King Danylo Romanovych in Relations Between Rus’ and Poland, 1245–1264

Abstract

The article explores several key questions of relations between Rus’ and Poland after 1245, in the aftermath of the Romanids’ success in the struggle for their father’s inheritance. Some debated aspects of Danylo Romanovych’s foreign policy and the specifics of relations between Rus’, Poland, Lithuania and the Golden Horde are considered. The author concludes that Russo-Polish relations in this period were maintained with regularity. The Romanids’ convincing victory in the battle of Yaroslav in 1245 resulted in Batu Khan’s recognizing Prince Danylo as his myrnyk (in peace with him). This led to an alliance between Danylo Romanovych and the Hungarian king Béla IV. After that, relations were established with Bolesław V the Chaste. As a result, Bolesław V, Vladislaus of Opole, and Leszek the Black took part in the Czech campaign of Danylo and Vasyl’ko Romanovychs and Lev Danylovych in June-July 1253. It should be noted that the Polish factor played an important role in the coronation of Danylo Romanovych, which was supported by Bolesław V and Siemowit I of Masovia. The legend of “double coronation,” which arose under the influence of M. Miechowski’s misinterpretation of the text of Jan Długosz, where the original date of 1253 was corrected to 1246, is apocryphal. In the author’s view, the probable date of the coronation is the second half of 1253. The Russo-Polish rapprochement resulted in the establishment of Danylo Romanovych’s protection over the Masovian prince Siemowit I, who married Pereyaslava Danylivna. After that, the Romanids together with Siemowit I undertook successful military campaigns against the Yotvingians in the winter of 1248–1249, 1253–1254, and 1254–1255. In an agreement concluded between Danylo Romanovych, Siemowit I, and Burkhard von Hornhausen in late 1254, the Teutonic Order officially recognized the transfer of a third of the lands of the Yotvingians into the possession of the king of Rus’ and prince of Masovia. The Mongolian factor also became important in Russo-Polish relations. Berke Khan sent his experienced general Burundai first against Lithuania, and at the end of 1259 against Poland. As King Danylo was in forced emigration, it was Vasyl’ko Romanovych and Lev Danylovych who had to provide military assistance to the Mongols. In this way, the Mongols were able to forestall the formation of an anti-Mongol coalition and restore control over the possessions of the Romanids themselves. After the return of King Danylo from emigration, a congress was held in Tarnawa in the autumn of 1262, which not only testified to the resolution of the Russo-Polish tensions, but also united the Rus’ and Polish rulers in opposing Mindaugas of Lithuania and the Yotvingians.