The Mongol conquest led to a long-term economic, political and cultural decline of the Russian lands. The process of unification was suspended for many years, and the khan's tribute fell on the people as a heavy burden. However, in agriculture there is a transition to a two- and three-field crop rotation system, the main arable implement is a plow with an iron coulter, and the land is fertilized with manure. As a result, the efficiency of agricultural production and the development of trade in new shopping centers - Moscow, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod - are improving. Due to treasury accumulations and aggressive political play against the backdrop of internal strife in the Horde, the Moscow principality is strengthened (rising). Moscow becomes the new political center of Rus'.
In the struggle for the grand-ducal throne, the cunning ruler Vasily II actively used the Horde as allies. In addition, Vasily II was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church, which gained independence from Byzantium after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. All this has already allowed Ivan III to truly begin the unification of Muscovite Rus', and to achieve the final overthrow of the Golden Horde yoke.
Strengthening the power of the grand duke, the growing authority of the nobility due to the distribution of land, the emergence of governance institutions centralized state necessitated the adoption of a new set of laws of the Russian state - the so-called Code of Laws of Ivan III.
1301 - Daniil Alexandrovich annexed Kolomna to the Moscow Principality.
1303, March 4 - the first Moscow prince Daniil Alexandrovich, the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, died.
1303-1325 - reign of Yuri Danilovich in Moscow.
1312 - adoption of Islam as the state religion by the Golden Horde.
1313-1342 - reign of Uzbek Khan in the Golden Horde.
1318 - campaign of Yuri Danilovich and Mongol troops to Tver.
1325-1340 - reign of Ivan Kalita in Moscow.
1327 - uprising in Tver against Baskak Cholkhan. The defeat of the uprising by Ivan Kalita.
1328 - transfer of the metropolitan table from Vladimir to Moscow.
1337 - foundation of the Monastery on the banks of the Konchura River by Sergius of Radonezh. Since 1345 the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Since 1742 Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
1340-1353 - reign of Simeon the Proud in Moscow.
1353-1359 - reign of Ivan II the Red in Moscow.
1359-1389 - reign of Dmitry Ivanovich in Moscow.
1367 - construction of the white stone Kremlin in Moscow.
1375 - campaign of Moscow troops against Tver. Conclusion of the Moscow-Tver Treaty. Recognition of Moscow's "eldership" by Tver.
1377 - defeat of Russian troops on the Pyana River from Mongol troops.
1378 - Battle of the Vozha River. Victory of Moscow over the Horde troops under the command of Begich.
1380 - the first mention in the charter of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd of the city of Kaluga (now the administrative center of the Kaluga region).
1382 - destruction of Moscow by Tokhtamysh. Resumption of tribute payments to the Horde by the Russian principalities.
1393 - annexation of Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow.
1395 - Timur destroys the Golden Horde.
1389-1425 - reign of Vasily I Dmitrievich.
1410, July 15 - Battle of Grunwald. Polish-Lithuanian troops defeated the Teutonic Order.
1417-1428 - plague epidemics on the territory of Rus'.
1425-1462 - reign of Vasily II the Dark.
1433-1453 - feudal war of the second quarter of the 15th century.
1439 - Union of Florence.
1462-1505 - reign of Ivan III.
1466-1472 - Afanasy Nikitin’s journey through Persia, India and Turkey.
1469 - the first mention in Russian chronicles of the city of Cheboksary (now the capital of the Chuvash Republic).
1470-1480s - construction of new fortifications and cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin.
1471 - Ivan III's campaign against Novgorod. Battle of the Sheloni River.
1472 - Ivan III marries the niece of the Emperor of Byzantium Sophia (Zoya) Paleologus, makes the Byzantine double-headed eagle the coat of arms of Rus', acting as the successor of Byzantium.
1476 - Ivan III stops paying tribute to the Horde.
1478 - annexation of Novgorod to Moscow.
1480 - Khan Akhtat’s campaign against Moscow. "Standing on the Ugra River." Fall of the Mongol- Tatar yoke.
1485 - annexation of Tver to Moscow. Ivan III began to be called the “Grand Duke of All Rus'.”
1485 - Code of Law of Ivan III. Limitation of the transition of peasants to the week before and week after St. George's Day (November 26) and payment of the elderly.
If before the invasion of the Tatars Rus' consisted of large principalities (Rostov-Suzdal, Novgorod, Kiev, Ryazan, Smolensk, Chernigov and others), then with the beginning of vassalage the appanage princes were able to formalize their cities as independent hereditary feudal possessions.
And they immediately took advantage of it.
Decay Old Russian state and Lithuania
This is how full-fledged independent states emerged, the number of which soon began to be measured in dozens. And although formally the Vladimir prince was considered the eldest among the princes, everyone understood that the real supreme power lay in the Horde. And independent princes can do whatever they want in their domains, regardless of traditions and seniority.
Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas - founder of the dynasty
In the 14th century, the rapid rise of Lithuania began. Despite its name, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was created on ancient Russian lands and had the same relationship to the indigenous ethnic Lithuania - Samogitia and Aukshaiti - as the Russian principalities to the Finno-Ugric peoples who once inhabited the expanses of North-Eastern Rus'.
If in the ancient Russian principalities the Rurikovichs remained in power, then in Lithuania their own dynasty of Gediminovichs appeared.
The ruling family, apparently, came from the tribal princes of the Yatvingians, who at that time had the reputation of real savages and robbers.
In general, in the Middle Ages, when everyone was enthusiastically slaughtering each other, only peoples with a special character could gain the reputation of robbers. The Yatvingians could just boast of this.
The belligerence of the Lithuanian Gediminovichs became an important factor in their policy.
Three parts of Russian lands after the Tatar invasion
A hundred years after the Tatar invasion, the Russian lands looked completely different. In the northeast there was a conglomeration of many appanage principalities under the formal authority of Moscow. However, its rulers were called the Grand Dukes of Vladimir: the Moscow lands were still not prestigious enough to give the right to rule over other Russian principalities.
All the destinies of this region were ruled by the Rurikovichs - the old Russian dynasty. Formally, Muscovite Rus' remained a vassal of the Horde. In fact, vassal obligations were already ignored from the middle of the 14th century, and dependence was limited to the payment of tribute.
