Which of the Russian lands was not a principality. Ancient Russian principalities. Specific system in the XII - early XIII century
Historians consider the date of the beginning of the collapse of the Old Russian state to be the year of the death of Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise, who owned the throne of Kiev from 1016 to 1054.
Of course, centrifugal forces in the Russian state began to act even under Vladimir the Baptist: Yaroslav the Wise himself opposed his father, refusing to pay tribute to Kiev in 2,000 hryvnias.
strife
Discord between the sons of Vladimir arose immediately after his death. At first, it almost resulted in the capture of Kyiv by the Pechenegs, who were called by the son of Vladimir Yaropolk, and then almost ascended the throne of Kyiv polish king Boleslav the Brave. And only the indignant population of Kyiv managed to save the situation: the people of Kiev began to cut the Poles, and the king with the army was forced to leave the city.
The strife between the 12 sons of Vladimir led to the fact that everyone died, except for Yaroslav and Mstislav. And after the death of the Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise, who did a lot to strengthen the Old Russian state, Russia, according to the historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, "buried its power and prosperity."
Two forces
The Soviet historian Boris Dmitrievich Grekov noted in his writings that the Old Russian state collapsed under the influence of two forces: the strength of the Grand Duke of Kiev, seeking to assert his dominance in the lands of Russia, and the forces of specific princes, each of which denied the right of Kyiv to dispose of all the land and sought to assert its sovereignty .
Many conflicts arose because of the order of applicants for princely tables. Power was transferred by seniority - from a smaller table to a larger one, which caused controversy.
New principle of succession
After the death of Yaroslav, the struggle for Kyiv and its sovereignty was continued by his sons, and then by his grandchildren. Although one of them - Vladimir Monomakh - in 1097 tried to stop the strife by gathering all the princes in the city of Lyubech, where a new principle of succession of princely power was proclaimed. From now on, each prince with his offspring kept his fiefdom, not claiming other people's cities. And although civil strife subsided, in fact, this only increased the disunity of the lands.
At the princely council, Kyiv remained the patrimony of the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, after whom Vladimir Monomakh himself ascended the throne. The time of his reign and the reign of his son, Mstislav, became a period of relative stability in Russia. But later, Mstislav handed over the reign to his brother Yaropolk, who decided to fulfill the will of his father - Vladmir Monomakh - and plant the eldest son of his brother Mstislav, his nephew Vsevolod-Gabriel, Prince of Novgorod, to reign in Kyiv. This angered the other sons of Monomakh, among whom was Yuri Dolgoruky, who owned Rostov, and led to general war, about which the Novgorod chronicle says the following: "... And the whole Russian land was torn to pieces ..."
13 lands
Closer to the middle of the 12th century, Ancient Russia actually broke up into 13 lands that were heterogeneous in area and composition of the population.
Nine princely "fatherlands" remained the backbone of the state.
The Principality of Gorodno (the city of Gorodno), which later broke up into volosts and came under the rule of Lithuania.
The Turov-Pinsk principality, located in Polesie and in the region of the lower reaches of the Pripyat River, with the cities of Turov and Pinsk. Two centuries later, it fell under the rule of the Lithuanian princes.
Volyn-Vladimir principality, headed by the city of Vladimir, which included the smaller cities of Lutsk, Izyaslavl, Dorogobuzh, Shumsk and others.
Smolensk Principality with its center in Smolensk, which was located in the upper reaches of the Volga and Northern Dvina rivers and included at least 18 cities and settlements, including Mozhaisk, Orsha, Rzhev, Toropets and Rostislavl.
The Principality of Suzdal (Rostov-Suzdal, and in the XII century - Vladimir-Suzdal), which was located in the north-east of Russia and extended far to the north.
The Principality of Murom, headed by the city of Murom, was part of the Kiev estate for a long time, but separated at the beginning of the 13th century and existed until the invasion of the Horde.
Around 1160, the Ryazan principality separated from the Principality of Murom, with its center in Ryazan. True, historians often consider these lands as one whole.
