In 1211, the boyars of the ancient Russian city of Galich elevated ten-year-old Daniil Romanovich of Galitsky to the throne. A year later, his father died, and the willful boyars expelled the boy, depriving him of his fatherland and power. In exile, he had to live with Andrei (the Hungarian king) and Leshko the White (the Polish prince). This continued until the 20th anniversary of the prince. Fate was kind to him. In 1221, princely civil strife began, during which the great-grandson of Vladimir Monomakh managed to ascend the throne.
Start of reign
Daniil Galitsky was baptized by fire in the war with the Hungarians and Poles, who constantly invaded Russia. His father-in-law, Mstislav Udaloy, became his ally. By that time, the Volyn prince had gathered a large squad. Unfortunately, the reign of Daniil Galitsky did not start very well. In 1223, he, along with a number of Russian princes, suffered a crushing defeat on the Kalka River from Genghis Khan's temniks - Subedei and Jebe.
Expansion of holdings
But stillit must be admitted that the prince was an excellent manager. By 1229, Daniel of Galicia united all the Volyn lands into one large principality. In an effort to expand his possessions, the Volyn prince organized several military campaigns against South Russia. In 1238, he captured Galich and began to be called the Prince of Galicia and Volyn. Before the invasion of Batu, Daniel managed to make several successful campaigns against restless neighbors - Chernigov, Seversk and Pinsk princes. Naturally, during the "redistribution" of the princely thrones, he was the main character.
Golden Horde
Batu's invasion completely ruined the Galicia-Volyn principality. A huge number of cities and villages were burned. Thousands of people were captured by the Mongols. Daniil Galitsky himself fled with his family to Hungary. After the departure of the Horde, he returned and began to restore the cities destroyed by the Mongols. But he, like other Russian princes, had to recognize the power of the Khan and pay tribute.
Battle of Yaroslavl
At the same time, Galicia had to start a war against its Western neighbors - supporters of Rostislav Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov). In 1245, Rostislav, together with the Hungarian and Polish knights, surrounded the city of Yaroslav. Daniel of Galicia crossed the San River with his army and hurried to the aid of the besieged city. The battle took place not far from him. Prince Galitsky built three of his regiments in a row (on the left - the regiment of Daniel, on the right - his brother Vasilko, and in the center - a regiment of militia led by court Andrei). Hungarian knightswent on the attack on the central regiment, which, unable to withstand the blow, began to retreat to the San River. The right regiment was attacked by the Polish knights. Vasilek successfully repulsed the attack. Daniel made his way to the rear of the reserve regiment of the Hungarians and completely defeated it. Seeing this, the remaining Hungarians and Poles got scared and fled from the battlefield. The victory in the Battle of Yaroslavl ended the bloody 40-year struggle for the unification of Galicia-Volyn Rus. This event was the greatest achievement of Monomakh's great-grandson.
Death
In the last years of his life, Daniil Galitsky, whose biography was reviewed in this article, did not wage any wars. He died in 1264 and was buried in the town of Holm. One of the chroniclers, mourning his death, called the prince “the second after Solomon.”