To the west lay the possessions of the Gediminovichs. Their first big acquisitions were the principalities of Polotsk and Turov, which had previously been ruled by the princes of the house of Rurik. Together with Vilna, these territories constituted the indigenous lands of Lithuania.
In the 14th century, the power of the Lithuanian princes began to gradually spread to the neighboring Russian principalities: Kiev, Smolensk, Pereyaslavl, Novgorod-Seversky. However, having captured these areas, Lithuania fell into vassal dependence on the Horde. Accordingly, from 1362 the Gediminovichs received khan's labels for the right to own part of Rus' and paid the due tribute.
Daniil Galitsky from the Rurik family, a descendant of the Kyiv prince Vladimir Monomakh, in 1252 accepted the title of “King of Rus'” from the Pope.
With the help of the prestigious royal crown, he hoped to strengthen his power.
However, his heirs forgot about the title, and only Daniel’s grandson, Yuri, became the next “King of Rus'”.
Why him? Under Yuri, the Galician and Volyn principalities united. However, at the same time, stronger Poland and Lithuania were nearby, and Galician Rus' - as the most remote, peripheral part of the Russian lands - was doomed to be torn to pieces by its neighbors.
Galicia, of course, was also a vassal of the Golden Horde, paid tribute to the khans and even sent troops to participate in joint campaigns with the Tatars against Poland.
Confrontation between Moscow and Lithuania
In the second half of the 14th century, the political situation in the Russian lands changed dramatically. In the east, the rise of Moscow led to the first attempt to free ourselves from the Tatar yoke: the Russian army of Prince Dmitry of Moscow was victorious at the Battle of Kulikovo Field.
In the west, Lithuania's expansion led to conflict with Moscow. Their confrontation became the main content of Russian domestic policy in the next hundred years.
The conflict was related to the resolution of the issue of the unification of Rus'. For the role of head of the new single state Both the old Rurikovichs and the new Gediminovichs claimed.
Initially, the position of the Lithuanian princes was stronger due to the number of troops and the wealth of their possessions, however, from the point of view of legitimacy, the Moscow princes found themselves in a more advantageous position. It was they who could lay claim to the restoration of power by the right of dynastic succession.
Later, a religious conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism was added to the confrontation. But in XIV-XV centuries the descendants of the appanage princes - who were all Rurikovichs without exception - had a simple choice: to serve the Grand Duke from “their” dynasty or from someone else’s. Many consciously chose “their own”.
Adventures of the title "King of Rus'"
But Galician Rus' ceased to exist at the end of the 14th century. Since 1349, there was a fierce struggle for the lands of Galicia between Poland and Lithuania.
The war ends in 1392 with the division of the failed kingdom. Galicia began to belong to Poland, and Volyn went to Lithuania. At the same time, the Lithuanian princes began to be called the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and Russia. The Polish kings Louis and Casimir III also used the title "King of Rus'" for some time.
The next Polish rulers, already from the Gediminovich dynasty, forgot about the Galician title. But the Hungarian kings immediately remembered him.
Using the title, they symbolically designated claims to the lands of Galicia, originating from its first conqueror, King Louis. The monarch was also the ruler of not only Poland, but also Hungary.
"Reitan - the decline of Poland." Artist Jan Matejko
The title of the kings of Galicia and Lodomeria (Lodomeria is the name of the Vladimir-Volyn lands distorted by the Hungarians and Germans) has already become a real title of the crown Austrian possession.
And how did it all end?
In the 15th century, great changes took place in Russian lands. Moscow was able to subjugate most Russian principalities that were once part of the Old Russian state. This gave its rulers the opportunity to legally accept the title of Sovereign of All Rus', declaring the succession of their power from the Kyiv Rurikovichs, and at the same time the rights to all lands that were previously part of the Kyiv state.
Lithuania, which became dependent on Catholic Poland, gradually lost its possessions. The appanage princes of Lithuania, taking advantage of the feudal right of emigration, went to serve the Moscow Rurikovichs along with their principalities.
Already at the end of the century Muscovy completely freed from the power of the Horde, while Lithuania continued to pay tribute and receive labels from the Crimean Khanate.
Thus ended the history of the Middle Ages in the lands of Rus'.
sources
The territory was divided into princely lands, and those, in turn, into appanages.
The southern and western regions of Rus' were part of the strengthening at the beginning of the 14th century. Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Poland and Hungary profited from the lands of Kievan Rus. Kyiv lost its significance as a political center, and the main prince began to be recognized Grand Duke Vladimirsky
Important events in the history of Rus' in the 14th century. is the struggle of the Moscow and Tver principalities for power, a significant victory in and the raid of Tokhtamysh.
In the competition for power, the Moscow principality won, and played an important role in this. The Moscow prince, by decree of the khan, taught the Principality of Tver a lesson; cruel actions towards its neighbors protected Ivan’s own principality.
The competent policy of Ivan Kalita and other Moscow princes made Moscow the center of Russian lands. After the Battle of Kulikovo, this status was firmly assigned to the city.
In 1377, the Russian army was defeated in the battle on the river. Drunk. But already in 1378 he defeated on the river. Vozhe. The prince's success contributes to the unification of the forces of the Russian principalities.
In 1380, the battle on the Kulikovo Field unfolded due to the refusal to pay tribute and the situation within the Horde itself (at that time the khans were fighting among themselves for power).
During the battle, the advantage seemed to be already on the side of the Khan's hordes, but the unexpected attack of the ambush regiment of Vladimir Andreevich and Bobrok, which fell from the oak grove to the rear at a critical moment, took the enemy by surprise. The Russian regiments went on the offensive, and the defeat of the Horde became inevitable. The Horde army fled. Khan Mamai was one of the first to flee the battlefield.
The victory in this battle taught a lesson, which was that only the unity of the Russian lands could create the conditions to make the liberation of the country from the invaders possible.
News of Rus''s victory in the Battle of Kulikovo reached other countries. But overthrow Tatar-Mongol yoke So far it hasn't been possible. The human cost was colossal. People stood on the bones for a long time (mourning the dead).
While the fight against Mamai was going on, Khan Tokhtamysh (his competitor) took advantage of the state of affairs in the Horde. He gathered a large army and suddenly in 1382.
Prince Dmitry Donskoy was unable to gather a sufficient army to fight back and went to the northern regions with these goals. Moscow was plundered, the population was subjected to violence, the city was devastated. Prince Dmitry was forced to recognize the power of Khan Tokhtamysh over himself. From 1389 he became a prince (1389-1425).
