The unification of lands around Moscow: the beginning, the stages, the completion

Key to the history of Russia, the unification of lands around Moscow began in the first years of the fourteenth century, and ended at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. During this period, the former feudal orders were destroyed and a powerful centralized state arose.

Center of the small principality

For a long time Moscow was an inconspicuous fortress on the Vladimir-Suzdal land in the north-east of Russia. This small town was not rich in wealth and political importance. His own prince appeared there in 1263. They became Daniil Alexandrovich - the son of the famous Alexander Nevsky. As the youngest son of the prince, he received the most poor and tiny lot.

Not long before Rus survived the Tatar-Mongol invasion. Destroyed by the enemy army, the country paid tribute to the Golden Horde. Khan recognized as the senior prince of the ruler of the city of Vladimir. All his relatives Rurikovich, who owned the land, had to obey him. At the same time, the Vladimir throne was transferred by the Khan label at his whim. Inheritance could not correspond to the typical principle of the medieval monarchy, when the son received the titles of his father.

As a positive start, the unification of the lands around Moscow put an end to this confusion, but while the Moscow princes were weak and did not have the resources, they had to balance between other influential rulers. Daniel supported one or the other elder brother (Dmitry or Andrey) who fought for the Vladimir throne.

The first Moscow political successes were due to a successful combination of circumstances. In 1302, the childless nephew of Daniel Ivan Dmitrievich, who was the title of prince of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, died. So a small feudal lord received a nearby city and re-qualified as a middle feudal lord. This was the beginning of the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. However, Daniel never got used to his new status. The first Moscow specific prince died in 1304.

Struggle for Vladimir

His father's place was taken by Yuri Daniilovich, who ruled in 1303-1325. First of all, he annexed the Mozhaisk principality, planting the owner of this tiny neighboring estate in prison. So Moscow has taken several important steps to start a dispute with the largest political force in North-Eastern Russia - Tver. In 1305, her prince Mikhail received from Khan a label on the Vladimir throne.

It seemed that Moscow had no chance to defeat a richer and larger opponent. However, the dilemma was that in that period of Russian history, not everything was solved by force of arms. The unification of the lands around Moscow took place thanks to the cunning and ability of its rulers to like the Tatars.

Ordyntsy gave Vladimir princes who had the opportunity to pay more. The financial position of Tver was noticeably better than that of Moscow. However, the khans were guided by one more rule. It can be described as "divide and conquer". Strengthening one principality, the Tatars tried not to give him too much, and in case the lot became too powerful, the mercy of the Baskakov could change to anger.

Moscow against Tver

After losing to Michael in 1305 in a diplomatic clinch, Yuri did not calm down. At first, he unleashed an internecine war, and then, when it did not lead to anything, began to wait for the opportunity to strike at the reputation of the enemy. This opportunity made me wait a few years. In 1313 Khan Tokhta died, and his place was occupied by Uzbek. Michael had to go to the Horde and receive confirmation of the grand prince's label. However, Yuri beat him.

Once at the Uzbek before his opponent, the Moscow prince did everything to gain the trust and favor of the new khan. For this, Yuri married the sister of the Tatar ruler Konchak, who adopted Orthodoxy and received the name Agafia in baptism. Also, the main opponent of Mikhail was able to conclude an alliance with the Novgorod Republic. Its inhabitants feared a powerful prince of Tver, whose possessions were on their borders.

Having married, Yuri went home. He was accompanied by the Tatar nobleman Kavgadiy. Mikhail, taking advantage of the fact that the Horde stood up in separate camps, attacked his rival. The Moscow prince was defeated again and began to ask for peace. Opponents agreed to go to the khan for trial. At that moment clouds began to gather over Mikhail. Having won, he captured Konchak. The wife of Yuri, who was in the camp of Tver prince, and Uzbek's sister died for some unknown reason.

