Russian princedoms: struggle and unification

In the XII-XV century in the period of feudal fragmentation in Russia there were state formations - Old Russian principalities. In the tenth century, practice arose that became the norm in the following century: the distribution of lands by the great Russian princes to their sons and relatives, which by the 12th century led to the actual disintegration of the Old Russian state.

Authority

Having received in their reign of land and power, such holders of power soon began to struggle for economic and political independence from the center and this hampered the development of Russian principalities. In all regions princes of the genus Rurikovich (with the exception of Novgorod, which already represented a structure somewhat similar to the republic), managed to become sovereign rulers who relied on their administrative apparatus, which consisted of a service class, and received part of the revenues from the territories under their jurisdiction. The vassals of the prince (boyars) with high-ranking officials from the clergy formed the Boyar Duma - a consultative and advisory body. The prince was the chief owner of the lands, some of which belonged to him personally, and he disposed of the remaining lands as a territorial ruler, and they were divided between the domain domains of the church, the conditional holdings of the boyars and their servants.

Russian princedoms in the period of fragmentation

In the era of fragmentation in Russia, the socio-political structure was based on the system of the feudal ladders. Until the 12th century, Kievan Rus and the Russian principalities were subject to a certain hierarchy of power. The great Prince of Kiev headed this feudal hierarchy, then this status was acquired by the Galician-Volyn and Vladimir-Suzdal princes. The average hierarchy was occupied by the rulers of such large principalities as Chernigov, Polotsk, Vladimiro-Volynsk, Rostov-Suzdal, Turovo-Pinsk, Smolensk, Muromo-Ryazan, Galich. At the lowest level stood boyars and their vassals (serving non-titled nobility).

By the middle of the XI century, the process of destruction of large principalities began, and from the most developed agricultural areas - the districts of Kyiv region and Chernigov region. From the end of XII to the beginning of the XIII century, this trend is becoming a universal phenomenon. Quite fast fragmentation was in the Kiev, Chernigov, Muromo-Ryazan, Turovo-Pinsk principalities. In a less intensive degree, this concerned the Smolensk principality, but in Rostov-Suzdal and Galicia-Volyn principality, these periods of fragmentation periodically alternated with temporary associations under the rule of the "senior" ruler. All this time the Novgorod land managed to maintain political integrity.

Enemies

In times of feudal fragmentation, an enormous role was played by the all-Russian and regional princely congresses. They discussed internal and external political issues. But they could not stop the process of dispersion. This moment was also used by the Tatar-Mongol hordes, the Russian lands and principalities of Russia could not unite their forces to resist external aggression and therefore lost part of the vast territory of their southwestern and western lands, which later, devastated by Batu's forces, in the 13th-14th centuries were Conquered by Lithuania (Polotsk, Kiev, Pereyaslav, Chernigov, Turovo-Pinsk, Smolensk, Vladimiro-Volynsk) and Poland (Galicia). Only North-East Russia (Novgorod , Muromo-Ryazan and Vladimir lands) remained independent.

A real union of Russian principalities begins with the XIV century BC. XVI century. "Assembled" by the Moscow princes, the Russian state undertook to restore its unity.

Russian feudal principalities

The national task for the Russian princes was the liberation of Russia from the Golden Horde yoke and the restoration of the economy, and for this it was necessary for all to unite, but someone had to stand in the center. At that time, two strong leaders emerged - Moscow and Tver. The Tver principality was formed in 1247 under the reign of Yaroslav Yaroslavovich's younger brother Alexander Nevsky. After the death of his brother, he became the ruler of the Tver principality (1263-1272 gg.), Which was then the strongest in Russia. However, it did not become the head of the unification process.

By the fourteenth century Moscow had risen very rapidly, before the arrival of the Tatar-Mongol it was a small borderline object of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, but by the beginning of the fourteenth century it had become an important political center. And all because she occupied a very advantageous geographical position. From the south and east of the horde covered Ryazan and Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod principality, from the north-west - Veliky Novgorod and Tver principality. Around Moscow forests were difficult to navigate for the Tatar-Mongol cavalry. Therefore, the influx of people into the Moscow Grand Duchy of Russia has grown significantly. It began to develop craft and agriculture. Moscow has also become a powerful center of land and waterways, this has contributed to both trade and military strategies.

Moscow

Through the rivers of Moscow and the Oka, the principality of Moscow emerged on the Volga and through its tributaries was connected with the Novgorod lands. The flexible policy of the Moscow princes also gave good results, since they managed to win over to their side other Russian principalities and the church. The founder of the Moscow dynasty of princes was Daniil Aleksandrovich - the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky (1276-1303). Under his reign, the Moscow Principality significantly increased its territories. In 1301, Kolomna, conquered by the Ryazan prince, came to him. In 1302 the Pereyaslav prince, who had no children, bequeathed his possessions to Moscow. In 1303 Mozhaisk joined Moscow. For three years, the territory of the Moscow principality has doubled, and it has become one of the largest in the northeast of Russia.

Mozhaisk - at the origins of the Moscow River, and Kolomna - at the mouth, the river was completely in charge of the Moscow princes. Pereyaslavl-Zalessky - one of the fertile regions - after the inclusion in the Moscow principality has powerfully strengthened its potential. Therefore, the Moscow prince began to fight with Tver for the Great reign. As the senior branch of Tver, Prince Michael Yaroslavovich got the right to the Grand Duke in the Horde.