After Tamerlane's victory over Tokhtamysh in 1395, the winner invaded the Ryazan lands and plundered Yelets. The threat was approaching Moscow, but suddenly he deployed his army and left the borders of Rus'. This happened on the day when the residents of Moscow met the image of the Virgin Mary from Vladimir. The people connected their salvation with this event.
In addition to the fight against the Horde, there was a tense situation with the Great Principality of Lithuania. The marriage of Vasily 1st with the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vitovt only softened the situation.
Culture of Rus' in the 14th century.
The rise of Russian culture dates back to the second half of the 14th century. It is associated with successes in economic development and victory in the Battle of Kulikovo.
In literature, the themes of the fight against invaders are relevant (The Tale of the Death of the Russian Land, Zadonshchina), and heroic deeds are glorified (The Life of Alexander Nevsky).
Architecture in the 14th century. actively developed, mainly in the cities of Pskov and Novgorod.
Russian architecture was based on the architectural traditions of the pre-Mongol period (Church of the Savior on Kovalevo 1345), and to the new style of the second half of the 14th century. The church of Fyodor Stratilates on Ruchee, 1360-1361, can be attributed.
In parallel with the construction of temples and churches, civil construction was actively carried out (1302 - a stone Kremlin was founded in Novgorod). In Pskov, the architecture bore the appearance of a fortress. Mutually intersecting arches were used by Pskov builders in the ceilings of buildings. The masters of Pskov gained fame.
The construction of stone structures in Moscow began in the second quarter of the 14th century. - and then the temples and buildings on the territory. Construction was also actively carried out in Kolomna, Serpukhov, and Zvenigorod.
Clothing of the inhabitants of Rus' in the 14th century.
Initially, the ancient costume in Rus' consisted of a belted shirt and trousers, but over time, borrowings from Byzantium began to appear. The costume of Rus' has undergone significant changes; clothing based on Byzantine patterns began to differ greatly from the folk costume. Even the headdress was presented in the form of a high, pointed cap, then became with a soft crown. The Tatar yoke also had an influence, but not as strong.
By the 14th century. The cut of the clothes of the rich and poor population of Moscow Rus' did not differ, the difference was only in the quality of the materials.
History of Rus' in the 15th century. known since the reign of Vasily the 1st (1389-1425), who continued the policy of his ancestors to unite the Russian lands.
Prince Vasily 1st was married to the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vytautas, but despite this, relations with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were tense, the marriage only softened the situation.
Lithuanian rulers tried to secure for themselves former lands Kievan Rus, they contributed to the division of the Orthodox population: in the 15th century. In Kyiv, a second Metropolitan of All Rus' appeared, independent of Moscow.
Chronology of the main events of the 15th century. in Russian history
In 1408 - a raid by the Horde led by the military leader Edigei. Moscow paid off, but some Russian territories were devastated, and the city of Vladimir was plundered.
But the forces of the Horde were melting away, and the long military conflict between the isolated Crimean Khanate and the Horde contributed to this.
In 1425, after the death of Vasily the 1st, the princely throne passed to his son, Vasily the 2nd (1425-1462).
With his reign came princely strife. Relatives of Vasily II refused to recognize him as their ruler. A fierce struggle was waged for almost a quarter of a century. Vasily received the nickname Dark because he was blinded. As a result, Vasily the Dark retained the throne, but significant politician didn't.
1462 - Ivan the 3rd becomes Grand Duke of Moscow (1462-1505). Unlike his predecessor, he was considered an outstanding ruler of Russia. Ivan the 3rd actively continued the unification of Russian lands.
Under him, Novgorod the Great with its vast territories was annexed to the Russian borders. At the beginning of July 1471, a battle took place between the Novgorod militia and the Moscow army. The militia suffered a severe defeat, despite their large numbers, since the preparation and organization of the army of the Moscow Prince Kholmsky was better. An agreement was drawn up, according to which Novgorod assured of its obedience to Ivan 3rd and refusal to come under the rule of Lithuania.
And in 1478, Ivan the 3rd sent his army on a campaign against Novgorod, the city surrendered to the mercy of the winner. According to the concluded agreement, Novgorod the Great with its vast possessions was completely united with the Moscow principality.
Soon the Vyatka land, Perm the Great, and the Komi region were annexed. Some peoples of Siberia recognized themselves as subjects of the Grand Duke.
End of the 15th century. in Rus' was significant for the fall of the Horde yoke.
In the autumn of 1480 on the banks of the river. The troops of Khan Akhmat and Ivan the 3rd met the Ugrians.
The victory of Rus' was achieved with little bloodshed. November 12, 1480 - the first day of the state's liberation from the yoke.
Thanks to the expansion of Russia's borders in the 15th century. Due to the annexation of new territories, interest in geographical sciences increased.
Liberation from the yoke of the Golden Horde had a positive impact on other branches of Russian culture of the 15th century. The education of residents is developing.
Parables, messages and other works of spiritual literature appear. The number of different laws is increasing.
Blacksmithing, the manufacture of weapons, the minting of coins, and the creation of limestone for wall painting developed. Advances in these areas have arisen due to the influx of knowledge in applied arts. The field of technology also developed. It is known that Russian craftsmen used a system of gear wheels.
Architecture Ancient Rus' 14-15th centuries was on the rise. The construction of fortresses, new temples and palaces was actively carried out. Masons and architects from other cities, Italian architects and engineers were invited.
Access to Moscow was protected by the stone Kremlin, Red Square, and fortress monasteries. The Assumption and Archangel Cathedrals were erected.
Culture and development of Rus' in the 11th century
Territories and state of Rus' in the 11th century
The formation of a unified Russian state, which began in the 10th century, received a new round of development in the 11th century. The Kyiv princes, who actively carried out campaigns on the surrounding lands, subjugated more and more territories with the local population living here. The center of unification of the Slavic tribes was Kyiv, from where administration was carried out and the most important decisions were made. The population of Rus' during this period was quite diverse - the state included not only Slavic tribes, but also part of the Finnish tribes, the Baltic and some others.
