Deepening Fragmentation of Kievan Rus' (1130s)

Timeline

1. 1132–1134Kiev · Kievan Rus'After Mstislav I died in 1132, his brother Yaropolk II Vladimirovich succeeded as Grand Prince of Kiev. He had to simultaneously deal with Yuri Dolgoruky, Vsevolod Olgovich of Chernigov, and the succession arrangements in Pereyaslavl, with alliances and betrayals among the principalities alternating in turn.
2. 1134–1137Novgorod · NovgorodThe Novgorod veche (popular assembly) grew increasingly autonomous in electing grand princes and shaping foreign policy, rejecting rulers imposed by Kiev. Relying on the Baltic–Volga trade route to maintain independent commercial interests, Novgorod became a major pole in the political fragmentation of Rus'.
3. 1139–1140Kiev · Kievan Rus'Yaropolk II died on February 18, 1139; after his brother Vyacheslav briefly succeeded him, Vsevolod Olgovich took control of Kiev. The gap between the nominal authority and actual power of the Grand Prince of Kiev widened further.