Bolokhovians

Romanian scholars^[which?] suggest that the name "Bolokhoveni" may have derived from Voloch, the East Slavic term for Romanians, or Vlachs.^[1] If this theory is correct, the Bolokhoveni were Romanians living in the western regions of Kievan Rus'.^[2] However this theory is contradicted by archaeological evidence, which indicates that the Bolokhovian material culture resembled that of its contemporaries in the western parts of Kievan Rus'.^[3] Furthermore, it is documented that the Bolokhovian princes had family ties with boyars of the Principality of Galicia.^[4]

The ethnonym seems to be connected to the name Bolokhov, an early medieval settlement that the Hypatian Chronicle – a source on the history of Kievan Rus' – mentioned around 1150.^[5][6] According to historian Victor Spinei, this town may have been the same town as Borokhov, which was recorded by the same chronicle in 1172.^[7] Alternatively, Spinei suggests, Bolokhovo may be the same town as Bolechow (now Bolekhiv, Ukraine), which was mentioned as the "town called 'the Vlachs'" in a Polish charter from 1472.^[7]

The Hypatian Chronicle refers to the "Bolokhovian Land [hr; ru; uk]" once.^[9] Based on the chronicle, modern historians say that this land bordered the principalities of Galicia, Volhynia and Kiev.^[6][10] Bozhskyy, along with other Bolokhovian towns mentioned in the chronicle, were situated along the Buzhok and Sluch rivers.^[10] According to the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, the Bolokhovians inhabited the region around the sources of the Teteriv, Boh, Horyn and Sluch rivers.^[6] On the other hand, historian Alexandru V. Boldur believes that the Bolokhovian Land was located between the Dniester and Dnieper rivers.^[11] He also says that the Bolokhoveni were located southeast of the present-day town of Ushitsa (Romanian: Ușița).^[11]

The Hypatian Chronicle first refers to "Bolokhovian princes" when documenting a war between Daniel Romanovich, the prince of Galicia–Volhynia, and the Hungarians in 1231.^[1] The Bolokhovian princes fought in alliance with the Hungarians.^[1][12] They supported a rebellion against Daniel Romanovich, and they besieged an important stronghold, Kamianets-Podilskyi, in 1233 or 1235 and also in 1236.^[a][1][13] However, the princes were captured and brought to the court of Daniel Romanovich in Vladimir.^[14] When Mikhail, the prince of Chernigov, and Iziaslav, the prince of Novgorod-Seversk, requested their release, they referred to Bolokhovian princes as their "brothers".^[15]

After the Mongols destroyed Kiev in 1240, the Mongols moving westward did not attack the "Bolokhovian Land".^[16] However, they did force the Bolokhovians to supply their army with crops.^[1][12] At the same time, the Bolokhovian princes fled to the Duchy of Masovia (now in Poland).^[12] They promised Duke Bolesław I of Masovia that they would accept his suzerainty, but the duke captured them.^[12] They were released after Daniil Romanovich and his brother, Vasylko Romanovich, promised to give Duke Bolesław I many gifts.^[12]

The Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' did not end the conflicts among the local rulers.^[17] The Bolokhovian princes supported Rostislav Mikhailovich when he besieged Bakota, a major town held by Daniel Romanovich's officials, in 1241.^[17] In revenge for the attack, Daniel Romanovich invaded and pillaged the Bolokhovian Land^[18] and destroyed their fortified towns.^[1] Archaeological research at Gubin and Kudin, two supposedly Bolokhovian towns, shows that the town walls were dug up by Daniil's army.^[19] However, no corpses or traces of fire were found, implying that Daniel took the towns' inhabitants to his own principality.^[19] Their defeat by Daniel's troops in 1257 was the last recorded event of the history of the Bolokhovians.^[1]

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