Starodub Principality

a principality that existed in northeastern Rus’, along the middle course of the Kliaz’ma River. It seceded from the Grand Principality of Vladimir around 1218, and 20 years later the dynasty of Prince Ivan, a younger son of Vsevolod Bol’shoe Gnezdo, came to power in Starodub. The influence of the Starodub princes in the political affairs of northeastern Rus’ was slight. In the 14th century they began to serve the Muscovite grand princes, although the principality continued to exist until the 15th century, when it disintegrated into a number of minor appanages—the domains of the Pozharskii, Riapo- lovskii, Palitskii, Romodanovskii, Kovrov, and other princely families.