Prince Vseslav The Sorcerer And Werewolf – The Most Famous Ruler Of Polotsk

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Born around 1029 in Belarus, Prince Vseslav was an intriguing individual who became a famous ruler of Polotsk and Grand Prince of Kiev in 1068–1069.

Prince Vseslav's Supernatural Powers

Nicknamed Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer, the man was credited with having supernatural powers. His successful struggles to achieve goals gave rise to a legend that he had been born with a magical and enchanting birthmark on his head.

Vseslav of Polotsk. Painting by Belarusian painter Jazep Drazdovic (1923). Credit: Public Domain

The rumor that he always wore a headband that covered the mark added more credibility to these unusual stories. Even more incredible accounts tell Prince Vseslav of Polotsk was a werewolf capable of moving at superhuman speeds.

Ancient people believed that "those born with a birthmark, wolfish tufts of hair, or a caul on their head" were werewolves. ¹

"In mythologies of ancient cultures, the werewolf was known under different names such as Slavic' vulcolaca', Polish wilkołak, Roman varcolac, and Greek mythology mentions' vrykolokas. In eighteenth-century French folklore, a monstrous creature known as the Beast of Gevaudin terrified the countryside between 1764 and 1767. It looked like a long-legged, shaggy-coated hyena (a werewolf) with glowing eyes and was credited with the deaths of at least 100 people.

The werewolf's name may vary, but its characteristics remain the same. However, a werewolf creature exceeds wolves' strength, speed, readiness, and sensory perception. After the shapeshifting process, the werewolf is much more animal than human, although it is possible that this keeps many of its fundamental characteristics such as (knowledge, wisdom, and personality) intact." ²

Many Slavic legends speak of warriors having an ability to turn into wolves, but that can only be achieved by an individual of the highest level of personal development. Credit: Adobe Stock - breakermaximus

The exciting story of Prince Vseslav's alleged werewolf behavior was mentioned in the first ancient Rus work of literature, an anonymous epic poem known as The Tale of Igor's Campaign. The account informs that "Prince Vseslav was a judge to his subjects, was a ruler to his cities; but at night he would race like a wolf to Kiev. If the morning bells of St. Sophia rang in Polotsk, he could hear the peal in Kiev".

Prince Vseslav's Struggles To Stay In Power

Of course, Prince Vseslav would not have been remembered as a great ruler for only his supernatural shapeshifting abilities. He was a determined warrior who could not accept being defeated. In 1044, as a senior member of the Rurik Dynasty, he became the Prince of Polotsk and Vitebsk. Continuing his father's policy of subjugating other lands, he attacked Novgorod in 1066 and demonstrated his power.

It was a bloody battle during which many were killed and imprisoned. To "humiliate the vanquished enemy, the bells of St. Sophia cathedral in Novgorod were removed and melted down." ³

One year later, Prince Vseslav's forces were defeated by Grand Prince Izyaslav of Kiev and his brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod at the river Nemega. There were many casualties in this horrible battle, and as told in The Tale of Igor's Campaign, "The bloody banks of the Nyamiha were sown with Russian bones."

Prince Vseslav was arrested, imprisoned, and he lost Polotsk.

As Lobov Bazan explains in the informative book A History of Belarus,

"According to the traditions of the times, the Kiev princes regularly ravaged the Polotsk lands following this victory. Vseslav the Sorcerer understood that the future independent existence of his principality was in grave danger, and he sent a message to Izyaslav of Kiev to ask for peace.

Statue of Prince Vseslav. Credit: Adobe Stock - sikaraha

The Prince of Kiev was not about to forgive the unruly vassal, but knowing the uniqueness of Vseslav's personality and his popularity among the people, he decided to destroy him with cunning trickery. Izyaslav promised to make peace with Veslav and even to return all of the lands he had captured if Vseslav would come to Kiev to ask for this in person.

The Prince of Kiev vowed to cause him no harm and kissed a cross publicly. Believing in Izyaslav's integrity, Vseslav and his two sons traveled to Izyaslav. They were immediately arrested, shackled, and imprisoned. The situation appeared hopeless. The Principality of Polotsk had not only lost its independence but the entire dynasty of Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer was threatened with destruction.

However, keeping with the Russian proverb, "Man proposes, and God disposes!" Vseslav the Sorcerer was not killed immediately; he was imprisoned for over a year. Perhaps the cross that Izyaslav used to swear that he would not harm Vseslav actually saved him. It was with good reason that he was called Vseslav the Sorcerer." ³

The political situation was unstable, and during the Kievan rebellion of 1068, an angry, dissatisfied crowd with Izyaslav's cruelty and oppression managed to free Vseslav from prison. He was seen as a wise ruler and was popular among the lower classes. In 1071, seven years later, after many battles with Izyaslav, Vseslav managed to secure Potolsk again.

"Polotsk was in a hostile environment. The city was occupied and looted. Twice Vladimir Monomakh succeeded in ousting Vseslav the Sorcerer from the Polotsk throne, only for him to return time after time thanks to the support of his people." ³

To the sorrow of the residents of Polotsk and the relief of Kiev, Prince Vseslav died in 1101.

"Clearly, the rich, powerful and sovereign Principality of Polotsk was a constant headache to the Grand Princes of Kiev. The fact that the Vseslav the Sorcerer's undertakings were at the forefront of Kiev's concerns is attested to in a record in the chronicles ing his death: "In the year 6609 (1101 AD), on Wednesday the fourteenth day of the month of April, at nine o'clock in the morning, Prince Vseslav of Polotsk was laid before the eyes of God." Such chronological accuracy is never encountered for other princes.

Even if the Kievan princes did not look upon this news with elation, they were doubtlessly relieved." ³

Prince Vseslav, the mighty ruler with an excellent reputation for sorcery and witchcraft, left behind six sons, and the Polotsk lands were divided amongst them.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated on February 5, 2024

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