Vasily Kosoy, Yury Dmitrievich, Dmitry Shemyaka: the struggle of the princes with Vasily II

In the second quarter of the 15th century, internecine feudal (or, according to Soviet terminology, feudal) war broke out in Rus between Moscow prince Basil Vasilyevich II, his uncle and cousins. Three prerequisites for this serious political and dynastic crisis can be singled out: the struggle between the two orders of succession to the throne, the ambiguity of Dmitry Donskoi's testament about the great principality of Vladimir and, finally, the personal confrontation of the warring sides.

The conflict because of the succession to the throne began during the reign of Vasily Dmitrievich, the fearsome son of Dmitry Donskoy. Then the brother of the ruler, Konstantin Dmitrievich, opposed the grand duchy of Vladimir inherited his son. However, the ruler still managed to overcome his brother's resistance and transfer the throne to Basil II.

Start of internal strife

The feudal war lasted quite a long time - from 1425 to 1453. It was a time of serious upheaval not only for the Moscow Principality, but also for the North Russian lands in general. The cause of the crisis was the ambiguous interpretation of the article of spiritual diplomacy of Dmitry Donskoy on the succession of the throne.

The son of this ruler, Vasily Dmitrievich, dying, gave the throne to his elder heir, Basil II. However, his brother, Yuri Dmitrievich Galitsky, or Zvenigorodsky, referring to his father's will, began to claim the Grand Duke's throne. However, at first he concluded a truce in 1425 with his young nephew, which, however, did not last long.

A few years later the Galician ruler demanded a trial in the Horde. Vasily II and Yury Dmitrievich went to the khan who after a long dispute gave the Grand Duchy to the Moscow prince, whose uncle did not accept this decision and entered into an open confrontation with his nephew.

The first stage of the struggle

The impetus for the beginning of the clashes was a scandal during the wedding of Vasily Vasilyevich at the Borovsk princess Maria Yaroslavna. The eldest son of Yuri Dmitrievich, Vasily Kosoy (such a nickname the prince received after dazzling in 1436), appeared at a ceremony in the belt, which was considered the affiliation of Dmitry Donskoy. The mother of Basil II publicly ripped off from him this important detail of the costume, which led to the rupture of the prince with Moscow.

Vasily Kosoy and Dmitry Shemyaka (who was the brother of the latter) fled to their father, who began fighting against his nephew. The latter was defeated, and Yuri Galitsky in 1434 occupied the capital, but unexpectedly died the same year.

The second period of internecine strife

After the death of his father, Prince Vasily Kosoy attempted to settle in Moscow, but his brothers, Dmitry Shemyaka and Dmitry Krasny did not support him. Both concluded an agreement with Basil II, who returned to the capital and took the Grand Prince's table.

Vasily Yuryevich Kosoy continued the struggle. He started a fight against his cousin. He managed to enlist the support of the North, where he recruited troops. However, he was defeated by Basil II, was captured and blinded in 1436. Therefore, he received the nickname of the Scythe, under which he entered the history of medieval Russia.

The third stage of the war: the confrontation between Basil II and Dmitry Shemyaki

Vasily Kosoy was blinded, and this aggravated the relationship between Vasily Vasilyevich and Dmitry Yurievich exacerbated. The situation was complicated due to the fact that the Moscow prince was defeated in the battle with the Kazan Tatars and was captured in 1445. This was taken advantage of by his opponent and occupied Moscow. However, Basil II paid a large ransom and soon returned to his principality, and Dmitry Shemyaka was expelled from the capital.

However, he resigned himself to defeat and organized the abduction of his cousin. Basil II was blinded, for which he received the nickname Dark. He was exiled first to Vologda, and then to Uglich. His opponent again became ruler in Moscow, but the population of the principality no longer perceived him as his legitimate ruler.

Fourth period of civil strife: the defeat of Dmitry Shemyaka

Meanwhile, Basil II, using public support, left his place of imprisonment and concluded an alliance with Tver Prince Boris Aleksandrovich about a joint struggle with a common enemy. Together, the Allies achieved the secondary expulsion of Prince Dmitry from Moscow in 1447.

Thus, Basil II achieved a final victory, but his rival for some time made attempts to overthrow him from the throne. In 1453, Dmitri Yurievich died in Novgorod, and this date is considered the end of the feudal war in Russia.

The significance of civil strife in the political history of the Moscow principality of the 15th century

The dynastic crisis had far-reaching consequences in approving the new principle of succession to the throne. The fact that in Russia for a long time dominated the order of inheritance of the Grand Duchy on the lateral line, ie. The inheritance was passed on to the elder in the family. But gradually, beginning with the XIV century, since the reign of Ivan Danilovich, the throne invariably went to the eldest son of the previous Grand Duke.

The rulers themselves from generation to generation, by will, invariably transferred the Grand Duchy of Vladimir to their sons. However, this new principle was not legally formalized. However, until the second quarter of the 15th century the issue of succession to the throne did not arise with such severity as after the death of Dmitry Donskoy in 1389. The victory of Basil II finally approved the order of succession in the direct descending line - from father to son.

Since then, Moscow rulers have officially appointed their eldest sons as their successors. This formalized the dynastic new rule of succession of the Grand Duke's throne, the essence of which was that from now on the sovereigns in their wills themselves appointed their heirs, and their decisions could no longer be challenged on the basis of the patrimonial law.