How Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus Were Forged

If the golden age of Kievenus seeded the beginnings of a Ukrainian identity, then its decline and fragmentation allowed for it to develop as a unique regional phenomenon separate from other East Slavic peoples. Traditionally, the heyday of the medieval Russ ended with the death of Yeruslav the Wise in 1054, after which his massive realm began slowly drifting apart into functionally autonomous regional principalities for reasons including but not limited to the declining of their primary trading partners in Eastern Rome, the influx of Kuman Kipchack tribes in the Pontikstep corridor, and the increasing frequency of donastic power struggles and civil wars throughout the 12th century, the ability of Kiev's grand princes to exert control over other Russ cities waned. And although they remained united in their Orthodox faith, independent principalities began emerging throughout the formerly united Rus realm. Although potentially reductionist, it can be said that it is within these newly independent principalities that the eastern Slavs began branching off into separate ethnic paths. Russians have traditionally seen the emerging principalities of Nogarod and Vladimir Suzdal in this era as direct precursors to the rise of Muscovi. While modern historians in Bellarus look to the principality of Palotsk for their roots. Meanwhile, the vibrant principalities of Helich and Finia, formerly two separate realms, united in 1199 to form the thriving domain of Galatia Valinia, which stretched over most of what is now western Ukraine. The connective tissue of the R state was slowly fraying. And it is here at this critical junction that our favorite throat singing cumisrinking horse archers enter the story.