In the south of Russia, the Principality of Chernigov and the Principality of Galicia continued to exist.
The Kiev principality was still considered the center of the Old Russian land, although the power of Kyiv was nominal and rested on the authority of ancestors and tradition.
Four more "lands" did not have princely power over themselves. This was Novgorod with the surrounding territories, in which a strong local elite was formed and power belonged to the veche. Later, Pskov broke away from the Novgorod lands, which was also controlled by the people's assembly. The Pereyaslav lands did not have their own princes, but invited outside rulers to reign. For a long time, the city of Galich remained a draw (later it entered the Galicia-Volyn principality).
Internal and foreign policy states were ahead of the four most powerful principalities - Suzdal, Volyn, Smolensk and Chernigov.
Known until the XII century, the principality of Tmutarkan and the city of Belaya Vezha at the very beginning of the century fell under the onslaught of the Kipchaks (Polovtsy) and ceased to exist.
Russia is united
However, the idea of the unity of the Russian land did not disappear, as before, Kyiv remained a “capital city”, and the Kyiv prince was called the “prince of all Russia”, although the Vladimir princes already had the right to bear the title “Grand Duke”.
Before the conquest of the southern territories by Lithuania, all Russian lands were, in fact, in the possession of one princely family - the Rurik family, which united at the moment of the highest danger to the homeland. So, for example, almost all the princes took part in the campaign against the Mongol army in 1233.
The Orthodox faith played a huge role in the unification of the lands. The Church was alone and was first headed by the Metropolitan of Kiev. At the end of the 13th century, the residence of the metropolitan was transferred to Vladimir, and then to Moscow.
In addition to these factors, there was a historically established cultural and linguistic community, which did not allow the Old Russian state to completely disintegrate and sink into oblivion.
Long time on vast territories Eastern Europe was scattered scattered Slavic, Latvian, Lithuanian Finno-Ugric tribes. On the territory of the future mighty state of Kievan Rus, such East Slavic tribes lived:
- drevlyans, meadows, northerners,Dulibs, Tivertsy, White Croats - these tribes are the future Ukrainians;
- Dregovichi, Polochans - future Belarusians;
- Krivichi, Radimichi, Slovenes, Vyatichi - future Russians.
In the 8th-9th centuries, the process of unification of these tribes and the formation of the Old Russian people took place. Thus, a powerful state is formed with a territory of about 1,330,000 km², FROM: Taman Peninsula in the south, Dniester to the Northern Dvina in the north.
It must be said that when the tribes united, there were two centers of the state at once - Novgorod and Kyiv. The origins of the grand ducal dynasty belonged to Novgorod, but the capital was in Kyiv.
The collapse of the great state into principalities.
"And the whole Russian land was uplifted..."- such is the record of the chronicler that has come down to us. Which indicated that he died Grand Duke Kyiv Mstislav and all the principalities came out of obedience to the capital of Kiev.
In the second quarter of the 12th century, Kievan Rus actually broke up into independent principalities.
By the middle of the XII century, Kievan Rus was divided into 13 principalities. The principalities pursued their own policies. Kyiv was the most desirable territory of all the principalities and was a constant "bone of contention".
One can observe how strong the fragmentation of the great state was.
The principality of Kiev became the most powerful, later the principalities of Vladzhimir-Suzdal and Smolensk were stronger.
9 principalities became the property of the sons of the eldest grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. Later received the name - Galician Principality.
In the principality of Chernigov, the sons of Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavich ruled.
In the Principality of Murom, their uncle Yaroslav Svyatoslavich ruled.
Some principalities disintegrated over time, some were completely destroyed. As the Tmutarakan principality, which fell under the raids of the Polovtsy in the XII century, ceased to exist.
And by the 13th century, the total number of principalities had already reached 50.
Despite the huge decline in power and defense potential, the period of feudal fragmentation is characterized by the prosperity of cities and the growth of culture.
