Verkhuslava Vsevolodovna

Verkhuslava-Anastasia Vsevolodovna ( Polish Wierzchosława nowogrodzka ; born around 1125 , d. March 15, 1162 ) - Russian princess from the Rurik dynasty , daughter of Novgorod prince Vsevolod Mstislavich . Wife of the Polish prince Boleslaw IV Curly .

The marriage of Boleslaw on Verhuslav took place in 1137 . It is believed that this marriage was arranged by the mother of Boleslav Salome von Berg-Schelkigenen to create an alliance with the Russian princes against his stepson Vladislav . The following year, the father of Boleslav, the Polish prince Boleslav III Krivoustoy , died. According to his will, Boleslav received the newly formed Principality of Mazovia and East Kuyavia , and Verkhuslava became the Princess of Mazovia.

In 1141, the Dowager Queen Salome built a cathedral in Lentica with her sons, directed against Vladislav. Verkhuslava accompanied her husband to this cathedral. However, the performance of Boleslav and his brothers against Vladislav failed, largely due to the fact that the Grand Duke of Kiev Vsevolod Olgovich , whom they hoped for support, preferred to take the side of Vladislav. The plans of the sons of Salome to obtain more land holdings failed, and as an additional humiliation, Boleslav Kudryavy and his brothers, on behalf of Vladislav, were forced to go ambassadors to Kiev in 1142–1143. And in 1144 their mother Salome died.

By the spring of 1146, Vladislav captured Mazovia, expelling Boleslav, and besieged Gniezno , but suddenly a rebellion began in his own lands, and he himself was excommunicated. As a result, Vladislav and his family were forced to flee to the Holy Roman Empire , and the victorious brothers redistributed Poland. Boleslav inherited the principality of Silesia and the Seignorial inheritance along with the title of “Grand Duke of Poland”. Verhuslava thus became the Grand Duchess of Poland.

The princely couple had three children:

• Boleslav (1156–1172)
• daughter (born before 1160 - d. after 1178), who in 1172/1173 married Vasyl Yaropolkovich , Prince Shumsky and Drohichinsky ^[1]
• Leszek (1162–1186), Prince of Mazovia

Verhuslava, apparently, was buried in the cathedral in Plock . After her death, Boleslav donated the Gospel, which was called the “Gospel of Anastasia,” to the Cistercian monastery in memory of her. From this, the researchers conclude that the Christian name of Verkhuslava was Anastasia.

After the death of Verkhuslava, Boleslav, in about 1173, married another Russian princess - Maria Vladimirovna , daughter of the Galician prince Vladimir Volodarevich .