His fealty to the king consisted merely in an understanding that he was to follow the banner of the sovereign in case of war.

But in fact, these feudal lords were more frequently found claiming entire independence, and struggling against their nominal sovereign to wrest from his hands the scepter.
Rostislaf was now far advanced in years.

Conscious that death could not be far distant, he took a journey, though in very feeble health, to some of the adjacent provinces, hoping to induce them to receive his son as his successor.

On this journey he died at Smolensk, the 14th of March, 1167.

Religious thoughts had in his latter years greatly engrossed his attention.