Prince Ivan

In pre-historic times Moldavia was inhabited by Synthians and Thracian tribes, who established an independent state in the 1^st century BC. From 106 - 273 AD, Southern Moldavia was part of the Roman Empire, which built Trajan Walls there. From the 3^rd century on it was invaded by many nomadic peoples, including the Goths, Huns, Avars, Bulgars, Maygars, Pechenegs, Cumans and Tatars. From the 4^th century on, particularly from the 6th, the East Slavic Antes settled there. In the 9^th and 10^th centuries Moldavia was colonized by the proto-Ukrainian Tivertsians and Ulychians, who founded the towns of Perischen, Teyhen (now Bendery, or Tiaghina) and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.

In the 10^th century, the territory of Moldavia came under the domination if Keivan Rus', and from 1200 to 1340 it was ruled by the principality of Galicia-Volhynia. Important trades routes from Galicia to the Black Sea passed through Moldavia and Galician merchants founded the town of Malyi Halych (now Galati). In the 12^th and 13^th centuries a separate principality populated by fugitives of Galicia-Volhynia called Berladnyky (named after the Moldavian town of Berlad), existed in Southern Moldavia. It's most notable ruler was Ivan Rostylasvych, who became known as Prince Berladnyk. In 1134, on an anniversary, Berlad is recognised as per the Letter: Berlad and the Berladnyky.

Berladnyky (or Byrladnyky), peasant (smerd) or burgher refugees in Kyivan Rus who in the 12th century settled in the lower Danube region between the Seret (Siret) River and Prut River near the town of Berlad (Barlad). The Berladnyky are first mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle for 1159 in connection with the attack of a 6,000-man force led by the exiled Prince Berladnyk on Kuchelemyn and Ushytsia, cities of Halych principality. In 1160 the Berladnyky captured the city of Oleshia on the Dnipro River but were defeated eventually by the Kyivan prince Rostyslav Mstyslavych near the town of Dtsynia. After the 13^th century the Berladnyky are no longer mentioned in the chronicles.

The Soviet Union recognised the principality of Berlad as 'a special principality belonging to the lateral line of Galician princes'.

source: Ukrainian Encyclopedia� /� ibib.ltc.ua � /� Encyclopedia of Ukraine: Volume III: L-Pf

PRINCE BERLADNYK
Ivan Rostyslavych
[1162] 'the Master

The principality of Halych was a Kievan Rus' principality established by members of the oldest line of Yaroslav the Wise descendants. A characteristic feature of Halych principality was an important role of the nobility and citizens in political life, consideration a will of which was the main condition for the princely rule.� Halych as the capital mentioned in around 1124 as a seat of Ivan Vasylkovych the grandson of�Rostislav of Tmutarakan. The realm of Halych was passed to Rostyslav upon the death of his father Vladimir Yaroslavich, but he was banished out of it later by his uncle to Tmutarakan.� The realm was then passed to Yaropolk Izyaslavich who was a son of the ruling Grand Prince of Kiev Izyaslav I of Kiev.

GALICIA - VOLHYNA - KIEV

Prince Berladnyk, was in the Lower Danube, Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages during the formation of the territory and the emergence of the cities of Galicia-Volyhna from the political structure of Kyivan-Rus. Kyivan-Rus' was the first State to arise among the Eastern-Slavs, taking its name from the city of Kyiv (Kiev), the seat of the Grand Prince from about 880 until the beginning of the 13^th century. At its zenith, Kyivan-Rus' covered a territory stretching from the Carpathian Mountains to the Volga River, and from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. The State's rapid rise and development was based on its advantageous location at the intersection of major North-South and East-West land and water trade routes with access to two major seas, and favorable local conditions for the development of agriculture. In the end, however, the State's great size led to the development of centrifugal tendencies and local interests that limited its political and social cohesion. This, and its proximity to the Asian steppes, which left it vulnerable to invasions of nomadic hordes, eventually contributed to the decline of Kyivan-Rus.

