When did the Principality of Beloozero exist?

The Principality of Beloozero existed 1238–1486. On this map it is drawn 1294–1343.

How large was the Principality of Beloozero?

At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Principality of Beloozero covered about 10,000 km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.

Northern Eurasia · The medieval principalities

Principality of Beloozero

1238–1486

The Principality of Beloozero (Belozersk) lay in the Russian North, in the basin of the Sheksna River around Lake Beloye (the "White Lake"), in what is now western Vologda Oblast. Its capital, Beloozero (modern Belozersk), was one of the five original towns named in the Primary Chronicle — the seat assigned to Rurik's brother Sineus in the 862 legend, though the town had aboriginal (Ves'/Vepsian) inhabitants before that.

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Existed: 1238–1486
Shown on the map: 1294–1343
Peak area: 10k km²
Region: Northern Eurasia

Name and setting

History

Long a part of the Principality of Rostov, Beloozero became independent in 1238 after Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov died at the Mongol Battle of the Sit River; his younger son Gleb Vasilkovich (r. 1238/1251–1277) became its first prince. Its remote location spared it Mongol devastation, and it sheltered refugees such as Bishop Kirill of Rostov. It was briefly reabsorbed by Rostov (1279), probably restored with Horde help (1302), then in effect purchased/controlled by Ivan Kalita of Moscow, who by the 1330s was appointing his own namestniks (governors). Repeated plague epidemics (1352, 1363–1364) devastated it.

Fall

The senior line of Belozersk princes died at the Battle of Kulikovo (1380), after which the principality passed under Dmitry Donskoy, who gave it to his son Andrey Dmitriyevich. Two great monasteries were founded on its lands: Kirillo-Belozersky (1397) and Ferapontov (1398). It was formally incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1486 under Ivan III. The Rurikid Belosselsky-Belozersky princely family descends from its rulers.

Common questions

What was the Principality of Beloozero?: The Principality of Beloozero (Belozersk) lay in the Russian North, in the basin of the Sheksna River around Lake Beloye (the "White Lake"), in what is now western Vologda Oblast. Its capital, Beloozero (modern Belozersk), was one of the five original towns named in the Primary Chronicle — the seat assigned to Rurik's brother Sineus in the 862 legend, though the town had aboriginal (Ves'/Vepsian) inhabitants before that.
When did the Principality of Beloozero exist?: The Principality of Beloozero existed 1238–1486. On this map it is drawn 1294–1343.
How large was the Principality of Beloozero?: At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Principality of Beloozero covered about 10,000 km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.
Who ruled the Principality of Beloozero?: Long a part of the Principality of Rostov, Beloozero became independent in 1238 after Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov died at the Mongol Battle of the Sit River; his younger son Gleb Vasilkovich (r. 1238/1251–1277) became its first prince. Its remote location spared it Mongol devastation, and it sheltered refugees such as Bishop Kirill of Rostov.
How did the Principality of Beloozero end?: The senior line of Belozersk princes died at the Battle of Kulikovo (1380), after which the principality passed under Dmitry Donskoy, who gave it to his son Andrey Dmitriyevich. Two great monasteries were founded on its lands: Kirillo-Belozersky (1397) and Ferapontov (1398).

Sources

This compendium cites its sources once for the whole document rather than per territory. Its bibliography names the English Wikipedia articles for each polity, ruler and battle as the basis of these profiles, cross-checked against Encyclopaedia Britannica, the World History Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Russian History, and against the scholarship of Janet Martin, Charles Halperin, Serhii Plokhy, Simon Franklin and Krivosheev. The article this entry is anchored on:

Wikipedia — Principality of Beloozero en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Beloozero

This entry was last updated 20 September 2026.

This entry was researched and drafted with AI from the sources above, and has not been reviewed by a historian. How entries are made

Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page. Passages drawing on the Wikipedia articles listed above are also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by their contributors.

Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).

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