In the XV-XVII centuries, the period of fragmentation of these lands ends and a single Moscow State. Which became one of the largest states in Europe.
6) Feudal fragmentation - the process of economic strengthening and political isolation of individual lands. This process has gone through all the major Western European countries; in Russia - from the XII to the XV centuries. The reasons for feudal fragmentation were: the weakening of the central government, the lack of strong economic ties between the lands, the predominance of subsistence farming; the growth of cities that have become centers of economic and political development; the emergence and strengthening in the specific principalities of their own princely dynasties. Reasons for the fragmentation of Russia:
1. Economic:
patrimonial property and princely domain developed.
Every land had a subsistence economy
2. Political:
The emergence of feudal clans, the church hierarchy was formed
Kyiv, as a center, has lost its former role
Russia did not need to be united militarily
Confused order of succession
3. The collapse of Russia was not complete:
There was a single Russian church
During enemy raids, Russian princes united
Several regional centers have survived that claimed the role of association
The beginning of this process is attributed to the moment of the death of Yaroslav the Wise (1019 - 1054), when Kievan Rus was divided between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Vladimir Monomakh (1113 - 1125) managed to maintain the unity of the Russian land only by the power of his authority, but after his death, the collapse of the state became unstoppable. At the beginning of the 12th century, based on Kievan Rus there were about 15 principalities and lands by the middle of the XII century, about 50 principalities by the beginning of the XIII century, about 250 in the XIV century. It is difficult to establish the exact number of principalities, since along with the fragmentation there was another process: the formation of strong principalities, which attracted small neighboring lands into the orbit of their influence. Of course, the Russian princes understood the destructiveness of crushing and especially bloody strife. This was evidenced by three princely congresses: Lyubechsky 1097 (obligations to stop civil strife with the condition that the princes inherit their estates); Vitichevsky 1100 (conclusion of peace between the princes Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, Oleg and Davyd Svyatoslavich, etc.); Dolobsky 1103 (organization of a campaign against the Polovtsians). However, it was impossible to stop the crushing process. Vladimir-Suzdal land occupied the territory between the Oka and Volga rivers. The Vladimir-Suzdal principality becomes independent of Kyiv under Yuri (1125-1157). For the constant desire to expand his territory and subjugate Kyiv, he received the nickname "Dolgoruky". The initial center was Rostov, but already under Yuri, Suzdal, and then Vladimir, assumed the main importance. Yuri Dolgoruky did not consider the Vladimir-Suzdal principality as his main possession. Kyiv remained his goal. He captured the city several times, was expelled, captured again and eventually became the prince of Kiev. Under Yuri, a number of new cities were founded on the territory of the principality: Yuryev, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Zvenigorod. Moscow was first mentioned in chronicles in 1147. The eldest son of Yuri, Andrei Bogolyubsky (1157-1174), having received Vyshgorod (near Kyiv) from his father, left him and, together with his entourage, went to Rostov. After the death of his father, Andrei did not occupy the Kyiv throne, but began to strengthen his principality. The capital was moved from Rostov to Vladimir, not far from which a country residence was founded - Bogolyubovo (hence the nickname of the prince - "Bogolyubsky"). Andrei Yurievich pursued an energetic policy of strengthening princely power and oppressing the boyars. His abrupt and often autocratic actions aroused the dissatisfaction of the major boyars and, as a result, led to the death of the prince. The policy of Andrei Bogolyubsky was continued by his half-brother Vsevolod the Big Nest (1176-1212). He brutally dealt with the boyars who killed his brother. Power in the principality was finally established in the form of a monarchy. Under Vsevolod, the Vladimir-Suzdal land reaches its maximum expansion due to the fact that the Ryazan and Murom princes declare themselves dependent on Vsevolod. After the death of Vsevolod, the Vladimir-Suzdal land broke up into seven principalities, and then re-united under the leadership of the Vladimir prince.
