronicle'' says the population of Koknese included Balts ([[Latgallians]] and [[Selonians]]), and even a German colony, in addition to the East Slavic element.<ref>{{cite book |title=Latvijas vēsture 1180–1290: Krustakari |last=Šterns |first=Indriķis |authorlink= |year=2002 |publisher=Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds |language=Latvian |location=Riga |isbn=9984601889 |pages=182 |oclc=53125658 }} On the Baltic population of Koknese, cf. Brundage, ''op. cit.'', p. 78f.</ref> |
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==Role in the German Conquest of Livonia== |
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| ⚫ | At the time in the beginning of the 13th century, when [[Germans]] led by [[Albert of Buxhoeveden]] and the [[Northern Crusades|crusading]] [[Livonia]]n [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Order]] began to occupy the shores of the [[Gulf of Riga]], Vyachko ruled the fortress of Kukeinos (modern [[Koknese]], Latvia) some 100 [[kilometre|km]] southeast. Although his principality is believed to have been subject to [[Polotsk]], senior princes did nothing to help him withstand the Knights' pressure. According to other sources, it was indeed in return for protection against [[Lithuanians]] and Polotsk, that Vyachko gave half of his land to Albert in 1205. During one of the raids he was captured by Albert of Buxhoeveden and delivered in chains to [[Riga]], where a local archbishop set him free. Thereupon Vyachko burnt his capital and the fortress of Kes' ( |
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| ⚫ | In 1223, the [[Novgorod Republic]] sent Vyachko to [[Estonian Crusade|defend the Estonian fortress]] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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[[Full Collection of Russian Chronicles]] |
[[Full Collection of Russian Chronicles]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:1224 deaths]] |
[[Category:1224 deaths]] |
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[[Category:History of Latvia]] |
[[Category:History of Latvia]] |
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[[Category:Military personnel killed in action]] |
[[Category:Military personnel killed in action]] |
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Revision as of 09:06, 3 December 2008
Vetseke (Russian: Вячко) was a Russian prince who fought against the expansionism of the Germanic Livonian Knights at the turn of the 13th century. His name is the Old Novgorod dialect form of Vyacheslav and his father is supposed to have been a Rurikid Prince of Drutsk.
At the time in the beginning of the 13th century, when Germans led by Albert of Buxhoeveden and the crusading Livonian Order began to occupy the shores of the Gulf of Riga, Vyachko ruled the fortress of Kukeinos (modern Koknese, Latvia) some 100 km southeast. Although his principality is believed to have been subject to Polotsk, senior princes did nothing to help him withstand the Knights' pressure. According to other sources, it was indeed in return for protection against Lithuanians and Polotsk, that Vyachko gave half of his land to Albert in 1205. During one of the raids he was captured by Albert of Buxhoeveden and delivered in chains to Riga, where a local archbishop set him free. Thereupon Vyachko burnt his capital and the fortress of Kes' (presentely Cēsis, Latvia) and retreated to Rus. By 1209 Kukeinos had been taken over by the Order and the formal sovereignty of Polotsk was finally revoked in 1215.
In 1223, the Novgorod Republic sent Vyachko to defend the Estonian fortress of Yuryev (modern Tartu, Estonia) against the Knights. Although his druzhina was small, Vyachko managed to install himself in the fortress with support from local Estonians and to launch several raids against the Knights. In response, Albert besieged Yuryev in 1224 with a large force and offered a peace settlement. However, Vyachko refused to surrender, choosing to die with all of his supporters when the Knights stormed the fortress.
See also
Full Collection of Russian Chronicles
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