In conclusion, we have seen that, following Igor′'s murder, the Ol′govichi and the Davidovichi became embroiled in an acrimonious conflict. The Davidovichi attempted to deprive the Ol′govichi of their patrimonial domains and to eradicate them as a political force. Svyatoslav Ol′govich resolutely resisted them and obtained help from Yury Dolgorukiy of Suzdalia. His alliance with Yury was a reversal of the policy that his brother Vsevolod had followed. The latter had backed the Mstislavichi, his brothers-in-law. The Davidovichi not only failed to eliminate the Ol′govichi as powerful rivals, but they themselves died out as a family. The Ol′govichi therewith became the sole rulers of the Chernigov lands. After Igor′'s death, however, they bifurcated into two branches, the senior and the cadet. Although Chernigov remained the capital of the entire dynasty, it also became, in effect, the capital of the senior branch, while Novgorod Severskiy became, in effect, the capital of the cadet branch.

Following Svyatoslav's example, later senior princes of Chernigov preferred to form alliances with the dynasty of Suzdalia rather than with the Mstislavichi of Volyn′ or Smolensk. Thus, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich joined forces with Andrey Bogolyubskiy to evict Ryurik Rostislavich from Kiev. Moreover, Andrey supported Svyatoslav's bid for Kiev. He thereby not only acknowledged Svyatoslav's claim but also tacitly admitted that his attempts at controlling Kiev through puppets had failed. In the meantime, Svyatoslav gave Andrey's brothers and nephews sanctuary in the Chernigov lands and, following Andrey's murder, helped his brothers to fight for their inheritance.