Principality of Terebovlia

The Principality of Terebovlia was a principality of Kievan Rus' established as an appanage around 1084 and granted to Vasylko Rostyslavych. Its capital was Terebovlia, and its territory included parts of south-eastern Galicia, Bukovina and western Podolia. It bordered the Principality of Kiev to the east, Zvenyhorod to the west, and the lands of Volodymyr, Lutsk and Peresopnytsia to the north. Vasylko actively colonised the lands south-east of Terebovlia, settling Turkic peoples such as the Berendeys, Torks and Pechenegs there, and annexed Ponyzia, securing the region against nomadic raids. Halych grew into an important political and economic centre, while other significant towns and fortresses included Terebovlia, Mykulyn, Chern, Vasyliv, Onut, Kuchelemyn, Bakota, Ushytsia and Kalius. After Vasylko died in 1124, Halych principality seceded, and by 1141 Terebovlia had become part of the Principality of Galicia. After the Rostyslavych dynasty died out, it was briefly an appanage principality under Iziaslav Volodymyrovych. The principality is remembered chiefly through the Chronicle of Galicia-Volhynia, which portrays Vasylko as a shrewd and energetic ruler, and through the later history of Galicia, whose political centre shifted from Terebovlia and Halych towards Volodymyr and Lviv.