5.2: The prince
Fedot's ascencion marks an end to reconciliatory politics of regent Davyd. Although the ruler of Yuriev retained his position as voievoda (Russian воевода, literally "the one who leads the war", roughly equivalent to western marshal), his influence on foreign policy has been curbed by the now de facto ruler.Fedot returned to Vseslav the Wise's tradition of choosing brides from members of high-ranking noble families. Fedot's wife became Margarita Komnena, daughter of the doux of Armeniacon. His sisters - Gorislava and Alexandra became wifes of Byzantine emperor Joannes II (1140) and Finnish prince Bo (1142), while his brothers - Putiata and Vseslav - got married with Sofia Rostislavna (1138), daughter of Russian tsar Rostislav I and with Dobromila Premyslid (1139), cousin to king Svatopluk I of Bohemia. Thus, Fedot attempted to weave a net of dynastical alliances, which as we will see, has proven to be most valuable in the realm's most critical moment in the first half of the XII century.
In internal politics, Fedot attempted to curb the landlords' power and influence. His first target became Xenia Rodislavovna, who, after the acquisition of Mstislav became arguably the strongest noble in Polotsk, second only to the prince himself. In 1137, she was imprisoned by Fedot and stripped of all her titles, possibly due to involvement in a plot to overthrow the prince's rule and install herself as a princess of Smolensk1. This show of force consolidated Fedot's rule, allowing him to push towards external goals in later part of his reign.
Another notable event is the return of Saaremaa to princely domain. In 1131, Vyshli died in a storm while travelling between his islandic holdings. Shortly after, his only child and heir, the one-year old Svarnas - passed away in sleep. Although no solid proof exists, there are reasons to believe that episkop Matvei, bishop of Saaremaa was involved in both deaths, acting on Fedot's orders. It is an established fact that isolated pockets of monophysist heresy existed on Saaremaa as far as the middle of XII century, and it is only natural that the Church would look with suspicion on non-Russian (thus, "uncertain") orthodox converts, who might one day turn to heresy. Nevertheless, the extinction of Vyshli's line meant the islands' return to princely domain.
In 1140, Polotskian troops intervened in a war between Xenia of Smolensk (Fedot's former fiancée) and tsar Mstislav of Bulgaria. In a brief skirmish, the numerically superior Polotskian army defeated Xenia's troops and laid siege upon Smolensk, forcing the rebellious boyarina to submission.
Fedot's main goal, however, laid in the west. Just like his grandfather, Fedot II dreamt of expanding his influence on the Batlic coast. A chance to do so appeared in 1141, when the Swedish king Kettilmund Erikson was attacked by Jacek, king of Poland2. Fedot II used this opportunity to push forward his claim towards the duchy of Courland. Hastly mobilised, the Russian troops first invaded Mazovia, using their superior numbers to assault weakly garrisoned castles in Grodno, Płock and Czersk. In 1142 they relocated north, barely defeating the Swedish reinforcements in Courland in the battle of Bauska. Defeated on both fronts, the Swedish king had no option, but to accept Fedot's demands - the duchy of Courland became part of the Polotskian realm. Fedot's brothers Putiata and Vseslav became overseers of the newly conquered province.
1 -> The Smolenskian title was a complex question between 1137 and 1147; although Xenia Lvovna reigned in Smolensk, the title circled between her, Xenia Rodislavna, Fedot II Andreievich and Mstislav of Bulgaria, before it was finally awarded by Fedot II to Kirill Trondovich, grandson of Gleb Vseslavich.
2 -> The war was a result of dynastical union between the Polish queen Samboja and Swedish king Erik. After Erik's death in 1137, the Swedish throne has been inherited by his and Samboja's son Kettilmund, who, after his mother's death in 1139, added the duchy of Mazovia to his holdings. However, the lords of Poland opposed Kettilmund's claim and after putting Jacek Kmita on the throne forced him to attack Kettilmund to reclaim the lost province. The war ended after Kettilmund's death in battle in 1144, with Mazovia remaining under Swedish control.
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