The Principality of Drutsk (; obsolete spelling: ''Druck'') was a small

appanage An appanage, or apanage (; ), is the grant of an estate, title, office or other thing of value to a younger child of a monarch, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture (where only the eldest inherits). It was ...

of the

Principality of Polotsk The Principality of Polotsk (obsolete spelling: ''Polock''; ; ), also known as the Duchy of Polotsk or Polotskian Rus', was a medieval principality. The origin and date of the establishment of the state are uncertain. Chronicles of Kievan Rus' ...

, centred in the city of

Drutsk Drutsk (, ; , , also known as ''Дрютескъ'' (''Dryutesk'') or ''Дрюческъ'' (''Druchesk'') in the Middle Ages), is a historical town in Belarus, 40 kilometres (ca. 25 miles) west of Mogilev. The town was established in 1078 as an o ...

. It was located on a three way stick between Vitebsk, Minsk and Mogilev regions in modern

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

. The

principality of Drutsk was established after the death of Vseslav, the

Prince of Polotsk The Prince of Polotsk ruled the Principality of Polotsk within the realm of Kievan Rus' or within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the mid-9th century to 1307. History Rogvolod, Rogvold, a non-Rurik Dynasty, Rurikid Varangians, Varangian, was t ...

, in 1101 and the division of the Polatsk territory between Vseslav's sons. Drutsk was given to

Rogvolod-Boris Rogvolod Vseslavich, baptismal name Boris, was the Prince of Drutsk and Polotsk. He was the son of Vseslav of Polotsk, Grand Prince of Rus. Rogvolod probably was named in honor of his ancestor Rogvolod. Some historians, including Mikhail Pogodin, ...

. Soon its territory was taken over by another appanage duchy of Polotsk,

Principality of Minsk The Principality of Minsk was an appanage principality of the Principality of Polotsk and centered on the city of Minsk (today in Belarus). It existed from its founding in 1101 until it was nominally annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in ...

governed by

Gleb Vseslavich Gleb Vseslavich (died September 13, 1119) was the Principality of Minsk, prince of Minsk between 1101 and 1119. During his reign, Minsk was at war with Kiev and Polotsk. He was the son of Vseslav of Polotsk and founded the Minsk branch of Rurik ...

. In 1116, the Principality of Drutsk was taken over by the Grand Principality of Kiev governed by Volodymyr Monomakh, but by 1150s it was returned to Principality of Minsk. Eventually Drutsk was entirely taken over by the

in the second half of the 13th century and in early 14th century by another appanage duchy of Polotsk,

Principality of Vitebsk The Principality of Vitebsk () was a Ruthenian principality centered on the city of Vitebsk in modern Belarus, that existed from its founding in 1101 until it was nominally inherited into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1320. Vitebsk would later ...

. It is believed that

Algirdas Algirdas (; , ; – May 1377) was List of Lithuanian monarchs, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the pre ...

Grand Duke of Lithuania This is a list of Lithuanian monarchs who ruled Lithuania from its inception until the fall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1795. The Lithuanian monarch bore the title of Grand duke, Grand Duke, with the exception of Mindaugas, who was crown ...

, acquired the Principality by marriage to

Maria of Vitebsk Maria of Vitebsk (died before 1349) was the first wife of Algirdas, future Grand Duke of Lithuania (marriage took place around 1318). Life Very little is known about her life. The only child of a Russian prince Yaroslav, Maria was the only heir to ...

. The principality became part of the

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a sovereign state in northeastern Europe that existed from the 13th century, succeeding the Kingdom of Lithuania, to the late 18th century, when the territory was suppressed during the 1795 Partitions of Poland, ...

where it existed as an autonomous principality until an administrative reform in 1565–1566, when it was included into the

Orsha Orsha (; , ; ) is a city in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It is situated on the fork of the Dnieper, Dnieper River and Arshytsa River, and it serves as the administrative center of Orsha District. As of 2025, it has a population of 101,662. History ...

county of

Vitebsk Voivodeship Vitebsk Voivodeship (; ; ) was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (from 1569 Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth) from the 15th century until the partitions of Poland in 1795. History Zygmunt Gl ...

Princes of Drutsk

* 1151–1158: Gleb of Drutsk, son of prince Rostislav of Minsk * 1101–1119: Boris I of Polotzk, son of grand-prince Vseslav of Kiev * 1140–1146: Rogvolod II of Polotzk, son of Boris I * 1146–1151: Gleb of Drutsk, son of Rogvolod II * from 1163: Gleb of Drutsk, son of Rogvolod II * 1161–1171: Rogvolod II of Polotzk ''(again)'' * until 1196:

Boris of Drutsk Boris may refer to: People * Boris (given name), a male given name * *List of people with given name Boris * Boris (surname) Arts and media * Boris (band), a Japanese experimental rock trio * ''Boris'' (EP), by Yezda Urfa, 1975 * "Boris" (son ...

, son of Gleb * about 1217: Vojtech of Drutsk, son of prince Boris II of Polotzk

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drutsk, Principality of States and territories established in 1101 Principalities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Principalities of Kievan Rus'