Vseslav Brachyslavavich is an important East European political leader of the 11th century, a descendant of Grand Kievan Prince Vladimir the Baptizer, the best known Polatsk prince. He strived to elevate and to consolidate the Principality of Polatsk. He was called the Wizard and was believed to be able to change into a wolf. The prince became a character of legends, historical songs, and heroic chants, because of a tale of his birth.
Background
Vseslav was a son of Bryachislav Izyaslavich, the prince of Polotsk. His name, possibly, may have been of something in approximation to Vratislav of Wroclaw. He was the son of Izyaslav Vladimirovich. During his reign, Polotsk was at war with Kiev and Novgorod. In 1015 he has inherited the city of Lutsk after the death of his grandfather Vladimir I of Kiev.
Quite a few descendants of Vseslav the Wizzard have gone down to history. However, the greatest fame to Polatsk was brought not by warriors but by the enlightener Euphrosyne of Polatsk, his granddaughter, who has been canonized and declared the Saint Guardian of Belarus.
Career
In 1044 Vseslav Brachyslavavich became the Prince of Polatsk. He inherited the throne from his father Brachyslau and reigned in Polatsk for over half a century. Having consolidated power he started in the 1160s energetic activities in the East European arena. In 1060 he supported Kiev in the fight against nomads.
Using favorable political circumstances like the beginning of feudal intestine warfare, Vseslav started fighting against the sons of Yaroslav Mudry (the Wise) for the influence over the East Slavic lands. He led a military campaign against Pskov (1065), seized Novgorod (1066).
Those actions, which were revenged by sacking Mensk (now Minsk) by the sons of Yaroslav and by a bloody battle over the Nyamiha River in 1067, roused the public consciousness of Old Rus and were kept in memory of several generations as well as reflected in "Povest vremennykh let" (Tale of Bygone Years) and in "Slovo o polku Igoreve" (The Song of Igor’s Campaign).
Although smashed at Nyamiha, Vseslav was not defeated. The sons of Yaroslav invited him as if for negotiations but in reality captured him, took to Kiev and put into a dungeon. However, all of a sudden, he was elevated from a prisoner to a grand prince. During an uprising in Kiev in 1068, a crowd of rebellious people released him and declared to be the Grand Prince thus proving that there were numerous supporters of the prisoner from Polatsk in Kiev considering his right to the grand prince’s throne to be rightful.
Vseslav reigned in Kiev for 7 months. Over half of East Slavic lands: from Novgorod to the Black Sea, were ruled by the Prince of Polatsk. However, when the grand prince Izyaslav, who had been exiled out by the insurgents, started moving toward Kiev, backed by the troops of the Polish King Boleslaw the Brave, to defend «justice», Vseslav went back to Polatsk where he enjoyed more support. The princes of Kiev did not give up the idea of defeating Vseslav but neither the sons of Yaroslav in the 1170-80s nor Vladimir Monomakh could succeed. Vseslav managed to defend Polatsk and the independence of his principality.
Achievements
Personality
The contemporaries were amazed by the enigmatic personality of Vseslav and his life full of resolute actions, brilliant rises, and tragic defeats. It was not by chance that he was called the Wizard and was believed to be able to change into a wolf. Chronicles connect his life and activities with certain miracles. One of them was a tale of his birth as a result of charms. After his death, the prince became a character of legends, historical songs, and heroic chants. He became a prototype of the epic hero Volh Vseslavovich, a wise ruler and a brave warrior. Vseslav’s feats of arms were remembered in tales about Ilya Muromets and passed through generations in East Slavic lands. The author of «The Song of Igor’s Campaign» was well-disposed to Vseslav, praising him as an epic hero with a prophetic heart in a steadfast body and as a rival to Hors, the God of the Sun.
Quotes from others about the person
In the year 6609 (1101) Vseslav, Prince of Polatsk, passed away, in month of April, on its 14th day at 9 hours, in the day-time, on Wednesday