Duchy of Podolia

Подільське князівство Księstwo podolskie
1363–1394
Flag Coat of arms
Status	Fiefdom of Poland, Hungary and Lithuania
Capital	Smotrych, Kamianets-Podilskyi
Common languages	Ruthenian language
Religion	Christianity
Government	Monarchy
Historical era	Late Middle Ages
• Established	1363
• Disestablished	1394

Duchy of Podolia (Ukrainian: Подільське князівство, Polish: Księstwo podolskie) was a historical state that previously was a part of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia.

Following the 14th century partition of the Kingdom between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Galicia–Volhynia Wars, in 1366 Yuriy Koriatovich of Gediminids along with his brother succeeded in unknown way over the duchy as vassal of the Polish crown. In 1377 the duchy became a fiefdom after the King of Hungary Louis I of Hungary conducted a military raid on Ruthenian lands. After the death of King Louis, the Koriatovich brothers took active participation in electing Jogaila as King of Poland, yet kept their fief loyalty to the King of Hungary.

After a conquest of Podolie by Grand Duke of Vytautas in 1394, the Duchy of Podolia was granted on ducal rights (ius ducalis) to the Voivode of Krakow Spytko II of Melsztyn. Following the death of the last at the battle of Vorskla in 1399, King of Poland Jogaila granted the land to his brother Prince Svitrigaila. In 1401 Svitrigaila ran away to the Teutonic Order. In 1403 Koriatovich brother completely surrendered any claims for the duchy.

In 1434, the duchy was transformed into the Podolian Voivodeship of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.

Sources

• Witalij Mychajłowśkyj: Подільське князівство. W Encykłopedija istoriji Ukrajiny : у 10 т. / редкол.: В. А. Смолій (голова) та ін. ; Інститут історії України НАН України. T. 8 : Па — Прик. Kijów: Wyd. Наук. думка, 2011, s. 305—306. ISBN 978-966-00-1142-7.