The formation of the Russian centralized state, the process of which covered a long period from the 14th to the 16th centuries, was made possible thanks to the skillful policy of the Moscow princes. The small town of North-Eastern Russia, the first mention of which in the annals dates back to 1147, was not conceived by contemporaries as the future capital of Russia. First, there were larger cities with an older tradition. Secondly, for a long time Moscow was one of many contenders for the role of the center. At various times, its competitors included the then main city of Russia - Vladimir, as well as Nizhny Novgorod and Kostroma. But the most serious enemy, the confrontation with which took the entire XIV century, was Tver.
The first Moscow princes
In the 13th century, Moscow was extremely rarely singled out as a specific city for one of the numerous Rurikids - Russian princes. So, in 1246-1248. Alexander Nevsky's brother Mikhail Khorobrit reigned here. Moscow was for himan outpost in the struggle for the Grand Duke's table. In the end, he managed to win, but in 1248 he was killed near the Protva River in a battle with the Lithuanians.
The local dynasty of princes began to take shape in 1276, when the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniel, received Moscow as an inheritance. It was a relatively poor area, but the prince managed to significantly expand his possessions. First of all, he sought to gain control over the entire Moskva River, and this plan was carried out in 1301 with the capture of Kolomna, located at the confluence of the river with the Oka. The next territorial increment occurred a year later: Prince Daniel received Pereyaslavsky appanage in his will - the first step in the policy of the Moscow princes to unite the lands.
Yuri Danilovich (1303 - 1325)
The legacy of the last Pereyaslav prince had to be defended with arms in hand, and this was done during the reign of Yuri, the eldest son of Daniel. Under him, the foreign policy of the Moscow princes was aimed not only at the annexation of nearby territories, but also at cooperation with the khans of the Golden Horde. This was especially important in connection with the clash of Moscow interests with Tver: the annexation of vast territories (in 1303, Mozhaisk was torn away from the Smolensk principality) displeased Mikhail Yaroslavich, who was the first in Russian history to take the title "prince of all Russia". The marriage of Yuri Danilovich to the sister of Khan Uzbek allowed the Moscow prince to fight Tver.
Struggle for hegemony in North-Eastern Russia
With the support of the Tatars YuryDanilovich began a campaign against Tver, but Mikhail Yaroslavich turned out to be the best commander and defeated the troops of the Moscow prince. However, the victory turned into a defeat: Yuri's wife was captured and after a while died. The enraged Khan summoned the participants in the war to the Horde, where he sentenced Michael to death. The children of the deceased prince killed the Moscow ruler in front of the Khan. After that, the status quo was restored: Alexander Mikhailovich became the prince of Tver, and Yuri's brother Ivan Danilovich, who went down in history under the nickname Kalita.
Victory over Tver
Unlike the princes of Tver, who distanced themselves from the Horde, Ivan Danilovich hastened to establish friendly relations with the Khan. In 1327, together with the Tatars, he suppressed the Tver uprising and subjected the principality to terrible ruin. Prince Alexander fled to Novgorod, and Tver was never again able to muster enough forces to confront Moscow.
For his service, Kalita received from the Khan a label for a great reign and, more importantly, the right to collect tribute from Russian lands. A significant part of the collected funds settled in the hands of the Moscow prince. This made it possible to increase the territory of the principality not so much by conquests as by acquisitions. During the reign of Kalita, the Moscow principality included Galich, Beloozero, Uglich and part of the Rostov principality.
Reasons for the rise of Moscow
The policy of the Moscow princes was aimed at a constant increase in the territory of the principality and the growth of its political weight. Over the seventy years of its existence, the Moscow Principality has gone fromprovincial inheritance to the main center of power in North-Eastern Russia. There were several reasons for this:
- Moscow's favorable geographical position (no direct borders with potentially unfriendly states and control over the main trade routes of the northeast);
- features of the policy of the Moscow princes (cooperation with the Horde, annexation of escheat destinies, as well as the purchase of land);
- accumulation of significant funds in the Moscow treasury after obtaining the right to collect tribute;
- attracting the most capable people to the service and high pay for their work;
- support for the Russian Orthodox Church (since 1326, the residence of the Metropolitan has been located in Moscow);
- intensive development of the economy, the formation of a feudal system of land use;
- no Tatar raids.
