The SeveriansThe Novhorod-Siverskyi principality in the 12th century
The Siverian land where your brewery stands was a real principality in today's northern Ukraine. A short guide to its towns, rivers and princes.
A principality of the Olhovychi
The Novhorod-Siverskyi principality was an appanage of the Olhovych dynasty within the Chernihiv land. By the late 1160s it was the second most important seat after Chernihiv. Prince Ihor Sviatoslavych ruled here from 1180 to 1198. Archaeologists link more than 40 chronicle towns and almost 300 hillforts to the principality.
Source: Encyclopedia article: Novgorod-Seversky principality
Towns in the game
- Novhorod-Siverskyi — the capital on the right bank of the Desna, where Ihor ruled.
- Chernihiv — capital of the Chernihiv land and the senior seat of the Olhovychi; around 1185 Yaroslav Vsevolodovych ruled here.
- Putyvl — on the Seim, first mentioned in 1146, with a rich princely court; ruled by Ihor's son Volodymyr.
- Liubech — a Dnipro fortress and pier on the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, known since 882; site of the princes' council of 1097.
Rivers and routes
The main axis is the Desna: through Novhorod-Siverskyi and Chernihiv down to the Dnipro. The Seim leads from the east past Putyvl to the steppe frontier. Around 1168–1170 the prince of Kyiv complained that the Cumans were cutting the Greek, Salt and Zalozny routes.
Source: Rus' Chronicle, 1169–1174
Down the Desna to Chernihiv, up the Seim to Putyvl. That's how you haul your beer, neighbour.
A curious fact: the first mention of Moscow
In 1147 Yuri Dolgoruky invited Sviatoslav Olhovych, Prince of Novhorod-Siverskyi and Ihor's father: “come to me, brother, to Moscow”. It is the first mention of Moscow in the chronicles.
Source: Wikipedia (uk): Founding of Moscow
How it works in the game
The Siverian map in The Severians has the Desna, Seim, Snov and Dnipro, buyer towns and the advancing steppe — only towns of present-day Ukraine. More in trade and the map.
