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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Soviet Union
Index
When the Mongols invaded the lands of Kievan Rus', Moscow was
an insignificant trading outpost in the principality of VladimirSuzdal '. Muscovy's remote, forested location offered some security
from Mongol attack and occupation, while a number of rivers
provided access to the Baltic and Black seas and to the Caucasus
region to Moscow's development in the state of Muscovy, however,
was its rule by a series of princes who were ambitious, determined,
and lucky. The first ruler of the principality of Muscovy, Daniil
Aleksandrovich (d. 1303), secured the principality for his branch
of the Rurikid Dynasty. His son, Ivan I (1325-40), known as Kalita
("money bags"), obtained the title of "Grand Prince of Vladimir"
from his Mongol overlords. He closely cooperated with the Mongols
and collected tribute from other Russian principalities on their
behalf. This enabled him to gain regional ascendancy, particularly
over Muscovy's rival, Tver'. In 1327 the Orthodox metropolitan
transferred his residency from Vladimir to Moscow, further
enhancing the prestige of the new principality.
The grand princes of Muscovy began gathering Russian lands to
increase the population and wealth under their rule. The most
successful "gatherer" was Ivan III (1462-1505), who in 1478
conquered Novgorod and in 1485 Tver' (see
table 2, Appendix A).
Through inheritance, Ivan obtained part of Ryazan', and the princes
of Rostov and Yaroslavl' voluntarily subordinated themselves to
him. Pskov, which remained independent, was conquered in 1510 by
Ivan's son, Vasilii III (1505-33). By the beginning of the
sixteenth century, Muscovy had united virtually all ethnically
Russian lands.
Muscovy gained full sovereignty as Mongol power waned, and
Mongol overlordship was officially terminated in 1480. Ivan III was
the first Muscovite ruler to use the titles of tsar and "Ruler of
all Rus'," laying claim not only to Russian areas but also to parts
of the Ukrainian and Belorussian lands of Kievan Rus'. Lithuania,
then a powerful state, included other parts of Belorussia and
central Ukraine. Ivan III competed with Lithuania for control over
some of the semi-independent former principalities of Kievan Rus'
in the upper Dnepr and Donets river basins. Through defections of
some princes, border skirmishes, and an inconclusive war with
Lithuania, Ivan III was able to push westward, and Muscovy tripled
in size under his rule.
Data as of May 1989
The development of the Russian state can be traced from
Vladimir-Suzdal' through Muscovy to the Russian Empire. Muscovy
drew people and wealth to the northeastern periphery of Kievan
Rus'; established trade links to the Baltic, White, and Caspian
seas and to Siberia; and created a highly centralized and
autocratic political system. Muscovite political traditions,
therefore, have exerted a powerful influence on Russian and Soviet
society.
The Rise of Muscovy
When the Mongols invaded the lands of Kievan Rus', Moscow was
an insignificant trading outpost in the principality of VladimirSuzdal '. Muscovy's remote, forested location offered some security
from Mongol attack and occupation, while a number of rivers
provided access to the Baltic and Black seas and to the Caucasus
region to Moscow's development in the state of Muscovy, however,
was its rule by a series of princes who were ambitious, determined,
and lucky. The first ruler of the principality of Muscovy, Daniil
Aleksandrovich (d. 1303), secured the principality for his branch
of the Rurikid Dynasty. His son, Ivan I (1325-40), known as Kalita
("money bags"), obtained the title of "Grand Prince of Vladimir"
from his Mongol overlords. He closely cooperated with the Mongols
and collected tribute from other Russian principalities on their
behalf. This enabled him to gain regional ascendancy, particularly
over Muscovy's rival, Tver'. In 1327 the Orthodox metropolitan
transferred his residency from Vladimir to Moscow, further
enhancing the prestige of the new principality.
The grand princes of Muscovy began gathering Russian lands to
increase the population and wealth under their rule. The most
successful "gatherer" was Ivan III (1462-1505), who in 1478
conquered Novgorod and in 1485 Tver' (see
table 2, Appendix A).
Through inheritance, Ivan obtained part of Ryazan', and the princes
of Rostov and Yaroslavl' voluntarily subordinated themselves to
him. Pskov, which remained independent, was conquered in 1510 by
Ivan's son, Vasilii III (1505-33). By the beginning of the
sixteenth century, Muscovy had united virtually all ethnically
Russian lands.
Muscovy gained full sovereignty as Mongol power waned, and
Mongol overlordship was officially terminated in 1480. Ivan III was
the first Muscovite ruler to use the titles of tsar and "Ruler of
all Rus'," laying claim not only to Russian areas but also to parts
of the Ukrainian and Belorussian lands of Kievan Rus'. Lithuania,
then a powerful state, included other parts of Belorussia and
central Ukraine. Ivan III competed with Lithuania for control over
some of the semi-independent former principalities of Kievan Rus'
in the upper Dnepr and Donets river basins. Through defections of
some princes, border skirmishes, and an inconclusive war with
Lithuania, Ivan III was able to push westward, and Muscovy tripled
in size under his rule.
Data as of May 1989
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