In the XII-XV century, during the period of feudal fragmentation in Russia, there were state formations - ancient Russian principalities. In the 10th century, a practice arose that became the norm in the next century - the distribution of land by the great Russian princes to their sons and relatives, which by the 12th century led to the actual collapse of the Old Russian state.
Authority
Having received land and power in their reign, such holders of power soon began the struggle for economic and political independence from the center and this hampered the development of Russian principalities. In all regions, the princes from the Rurik family (with the exception of Novgorod, which already represented a structure somewhat similar to a republic) managed to become sovereign rulers who relied on their administrative apparatus, which consisted of the service class, and received part of the income from subject territories. The vassals of the prince (boyars) with senior officials from the clergy constituted the boyar duma - a consultative and advisory body. The prince was the main ownerlands, some of which belonged to him personally, and the rest of the lands he disposed of as a territorial ruler, and they were divided between the dominal possessions of the church, the conditional holdings of the boyars and their servants.
Russian principalities in the period of fragmentation
In the era of fragmentation in Russia, the socio-political structure was based on the system of the feudal ladder. Until the 12th century, Kievan Rus and the Russian principalities were subject to a certain hierarchy of power. The Grand Duke of Kyiv headed this feudal hierarchy, then this status was acquired by the Galicia-Volyn and Vladimir-Suzdal princes. The middle hierarchy was occupied by the rulers of such large principalities as Chernigov, Polotsk, Vladimir-Volyn, Rostov-Suzdal, Turov-Pinsk, Smolensk, Muromo-Ryazan, Galician. At the lowest level were the boyars and their vassals (serving un titled nobility).
By the middle of the 11th century, the process of destruction of large principalities began, and from the most developed agricultural destinies - the regions of Kiev and Chernihiv regions. From the end of the 12th century to the beginning of the 13th century, this trend becomes a general phenomenon. Quite fast fragmentation was in Kiev, Chernigov, Muromo-Ryazan, Turov-Pinsk principalities. To a lesser extent, this concerned the Smolensk principality, but in the Rostov-Suzdal and Galicia-Volyn principalities, these periods of fragmentation periodically alternated with temporary associations under the rule of a “senior” ruler. All this time, the Novgorod land managed to maintain political integrity.
Enemies
In times of feudal fragmentation, all-Russian and regional princely congresses began to play a huge role. They discussed internal and external political issues. But they were unable to stop the process of dispersion. The Tatar-Mongol hordes took advantage of this moment, the Russian lands and the principalities of Russia were unable to combine their forces to resist external aggression and therefore lost part of the vast territory of their southwestern and western lands, which later, devastated by the troops of Batu, in the XIII-XIV centuries were conquered by Lithuania (Polotsk, Kiev, Pereyaslav, Chernigov, Turov-Pinsk, Smolensk, Vladimir-Volynsk) and Poland (Galician). Only North-Eastern Russia remained independent (Novgorod, Muromo-Ryazan and Vladimir lands).
The real unification of the Russian principalities begins with XIV and n. XVI century. "Assembled" by the Moscow princes, the Russian state set about restoring its unity.
Russian feudal principalities
The national task for the Russian princes was the liberation of Russia from the Golden Horde yoke and the restoration of the economy, and for this it was necessary for everyone to unite, but someone had to stand in the center. At that time, two strong leaders emerged - Moscow and Tver. The Tver principality was formed in 1247 under the rule of Alexander Nevsky's younger brother, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich. After the death of his brother, he became the ruler of the Tver principality (1263-1272), which was then the strongest in Russia. However, it did not leadunification process.
By the XIV century, Moscow rose very rapidly, before the arrival of the Tatar-Mongol, it was a small border facility of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, but by the beginning of the XIV century it had become an important political center. And all because it occupied a very advantageous geographical position. From the south and east of the horde, it was covered by the Ryazan and Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod principalities, from the north-west by Veliky Novgorod and the Tver principality. Around Moscow, the forests were impassable for the Tatar-Mongol cavalry. Therefore, the influx of population into the Moscow Grand Duchy of Russia increased significantly. Crafts and agriculture began to develop there. Moscow also became a powerful center of land and water routes, which facilitated both trade and military strategies.
Moscow
Through the Moscow and Oka rivers, the principality of Moscow went to the Volga and through its tributaries was connected with the Novgorod lands. The flexible policy of the Moscow princes also gave good results, as they managed to win over other Russian principalities and the church. The founder of the Moscow dynasty of princes was Daniil Alexandrovich, the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky (1276-1303). Under his rule, the Moscow principality significantly increased its territories. In 1301, Kolomna, conquered from the Ryazan prince, went to him. In 1302, the prince of Pereyaslav, who had no children, bequeathed his possessions to Moscow. In 1303 Mozhaisk joined Moscow. For three years, the territory of the Moscow Principality doubled, and it becameone of the largest in the north-east of Russia.
Mozhaisk is at the source of the Moskva River, and Kolomna is at the mouth, the river was completely in the control of the Moscow princes. Pereyaslavl-Zalessky - one of the fertile regions - after being included in the Moscow principality, powerfully strengthened its potential. Therefore, the Moscow prince began to fight with Tver for the Great reign. As a senior branch of the Tver, Prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich received in the Horde the right to the Great reign.
