Bilhorod Kyivskyi

Bilhorod Kyivskyi (Білгород-Київський) or Belgorod Kiyevsky (Белгород Киевский) was a legendary city-castle in Kievan Rus', on the right bank of the Irpin River. The remains of the city is currently located in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine.

History
The city was prominent in the 10th to 12th centuries. It ceased to exist after the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' and the destruction of Kiev in 1240. Currently the large village of Bilohorodka is located near the defunct city.

Kievan Rus'
The city is first mentioned in chronicles in 980. In 991, Vladimir I of Kiev built his castle there. According to the chronicle, Belgorod was the favourite residence of Vladimir I, who moved a lot of his people there, including his three hundred concubines. The right bank of the Irpin River was the land of Drevlians who resisted the Kievan princes, thus, establishment of the castle might have been intended to consolidate the power of Kiev over the Drevlians. The castle also protected Kiev from the nomads of the Great Steppe.

In 997, the new castle survived the long siege by the Pechenegs and protected Kiev from Pecheneg conquest. According to the Primary Chronicle, there was a famine in the city during the siege and the residents assembled a veche or assembly to decide whether they should surrender to the Pechenegs. The veche decided to continue the defence of the city that eventually led to the victory. It was the first mention of veche in Kievan chronicles. Later, the veche became the main form of government in the Novgorod Republic and other states in northern Rus'.

In the 11th century, the city became a bishop seat. The bishop of Belgorod was first mentioned in the Primary Chronicle in 1088. In the 12th century, the city played the same role as earlier Pereyaslavl and Novgorod; it became the seat of the heir of the grand prince of Kiev. Since Belgorod was very close to Kiev, the grand prince could control his heir and the heir could move to Kiev on a very short notice if required. The tradition started with Vladimir II Monomakh, who transferred his son Mstislav there in 1117. Mstislav became the grand prince in 1125. In 1140, the city was taken by Vsevolod II of Kiev, who gave it to his brother, Sviatoslav Olgovich. In 1146, Belgorod was taken by Iziaslav II of Kiev, who became the grand prince in 1151. In 1159, Belgorod became the seat of Mstislav II of Kiev, who became the grand prince in 1167.

The most prosperity the city achieved was under Rurik Rostislavich, the ruler of Kievan Rus', who made the city his capital. In the 13th century, after the Mongol invasion of Rus', Belgorod degraded, and after the destruction of Kiev in 1240, Belgorod ceased to exist.

Present
To this day, there is still the village of Bilohorodka near the ruins of the city, which keeps its name.

The ruins of the city (the Horodyshche) is a place of important archaeological excavation. Most of it is not excavated yet. The area of Horodyshche is 110 hectares. According to historian A. Chlenov, the place is particularly important as it is the only Drevlian fortress surviving almost intact, the only fortress of 10th century Rus' of such preservation, and the largest surviving fortress of that epoch.