Zbyslava of Kiev

Zbyslava of Kiev
Duchess consort of Poland
Reign1102–1114
Bornc. 1085/90
Diedc. 1114
SpouseBolesław III Wrymouth
IssueWładysław II the Exile
Judith, Princess of Murom
DynastyVolodimerovichi
FatherSviatopolk II of Kiev
MotherPremyslid princess

Zbyslava of Kiev (Polish: Zbysława kijowska, Russian: Сбыслава Святополковна, Ukrainian: Збислава Святополківна; c. 1085/90c. 1114), was a Kievan Rus' princess, member of the Volodimerovichi family, and by marriage Duchess of Poland.She was the daughter of Sviatopolk II, Grand Prince of Kiev by his first wife, whom according to some historians was a Premyslid princess.[1]

  1. ^ The assumption that Sviatopolk II's first wife was a Bohemian princess was made by the historian Aleksandr Nazarenko: according to him, Polish chronicles stated that was necessary to obtain the Pope's dispensation for Zbyslava's marriage, because she and her husband are closely related. This is understandable, if is true the version that Sviatopolk II was the son of Gertrude of Poland. However, Nazarenko drew attention to the "Gertrude Psalter", in which she calls Prince Yaropolk unicus filius meus (my only son) and in consequence, Sviatopolk II could be an illegitimate child. In this case, the link that makes Zbyslava and her husband close relatives, must go through the female line: between Bolesław III (son of Princess Judith of Bohemia) and Zbyslava's mother, the first wife of Sviatopolk II. This fact allows Nazarenko come to a conclusion regarding the origin and identity of this woman. From his point of view, she was the daughter of Spytihnev II, Duke of Bohemia (d. 1061) by his wife Ida, sister of Dedi I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark (whose stepdaughter Cunigunde of Orlamünde married with Prince Yaropolk, Sviatopolk II's brother). A. V. Nazarenko, International Relations of Ancient Rus, p. 576.