The tragedy became a turning point in the conflict. Yuri cold-bloodedly took advantage of what had happened. He returned to the Uzbek, exposing Michael in his eyes as the executioner of Konchaki. Kavgadiy, or bribed, or simply not liking Mikhail, also slandered him. Soon the Tver prince came to the Khan's court. He was stripped of his label and brutally executed. The title of the ruler of Vladimir passed to Yuri. The beginning of the unification of the Russian lands around Moscow was completed, now the Moscow rulers needed to keep the power received in their hands.

Kalita's successes

In 1325, Yury Danylovich again arrived in the Horde, where he was slaughtered by the son of Mikhail Tversky, Dmitriy Chernyi Ochi, who avenged the death of his father. The power in Moscow was inherited by the younger brother of the deceased Ivan Kalita. He was known for his ability to earn and keep money. Unlike his predecessor, the new ruler acted more cautiously and defeated the enemies rather by cunning rather than cunning.

After the death of Yuri, Uzbek, using a proven strategy, spent castling. The main Russian principality he gave to the new rulers of Tver Alexander Mikhailovich. It seemed that Ivan Daniilovich remained with nothing, but this impression of his contemporaries turned out to be deceptive. The fight against Tver did not end, it was just her beginning. The unification of the land around Moscow continued after another sharp turn of history.

In 1327 a spontaneous anti-Tatar insurrection broke out in Tver. Residents of the city, tired of excessive extortion of strangers, interrupted the collectors of tribute. Alexander did not organize this speech, but joined him and eventually led the protest of his subjects. Enraged Uzbek instructed Kalita to punish the disobedient. The Tver land was ruined. Ivan Daniilovich returned to Vladimir, and since Moscow princes, not counting very brief breaks, have not lost the formal capital of Northeast Russia.

Ivan Kalita, who ruled until 1340, also attached to his power (or rather, bought) such important neighboring cities as Uglich, Galich and Beloozero. Where did he get money for all these acquisitions? The Horde made the Moscow prince an official collector of tribute from all over Russia. Kalita began to control the vast financial flows. Wisely and prudently managing the treasury, he was able to build a system in which a large part of the collected money settled in Moscow. His principality began to grow rich systematically against the backdrop of all the neighboring regions that lagged behind in the financial well-being. This is the most important cause-effect relationship, according to which the gradual unification of the lands around Moscow took place. The sword yielded to the waist purse. In 1325, another important event, which entailed the unification of the lands around Moscow, was the relocation to this city of metropolitans, who previously considered Vladimir their residence.

New Challenges

After Ivan Kalita, two of his sons ruled one after another: Simeon (1341-1353) and Ivan (1353-1359). During this almost twenty-year period, part of the Novosilsky principality (Zabereg) and some Ryazan places (Vereya, Luzha, Borovsk) were annexed to the Grand Duchy. Simeon traveled five times to the Horde, tried to bow and please the Tatars, but at the same time imperiously behaved in his homeland. For this contemporaries (and after him historians) called him Proud. Under Simeon Ivanovich, the other petty dukes of Northeast Russia became his "pals". The main enemy, Tver, was cautious and no longer challenged the Moscow supremacy.

Thanks to the good relations of Simeon with the Horde, the nomads did not disturb Russia with raids. However, at that time, without exception, all principalities had to endure another attack. It became the deadly epidemic "Black Death", which at the same time raged in the Old World. Ulcers hit Russia through Novgorod, where traditionally there were many Western merchants. The terrible illness has turned the habitual life, stopped all positive social and political processes, including the unification of the lands around Moscow. A brief acquaintance with the scale of the disaster is enough to understand that it was worse than any Tatar-Mongol invasion. The cities were half dead, many villages were deserted to the last house. Died of the plague and Simeon along with his sons. That is why the throne was succeeded by his younger brother.

Ivan, whose rule was completely colorless, was remembered in Russian history only by his beauty for which he was nicknamed Red. The only important event of that period was the Khan's gift to the Moscow ruler of the right to judge other appanage princes. Of course, the new order only accelerated the unification of the lands around Moscow. Ivan's brief reign ended with his sudden death at the age of 31.

Two pillars of Moscow

Ivan the Red's heir was his young son Dmitry, who in the future defeated the Tatar-Mongol army on the Kulikovo field and immortalized his name. However, the first years of his nominal government the prince stayed at a very young age. This attempted to take advantage of other Rurikovichi, who were glad of the opportunity either to gain independence, or to get a label for Vladimir. In the last enterprise, Dmitry Suzdal succeeded. After the death of Ivan the Red, he went to the Khan's capital Sarai, where he actually received a label for the reign of Vladimir.

Moscow briefly lost the formal capital of Russia. However, situational circumstances could not reverse the trend. The prerequisites for the unification of Russian lands around Moscow were different: social, economic and political. When the princedom grew and became a serious power, its rulers received two important supports, not allowing the state to fall to pieces. These pillars were aristocrats and the church.

Rich and safe at Kalita, Moscow attracted to its service all the new boyars. The process of their exodus to the grand duchy was gradual, but uninterrupted. As a result, when the young Dmitri was on the throne, a boyar council immediately formed around him, which took effective and useful decisions that allowed to maintain with such difficulty the acquired stability.

Aristocrats were helped by the Orthodox Church. The reasons for the unification of the lands around Moscow were the support of this city by the metropolitans. In 1354-1378 years. He was Alexis (in the world of Eleutherius Byakont). During the childhood of Dmitry Donskoy, the metropolitan was also the actual head of the executive power in the Moscow principality. This energetic person initiated the construction of the Kremlin. He also solved conflicts with the Horde.

Acts of Dmitry Donskoy

All stages of the unification of lands around Moscow had certain features. At first, princes had to act not so much political as intriguing methods. This was Yuri, so partly was Ivan Kalita. But it was they who managed to lay the foundation for the prosperity of Moscow. When in 1367 the actual rule of young Dmitry Donskoi began, he thanks to his predecessors had all the resources to build a single Russian state with sword and diplomacy.

How did the Moscow principality grow in that period? In 1360 Dmitrov was annexed, in 1363 - Starodub on Klyazma and (already definitively) Vladimir, in 1368 - Rzhev. However, the key event in the history of Russia at the time was the non-alignment of Moscow with Moscow, but the beginning of an open struggle against the Tatar-Mongol yoke. The centralization of power and its strengthening could not but lead to such a turn of events.

The preconditions for the unification of the lands around Moscow were at least in the natural desire of the nation to live within the framework of one state. These aspirations (first of all ordinary people) faced feudal orders. However, in the late Middle Ages, they also came to an end. Similar processes of decomposition of the feudal system with some lead took place in Western Europe, where a number of duchies and counties built their national states.

Now, when the process of unification of Russian lands around Moscow became irreversible, a new problem arose: what to do with the Horde yoke? The tribute hindered economic development and belittled the people's dignity. Of course, Dmitry Ivanovich, like many of his predecessors, dreamed of the full independence of his homeland. Having gained full power, he embarked on the realization of this plan.

After the Battle of Kulikovo

The long process of unification of the lands around Moscow could not be completed without the liberation of Rus from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Donskoi understood this and decided that it was time to act. The conflict broke out in the mid 1370s. The Moscow prince refused to pay tribute to the Basques. The Golden Horde armed itself. At the head of the Basurmanskaya army stood the Mamai temnik. I collected regiments and Dmitry Donskoy. Many princes assisted him. The war with the Tatars was an all-Russian affair. Only the Ryazan prince turned out to be a black sheep, but the army of Donskoi coped without his help.

September 21, 1380 on the Kulikovo field there was a battle, which became one of the main military events in the entire national history. The Tatars were routed. Two years later the horde returned and even burned Moscow. Nevertheless, the open struggle for independence began. It lasted exactly 100 years.

Don died in 1389. At the last stage of his reign, he annexed the Meschersky Region, Medyn and Ustyuzhna to the Grand Duchy. The son of Dmitry Vasily I, who ruled in 1389-1425. Has finished absorption of the Nizhniy Novgorod princedom. Also, with him, the unification of the Moscow lands around Moscow was marked by the joining of Murom and Tarusa with the purchase of the khan's label. The prince with military force deprived the Novgorod Republic of Vologda. As a fate from Rostov in Moscow in 1397 went to Ustyug. The expansion to the north continued with the addition of Torzhok and Bezhetsky Top.

On the verge of collapse

Under Basil II (1425 - 1462), the Moscow Principality survived the largest internecine war in its history. The rights of the legitimate heir were encroached upon by his own uncle, Yuri Dmitrievich, who believed that power should not be transferred from father to son, but according to the long-standing principle "by right of seniority". The internecine war greatly slowed the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. Yuri's brief reign ended in his death. Then the sons of the deceased joined in the struggle: Dmitry Shemyaka and Vasily Kosoy.

The war was particularly cruel. Was blinded by Basil II, and later he himself ordered to poison Shemyaka. Because of the bloodshed, the result, to which the previous stages of the unification of the Russian lands around Moscow led, could sink into oblivion. However, in 1453, Basil II Dark defeated all his opponents. Even his own blindness did not bother him. In the last years of his power to the Moscow principality were added Vychegda Perm, Romanov and some Vologda sites.

Accession of Novgorod and Tver

The son of Basil II, Ivan III (1462-1505), made the most of the unification of the country from the Moscow princes. Many historians consider him the first all-Russian ruler. When Ivan Vasilyevich came to power, the largest of his neighbors was the Novgorod Republic. Its inhabitants have long supported the Moscow princes. However, in the second half of the 15th century Novgorod's aristocratic circles reoriented to Lithuania, which was considered the main counterbalance to the Grand Duke. And this opinion was not groundless.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania owned the territory of modern Belarus and Ukraine. This state belonged to Kiev, Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk and other important Russian cities. When Ivan III felt danger in the alliance of Novgorod and Lithuania, he declared war on the republic. In 1478 the conflict was exhausted. The Novgorod land was wholly annexed to the Moscow state.

Then followed the turn of the Tver principality. The times when it could compete with Moscow on an equal footing have long since passed. The last Tver prince Mikhail Borisovich, as well as the Novgorodians, tried to conclude an alliance with Lithuania, after which Ivan III stripped him of power and annexed Tver to his power. This happened in 1485.

The reasons for the unification of Russian lands around Moscow were also in the fact that at the final stage of this process, Rus finally got rid of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In 1480, Khan Akhmat tried to force the Moscow prince to submit and pay tribute to him. A full-fledged war did not work out. The Moscow and Tatar armies rose on different banks of the Ugra River, but they did not clash in battle. Akhmat left, and soon the Golden Horde split into several uluses.

In addition to Novgorod and Tver, Ivan III annexed the Yaroslavl, Vazhskaya, Vyatka and Perm lands, Vyazma and Yugra to the great principality. After the Russo-Lithuanian War of 1500-1503. Bryansk, Toropets, Pochep, Starodub, Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky and Putivl departed to Moscow.

Formation of Russia

The successor of Ivan III on the throne was his son Vasily III (1505-1533 gg.). With him, the unification of the lands around Moscow was completed. Vasily continued the work of his father, the first thing he did finally making part of his power was Pskov. Since the end of the XIV century this republic has been in a vassal position from Moscow. In 1510, Basil deprived her of autonomy.

Then followed the turn of the last specific Russian principality. For a long time Ryazan was an independent southern neighbor of Moscow. In 1402, an alliance was concluded between the principalities, which in the middle of the fifteenth century was replaced by a vassalage. In 1521, Ryazan became the property of the Grand Duke. Like Ivan III, Basil III did not forget about Lithuania, which belonged to many native Russian cities. As a result of two wars with this state, the prince annexed Smolensk, Velizh, Roslavl and Kursk to his power.

By the end of the first third of the sixteenth century, Moscow "gathered" all the Russian lands, and thus formed a single national state. This fact allowed the son of Basil III Ivan the Terrible to take the title of king by the Byzantine pattern. In 1547 he became not just a great Moscow prince, but a Russian sovereign.