Further growth of the Moscow Principality
The activities of Ivan Kalita not only determined the main directions of the policy of the Moscow princes. She instilled in them a special mentality. To characterize the policy of the Moscow princes, it is especially interesting to study their spiritual letters (wills), which shows that they perceived princely and state property as one whole. Along with the distribution of inheritances between the sons, the grand dukes divided all household belongings: chests, fur coats, jewelry. The stinginess and frugality of these people sometimes exceeded all reasonable limits, but, on the other hand, thanks to her, Moscow managed to gather enough strength to challenge the Horde.
The process of accumulation of funds continued under the successors of Kalita: Semyon (1340 - 1353) and Ivan (1353 - 1359). During this period, the Dmitrovsky and Starodubsky destinies were included in the Moscow principality. A more significant achievement was the establishment of control over the rich Novgorod Republic - the Moscow princes managed to achieve the appointment of their henchmen as governors there.
However, the same period was the time of relative weakening of Moscow. A significant threat to its centralization policy was the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which established control over Southwestern Russia, including Kyiv. The Lithuanian princes managed to achieve the opening of an independent metropolis in this city, which significantly weakened Moscow's influence in this region. In addition, attracted by more favorable terms of service, many prominent Moscow boyars left the princely court.
Dmitry Donskoy (1369 - 1390)
Ivan the Red died relatively young, and according to his will, the great reign was to be inherited by his eldest son Dmitry. However, the new Moscow prince was barely nine years old. Taking advantage of both this and the weakening of Moscow, the Nizhny Novgorod prince put forward claims to the great reign. Only thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Alexy, who, according to legend, cured the Horde Khan Taidula of blindness, the Khan of the Golden Horde left the label in the hands of Dmitry. Already by force of arms I had to defend my rights from the claims of the strengthened prince of Tver.
Consolidation of Russian lands around Moscow, victory over the main rivalsmade it possible to confront the Horde. The fact that the Tatars no longer have the same strength was evidenced by the victory over them, first of the Ryazan prince (1365), and then the Nizhny Novgorod prince (1367).
Fight against the Mongol-Tatar yoke
The former peace-loving policy of the Moscow princes has come to an end. In 1374, Dmitry openly announced the cessation of paying tribute and prepared for war. However, the first battles were unsuccessful, the defeat of the Russian troops on the Pyan River in 1377 was especially difficult for Moscow. But already next year, on the Vozha River, Muscovites managed to take revenge. The real war broke out in 1380
As a result of intrigues and a fierce struggle, power in the Horde was seized by the temnik Mamai. To confirm his rights to the Khan's throne, as well as to receive funds, he decided to return Russia to obedience. However, the times of fragmentation are over. Under the command of Dmitry, a truly all-Russian army gathered (only Ryazan, Tver and Novgorod evaded the battle). The fierce battle on the Kulikovo field (1380) ended with a decisive victory for Dmitry, who received the honorary nickname Donskoy.
The policy of Moscow princes at the turn of the century
However, the victory of the Donskoy did not lead to liberation from the Horde dependence. Two years later, the new Khan Tokhtamysh invaded the Moscow principality and burned the capital. The Grand Duke had to resume paying tribute.
The successor of Donskoy Vasily I (1390 - 1425) pursued a more cautious and peaceful policy, clearly realizing that the danger to Russia is not onlyHorde, but also Lithuania. He was in no hurry to make large land acquisitions, with him only the Principality of Nizhny Novgorod was annexed.
The progressive growth of Moscow's power was disrupted by the feudal war of 1425-1443, which broke out after the death of Vasily. His brother Yuri (later his children) and his son Vasily claimed the great reign. Medieval ideas about seniority were finally rejected after the victory of Basil: now the great reign was inherited only from father to son.
The fall of the Horde yoke and the completion of the unification of Russia
In 1462, Ivan III took the Moscow throne. Moscow urgently needed to confirm its rights to leadership, undermined by the feudal war. Remembering the role of Novgorod in the events of 1425-1443 (the republic supported the claims of Yuri and his descendants), the Moscow prince took decisive steps to destroy his independence. In 1471, the Novgorod troops were defeated on the Shelon River, and in 1478 the republic lost even formal signs of independence.
In 1480 there was a famous standing on the Ugra. The Horde made a last attempt to keep Russia in its sphere of influence, but the power was on the side of the Moscow prince. This year marks the end of the Mongol-Tatar yoke.
The final completion of the unification of Russia occurred under the successor of Ivan - Vasily (1505 - 1533). Under him, the independence of the Pskov Republic (1510) and the Ryazan Principality (1521) was abolished. After long wars with Lithuaniamanaged to include Smolensk in Russia. The process of centralization was completed, and the far-sighted and skillful policy of the Moscow princes played an important role in this.
