Principality of Gorodets (Polotsk)

The Principality of Gorodets was an apanage West-Russian principality on the territory of the Principality of Polotsk land, with a center in Gorodets na Berezine. In chronicles, the city's capital city is also referred to as "Goroden" and "Gorodno", but it is not the same city as Grodno (see Gorodino Principality ).

Probably, initially the territory of the principality was part of the Principality of Minsk or Principality of Izyaslavl. In 1159 the Druze Prince Rogvolod Borisovich took possession of Polotsk, expelling Rostislav Glebovich , who was reigning there. After this, Rogvolod tried to subdue the other Polotsk lands. The greatest resistance was rendered to him by the brother of Rostislav, Volodar Glebovich, strengthened in 1159 in Gorodets. In 1162 Rogvolod besieged Gorodets, however, according to the Ipatiev Chronicle, Volodar at night with the help of Lithuanians made a sortiefrom the city and defeated the army of Rogvolod, who fled to Slutsk , and from there to Drutsk. After the death of his brother in 1165 Volodar changed it in Minsk.

The exact location of the principality is unknown. Danilevich places him in the northwestern part of Polotsk, on the border with Lithuania [1]. Alekseev identified Gorodets either with the modern city (north-west of Nesvizh ) or with the Gorodishche north of Baranovichi [2].

Princes of Gorodets
1159-c1165 : Volodar Glebovich (died after 1167), Prince of Minsk (1151-1159) and (1165-1167), Gorodetsky 1159-1165, Polotsk 1167