Galicia-Volyn principality. An active role in the life of the principality was played by a strong local boyars, who were in constant struggle with the princely power. The policy of neighboring states - Poland and Hungary, also had a great influence, where both princes and representatives of boyar groups turned for help. Until the middle of the XII century, the Galician land was divided into small principalities. In 1141 Prince Vladimir Volodarevich of Przemysl united
them, moving the capital to Galich. In the first years of separation from Kyiv, the Galician and Volyn principalities existed as two independent ones. The rise of the Galician principality began under Yaroslav Osmomysl of Galicia (1153-1187). The unification of the Galician and Volyn principalities took place in 1199 under the Volyn prince Roman Mstislavich (1170-1205). In 1203 he captured Kyiv and assumed the title of Grand Duke. The eldest son of Roman Mstislavich, Daniel (1221-1264), was only four years old when his father died. Daniel had to endure a long struggle for the throne with both the Hungarian, Polish, and Russian princes. Only in 1238 Daniil Romanovich asserted his power over the Galicia-Volyn principality. In 1240, having occupied Kyiv, Daniel managed to unite southwestern Russia and Kiev land. However, in the same year, the Galicia-Volyn principality was ravaged by the Mongol-Tatars, and 100 years later these lands became part of Lithuania and Poland.
Novgorod boyar republic. The territory of the Novgorod land was divided into five patches, which in turn were divided into hundreds and graveyards. The rise of Novgorod was facilitated by an exceptionally advantageous geographical position: the city was located at the crossroads of trade routes. In 1136 Novgorod separated from Kyiv. IN Novgorod land Boyar agriculture developed early. All fertile lands were actually redistributed among the boyars, which did not lead to the creation of a large princely estate. The rebellious citizens expelled Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich for "neglect" of the city's interests. A republican system was established in Novgorod. The highest body of power in Novgorod was the assembly of free citizens - owners of yards and estates in the city - veche. Veche discussed issues of domestic and foreign policy, invited the prince, concluded an agreement with him. At the veche, a posadnik, a thousand, an archbishop was elected. The posadnik was in charge of administration and court, controlled the activities of the prince. Tysyatsky led the people's militia and ruled the court on commercial matters. The actual power in the republic was in the hands of the boyars and the top merchants. Throughout its history, the positions of posadniks, thousands and
Koncha elders were occupied only by representatives of the elite nobility, called "300 golden belts". The "smaller" or "black" people of Novgorod were subjected to arbitrary exactions from the "better" people, i.e. the boyars and the tops of the privileged merchant class. The answer to this was the frequent uprisings of ordinary Novgorodians. Novgorod waged a constant struggle for its independence against the neighboring principalities, primarily against Vladimir-Suzdal, who sought to subjugate the rich and free city. Novgorod was an outpost of the defense of Russian lands from the crusader aggression of the German and Swedish feudal lords.
Feudal fragmentation existed in Russia until the end of the 15th century, when most of the territory of Kievan Rus united as part of the Russian centralized state with its capital in Moscow. The ensuing feudal fragmentation made it possible to more firmly establish the system of feudal relations in Russia. Each individual principality developed faster and more successfully than when it was in alliance with other lands. Further economic development, the growth of cities, the flourishing of culture are characteristic of this era. However, the disintegration of a single power also had negative consequences, the main of which was an increase in vulnerability to external danger. Despite the process of fragmentation, the inhabitants of the Russian lands retained the consciousness of their religious and ethnic unity, which later became the basis for the process of centralization. At the head of this process was northeastern Russia, which had the following features: extensive agriculture, the dominance of the peasant community and collective values, and despotic power. It was this region that became the birthplace of Russian civilization.
Kievan Rus and Russian principalities
Principalities of southern Russia
I. Kiev principality (1132 - 1471)
Zap. Kievskaya, North-West. Cherkassky, Vost. Zhytomyr region Ukraine. Table. Kyiv
II. Chernihiv Principality (1024 - 1330)
North of Chernihiv region Ukraine, east of the Gomel region. Belarus, Kaluga, Bryansk, Lipetsk, Oryol regions. Russia. Capital Chernihiv
1) Bryansk principality (c. 1240 - 1430). The capital is Bryansk (Debryansk).