Russian territory in the 11th century extended from Lake Ladoga to the mouths of the Rosi River, the right bank of the Dnieper, as well as from the mouth of the Klyazma River (the city of Vladimir Zalessky) to the upper reaches of the Western But (the city of Vladimir Volynsky). Rus' retained Tmutarakan, and Galicia (the place of residence of the Croats) constantly passed from Rus' to Poland, submitting to the authority of one prince or another. However, the most important thing was that the disparate tribes and peoples finally began to form a more modern and powerful state.
The diverse population that previously lived on these lands now became part of Kievan Rus or the Russian state, but in the full sense it was impossible to call this state the territory of the Russian people, since the Russian people themselves had not yet been fully formed - scattered tribes lived on the territory of Rus', who still largely adhered to their own ancient traditions and very slowly merged into a single people under the influence of Christianity, but Christianity itself had not yet become the main religion for everyone (in the 12th century there were still pagans living in some lands).
The main mechanism that connected all these tribes was state power and state administration. The head of state was considered the Grand Duke of Kiev, a descendant of the Varangian Rurik, who was called to reign in Rus'. Others gradually formed government bodies, attempts were made to reform the tax system and management system - the state developed.
Religion and society in Rus' in the 11th century
Christianity was adopted in 988, and it had a huge influence on the development of Rus' in the 11th century. Along with Christianity, new political and social trends and new types of relationships began to appear. The prince became God's vicegerent, and had to take care not only of the political viability of Rus', but also of the social and spiritual life of his subordinates.
A princely squad appears, which gradually turns from a guard into a kind of authority, having more and more powers and freedoms. Representatives of the princely squad were considered people of the highest class; it consisted of the highest (boyars) and the lowest (youths and children). Despite the fact that in the 11th century the squad was still more military in nature, it had already begun to form economic functions and political - the separation of the aristocracy began, the division of society, the formation of a class state, which would only strengthen over the next two centuries.
In the culture and architecture of Rus' in the 11th century, as in all other areas of life, a new revolution began, associated with the adoption of Christianity. Religious motifs began to appear in painting, active construction of churches began - St. Sophia Cathedral was built in Kyiv, considered one of the most important architectural monuments of that period. Education, literacy and writing are actively beginning to spread in Rus', and schools are beginning to be built.
Main events of the 11th century in Rus'
- 1017-1037 - Construction of fortifications and St. Sophia Cathedral near Kyiv;
- 1019-1054 - Yaroslav the Wise becomes the Grand Duke of Kyiv;
- 1036 - Yaroslav's victory over the Pechenegs;
- 1043 - the last armed conflict between Russia and Byzantium;
- 1095 - foundation of Pereyaslavl-Ryazan;
- 1096 - first mention of Ryazan;
- 1097 - Lyubech Congress of Princes;
In general, the 11th century turned out to be a rather favorable period for the formation and development of Rus'. Despite the constant civil strife among the princes, as well as feudal fragmentation, the state continues to form, uniting more and more lands under its leadership, a single religion appears, the class composition of society is formed, and literacy is spread. Rus' is gradually becoming strong state, capable of developing and dictating its own terms in foreign policy, as well as resisting the raids of nomadic tribes.
New cities are being actively built, the population is moving from villages to larger settlements, trade and crafts are beginning to develop. The economy and culture are growing, new types of art are appearing (this is primarily due to the adoption of Christianity), tribal differences are gradually disappearing, and a single Russian ethnic group is being formed.
historykratko.com
All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin in chronological order
The history of Rus' goes back more than a thousand years, although even before the advent of the state, a variety of tribes lived on its territory. The last ten-century period can be divided into several stages. All the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, are people who were true sons and daughters of their eras.
Main historical stages of development of Russia
Historians consider the following classification to be the most convenient:
- reign of the Novgorod princes (862-882);
- reign of the Great Kyiv Princes (882-1263);
- reign of princes in Vladimir (1157-1425);
— Grand Duchy of Moscow (1283-1547);
- the period of kings and emperors (from 1547 to 1917);
- USSR period (1917 - 1991);
- reign of presidents (1991-present).
This classification will tell a lot even to a reader who is not strong in the history of the country. The characteristics of the rulers of Russia of a particular period largely depend on the era of their time. The main centers of political life in Rus' changed their location several times. Until 1547, princes ruled in Rus', then the period of monarchization of the state began, which tragically ended in 1917. Almost the entire 20th century was marked by the hegemony of the Communist Party, as well as the emergence of new independent states on the territory of the former USSR.
Chronology of the rulers of Russia from 862 to the beginning of the period of fragmentation (Novgorod and Grand Duchy of Kiev)
The results of research into historical materials from this period allow us to trace the order of the princes in power. It was also possible to establish the reign dates of all the rulers of Russia during the specified period. So:
— Rurik ruled from 862 to 879;
— Prophetic Oleg was in power from 879 to 912;
- Igor was in the princely field for the next 33 years, killed in 945;
- Olga, Grand Duchess (945-964);
- prince-warrior Svyatoslav (son of Igor and Olga) ruled for 8 years before his death on the battlefield;
- Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich (972-980);
— Yaroslav the Wise (1016-1054);
- from 1054 to 1068 Izyaslav Yaroslavovich was in power;
- from 1068 to 1078, the list of rulers of Russia was replenished with several names at once (Vseslav Bryachislavovich, Izyaslav Yaroslavovich, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavovich, in 1078 Izyaslav Yaroslavovich ruled again)
— 1078 was marked by some stabilization in the political arena; Vsevolod Yaroslavovich ruled until 1093;
— Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich was on the throne from 1093 to 1113;
- Vladimir, nicknamed Monomakh (1113-1125) - one of the best princes Kievan Rus;
- from 1132 to 1139 Yaropolk Vladimirovich had power.
All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who lived and ruled during this period and up to the present time, saw their main task in the prosperity of the country and strengthening the country’s role in the European arena. Another thing is that each of them walked towards the goal in their own way, sometimes in a completely different direction than their predecessors.
The period of fragmentation of Kievan Rus
During the times of feudal fragmentation of Rus', changes on the main princely throne were frequent. None of the princes left a serious mark on the history of Rus'. By the middle of the 13th century, Kyiv fell into absolute decline. It is worth mentioning only a few princes who ruled in the 12th century. So, from 1139 to 1146 Vsevolod Olgovich was the prince of Kyiv. In 1146, Igor the Second was at the helm for two weeks, after which Izyaslav Mstislavovich ruled for three years. Until 1169, such people as Vyacheslav Rurikovich, Rostislav of Smolensky, Izyaslav of Chernigov, Yuri Dolgoruky, Izyaslav the Third managed to visit the princely throne.
