Family history Bojar from Rostow

Boyar of Rostow

The history of the Rurikid dynasty leads to the Rurikids and to the ancient region between the Volga and the Nera Lake. The line received its own dynastic center through Constantine Vsevolodovich, the eldest son of Vsevolod’s „Great Nest“. Constantine ruled in Rostov from 1207 onwards and made the city his preferred residence.

The prince was known for education, books, and church construction. In Rostov, he had the Mariä-Entschlafens Cathedral rebuilt, and in Jaroslawl, further stone churches were built under his patronage. Chronists painted a picture of a ruler who particularly valued peace, kindness, and scholarly instruction. After his success in the battle of Lipiza, in 1216 he became Grand Prince of Vladimir, but he ensured that Rostow remained in his family's hands.

His eldest son, Vasiliko, took over the principality. Following the upheavals of the 13th century, his sons Boris and Gleb continued the line. Through inheritance, new centers emerged from the vast family estate, including Jaroslawl, Uglitsch, and Belo Osero. In this way, a princely manor grew into a far-reaching network of houses.

The Rostow princes later also divided the city itself into various family segments. Their descendants adopted names after possessions or ancestors and founded numerous Russian noble families. This group includes, among others, the houses of Schtschepin-Rostowski, Lobanow-Rostowski and Kassjatkin-Rostowski. Some family members served the grand princes of Moscow and brought their experience as military commanders, governors and court officials.

In the 15th century, the last independent ruling powers of Rostov gradually passed to Moscow. However, the family continued its history in its many branches. Thus, Rostov not only remained a venerable city with its famous Kremlin and cathedrals, but also the starting point of a lineage that accompanied the political and cultural development of North-Eastern Russia for centuries.

Sources: State Museum Reserve Rostov Kremlin (rostmuseum.ru), Great Russian Encyclopedia (bigenc.ru), Russian Historical Journal (roshistras.ru), Orthodox Encyclopedia (pravenc.ru)

Family coat of arms Bojar of Rostow

This Coat of arms uses Rostow's historical titular emblem: the silver deer in a red field with golden antlers, a golden mane and golden hooves. The bojar cap ranks Coat of arms this according to the rank indicated in the CSV.

In red, a standing silver deer with golden antlers, a golden mane and golden hooves. Above the shield is a richly embroidered Russian boearian hat with fur trim; behind the shield is a red-gold fur-trimmed coat, accompanied by stylized Old Russian ornamentation.

The deer has been associated with Rostow since the 17th century and appears in the Tsar Titular of 1672 as well as later in Russian Wappenbooks.

Sources: Emperor Titular of 1672, Historical Coat of arms Rostow of 1778, State Museum Reserve Rostower Kremlin, Heraldicum, Coat of arms of Rostow Wielki