Yuri Dolgorukiy - Marriages and Children

Marriages and Children

The Primary Chronicle records the first marriage of Yuri on 12 January 1108. His first wife was a daughter of Aepa Ocenevich, Khan of the Cumans. Her paternal grandfather was Osen. Her people belonged to the Kipchaks, a confederation of pastoralists and warriors of Turkic origin.

His second wife Helena survived him and moved to Constantinople. Her paternity is not known for certain but Nikolay Karamzin was the first to theorise that Helena was returning to her native city. She has since been theorised to be a member of the Komnenos dynasty which ruled the Byzantine Empire throughout the life of Yuri. She has been tentatively identified with Helena Komnene, a daughter of Isaac Komnenos. The identification would make her a granddaughter of Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina.

Yuri had at least fifteen children. The identities of the mothers are not known for certain

• The following are considered elder children and usually attributed to the first wife.
  • Rostislav Yuryevich, Prince of Pereyaslavl (d. 6 April 1151).
  • Ivan Yuryevich, Prince of Kursk (d. 24 February 1147).
  • Olga Yuryevna (d. 1189). Married Yaroslav Osmomysl.
  • Andrei I Bogolyubsky (c. 1111 – 28 June 1174).
  • Maria Yuryevna. Married Oleg Sviatoslavich, Prince of Novhorod-Siverskyi.
  • Sviatoslav Yuryevich (d. 11 January 1174).
  • Yaroslav Yuryevich (d. 12 April 1166).
  • Gleb of Kiev (d. 1171).
  • Boris Yuryevich, Prince of Belgorod and Turaŭ (d. 12 May 1159).
  • Mstislav Yuryevich, Prince of Novgorod (d. 1166).
  • Vasilko Yuryevich, Prince of Suzdal (deposed in 1161).
• The following are considered youngest and typically attributed to the second wife
  • Mikhail of Vladimir (d. 20 June 1176).
  • Vsevolod the Big Nest (1154 – 12 April 1212).
  • David Yuryevich.
  • Yaropolk Yuryevich.