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.

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-Seversk. 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'. 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 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 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.

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'.

sources

2nd millennium BC e. 16th century BC e. XV century BC e. XIV century BC e. XIII century BC e. XII century BC e. 1409 1408 1407 1406 ... Wikipedia

1302. Convocation of the Estates General in France. "Battle of the Spurs" Victory of the Flemish militia over the French army at Courtray. Bull of Pope Boniface VIII, which proclaimed the absolute priority of church power over secular power. 1303 1325. Reign… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Georgy Yaroslavich is Prince of Murom, the son, presumably, of Yaroslav Georgievich. In a chronicle note from 1351 it is said that this George renovated his city, his fatherland Murom, which had been deserted for a long time, from the first princes, and set up his court in the city.... ... Biographical Dictionary

The Monk Paul, together with the Monk Theodore, founded the Boris and Gleb Monastery on the river in 1363. Ustye (now Yaroslavl province, Rostov district). After Theodore he was abbot of the monastery. Died after 1409; his relics rest under... ... Biographical Dictionary

2nd millennium XII century XIII century XIV century XV century XVI century 1290 e 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 ... Wikipedia

2nd millennium XII century XIII century XIV century XV century XVI century 1290 e 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 ... Wikipedia

2nd millennium XII century XIII century XIV century XV century XVI century 1290 e 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 ... Wikipedia

2nd millennium XII century XIII century XIV century XV century XVI century 1290 e 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 ... Wikipedia

Books

• A buffoon running through the stars. Book 1. Earth, XIV century, Dal Natalia. The action begins on Earth in 1354. A twenty-year-old orphan, a funny man, a bear guide, Danka Vostry wanders through the forests and steppes of Rus' with a band of buffoons. He is considered a non-human, habituated...
• Russian history course. Part 1. Ancient period XIV century (audiobook MP3 on 2 CDs), V. O. Klyuchevsky. “Russian History” by V. O. Klyuchevsky is a classic work of one of the deepest Russian thinkers, an epic that occupies a worthy place alongside the works of famous Russian... audiobook

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 Grand Duke of Vladimir began to be recognized as the main prince.

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 it has not yet been possible to overthrow the Tatar-Mongol yoke. 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 also a tense situation with the Grand Duchy 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.

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 crafts are 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 found himself in the political role of an 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' from a young age 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

Church pastors played a significant role not only in church but also in political affairs. 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.

The 14th century is the “finest hour” of Moscow in the history of Russia.
It is perhaps impossible to find a more problematic period in the ruins of the once powerful Kievan Rus than the 14th century. The strife of the 12th century led to this situation, breaking the country into separate principalities. This circumstance was partly the reason for the catastrophic conquest of almost all Russian lands by Batu’s army in the 13th century and the establishment of the heavy yoke of the Tatar-Mongol Golden Horde and the creeping occupation of southwestern Rus' by the Poles and Lithuanians. After the pogrom of 1240, Kyiv was unable to restore its former influence.
In such difficult conditions, the importance of the Vladimir Principality increased. In the depths of this large territorial formation in the north-east of Rus' in the 11th century, a small and at first unremarkable town appeared on the Moscow River. The village was simply called Moscow, and for it the 14th century truly became its “finest hour,” because it was the local rulers who managed to unite the Russian principalities under their hands. Moscow became one of the centers of Orthodoxy and rose up like a phoenix of a mighty kingdom.
It is worth setting a goal to identify the cause-and-effect relationships that led Moscow to claims of dominance in its territorial segment (north-eastern Rus'). What events contributed to her rise? Determine the relationship between internal contradictions in the Moscow principality and the growth of its authority as a unifier of Russian lands.

The end justifies all the means

The history of the Moscow principality, as a small and poor inheritance, begins in the middle of the 13th century, when, as a result of the division of the inheritance of Alexander Nevsky, it went to his two-year-old fourth son Daniil. He began to reign here as an adult in 1276 and managed to bring its status to that of a capital-prince. Prince Daniil took full advantage of Moscow’s favorable location at the intersection of land and water trade routes. This led to the fact that it was here that the conditions for the formation of a center really emerged, where a new Russian community could take shape. The last years of the reign of the founder of the Moscow principality occurred at the beginning of the 14th century in Russian history. The first significant events were the annexation of Kolomna to Moscow in 1301, the next year the whole

Pereyaslavl principality, and a year later Mozhaisk.

