Meet Danylo Romanovych - King of Rus'

Explore the life and heritage of the founder and one of the most famous kings of Rus' - Danilo Romanovich

King Danylo (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Who is Danylo Romanovych?

Danylo Romanovych (1201-1264) was a prince, king of Rus', and an outstanding statesman. His reign was marked by great political activity and military success.

Prince Roman (2020) by the Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Danylo's father

He was the son of Grand Prince Roman Mstyslavovych.

Prince Roman (2020) by the Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Grand Prince of Kyiv, Prince of Novgorod, Vladimir, Galicia, from the Rurik dynasty. The Galician-Volynian chronicler titles him “the autocrat of all Rus” and “the ruler of the Rus' land.” He was the founder of the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia and the Romanovych royal family

Monk by the Sea (1808/1810) by Caspar David FriedrichAlte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

The foundation of the Kingdom of Rus

In 1199, the Volyn prince Roman Mstyslavych united the Galician and Volyn principalities, and Danylo Romanovych became king in 1253. This event was an important milestone in the history of Eastern Europe.

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Danylo Halytskyi Monument by SkeironSkeiron

Before his coronation, Danylo fought for a long time for his father's inheritance, which he received as a young boy. Gradually, he united the Volyn principalities, returned the Galician part, and in the winter of 1239-1240 he conquered Kyiv, becoming the last Kyiv Rus prince.

Coronation of Danylo

On October 7, 1253, Prince Danylo Romanovych of Galicia-Volhynia accepted the royal crown from the pope's ambassadors and became a full-fledged European monarch, the King of Rus.

King Danylo (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

The Crown

The crown was inherited by his descendants along with the title of kings and masters of the Kingdom of Rus. 

The meeting between King Daniel and King Bela IVAncient Lviv Museum

Danylo was the first to fight for the liberation of Rus from the Mongols, establishing ties with other European states and turning one of his main opponents, King Bela IV of Hungary, into an ally. 

Bela 4 (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Bela IV






Bela IV was a statesman, king of Hungary (1235-1270) from the Arpad dynasty.

Bela 4 (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

He continued the policy of his father and co-ruler, King Andras II, against Danylo's attempts to unite the Galician principality and the Volyn principality. In 1245, Bela IV entered into an alliance with Danylo.

Prince Lev and Constance (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Union with Hungary

The union was cemented by the marriage of Danylo's eldest son Lev Danilovich and daughter Béla IV Constance.

Prince Lev and Constance (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Prince Lev and Constance

Map 1. 13th century map of EuropeAncient Lviv Museum

Map of Europe in the times of the Kingdom of Rus

After the Mongol invasion in 1240, Danylo actively fought to restore the territories. He organizes defense against further attacks and works to build international alliances.

Burundai (Borolday) (2020) by The Ancient Lviv MuseumAncient Lviv Museum

Armor of Mongolian soldiers

The Mongol Invasion (ca. 1904 (Meiji)) by Kawashima Jimbei IIThe Walters Art Museum

Mongolian soldiers in battle

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A Cup (1701/1800) by SkeironAncient Lviv Museum

Lviv craftsmen's products from the Kingdom of Rus

Under Danylo Romanovych, Lviv became an important trade center with new trade routes passing through it. This contributed to economic growth and the development of craftsmanship.

The Vysoky ZamokAncient Lviv Museum

The development of craft workshops and urban life in Lviv under the leadership of Danylo and his descendants contributed to the improvement of living standards and cultural development.

The meeting between King Daniel and King Bela IV, From the collection of: Ancient Lviv Museum
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