Vasilko Leonovich (c1105-1135)

Vasilko (Vasily) Leonovich ( Lvovich; Marichich, Marichinich ; beginning of the 12th century (no later than 1117 ) - August 8, 1135, near Pereyaslavl ) - the son of a pretender to the Byzantine throne of Ljediogen II and Russian princess Maria (Maritsa) , daughter of Vladimir Monomakh.

Mary was married to her father, who appeared in the early 12th century. in Russia, a man who pretended to be the one who died in 1087 in a battle with the  Pechenegs  Lev Diogenes, the son of the Byzantine emperor  Roman IV. Russian chronicles call him a prince "Leon Devgenich." The Grand Duke of Kiev, Vladimir Monomakh, recognized the impostor as a real imperial son and decided to support his claims, if not for the Byzantine throne, then at a number of Byzantine cities on the  Danube, where he intended to create a state dependent on Kiev under the nominal superiority of the Leddiogen II.

According to one of the versions, Monomakh singled out the Pereyaslav city of Voinj for his daughter and her husband. During the excavations at the site of this city, a breast cross was found with an inscription in Greek: "Lord, help your servant Leon." It is assumed that he could belong to the Lzhediogen.

If we assume that the marriage of Maritsa with “Leon Devgenich” took place already when Monomakh was the Grand Duke, then it can be assumed that Vasilko was born no earlier than 1114. (Monomakh was called to the throne of Kiev in May 1113 ). Lzhediogen was killed in August 1116, respectively, his son could not be born later than 1117. Vasilko, obviously, was named in honor of Vladimir Monomakh, whose Christian name was Vasily.

The campaign of the troops of Vladimir and Lzhediogen on Byzantium was not crowned with success, the impostor was killed by assassins. Vasilko was brought up by his mother Mariya-Maritsa, perhaps that is why he is called Marić, Mariinich, Maričić, Marićinich in the annals. They probably lived in Kiev, where Vasilko grew up and eventually began to serve his uncles, the sons of Vladimir Monomakh.

Vasilko died in the course of the next conflict between Monomakh and Chernigov Olgovichi.

In the summer of 1135 Chernigov prince Vsevolod Olgovich laid siege to Pereyaslavl, where the son of Monomakh Andrew reigned. To help Andrew moved his troops, led by the great Prince of Kiev, Yaropolk. However, on August 8 they were defeated by Vsevolod in a battle on the Supoi River.

Yaropolk with his brothers brought troops to the headwaters of Supo. According to the chronicles, the Vladimirovichs overestimated their forces and fought with the enemy even before they had fully concentrated and equipped their troops. It was possible to achieve private success: the senior squad overturned the Polovtsy and began to pursue them. Meanwhile, the rest of the troops could not resist the Olgovichi and retreated, the banner was captured by the Olgovichi. The boyars returned from persecution began to gather under the enemy Yaropolk raised by the enemy and were captured in large numbers, including tysyatsky.

Vasilko died in this battle.