Then in Moscow, Yuri Danilovich ruled, who was married to the sister of Khan Uzbek Konchaka (after the baptism of Agafya). Khan gave him the right to the throne of the Grand Duke. Then Michael in 1315 defeated Yuri's squad and captured his wife, who later died in Tver. Called to the Horde, Michael was executed. In 1325, Yuri was killed by the eldest son of Mikhail of Tver, Dimitry the Terrible Eyes, who was later destroyed by Khan Uzbek, since Khan Uzbek pursued a policy of pitting Russian princes, as a result, the Grand Duke of Tver Alexander Mikhailovich (1326-1327) received the Great reign.
Uprising in Tver
In 1327 there was an uprising in Tver against a relative of Uzbek Shchelkan. The rebels killed many Tatars. The Moscow prince Ivan Danilovich Kalita (1325-1340), taking advantage of the moment, came to Tver with the Tatar-Mongols and suppressed popular indignations. Since that time, the Moscow princes had a label for the Great reign. Kalita managed to achieve a close connection between the authorities of Moscow and the church. Therefore, Metropolitan Peter moved to live in Moscow. By that time, Moscow had become not only the ideological, but also the religious center of Russia. Under the reign of the sons of KalitaSemyon Proud (1340-1353) and Ivan Krasny (1353-1359) Kostroma, Dmitrovsk, Starodub lands and part of Kaluga lands were annexed to the Principality of Moscow.
Donskoy
Prince Dmitry (1359-1389) at the age of 9 began to rule the Moscow principality. And the struggle for the grand princely throne of Vladimir began again. Opponents of Moscow began to openly support the Horde. The construction of the white-stone Kremlin, which was the only fortress and stone fortification in northeastern Russia, became a symbol of the success and victory of the Moscow principality. Thanks to this, Moscow was able to repel claims to the all-Russian leadership of Tver, Nizhny Novgorod and repel the attack of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd. The balance of power in Russia has changed in favor of Moscow.
And in the Horde by the middle of the XIV century begins a period of weakening of the central government and the struggle for the Khan's throne. In 1377, a military clash took place on the Pyana River, where the Horde crushed the Moscow army. But a year later, in 1378, Dmitry defeated the troops of Murza Begich on the Vozha River.
Battle on Kulikovo Field
In 1380, Khan Mamai decided to restore the rule of the Golden Horde over Russian lands. He teamed up with the Lithuanian prince Jagiello, and they moved to Russia. Prince Dmitry at that moment behaved like a talented commander. He moved towards the Tatars and crossed the Don, where he entered into battle with the enemy on his own territory. His second task was tobattle to prevent Mamai from joining forces with Jagiello.
September 8, 1380, on the day of the Battle of Kulikovo, the morning was foggy, only by 11 a.m. did the duel of the Russian warrior-monk Peresvet and the Tatar warrior Chelubey begin. The Tatars first defeated the advanced regiment of the Russians, and Mamai was already triumphant, but then the ambush regiment of the governor Dmitry Bobrok-Volyntsev and Prince Vladimir Serpukhovsky hit from the flank. By 15 o'clock the outcome of the battle was clear to everyone. The Tatars fled, and for military merits, Dmitry began to be called Donskoy. The Battle of Kulikovo significantly weakened the power of the Horde, who a little later finally recognized the supremacy of Moscow over the Russian lands.
Tokhtamysh
Mamai after the defeat fled to Kafa (Feodosia), where he was killed. Khan Tokhtamysh then became the ruler of the Horde. In 1382 he suddenly attacked Moscow. At that time, Donskoy was not in the city, as he had gone north to collect a new militia. The population fought courageously, organizing the defense of Moscow. As a result, Tokhtamysh outwitted them, promising not to plunder the city, but to fight only against the Donskoy. But, breaking into Moscow, he defeated the city and imposed tribute on it.
Before his death, Donskoy transferred the right to the Grand Duchy of Vladimir to his son Vasily I, without asking the Horde for the right to a label. Thus, the Russian principalities - Moscow and Vladimir - merged together.
Timur
In 1395, the ruler Timur Tamerlane, who conquered Central Asia, Persia, Siberia, Baghdad, India, Turkey, went to the Horde and, having defeated it, then moved to Moscow. By this time Vasily I had gathered a militia in Kolomna. to Moscow fromVladimir brought the Intercessor of the Russian land - the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. When, in the second quarter, Timur approached Moscow and stopped in the Yelets region, after a while he suddenly changed his mind about going to Russia. According to legend, this is associated with the appearance of the Mother of God Herself in Timur's dream.
Feudal Wars and the Union of Florence
After the death of Vasily I at the end of the XIV century, the struggle of the Russian principalities and feuds began, which were called "feudal wars". In the Moscow principality between the sons, and later the grandchildren of Dmitry Donskoy, there was a real battle for possession of the grand prince's throne. As a result, he went to Vasily II the Dark, the Moscow principality has increased 30 times during this time.
Basily II refused to accept the union (1439) and stand under the leadership of the pope. This union was imposed on Russia under the pretext of saving Byzantium from the Ottomans. Metropolitan of Russia Isidore (Greek), who supported the union, was immediately deposed. And then the Ryazan Bishop Jonah became the metropolitan. This was the beginning of the independence of the Russian Orthodox Church from the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453, the head of the Russian church began to be determined already in Moscow. The Orthodox Church actively supported the struggle for the unity of the Russian lands. Now the struggle for power was not waged by individual Russian principalities, but within the princely house. But already the process of formation of the Great Russian State became irreversible, and Moscow became the recognized capital by all.