The capital moves to Vladimir
The period of formation of late feudalism in Rus' was characterized by several manifestations:
— weakening of the Kyiv princely power;
- the emergence of several centers of influence that competed with each other;
- strengthening the influence of feudal lords.
On the territory of Rus', 2 largest centers of influence arose: Vladimir and Galich. Galich was the most important political center at that time (located on the territory of modern Western Ukraine). It seems interesting to study the list of Russian rulers who reigned in Vladimir. The importance of this period of history will still have to be assessed by researchers. Of course, the Vladimir period in the development of Rus' was not as long as the Kiev period, but it was after it that the formation of monarchical Rus' began. Let us consider the reign dates of all the rulers of Russia at this time. In the first years of this stage of development of Rus', rulers changed quite often; there was no stability, which would appear later. For more than 5 years, the following princes were in power in Vladimir:
- Andrey (1169-1174);
- Vsevolod, son of Andrei (1176-1212);
- Georgy Vsevolodovich (1218-1238);
- Yaroslav, son of Vsevolod (1238-1246);
- Alexander Nevskiy), great commander (1252- 1263);
— Yaroslav III (1263-1272);
— Dmitry I (1276-1283);
— Dmitry II (1284-1293);
— Andrei Gorodetsky (1293-1304);
— Michael “Saint” of Tverskoy (1305-1317).
All rulers of Russia after the transfer of the capital to Moscow until the appearance of the first tsars
The transfer of the capital from Vladimir to Moscow chronologically approximately coincides with the end of the period of feudal fragmentation of Rus' and the strengthening of the main center political influence. Most of the princes were on the throne longer than the rulers of the Vladimir period. So:
- Prince Ivan (1328-1340);
— Semyon Ivanovich (1340-1353);
— Ivan the Red (1353-1359);
— Alexey Byakont (1359-1368);
— Dmitry (Donskoy), famous commander (1368-1389);
— Vasily Dmitrievich (1389-1425);
— Sophia of Lithuania (1425-1432);
— Vasily the Dark (1432-1462);
— Ivan III (1462-1505);
— Vasily Ivanovich (1505-1533);
— Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538);
The decade before 1548 was a difficult period in the history of Russia, when the situation developed in such a way that the princely dynasty actually ended. There was a period of timelessness when boyar families were in power.
The reign of tsars in Rus': the beginning of the monarchy
Historians distinguish three chronological periods in the development of the Russian monarchy:
before the accession to the throne of Peter the Great, the reign of Peter the Great and after him. Dates of reign of all rulers of Russia from 1548 to late XVII centuries are:
— Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible (1548-1574);
— Semyon Kasimovsky (1574-1576);
- again Ivan the Terrible (1576-1584);
— Feodor (1584-1598).
Tsar Fedor had no heirs, so the Rurik dynasty was interrupted. 1598-1612 is one of the most difficult periods in the history of our homeland. Rulers changed almost every year. Since 1613, the Romanov dynasty has ruled the country:
— Mikhail, the first representative of the Romanov dynasty (1613-1645);
- Alexei Mikhailovich, son of the first emperor (1645-1676);
- Fyodor Alekseevich ascended the throne in 1676 and ruled for 6 years;
- Sophia, his sister, reigned from 1682 to 1689.
In the 17th century, stability finally came to Rus'. The central government has strengthened, reforms are gradually beginning, leading to the fact that Russia has grown territorially and strengthened, and the leading world powers began to take it into account. The main credit for changing the face of the state belongs to the great Russian Tsar Peter I (1689-1725), who simultaneously became the first emperor.
The reign of Peter the Great was the heyday of the Russian state, when the empire acquired its own strong fleet and strengthened the army. All Russian rulers, from Rurik to Putin, understood the importance of the armed forces, but few were given the opportunity to realize the country's enormous potential. An important feature of that time was Russia's aggressive foreign policy, which manifested itself in the forcible annexation of new regions (Russian-Turkish wars, the Azov campaign).
The chronology of the rulers of Russia from 1725 to 1917 is as follows:
— Ekaterina Skavronskaya (1725-1727);
- Queen Anna (1730-1740);
— Ivan Antonovich (1740-1741);
— Ekaterina Petrovna (1741-1761);
— Pyotr Fedorovich (1761-1762);
— Catherine the Great (1762-1796);
— Pavel Petrovich (1796-1801);
— Alexander I (1081-1825);
— Nicholas I (1825-1855);
- Alexander II (1855 - 1881);
— Alexander III (1881-1894);
- Nicholas II - the last of the Romanovs, ruled until 1917.
This marks the end of a huge period of development of the state, when the kings were in power. After the October Revolution, a new political structure appeared - the republic.
Russia during the USSR and after its collapse
The first few years after the revolution were difficult. Among the rulers of this period one can single out Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky. After the legal registration of the USSR as a state and until 1924, Vladimir Lenin led the country. Next, the chronology of the rulers of Russia looks like this:
— Dzhugashvili Joseph Vissarionovich (1924-1953);
— Nikita Khrushchev was the First Secretary of the CPSU after the death of Stalin until 1964;
— Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982);
— Yuri Andropov (1982-1984);
— Konstantin Chernenko, General Secretary of the CPSU (1984-1985);
— Mikhail Gorbachev, first president of the USSR (1985-1991);
— Boris Yeltsin, leader of independent Russia (1991-1999);
- current head of state Putin - President of Russia since 2000 (with a break of 4 years, when the state was led by Dmitry Medvedev)
All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who have been in power for the entire more than thousand-year history of the state, are patriots who wanted the flourishing of all the lands of the vast country. Most of the rulers were not random people in this difficult field and each made their own contribution to the development and formation of Russia. Of course, all the rulers of Russia wanted the good and prosperity of their subjects: the main forces were always directed to strengthening the borders, expanding trade, and strengthening defense capabilities.
From the Carpathians to the Urals: who ruled the lands of Rus' in the Middle Ages?
The fragmentation of Rus' into many appanage principalities is the merit, rather, of the Golden Horde than of previous Russian rulers.
If before the invasion of the Tatars Rus' consisted of large principalities (Rostov-Suzdal, Novgorod, Kiev, Ryazan, Smolensk, Chernigov and others), then with the beginning of vassalage the appanage princes were able to formalize their cities as independent hereditary feudal possessions. And they immediately took advantage of it.
