For several centuries, Russia experienced ups and downs, but eventually became a kingdom with Moscow as its capital.
Short periodization
The history of Russia began in 862, when the Viking Rurik arrived in Novgorod, proclaimed a prince in this city. Under his successor, the political center moved to Kyiv. With the onset of fragmentation in Russia, several cities began to argue with each other for the right to become the main one in the East Slavic lands.
This feudal period was interrupted by the invasion of the Mongol hordes and the established yoke. In extremely difficult conditions of devastation and constant wars, Moscow became the main Russian city, which finally united Russia and made it independent. In the XV-XVI centuries this name became a thing of the past. It was replaced by the word "Russia", adopted in the Byzantine manner.
In modern historiography, there are several points of view on the question of when feudal Russia left in the past. Most often, researchers believe that this happened in 1547, when Prince Ivan Vasilievich took the title of king.
The appearance of Russia
Ancient united Russia, whose history began in the 9th century, appeared after the Novgorod prince Oleg captured Kyiv in 882 and made this city his capital. In this eraEast Slavic tribes were divided into several tribal unions (Polyany, Dregovichi, Krivichi, etc.). Some of them were at enmity with each other. The inhabitants of the steppes also paid tribute to the Khazars, hostile foreigners.
Therefore, the first Kyiv princes were busy trying to unite all tribal unions under their rule. The creation of a centralized state was accompanied by wars and conflicts. For example, Prince Igor Rurikovich (912-945) was killed by the Drevlyans, from whom he demanded too much tribute.
Christian Byzantium has become another rival with which pagan Russia fought. The history of this conflict began under Oleg, who was the first of the Kyiv rulers to go south on boats to receive tribute from the Greeks. Such campaigns continued until the 11th century. Some of them were successful, others, on the contrary, ended in failure.
Christianization
The most important event experienced by Kievan Rus was the adoption of Christianity. This happened in 988, during the reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. This prince wanted to abandon the pagan faith and gain new allies. His choice fell on Christian Byzantium, with which since then Russia has developed the closest ties. The choice of Orthodoxy influenced the entire history of the country up to modern days. In 1054, the universal Christian church experienced a great schism, after which the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope anathematized each other. The Russian state remained Orthodox, and after the fall of Byzantium in the 15th century, it also turned out to beworld center of Orthodoxy.
The beginning of fragmentation
Under Vladimir (978-1015) the first civil strife also began. Kievan Rus entered a period of political fragmentation. This process was normal for all European medieval states.
Formally, it took place because of the order of succession, in which the dying prince had to divide his power between his sons, each of whom became a de facto independent ruler. Fragmentation also had deeper economic causes. We althy cities that received money from trade and local resources did not want to remain subordinate to Kyiv.
It is believed that ancient Russia experienced its heyday under the son of Vladimir Yaroslav (1015-1054). He last managed to defeat his brothers and become the sole ruler of the country. However, under his sons and grandsons, the state increasingly disintegrated. The princes of Russia did not want to obey the Kyiv monarch. New political centers appeared: Chernigov, Rostov, Polotsk, Galich, Smolensk, etc. Veliky Novgorod remained original, in which the veche played a special role - the people's assembly, which often opposed princely power.
XII century
In the XII century came the final fragmentation of Russia. In 1136, a republican system was established in Novgorod. From that moment on, the princes received power on an elective basis, and not by inheritance, as in other lands. A similar principle operated in Pskov. Another important region wasnortheastern Russia. The history of its development is connected with the name of Yuri Dolgoruky (died in 1157). Under him, Moscow was founded, and Rostov and Suzdal became the most important cities in the country.
His son Andrei Bogolyubsky elevated a new center - Vladimir-on-Klyazma. Also under him, in 1168, a coalition of princes from all over the country captured Kyiv, after which it finally lost its political significance. The fragmentation of Russia was also accompanied by regular wars against the nomads who inhabited the southern steppes. Previously, these were the Pechenegs, in the XII century their place was taken by the Polovtsians. The Turkic-speaking tribes were distinguished by militancy. The steppe people often plundered Russia. The history of this confrontation is best known thanks to the campaign of the Novgorod-Seversky Prince Igor in 1185. The story of this unsuccessful military campaign formed the basis of the oldest Russian-language monument of literature, The Tale of Igor's Campaign.
Mongol invasion
The old way of life collapsed when the Mongol hordes came to replace the Polovtsians. Their homeland was the Baikal steppes. The legendary Genghis Khan conquered most of Asia, including China. His grandson Batu stood at the head of a campaign in Europe. On his way were the princes of Russia.
Due to the fragmentation and inconsistency of actions, the Slavic rulers could not assemble an army that could oppose the Mongols. In 1237-1240. the horde destroyed almost all important Russian cities except Novgorod, which was too far to the north. Since then, the Slavic princes became tributaries of the Mongols. In the Volga steppes was createdGolden Horde. Her khans not only collected tribute, but also granted labels to reign, refusing obstinate rulers they did not like.
At the same time, Catholic military monastic orders appeared in the B altics. The Pope organized crusades against pagans and infidels. This is how the Livonian Order appeared. Sweden became another Western threat. In both states, Russians were considered heretics. The aggressors were opposed by Prince Alexander of Novgorod. In 1240, he won the Battle of the Neva, and two years later, the Battle of the Ice.
Unification of Russia
North-Eastern or Great Russia became the center of the struggle against the Mongols. This confrontation was led by the princes of small Moscow. At first they were able to obtain the right to collect taxes from all Russian lands. Thus, part of the money settled in the Moscow treasury. When enough strength had gathered, Dmitry Donskoy found himself in open confrontation with the Golden Horde khans. In 1380, his army defeated Mamai.
But even despite this success, for a whole century, Moscow rulers periodically paid tribute. Only after standing on the Ugra in 1480, the yoke was finally thrown off. At the same time, under Ivan III, almost all Russian lands, including Novgorod, were united around Moscow. In 1547, his grandson Ivan the Terrible assumed the title of tsar, which marked the end of the history of princely Russia and the beginning of a new tsarist Russia.
