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Halych-Volynia principality was the Ruthenian successor state of Kievan Rus' on the territory of Rus' menora (Rus' propria) including the lands of Red Ruthenia, Black Ruthenia, and the remainder of southwestern Rus'. This state also briefly controlled the region of Bessarabia and Moldavia.
Among the rulers of this state was the first King of Rus, Danylo, who accepted a crown from the Roman papacy.
During this middle period of Ukrainian history (12th–14th centuries) the state was at times unified and at times separated into two principalities.
The principal cities of the realm were Halych, and later Lviv in the south (Halychyna, or Galicia), and Volodymyr-Volyns'kyi in the north (Volynia).
The southern portion of this Ukrainian state was later absorbed by Poland, while the northern section came under the rule of Lithuania. Later, most of Halychyna was taken over by the Austrian Empire in the Partitions of Poland, while Volynia was eventually annexed by Russia. The Habsburg monarchs claimed the title of King of this area by right of the crown granted by the Pope centuries before, and within this empire the region was referred to as the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria.
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