Collapse of the Old Russian State and Lithuania
This is how full-fledged independent states emerged, the number of which soon began to be measured in dozens. And although formally the Vladimir prince was considered the eldest among the princes, everyone understood that the real supreme power lay in the Horde. And independent princes can do whatever they want in their domains, regardless of traditions and seniority.
Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas - founder of the dynasty
In the 14th century, the rapid rise of Lithuania began. Despite its name, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was created on ancient Russian lands and had the same relationship to the indigenous ethnic Lithuania - Samogitia and Aukshaiti - as the Russian principalities to the Finno-Ugric peoples who once inhabited the expanses of North-Eastern Rus'.
If in the ancient Russian principalities the Rurikovichs remained in power, then in Lithuania their own dynasty of Gediminovichs appeared.
The ruling family, apparently, came from the tribal princes of the Yatvingians, who at that time had the reputation of real savages and robbers.
In general, in the Middle Ages, when everyone was enthusiastically slaughtering each other, only peoples with a special character could gain the reputation of robbers. The Yatvingians could just boast of this.
The belligerence of the Lithuanian Gediminovichs became an important factor in their policy.
Three parts of Russian lands after the Tatar invasion
A hundred years after the Tatar invasion, the Russian lands looked completely different. In the northeast there was a conglomeration of many appanage principalities under the formal authority of Moscow. However, its rulers were called the Grand Dukes of Vladimir: the Moscow lands were still not prestigious enough to give the right to rule over other Russian principalities.
Moscow in the 14th century
All destinies of this region were ruled by the Rurikovichs - the old Russian dynasty. Formally, Muscovite Rus' remained a vassal of the Horde. In fact, vassal obligations were already ignored from the middle of the 14th century, and dependence was limited to the payment of tribute.
To the west lay the possessions of the Gediminovichs. Their first big acquisitions were the principalities of Polotsk and Turov, which had previously been ruled by the princes of the house of Rurik. Together with Vilna, these territories constituted the indigenous lands of Lithuania.
In the 14th century, the power of the Lithuanian princes began to gradually spread to the neighboring Russian principalities: Kiev, Smolensk, Pereyaslavl, Novgorod-Seversky. However, having captured these areas, Lithuania fell into vassal dependence on the Horde. Accordingly, from 1362 the Gediminovichs received khan's labels for the right to own part of Rus' and paid the due tribute.
Daniil Galitsky from the Rurik family, a descendant of the Kyiv prince Vladimir Monomakh, in 1252 accepted the title of “King of Rus'” from the Pope.
With the help of the prestigious royal crown, he hoped to strengthen his power.
"King of Rus'" Daniil Galitsky
However, his heirs forgot about the title, and only Daniel’s grandson, Yuri, became the next “King of Rus'”.
Why him? Under Yuri, the Galician and Volyn principalities united. However, at the same time, stronger Poland and Lithuania were nearby, and Galician Rus' - as the most remote, peripheral part of the Russian lands - was doomed to be torn to pieces by its neighbors.
Galicia, of course, was also a vassal of the Golden Horde, paid tribute to the khans and even sent troops to participate in joint campaigns with the Tatars against Poland.
In the second half of the 14th century, the political situation in the Russian lands changed dramatically. In the east, the rise of Moscow led to the first attempt to free ourselves from the Tatar yoke: the Russian army of Prince Dmitry of Moscow was victorious at the Battle of Kulikovo Field.
Battle of Kulikovo. Artist S. Prisekin
In the west, Lithuania's expansion led to conflict with Moscow. Their confrontation became the main content of Russian domestic policy in the next hundred years.
The conflict was related to the resolution of the issue of the unification of Rus'. Both the old Rurikovich and the new Gediminovich laid claim to the role of head of the new unified state.
Initially, the position of the Lithuanian princes was stronger due to the number of troops and the wealth of their possessions, however, from the point of view of legitimacy, the Moscow princes found themselves in a more advantageous position. It was they who could lay claim to the restoration of power by the right of dynastic succession.
Later, a religious conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism was added to the confrontation. But in the 14th–15th centuries, the descendants of the appanage princes - who were all Rurikovichs without exception - had a simple choice: to serve the Grand Duke from “their” dynasty or from someone else’s. Many consciously chose “their own”.
Adventures of the title "King of Rus'"
But Galician Rus' ceased to exist at the end of the 14th century. Since 1349, there was a fierce struggle for the lands of Galicia between Poland and Lithuania.
"King of Rus'" Casimir III with his subjects
The war ends in 1392 with the division of the failed kingdom. Galicia began to belong to Poland, and Volyn went to Lithuania. At the same time, the Lithuanian princes began to be called the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and Russia. The Polish kings Louis and Casimir III also used the title "King of Rus'" for some time.
The next Polish rulers, already from the Gediminovich dynasty, forgot about the Galician title. But the Hungarian kings immediately remembered him.
Using the title, they symbolically designated claims to the lands of Galicia, originating from its first conqueror, King Louis. The monarch was also the ruler of not only Poland, but also Hungary.
"Reitan - the decline of Poland." Artist Jan Matejko
The title of the kings of Galicia and Lodomeria (Lodomeria is the name of the Vladimir-Volyn lands distorted by the Hungarians and Germans) has already become a real title of the crown Austrian possession.
In the 15th century, great changes took place in Russian lands. Moscow was able to subjugate most of the Russian principalities that were once part of the Old Russian state. This gave its rulers the opportunity to legally accept the title of Sovereign of All Rus', declaring the succession of their power from the Kyiv Rurikovichs, and at the same time the rights to all lands that were previously part of the Kyiv state.
First Tsar of All Rus' Ivan III
Lithuania, which became dependent on Catholic Poland, gradually lost its possessions. The appanage princes of Lithuania, taking advantage of the feudal right of emigration, went to serve the Moscow Rurikovichs along with their principalities.
Already at the end of the century, the Moscow principality was completely freed from the power of the Horde, while Lithuania continued to pay tribute and receive labels from the Crimean Khanate.
Thus ended the history of the Middle Ages in the lands of Rus'.