After the death of Prince Daniil Alexandrovich, the Moscow table was taken by the eldest son Yuri Danilovich. Already in 1304, he started a lawsuit for the great reign in the Vladimir land with the Tver prince Mikhail Yaroslavich. Apparently, the arguments of the new applicant for the coveted label were not as convincing as those of his Tver colleagues. Khan Uzbek in 1305 entrusted the great reign of Vladimir to Mikhail Tver, even despite the direct support of the candidacy of the Moscow prince by Metropolitan Peter of All Rus'. Only in 1317 did Yuri Danilovich manage to achieve the Grand Duke's label.
True, for the sake of this they had to slander Mikhail Tverskoy in the poisoning of Yuri’s wife Agafya, nee Konchaka, the sister of Khan Uzbek. Then, of course, it came back to haunt him: the son of the Tver prince Dmitry, executed by slander, Yuri, formally recognizing the power of the Moscow prince, literally hunted him. So, after fraud with the scrolling of the collected Horde tribute at the Novgorod auction, Yuri was summoned to the Horde for explanations. The prince did not go not only because he feared the khan’s wrath, but also because of fear of Dmitry Tverskoy, who was waiting for him on the way to Sarai. Moscow lost the label for a while, and Yuri Danilovich, Prince Dmitry of Tver, still got “formidable eyes” in the Horde, although he also lost his violent little head for lynching.

Slowly towards a great goal

After the death of Prince Yuri in 1325, his brother Ivan, known to everyone as “Kalita,” began to reign. Unlike Yuri, who was constantly traveling, Ivan Danilovich willingly remained on the farm in Moscow. He conducted his affairs diligently and skillfully used the accumulated funds for the good of his estate. Having become the Grand Duke, he significantly expanded Moscow's possessions by purchasing cities and villages from other people's estates. In the confrontation with Tver, Ivan did not disdain anything and snatched for Moscow a label for the great reign, which never left the capital.
Ivan Kalita built an oak Kremlin and brought order to the roads, strictly pursuing robbers. Boyars and simple settlers flocked to him, filling the vast lands with working and serving populations. No less important was the move of the Metropolitan from Vladimir to Moscow, which made it the spiritual center of Orthodox Rus'.
His successor Simeon the Proud continued to round off his possessions by purchasing new lands and the policy of acquisition and accumulation. He did not waste his father’s inheritance and left his brother Ivan Ivanovich the funds to acquire the Trans-Oka lands. In addition, Ivan actively and profitably changed land, but did not anger God too much and tried not to offend weak neighbors.
The same cannot be said about his son, known as Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. He had already forced weak appanage princes to obey, like Konstantin Vasilkovich of Rostov, expelled others from his possessions, like princes Dmitry Galitsky and Ivan Starodubsky, and because of the controversial purchase of the Meshchera region, he quarreled with the Ryazan prince on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo.

Demonstration of the character of the Russian people

Already in the second half of the 14th century, the Moscow principality became stronger not only economically, but also spiritually. Along with the metropolitan see, to which Alexy, a native of the Moscow boyars, was appointed, the famous Russian spiritual ascetic Sergius of Radonezh founded the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the lands of the principality. All this emphasized Moscow's governing authority.
The renewed Rus' felt the ability to break the iron grip of Mongol-Tatar rule. The character of the Moscow prince began to emerge in his relations with the Horde. The first clash on the Piana River in 1377 did not bring victory to Moscow, but forced it to “learn a lesson.” The very next year, Murza Begich’s army of twenty thousand was completely defeated.
In 1380, Russian regiments, led by the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich, met on September 8 on the Kulikovo field with the Horde hordes of Mamai. This battle can be considered the main event in the history of Russia in the 14th century. The battle was hot and at first it was impossible to determine the winner. Only the hidden reserve - the ambush regiment - decided the fate of the battle in favor of the Russian army. The losses were enormous, but the victory instilled hope for complete liberation from the Tatar yoke and accelerated the political fragmentation of the Golden Horde. Undoubtedly, Moscow has become the uncontested center of Russian lands.
Even Tokhtamysh’s ruinous campaign did not change the established status of Moscow one iota. Having recovered a little from the attack, Dmitry Donskoy resolved the Meshchera issue with Oleg of Ryazan and recognized the Great Reign of Vladimir with its district as the heritage of the princes of Moscow and bequeathed it to his son Vasily. In 1397, the heir of the glorious Prince Dmitry Donskoy, Vasily, took away part of the lands from the Novgorodians, including the cities of Rzhev and Vologda. He continued farming in the Oka region, taking Kozelsk and Lyubutsk, annexing the Suzdal principality and other lands.
The 14th century is also famous in Russian history for the construction of the first stone Moscow Kremlin. The Laurentian Chronicle was compiled. The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God was transferred to Moscow from Vladimir. They also survived the Lithuanian invasion of Moscow and the plague epidemic. Everything in nature is interconnected and interdependent.
Thus, the monstrous tangle of contradictions that swirled in the history of Russia in the 14th century gave birth to the preconditions for the formation of a great Russian power.