2) Vshchizh principality (1156 - 1240)
Feudal Republic of Northern Russia
I. Novgorod feudal republic (X century - 1478)
Novgorod, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, the north of the Tver region, the republics of Komi and Karelia. Capital Novgorod (Lord Veliky Novgorod)
II. Pskov feudal republic (XI century - 1510)
Pskov region Capital Pskov (Pleskov)
Principalities of Eastern Russia
I. Principality of Murom (989 - 1390)
South of Vladimir, north of Ryazan, southwest of Nizhny Novgorod region. Capital Murom
II. Principality of Pron (1129 - 1465). South of the Ryazan region
Capital Pronsk. From the middle of the fourteenth century led. principality
III. Ryazan principality (1129 - 1510)
Center of the Ryazan region. The capital is Ryazan, from 1237 Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky (New Ryazan). From the end of the thirteenth century grand duchy
1) Belgorod principality (c. 1149 - 1205). Capital Belgorod Ryazansky
2) Kolomna principality (c. 1165 - 1301). Capital Kolomna
IV. Vladimir-Suzdal principality (1125 - 1362).
Vologda, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Moscow and northern Nizhny Novgorod regions. Capitals Rostov, Suzdal, from 1157 Vladimir on the Klyazma. From 1169 the Grand Duchy
1) Poros (Torcheskoe) principality (? - ?)
V. Pereyaslavskoe - Zalessky principality (1175 - 1302)
Capital Pereyaslavl (n. Pereyaslavl - Zalessky)
VI. Rostov principality (c. 989 - 1474).
Capital Rostov the Great.
In 1328 it fell apart:
1) Senior line (Sretenskaya (Usretinskaya) side of Rostov).
2) Junior line (Borisoglebskaya side of Rostov).
1) Ustyug principality (1364 - 1474). Capital Veliky Ustyug
2) Bokhtyug principality (1364 - 1434)
VII. Yaroslavl principality (1218 - 1463). Capital Yaroslavl
1) Youth principality (c. 1325 - 1450). Capital of Mologa
2) Sitsk principality (c. 1408 - 60). Capital unknown
3) Principality of Prozor (c. 1408 - 60). The capital of Prozor (now the village of Prozorovo)
4) Shumorovsky principality (c. 1365 - 1420). Capital village Shumorovo
5) Novlensky principality (c. 1400 - 70). Capital village Novleno
6) Zaozersko - Kubensky principality (c. 1420 - 52). Capital unknown
7) Sheksna principality (c. 1350 - 1480). Capital unknown
8) Shekhon (Poshekhon) principality (c. 1410 - 60). Capital Knyazhich Gorodok
9) Kurb principality (c. 1425 - 55). The capital is the village of Kurby
10) Ukhor (Ugor) principality (c. 1420 - 70). Capital unknown
11) Romanov principality (? - ?)
VIII. Uglitsky principality (1216 - 1591). Capital Uglich
Nizhny Novgorod Principality
1) Gorodets principality (1264 - 1403). Capital Gorodets
2) Shuya principality (1387 - 1420). Shuya capital
XVI. Grand Duchy of Tver (1242 - 1490). Capital Tver
1) Kashinsky principality (1318 - 1426). Capital Kashin
2) Kholm principality (1319 - 1508). Capital Hill
3) Dorogobuzh principality (1318 - 1486). Capital Dorogobuzh
4) Mikulin principality (1339 - 1485). Capital Mikulin
5) Gorodensky principality (1425 - 35).
6) Zubtsovsk principality (1318 - 1460).
7) Telyatevsky inheritance (1397 - 1437).
8) Chernyatinsky destiny (1406 - 90). Capital Chernyatyn (now the village of Chernyatino)
XVII. Moscow Grand Duchy (1276 - 1547). Moscow the capital
2) Zvenigorod principality (1331 - 1492). Capital Zvenigorod
3) Vologda Principality (1433 - 81). Capital Vologda
4) Mozhaisk principality (1279 - 1303) (1389 - 1492).
