Principality of Kiev

The inner Principality of Kiev was a medieval principality centered on the city of Kiev. The principality was formed during the process of political fragmentation of the Kievan Rus' in the early 12th century. As a result of that process, the effective rule of the grand princes of Kiev was gradually reduced to central regions of Kievan Rus' around its capital city Kiev, thus forming a reduced princely domain, known as the inner Principality of Kiev. It existed as a polity until the middle of the 14th century, when it was annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.