His Early Life
He was the elder son of Svyatoslav Olegovich, by his second wife, the Novgorodian Catherine. By giving the child the baptismal name of Yury, Svyatoslav Olgovich acknowledged his friendship with prince Yury Vladimirovich of Suzdal. In choosing Igor for the boy’s princely name, he testified to the close bond that had existed between him and his deceased brother.
His father died on February 15, 1164; Igor's half-brother, Oleg Svyatoslavich took over the control of Novgorod Severskiy and probably gave Putivl to Igor. Before 1170, Igor married a daughter of prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich Osmomysl of Halych.
Around June 1171, the Cumans renewed their raids along the Ros River and they attacked towns belonging to the Olgovichi (the ruling dynasty of Chernigov). Igor led a campaign against the invaders on June 29. After crossing the river Vorskla, he learnt that Khans Kobyak and Konchak were devastating districts around Pereyaslavl (now Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi in Ukraine); he crossed back over the river and rode to confront the raiders. On July 20, his druzhina killed many of the nomads and took others captive.
While returning from his victory, Igor visited the shrine of SS. Boris and Gleb in Vyshgorod (today Vyshhorod in Ukraine) to celebrate their feast. There he met with Roman I Rostislavich of Kiev (his brother-in-law) and his brothers on July 25. Their meeting was political in nature in that Igor would have pledged allegiance to the new ruler of Kiev.
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