for clemency. Metropolitan Nikifor reconciled the two princes, and Ryurik gave Roman the town of Polonyy (southwest of Kamianets) and a district on the Ros’ River. In the autumn of 1196, Roman ordered his lieutenants to use Polonyy as their base for raiding the domains belonging to his father-in-law's brother, Prince David Rostislavich of Smolensk, and son, Prince Rostislav Rurikovich of Torchesk. Ryurik retaliated by sending his nephew, Prince Mstislav Mstislavich of Trepol, to Vladimir Yaroslavich of Halych, instructing him to join Mstislav Mstislavich in attacking Roman's lands. Accordingly, Vladimir and Mstislav razed Roman's district around Peremil, while Rostislav and his forces attacked Roman's district near Kamianets. At about that time, Roman initiated his repudiation his wife Predslava, Ryurik's daughter, and began threatening to confine her to a monastery. Prince of Halych and Volhynia In 1198 (or 1199), Vladimir died, creating a political vacuum that a number of claimants were eager to fill. Ryurik could now claim that after the dynasty of Halych became defunct, the territory reverted to the jurisdiction of the prince of Kyiv; the princes of both branches of the Olgovichi (the princes of Chernigov) could argue that their marriage ties with the defunct dynasty gave them the right to rule Halych; and the Hungarians had already made a bid for the domain ten years earlier. The Galicians asked Ryurik for his son Rostislav, but Roman rode to Duke Leszek I of Poland (1194–1227), promising to be at his beck and call if the Polish ruler helped him win Halych. When the citizens refused to welcome Roman, Leszek besieged the principality, and after capturing it he forced its residents to accept Roman as prince. Roman promised to be subservient to the duke of Poland and to live in peace with his new subjects. Roman turned his attention to the Cumans, who were threatening Byzantine interests in the Balkan Peninsula, and agreed to come to the aid of Emperor Alexios III Angelos (1195–1203). This dealt a severe blow to the nomads. In 1200, Roman married the Byzantine princess Anna-Euphrosyne, daughter of Emperor Isaac II Angelos. This tie with Byzantium helped stabilize Galicia's relations with the Rus’ population of the Lower Dniester and Lower Danube. Shortly thereafter, Roman began wreaking havoc on domains belonging to Ryurik Rostislavich and other princes. In 1201, Ryurik summoned the Olgovichi to campaign against Roman. Roman pre-empted their attack by rallying the troops of