Then in Moscow Yuri Danilovich ruled , who was married to the sister of Khan Uzbek Konchak (after the baptism of Agafia). Khan gave him the right to the Grand Duke's throne. Then Michael in 1315 defeated the squad of Yuri and captured his wife, who later died in Tver. Summoned to the Horde, Michael was executed. In 1325, Yuri was assassinated by the eldest son of Mikhail Tversky, Dimitry Grozny Ochi, whom Khan Uzbek destroyed after Khan Uzbek pursued a policy of ousting Russian princes. As a result, the Grand Duke received the Prince of Tver Alexander Mikhailovich (1326-1327).

Rise in Tver

In 1327 an uprising took place in Tver against a relative of Uzbek Shchelkan. The rebels killed many Tatars. Moscow Prince Ivan Danilovich Kalita (1325-1340 gg.), Taking advantage of the moment, came to Tver with the Tatar-Mongols and suppressed popular outrage. Since that time, the Moscow princes have had a shortcut to the Grand Duchy. Kalita managed to achieve a close connection between Moscow and the church. Therefore, Metropolitan Peter moved to live in Moscow. By the time Moscow became not only an ideological, but also a religious center of Russia. Under the rule of the sons of Kalita, Semen Gord (1340-1353) and Ivan Krasny (1353-1359), the Kostroma, Dmitrov, Starodub and some Kaluga lands were annexed to the principality of Moscow.

Donskoy

Prince Dmitry (1359-1389 gg.) As early as 9 years began to rule the Moscow principality. And again, the struggle for the Grand Prince Vladimir's throne began. Opponents of Moscow began to openly support the Horde. The symbol of success and victory of the Moscow principality was the construction of the white stone Kremlin, which was the only fortress and stone fortification in north-eastern Russia. Thanks to this, Moscow was able to repel claims to the all-Russian leadership of Tver, Nizhny Novgorod and to repel the attack of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd. In favor of Moscow, the balance of forces in Russia has changed.

And in the Horde by the middle of the fourteenth century the period of the weakening of the central power begins and the struggle for the khan's throne begins. In 1377 on the river Pyan there was a fighting clash, where the Horde crushed the Moscow army. But a year later in 1378 on the river Vozhe, the troops of Murzy Beghich were defeated by Dmitry.

The Battle of Kulikovo Field

In 1380, Khan Mamai decided to restore the dominance of the Golden Horde over the Russian lands. He united with the prince of Lithuania, Jagiello, and they moved to Russia. Prince Dmitry at that moment behaved like a talented commander. He moved towards the Tatars and crossed the Don, where he entered into battle with the enemy on his own territory. The second task for him was to prevent Mamai from joining forces with Jagiello before the battle.

On September 8, 1380, on the day of the Kulikovo battle, the morning was foggy, only by the eleventh day a duel between the Russian warrior monk Peresvet and the Tatar warrior Chelubey began. The Tatars first defeated the advanced Russian regiment, and Mamai was already triumphant, but then an ambush regiment of voevoda Dmitry Bobrok-Volyntsev and Prince Vladimir Serpukhovsky struck the flank. By 15 o'clock the outcome of the battle was clear to all. The Tatars fled, but for the military leadership of Dmitry began to call Donskoi. The Kulikovo battle significantly weakened the power of the Horde, who later recognized Moscow's primacy over the Russian lands.

Tokhtamysh

Mamai after the defeat fled to Cafu (Theodosia), where he was killed. The ruler of the Horde then was Khan Tokhtamysh. In 1382, he suddenly attacked Moscow. At that time, Donskoi was not in the city, since he had gone north to gather a new militia. The population bravely fought, organizing the defense of Moscow. As a result, Tokhtamys outsmarted them, promising not to plunder the city, but to fight only against Donskoy. But, breaking into Moscow, he defeated the city and overlaid it with tribute.

Before his death, Donskoi transferred the right to the Grand Duke Vladimir to his son Vasily I, without asking the Horde for the right to label. Thus, the Russian princedoms - Moscow and Vladimir - merged.

Timur

In 1395, the ruler Timur Tamerlane, who conquered Central Asia, Persia, Siberia, Baghdad, India, Turkey, went to the Horde and, after destroying it, then moved to Moscow. Basil I by this time gathered the militia in Kolomna. In Moscow from Vladimir brought the Intercession of the Russian land - the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. When Timur approached Moscow in the second quarter and stopped in the Yelets area, after a while he suddenly changed his mind about going to Russia. According to legend, this is attributed to the phenomenon in the dream of Timur the Mother of God himself.

The Feudal Wars and the Florentine Union

After the death of Basil I at the end of the fourteenth century, the struggle of Russian principalities and strife began, which became known as "feudal wars." In the Moscow principality, between the sons, and later the grandsons of Dmitry Donskoy, there was a real battle for the possession of the Grand Duke's throne. As a result, he went to Basil II of the Dark, the Moscow principality increased 30 times over this time.

Basil II refused to accept the union (1439) and to become the papal supremacy. This union was imposed on Russia under the pretext of saving Byzantium from the Ottomans. Metropolitan Rus Isidore (Greek), who supported the union, was immediately deposed. And then Ryazan bishop of Ion became metropolitan. This was the beginning of the ROC's independence from the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

After the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, the head of the Russian church was already determined in Moscow. The Orthodox Church actively supported the struggle for the unity of the Russian lands. Now the struggle for power was not led by individual Russian principalities, but it went on inside the princely house. But the process of formation of the Great Russian State has become irreversible, and Moscow has become the recognized capital.