Yaropolk II of Kiev

Who was Yaropolk II of Kiev?

Yaropolk II Vladimirovich, Prince of Pereyaslav, Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev, son of Vladimir II Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex. He fought in several campaigns against the Polovtsy, once in 1103 and again in 1116.

After the death of his brother in 1132, Msitslav I the Great, Yaropolk received the crown of Kiev. Yaropolk had to deal with the many interests of his family, most of all his powerful half brother Yuri Dolgoruki. Yaropolk appointed Vsevolod Mstislavich to succeed him in Pereyaslav but Yuri Dolgoruki, with the consent of the Novgorodians, soon drove out his nephew. Yaropolk appointed another son of Mstislav I: Iziaslav Mstislavich to Pereyaslav, who also received Turov. He was replaced soon thereafter by Yaropolk's brother Viacheslav Vladimirovich.

The peace didn't last long and in 1134 the merry-go-round started once more. Iziaslav had to transfer Turov to his uncle Viacheslav to let him rule the principality once again. Pereyaslav would come to Yuri Dolgoruki on the condition that Iziaslav got to rule Rostov although Yuri kept a large part of the principality under his influence. Iziaslav also got to rule Volyn and another half brother of Yaropolk, Andrey Vladimirovich was to rule Pereyaslav.