Accession of lands by Basil 3. Foreign policy of Basil III

Foreign policy Moscow state XVI-XVII centuries

The main objectives of the foreign policy of the Muscovite state in the XVI century. were: in the west - the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea, in the southeast and east - the struggle with the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates and the beginning of the development of Siberia, in the south - the protection of the country from the raids of the Crimean Khan. These tasks were formed even under the great sovereign Ivan III.

By the beginning of the 16th century, it was possible to ensure relative calm on the eastern borders thanks to the victorious campaigns of the Grand Duke's armies against the Kazan Khanate. As a result of the Russian-Lithuanian wars of 1492-1494 and 1500-1503, dozens of Russian cities were included in the Moscow state - Vyazma, Chernigov, Starodub, Putivl, Rylsk, Novgorod-Seversky, Gomel, Bryansk, Dorogobuzh and others. In 1503, a six-year truce was concluded with Lithuania and the Livonian Order. The internal difficulties of the Lithuanian principality were perfectly used by the Moscow government: the western border was pushed back more than a hundred kilometers, almost all the Verkhovsky principalities and Seversk land (captured at one time by Lithuania) came under the rule of Moscow. important and independent part Russian foreign policy was the Baltic issue: Russia sought guarantees of equal conditions - legal and economic - for the participation of Russian merchants in maritime trade. Relations with Italy, Hungary, Moldova ensured a powerful influx of specialists of various profiles into the country and greatly expanded the horizon of cultural communication.

After the overthrow of dependence on the Great Horde and its final liquidation, Russia objectively becomes the strongest state in the Volga basin in terms of economic, demographic and military potential. Her intentions are not limited by traditional boundaries. Following the Novgorodians of the XII-XIV centuries. detachments of Russian troops, artels of merchants and fishers begin to develop the vast expanses of the Urals and Trans-Urals.

The result of the activities of Ivan III was the achievement of the territorial unity of the Russian lands and their unification around Moscow.

Foreign policy of Basil III

Vasily III came into possession of the paternal power in October 1505. He continued the policy of Ivan III, aimed at strengthening the positions of Russia in the west and the return of Russian lands, which were under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Livonian Order. At the beginning of his reign, Vasily had to start a war with Kazan. The campaign was unsuccessful, the Russian regiments commanded by Vasily's brother were defeated, but the Kazanians asked for peace, which was concluded in 1508. At the same time, Basil, taking advantage of the unrest in Lithuania after the death of Prince Alexander, put forward his candidacy for the throne of Gediminas. In 1508, the rebellious Lithuanian boyar Mikhail Glinsky was received very cordially in Moscow. The war with Lithuania led to a rather favorable peace for the Moscow prince in 1509, according to which the captures of his father were recognized by the Lithuanians. In 1512 began new war with Lithuania. On December 19, Vasily Yuriy Ivanovich and Dmitry Zhilka set out on a campaign. Smolensk was besieged, but it did not work out, and the Russian army returned to Moscow. In March 1513, Vasily again went on a campaign, but having sent the governor to Smolensk, he himself remained in Borovsk, waiting for what would happen next. Smolensk was again besieged, and its governor, Yuri Sologub, was defeated in an open field. Only after that Vasily personally came to the troops. But this siege was also unsuccessful: the besieged managed to restore what was being destroyed. Having devastated the surroundings of the city, Vasily ordered to retreat and returned to Moscow in November. On July 8, 1514, the army led by the Grand Duke again marched to Smolensk, this time his brothers Yuri and Semyon went along with Vasily. A new siege began on 29 July. The artillery, led by the gunner Stefan, inflicted heavy losses on the besieged. On the same day, Sologub and the clergy of the city came out to Basil and agreed to surrender the city. On July 31, the inhabitants of Smolensk swore allegiance to the Grand Duke, and Vasily entered the city on August 1. Soon the surrounding cities were taken - Mstislavl, Krichev, Dubrovny. But Glinsky, to whom the Polish chronicles attributed the success of the third campaign, entered into relations with King Sigismund. He hoped to get Smolensk, but Vasily kept it for himself. Very soon the conspiracy was exposed, and Glinsky himself was imprisoned in Moscow. Some time later, the Russian army, commanded by Ivan Chelyadinov, suffered a heavy defeat near Orsha, but the Lithuanians could not return Smolensk. Smolensk remained a disputed territory until the end of the reign of Vasily III. At the same time, the inhabitants of the Smolensk region were taken to the Moscow regions, and the inhabitants of the regions close to Moscow were resettled in Smolensk. In 1518, