The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality

Since its inception, Kievan Rus was not a unitary state. Its first section occurred back in 972, and later each new dynasty, standing in power, tried to isolate itself. Political formations that took place at that time in the territory of modern Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, existed as separate principalities and were called Specific Russia.

Northeast Russia in the annals was called until the XIII century Suzdal land, and from the end of this same century began to be called the Great Vladimir Prince. Studying historical data relating to the period XII-XVI centuries, special attention is paid to the main territorial formations, one of which is the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. We got a lot of interesting facts from the history of his existence.

The Vladimir-Suzdal princedom principals were laid in the 11th-12th centuries. Beginning with the youngest son of Monomakh, Yu Dolgoruky, the development of this land began. He and his sons did much to strengthen not only their own power, but also to elevate the principality over others.

After many years of struggle, Prince Yu Dolgoruky finally established itself in the Kiev reign. Later, the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality was moved to Vladimir. This was due to the move there son of Dolgoruky, Andrew. His name is associated with the heyday of Vladimir, which became the capital, which became famous in history for literate politics and the desire to unite neighboring lands.

The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality occupied quite a vast territory. It existed in the XI-XIII centuries, territorially located in the interfluve of the Volga and the Oka. From the north it reached the settlements of Beloozero and Ustyug. Before the formation of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, the territory of these lands was occupied by the Finno-Ugric tribes. In the course of history, Great Russian nationalities were formed here, and in the process of feudalization the cities of Yaroslavl, Murom and Suzdal grew. In those years in these places the craft developed intensively, which reached a significant level. The craftsmanship of local artisans was well known far beyond this region.

The Vladimir-Suzdal principality was also famous for the processing of iron and other metals. Honor was the construction business, pottery and many other crafts, which subsequently reached a decent level. Not ignored and trade, which was actively conducted by merchants of Vladimir-Suzdal Russia. Purchase and sale was carried out not only with merchants of other Russian lands, but also with Volga Bulgaria, Byzantium, and others.

The surviving monuments tell us about the high level on which the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was. Until now, this area is an ancient historical and cultural center of the Russian land. He had a rich history of this region since the time of the Russian Middle Ages. It was at that time that the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, the Cathedral of St. Demetrius was built, the five-domed Uspensky Cathedral was rebuilt.

Later, Vladimir barbarously looted, burned and destroyed the Mongol-Tatar conquerors, but even when the fragmentation of the Russian lands occurred again, Vladimir continued to remain the official capital of Russia until the middle of the 15th century. The Principality officially ceased to exist in 1432, having sustained during its existence a heavy burden of various interventions, administrative and territorial changes. Despite all this, the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal princedom was preserved in architectural structures, monuments of town-planning. All of them represent the national, historical and cultural value protected by the state.

The Vladimir-Suzdal princedom princes of the Dolgoruky dynasty tried to turn it into a religious center. That's why they tried to create it as powerful as possible.