In conditions of constant pressure from the direction of northern and southern conquerors, princes of Northeast Russia strove for maintaining peaceful relations with the rulers of the Golden Horde. In 1243 prince Yaroslav Vsevolodich confirmed his right for the Great Vladimir principality with Baty's label. In 1245 Yaroslav had to go to the Horde again by the khan's summons. He was sent to the capital of Mongol's republic Karakorum, where he was poisoned. The throne in Vladimir devolved on his brother Svyatoslav (1246 - 1249).
Yaroslav's sons - Alexander Nevsky and Andrey decided to contest their uncle's right for reigning and went to the Horde and then to Mongolia. The label for ruling the Great Vladimir's principality was given to Andrey, Alexander assumed the rights for governing Kiev and Novgorod cities.
In 1250 the Great Vladimir's prince married the daughter of Daniel Galitsky contracting the dynasty alliance against the Golden Horde. In 1252 Batyi sent troops against Andrey and Daniel simultaneously. Andrey Yaroslavich was crushed by the Horde ('Nevryueva rat') and escaped to Sweden. The permit for ruling the Vladimir principality was given to Alexander Nevsky.
During his great reign (1252 - 1263) Alexander Nevsky managed to keep stable situation in North Russia. Having to choose whether to acknowledge the dependence to the Horde following other princes or to resist it, enlisting the support of the Pope of Rome in exchange for the union with Catholic church (which was suggested by the Pope Innokenty the XIVth) Alexander chose to submit to the Horde.
His choice was conditioned both by his own experience of participating in battles against the Swedish and the Teutonic knights, supported by Rome, and by the right estimation of the political situation. Daniel Galitsky went for rapproachement with the Pope to resist the Horde and was promised eastern crusade campaign against Mongolia, which was never launched.
Territorial division was growing in Northeast Russia. 7 appendage principalities appeared in addition to 6 already existing. The certain branch of Vsevolod 'Bolshoe Gnezdo's ('Big Nest') dynasty was reigning in each of those. In 1263 - 1271 Alexander Nevsky's brother Yaroslav Yaroslavich Tverskoi ascended the throne in Vladimir. Then in 1272 - 1276 it was the period of the youngest Yaroslavich - Vasilii Kostromskoi reigning. Following that Alexander Nevsky's Sons - Dmitry and Andrey started the internal war for the throne. |
History 