5) Vereisk principality (1432 - 86).
6) Volotsk principality (1408 - 10) (1462 - 1513). Capital Volok Lamsky (now Volokolamsk)
7) Ruza principality(1494 - 1503). Capital Ruza
8) Staritsky Principality(1519 - 63). Capital Staritsa
9) Rzhev principality (1408 - 10) (1462 - 1526). Capital Rzhev
10) Kaluga principality (1505 - 18). Capital Kaluga
After death Kiev prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1054 in Russia began the process of disintegration of a previously unified state. Similar events took place in Western Europe. It was a general trend feudal Middle Ages. Gradually, Russia was divided into several de facto independent principalities with common traditions, culture and the Rurik dynasty. The most important year for the country was 1132, when Mstislav the Great died. It is this date that historians consider the beginning of the final political fragmentation. In this state, Russia existed until the middle of the XIII century, when it survived the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar troops.
Kyiv land
Over the years, the principalities of ancient Russia were divided, united, the ruling branches of the Rurik dynasty changed, etc. Nevertheless, despite the complexity of these events, several key destinies can be distinguished that played the most important role in the life of the country. Even after the actual collapse, de jure, it was the Kyiv prince who was considered the elder.
A variety of specific rulers tried to establish control over the "mother of Russian cities". Therefore, if the specific principalities of ancient Russia had their hereditary dynasties, then Kyiv most often passed from hand to hand. After the death of Mstislav Vladimirovich in 1132, the city briefly became the property of the Chernigov Rurikids. This did not suit the other representatives of the dynasty. Due to the ensuing wars, Kyiv first ceased to control the Pereyaslav, Turov and Vladimir-Volyn principalities, and then (in 1169) it was completely plundered by the army of Andrei Bogolyubsky and finally lost its political significance.
Chernihiv
Ancient Russia on Chernihiv land belonged to the descendants of Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich. They were in conflict with Kiev for a long time. The Chernihiv dynasty for several decades was divided into two branches: the Olgovichi and the Davydovichi. With each generation, more and more new specific principalities arose that broke away from Chernigov (Novgorod-Seversk, Bryansk, Kursk, etc.).
Historians consider Svyatoslav Olgovich to be the brightest ruler of this region. He was an ally It is with their allied feast in Moscow in 1147 that the history of the capital of Russia, confirmed by chronicles, begins. When the principalities of ancient Russia united in the struggle against the Mongols that appeared in the east, the specific rulers of the Chernihiv land came out together with the rest of the Rurikovichs and were defeated. The invasion of the steppes did not affect the entire principality, but only its eastern part. Nevertheless, it recognized itself as a vassal of the Golden Horde (after the painful death of Mikhail Vsevolodovich). In the XIV century, Chernihiv, along with many neighboring cities, was annexed to Lithuania.
Polotsk region
The Izyaslavichs (descendants of Izyaslav Vladimirovich) ruled in Polotsk. This branch of Rurikovich stood out earlier than others. In addition, Polotsk was the first to start an armed struggle for independence from Kyiv. The earliest such war took place as early as the beginning of the 11th century.
Like other principalities of ancient Russia during the period of fragmentation, Polotsk eventually split into several small destinies (Vitebsk, Minsk, Drutsk, etc.). Some of these cities as a result of wars and dynastic marriages passed to the Smolensk Rurikovich. But the most dangerous opponents of Polotsk, without a doubt, were the Lithuanians. At first, these Baltic tribes staged predatory raids on Russian lands. Then they moved on to conquest. In 1307, Polotsk finally became part of the growing power of the Lithuanian state.
Volyn
In Volhynia (the south-west of modern Ukraine), two major political centers stood out - Vladimir-Volynsky and Galich. Having become independent from Kyiv, these principalities began to compete with each other for leadership in the region. At the end of the XII century, Roman Mstislavovich united the two cities. His principality was named Galicia-Volyn. The influence of the monarch was so great that he sheltered the Byzantine emperor Alexei III, expelled from Constantinople by the crusaders.