Kievan Rus in the 13th century (briefly)
13th century in the history of Rus' began without any special external shocks, but in the midst of endless internal strife. The princes divided the lands and fought for power. And soon the internal troubles of Rus' were joined by danger from the outside. Cruel conquerors from the depths of Asia led by Temujin (Genghis Khan, which means “ great khan") began their actions.
The armies of the nomadic Mongols mercilessly destroyed people and conquered lands. Soon the Polovsk khans asked for help from the Russian princes, and they agreed to oppose the approaching enemy.
In 1223, a battle took place on the river. Kalke. Due to the fragmented actions of the princes and the lack of a unified command, the Russian warriors suffered heavy losses and left the battlefield. The Mongol troops pursued them to the very outskirts of Rus'. Having plundered and devastated them, they moved no further.
In 1237, the troops of Temuchin’s grandson, Batu, entered the Ryazan principality. Ryazan fell. The conquests continued.
In 1238 on the river. Yuri Vsevolodovich's city army entered into battle with the invader's army, but lost to the Tatar-Mongols. At the same time, the southern Russian princes and Novgorod remained on the sidelines and did not come to the rescue.
In 1239-1240, having replenished his army, Batu undertook a new campaign against the Russian lands. At this time, the unaffected northwestern regions of Rus' (Novgorod and Pskov lands) were in danger from the crusading knights who had settled in the Baltic states, who wanted to spread the Catholic faith by force throughout Rus'. The Swedes and German knights were going to unite in the name of a common idea, but the Swedes were the first to act.
In 1240 (July 15), the Battle of the Neva took place: the Swedish fleet entered the mouth of the river. Not you. The Novgorodians turned to the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich for help. His son, the young Prince Alexander, set off with the army, counting on the surprise and speed of the onslaught. Although his army was outnumbered by his rival (even with the Novgorodians and commoners joining), Alexander's strategy worked. In this battle, Rus' won, and Alexander received the nickname Nevsky.
Meanwhile, the German knights gained strength and began military operations against Pskov and Novgorod. And again Alexander came to the rescue.
On April 5, 1242, the Battle of the Ice took place: troops met on the ice of Lake Peipus. Alexander won again - thanks to a change in the order of the formation and coordinated actions. And the knights’ uniforms played against them: when they retreated, the ice began to break under their weight.
In 1243 it was formed Golden Horde. Formally, the Russian lands were not part of this state, but were subject to it: they were obliged to replenish the treasury of the Horde, and the princes had to receive labels to reign at the khan’s headquarters.
During the second half of the 13th century. The Horde made devastating campaigns against Rus' more than once. Cities and villages were ruined.
1251-1263 - reign of Alexander Nevsky.
Due to the invasions of conquerors, during which settlements were destroyed, many cultural monuments of Ancient Rus' of the 10th-13th centuries disappeared. Churches, cathedrals, icons, as well as works of literature, religious objects and jewelry remained intact.
The basis of Old Russian culture is the heritage of the East Slavic tribes. It was influenced by nomadic peoples, the Varangians. In addition, the peculiarities of cultural development are associated with the adoption of Christianity, as well as the influence of Byzantium and Western European countries.
With the adoption of Christianity, literacy began to spread, writing developed, enlightenment began, and Byzantine customs began to be introduced.
These changes also influenced 13th-century clothing. in Rus'. Its cut was simple and uniform; items differed mainly in fabric. The suit became longer and looser, not emphasizing the figure, but giving it a static look.
The nobility wore expensive foreign fabrics (velvet, brocade, taffeta, silk) and furs (sable, otter, marten). Ordinary people used canvas fabric, hare and squirrel fur, as well as sheepskin for clothing.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF Rus'
Serious changes occurred in the socio-economic development of Rus' in the 13th and 14th centuries. After the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars in North-Eastern Rus', the economy was restored and handicraft production was revived again. There is a growth and increase in the economic importance of cities that did not play a serious role in the pre-Mongol period (Moscow, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, Kostroma).
Fortress construction is actively developing, and the construction of stone churches is being resumed. Agriculture and the craft is rapidly developing in North-Eastern Rus'.
Old technologies are being improved and new ones are emerging.
Got widespread in Rus' water wheels and water mills. Parchment began to be actively replaced by paper. Salt production is developing. Centers for the production of books appear in large book centers and monasteries. Casting (bell production) is developing massively. Agriculture is developing somewhat more slowly than crafts.
Slash-and-burn agriculture continues to be replaced by field arable land. Two-field is widespread.
New villages are being actively built. The number of domestic animals is increasing, which means the application of organic fertilizers to the fields is increasing.
LARGE LAND OWNERSHIP IN Rus'
The growth of patrimonial estates occurs through the distribution of lands by princes to their boyars for feeding, that is, for management with the right to collect taxes in their favor.
From the second half of the 14th century, monastic land ownership began to grow rapidly.
PEASANTRY IN Rus'
In Ancient Rus', the entire population was called peasants, regardless of their occupation. As one of the main classes of the Russian population, whose main occupation is agriculture, the peasantry took shape in Russia by the 14th - 15th centuries. A peasant sitting on land with a three-field rotation had on average 5 acres in one field, therefore 15 acres in three fields.
Rich peasants they took additional plots from patrimonial owners in black volosts. Poor peasants often had neither land nor yard. They lived in other people's yards and were called street cleaners. These peasants bore corvée duties to their owners - they plowed and sowed their land, harvested crops, and cut hay. Meat and lard, vegetables and fruits and much more were contributed to the dues. All peasants were already feudal dependents.
- community- worked on state lands,
- proprietary- these could leave, but within a clearly limited time frame (Philip’s Day on November 14, St. George’s Day on November 26, Peter’s Day on June 29, Christmas Day on December 25)
- personally dependent peasants.
STRUGGLE OF MOSCOW AND TVER PRINCIPALITY IN Rus'
By the beginning of the 14th century, Moscow and Tver became the strongest principalities of North-Eastern Rus'. The first Moscow prince was the son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniil Alexandrovich (1263-1303). In the early 90s, Daniil Alexandrovich annexed Mozhaisk to the Moscow principality, and in 1300 he conquered Kolomna from Ryazan.
From 1304, Daniil's son Yuri Danilovich fought for the great reign of Vladimir with Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, who received the label for the great reign in the Golden Horde in 1305.
