Principality of Pinsk

The Pinsk principality is a principality with a center in Pinsk, separated from the Turov principality in the second half of the 12th century. It was located in the upper reaches of the Pripyat and the lower reaches of its tributaries Yaselda, Pina , Styri and Goryni [2].

In the XII-XIII centuries it was closely connected with the Turov principality, was influenced by the Kiev and Vladimir-Volyn principality [3].

Under the year 1174, the "princes of Turov and Pinsk", who participated in the campaign against Kiev Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky [1], are mentioned separately. The first princes of the Pinsk principality were Yaroslav and Yaropolk, the sons of the Turov prince Yuri Yaroslavich. Yaroslav in 1183 participated in the successful campaign of Russian princes to Polovtsy [1]. Yaropolk is mentioned under the year 1190 when describing his wedding [1].

Under the year 1204, the Ipatiev Chronicle refers to Prince Vladimir of Pinsk, perhaps the son of Yaroslav Yurievich, who was captured during the struggle for the Vladimir-Volyn principality [1]. In 1226/1227, the Pinsky prince Rostislav, who unsuccessfully competed for Czartorysk with Daniil Galitsky, was mentioned [1]. In 1229, during the campaign of the Volyn princes against the Poles, Vladimir was left to defend Berestie from Yatvingians [1]. The principality was badly damaged by the numerous raids of Lithuania to Volyn, which were committed through Pinsk [1]. In events related to the struggle of the Vladimir princes with the Lithuanians, under 1247, Prince Michael, and in the events of 1262, the Pinsk princes Fedor, Demid and Yuri Vladimirovich [1]. It is known that Yuri Vladimirovich died in 1292 [1].

After the murder of the founder of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Mindovga, in 1263 his son Voyshlik fled to Pinsk, who took Orthodox tonsure [1]. At Gediminum or a little earlier the princedom became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1320 belonged to Narimunt Gediminovich, from 1348 to his sons Mikhail , Vasily and Yuri. Narimuntovichi ruled the princedom until the death of Yuri Semyonovich, after which the principality passed over to the Grand Duke Zhigimont [1].

In 1471 the principality passed to the Princess Mary Gashtold, the widow of the prince of Kiev Seeds Olelkovich, and after her death - Fedor Yaroslavich, the husband of her daughter [1]. In 1521, Sigismund I gave the principality to his wife Bon Sforza. After the departure of Bona in Italy in 1556 it was transferred to the Principality of Sigismund Augustus, who turned it into the eldership [1]. From 1565-1566 the territory of the principality was administratively part of the Pinsk region of the Beresteysky province.