The figure of Prince Berladnyk in many respects is quite remarkable. Thus, attracting the attention of later chroniclers evaluating the life filled with various adventures and heavy trials of this unusual hero. The origin of Prince Berladnyk is very confusing for many. The likely circumstance is that he was the eldest among the sons of the Lord. This circumstance gives Prince Berladnyk the 'Master ' important advantages over other princes whom laid claim to the galician tables. This is especially true before the rise of Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl . The rights of the Prince Berladnyk on the galician table were acknowledged by the Galicians themselves. They repeatedly called for him to reign. In the death of the Lady, of her mentioning the son whom she called 'Berladnykyk in Galich', was an invite for him to come occupy the principality.

The Soviet Union attempted to resolve the political standing surrounding the namesake of Berlad (Berladnyk) which resulted in considering such 'a special principality belonging to the lateral line of Galician princes.

An ad-hoc chronology: Prince Berladynk; Ivan Rostyslavych[1162]

1056 - Rostislav Vladimirovich was given principalities Volhynia and Halych, where he stayed from 1057 and 1064

1084 - Three brothers each receive a newly created principality within the principality of Volhynia.
1084 - Volodar Rostyslavych became Prince of Zvenigorog.
1084 - Vasylko Rostyslavych became Prince of Terebovlia.
1084 - Rurik Rostyslavych became Prince of Peremyshl

1124 - Volodar Rostyslavych, Prince of Zvenyhorod (1084 -92) and Peremyshl' (1092 -97), dies.
1124 - Vasylko Rostyslavych, Prince of Terebovlia dies.
1124 - Ivan Rostyslavych becomes Prince of Zvenyhorod (1124 -41)

1134 - Ivan Rostyslavych granted the Berlad Charter to the merchants of Mesembria. 1134 - Letter Berlad.

Anniversary of Berlad.
Geographic, diplomatic, chronicle commentary.
The questioning of the undefined Southern borders of Galicia

1141 - the principality of Zvenigorod re-united with the principalities Peremyshl and Terebovlia.

Ivan Rostyslavych and his records begin to appear repeatedly on pages of the chronicles.

1144 - Ivan Rostyslavych prince of Zvenigorod appears in the news chronicles for the first time.
1144 - Ivan Rostyslavych failed to defend Zvenigorod against [G] Volodymyr Volodarevich
1144 - Ivan Rostyslavych fled to the Danubian town of Berlad, in Moldavia.

Ivan Rostyslavych life begins anew. He became a serving prince, easily and often changing hosts. He left for Kyiv.
He freely moves throughout the land, not just in the South, but in the North as well. He became widely known and was entrusted with the nickname "the Master". He was recruited from among the arbitrary Podunayskaya bribes waiting for a combat brigade.
He was not particularly loyal to his masters and it appears as though he became a prince-mercenary.

1145 - Ivan Rostyslavych served [K] Vsevolod Olhovychand Grand Prince of Kyiv.

1146 - [K] Vsevolod II Olgovich Grand Prince of Kyiv dies August 1, 1146
1146 - [K] Iziaslav II Mstislavich becomes Grand Prince of Kyiv (1146-1149)
1146 - Ivan Rostyslavych is as the service of [K] Prince Sviatoslav Olgovich of Belgorod Kievsky(1141-1154)
1146 - [K] Svyatoslav Olgovich in patronization attempted to return the Zvenigorod principality to Ivan Rostyslavych without success.

When [K] Prince Svyatoslav Oglovich settled down he began to fail in the war with [K] Iziaslav II Mstislavich.
Ivan Rostyslavych claimed that he had pledged to serve under the guise of a payment of 12 hyvnias of gold, 200 hyvnias of silver.

1147 - Ivan Rostyslavych moved to [K] Rustislav Mstislavich the Prince of Smolensk(1125�1160).

1148 - Ivan Rostyslavych by this time was already in Suzdal in the service of [K] Yuri Dolgoruky.