The Moscow prince was supported in this fight by Metropolitan of All Rus' Macarius
In 1317, Yuri achieved a label for the great reign, and a year later, Yuri’s main enemy, Mikhail Tverskoy, was killed in the Golden Horde. But in 1322, Prince Yuri Daniilovich was deprived of his great reign as punishment. The label was given to the son of Mikhail Yaroslavovich Dmitry Groznye Ochi.
In 1325, Dmitry killed the culprit in the death of his father in the Golden Horde, for which he was executed by the khan in 1326.
The great reign was transferred to Dmitry Tverskoy’s brother, Alexander. A Horde detachment was sent with him to Tver. The outrages of the Horde caused an uprising of the townspeople, which was supported by the prince, and as a result the Horde were defeated.
IVAN KALITA
These events were skillfully used by the new Moscow prince Ivan Kalita. He participated in the punitive Horde expedition to Tver. The Tver land was devastated. The Great Principality of Vladimir was divided between Ivan Kalita and Alexander of Suzdal. After the death of the latter, the label for the great reign was almost constantly in the hands of the Moscow princes. Ivan Kalita continued the line of Alexander Nevsky in that he maintained a lasting peace with the Tatars.
He also made an alliance with the church. Moscow becomes the center of faith, since the Metropolitan moved to Moscow forever and left Vladimir.
The Grand Duke received the right from the Horde to collect tribute himself, which had favorable consequences for the treasury of Moscow.
Ivan Kalita also increased his holdings. New lands were bought and begged from the Khan of the Golden Horde. Galich, Uglich and Beloozero were annexed. Also, some princes voluntarily became part of the Moscow Principality.
THE PRINCIPALITY OF MOSCOW LEADS THE OVERTHROW OF THE TATAR-MONGOL Yoke BY RUSSIA
The policy of Ivan Kalita was continued by his sons - Semyon the Proud (1340-1359) and Ivan 2 the Red (1353-1359). After the death of Ivan 2, his 9-year-old son Dmitry (1359-1387) became the prince of Moscow. At this time, Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod had the title to reign. A sharp struggle developed between him and the group of the Moscow boyars. Metropolitan Alexey took the side of Moscow, who actually headed the Moscow government until Moscow finally won the victory in 1363.
Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich continued the policy of strengthening the Moscow principality. In 1371, Moscow inflicted a major defeat on the Ryazan principality. The struggle with Tver continued. When in 1371 Mikhail Alekseevich Tverskoy received the label for the great reign of Vladimir and tried to occupy Vladimir, Dmitry Ivanovich refused to obey the khan’s will. In 1375, Mikhail Tverskoy again received a label to the Vladimir table. Then almost all the princes of northeastern Rus' opposed him, supporting the Moscow prince in his campaign against Tver. After a month-long siege, the city capitulated. According to the concluded agreement, Mikhail recognized Dmitry as his overlord.
As a result of the internal political struggle in the North-Eastern Russian lands, the Moscow Principality achieved a leading position in the collection of Russian lands and became a real force capable of resisting the Horde and Lithuania.
Since 1374, Dmitry Ivanovich stopped paying tribute to the Golden Horde. The Russian Church played a major role in strengthening anti-Tatar sentiments.
In the 60s and 70s of the 14th century, civil strife within the Golden Horde intensified. Over two decades, up to two dozen khans appear and disappear. Temporary workers appeared and disappeared. One of these, the strongest and cruelest, was Khan Mamai. He tried to collect tribute from Russian lands, despite the fact that Takhtamysh was the legitimate khan. The threat of a new invasion united the main forces of North-Eastern Rus' under the leadership of the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich.
The sons of Olgerd, Andrei and Dmitry, who transferred to the service of the Moscow prince, took part in the campaign. Mamai's ally, Grand Duke Jagiello, was late to arrive to join the Horde army. The Ryazan prince Oleg Ivanovich did not join Mamai, who only formally entered into an alliance with the Golden Horde.
On September 6, the united Russian army approached the banks of the Don. So for the first time since 1223, since the battle on the Kalka River, the Russians went out into the steppe to meet the Horde. On the night of September 8, Russian troops, on the orders of Dmitry Ivanovich, crossed the Don.
The battle took place on September 8, 1380 on the bank of the right tributary of the Don river. Untruths, in an area called Kulikovo Field. At first, the Horde pushed back the Russian regiment. Then they were attacked by an ambush regiment under the command of the Serpukhov prince. The Horde army could not withstand the onslaught of fresh Russian forces and fled. The battle turned into a pursuit of the enemy retreating in disorder.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BATTLE OF KULIKOVO
The historical significance of the Battle of Kulikovo was enormous. The main forces of the Golden Horde were defeated.
The idea became stronger in the minds of the Russian people that with united forces the Horde could be defeated.
Prince Dmitry Ivanovich received the honorary nickname Donskoy from his descendants and ended up in political role All-Russian prince. His authority increased unusually. Militant anti-Tatar sentiments intensified in all Russian lands.
DMITRY DONSKOY
Having lived only less than four decades, he did a lot for Rus' starting from young age and until the end of his days, Dmitry Donskoy was constantly in worries, campaigns and troubles. He had to fight with the Horde and with Lithuania and with Russian rivals for power and political primacy.
The prince also settled church affairs. Dmitry received the blessing of Abbot Sergius of Radonezh, whose constant support he always enjoyed.
SERGIUS OF RADONEZH
A noticeable role, not only in church, but also in political affairs church shepherds played. Trinity Abbot Sergius of Radonezh was unusually respected among the people. In the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, which was founded by Sergius of Radonezh, strict rules were cultivated in accordance with the communal charter.
These orders became a model for other monasteries. Sergius of Radonezh called people to internal improvement, to live according to the Gospel. He tamed the strife, modeled princes who agreed to submit to the Grand Duke of Moscow.
THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIFICATION OF RUSSIAN LANDS
The beginning of the state unification of Russian lands began with the rise of Moscow. 1st stage of unification One can rightfully consider the activities of Ivan Kalita, who bought lands from the khans and begged for them. His policy was continued by his sons Semyon Proud and Ivan 2 the Red.
They included Kastroma, Dmitrov, Starodub lands and part of Kaluga into Moscow. 2nd stage of the activity of Dmitry Donskoy. In 1367 he erected white walls and fortifications around Moscow. In 1372, he achieved recognition of dependence from Ryazan and defeated the Tver Principality. By 1380, he had not paid tribute to the Golden Horde for 13 years.