Roman's son Daniel eclipsed his father's successes with his fame. He successfully fought against the Poles, Hungarians and Mongols, periodically making alliances with one of his neighbors. In 1254, Daniel even accepted the title of King of Russia from the Pope, hoping for help from Western Europe in the fight against the steppes. After his death, the Galicia-Volyn principality fell into decay. First, it broke up into several destinies, and then was captured by Poland. The fragmentation of Ancient Russia, whose principalities were constantly at enmity with each other, prevented her from fighting against external threats.
Smolensk region
The Smolensk principality was located in the geographical center of Russia. It became independent under the son of Mstislav the Great Rostislav. At the end of the XII century, the principalities of Ancient Russia again began a fierce struggle for Kyiv. The main contenders for power in the ancient capital were the rulers of Smolensk and Chernigov.
The descendants of Rostislav reached the pinnacle of power under Mstislav Romanovich. In 1214-1223. he ruled not only Smolensk, but also Kiev. It was this prince who initiated the first anti-Mongolian coalition, defeated on Kalka. Subsequently, Smolensk suffered less than others during the invasion. Nevertheless, its rulers paid tribute to the Golden Horde. Gradually, the principality found itself sandwiched between Lithuania and Moscow, which were gaining influence. Independence under such conditions could not last long. As a result, in 1404 Lithuanian prince Vitovt naturally annexed Smolensk to his possessions.
Outpost on the Oka
The Ryazan principality occupied lands on the Middle Oka. It stood out from the possessions of the Chernigov rulers. In the 1160s, Murom broke away from Ryazan. Mongol invasion hit hard on that edge. The inhabitants, princes, principalities of ancient Russia did not understand the threat posed by the eastern conquerors. In 1237, Ryazan was the first of the Russian cities to be destroyed by the steppes. In the future, the principality fought with Moscow, which was gaining strength. For example, the Ryazan ruler Oleg Ivanovich was an opponent of Dmitry Donskoy for a long time. Ryazan was gradually losing ground. It was annexed to Moscow in 1521.
Novgorod Republic
The historical description of the principalities of Ancient Russia cannot be complete without mentioning the Novgorod Republic. This state lived according to its special political and social order. An aristocratic republic was established here with a strong influence of the national council. The princes were elected military leaders (they were invited from other Russian lands).
A similar political system developed in Pskov, which was called " younger brother Novgorod". These two cities were centers of international trade. Compared with other Russian political centers, they had the most contacts with Western Europe. After the Baltic states were captured by the Catholic military, serious friction began between the knights and Novgorod. This struggle reached its apogee in the 1240s. It was then that the Swedes and Germans were defeated in turn by Prince Alexander Nevsky. When the historical path from Ancient Russia to the Great was almost completed, the republic was left face to face with Ivan III. He conquered Novgorod in 1478.
Northeast Russia
The first political centers of North-Eastern Russia in the XI-XII centuries. were Rostov, Suzdal and Vladimir. The descendants of Monomakh and his younger son Yuri Dolgoruky ruled here. Father's successors Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest strengthened the authority of the Vladimir principality, making it the largest and strongest in fragmented Russia.
Under the children of Vsevolod the Big Nest, a large-scale development began. The first specific principalities began to appear. However, real disasters came to North-Eastern Russia along with the Mongols. Nomads ravaged this region, burned many of its cities. During the reign of the Horde, the khans were recognized as the elders in all of Russia. Those who received a special label were put in charge there.
In the struggle for Vladimir, two new opponents emerged: Tver and Moscow. The peak of their confrontation came at the beginning of the XIV century. In this rivalry, Moscow turned out to be the winner. Gradually, its princes united North-Eastern Russia, overthrew the Mongol-Tatar yoke and eventually created a single Russian state(Ivan the Terrible became its first tsar in 1547).
