dr Yanina Ryier

Section 14.: One crown, many ethnicities. The multi-ethnic political communities of medieval Europe

The paper focuses on the integration of the Orthodox Ruthenian elites of the principality of Polotsk within the multi-ethnic and multi-religious Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century. Despite the annexation of the principality of Polotsk by Lithuania at the beginning of the 14th century, Polotsk retained significant autonomy in local affairs until the late 1390s, serving as a vivid example of the integration policy of the Lithuanian grand dukes in the annexed Ruthenian lands. The analysis addresses issues such as the appointment of Lithuanian grand dukes’ relatives and allies to key administrative positions in Polotsk, dynastic marriages between members of the grand ducal family and representatives of the Ruthenian elites, the baptism of members of the Lithuanian dynasty in the Eastern rite, and agreements between the Lithuanian rulers and local elites that allowed the grand dukes to maintain political control over Polotsk while simultaneously gaining the support of local elites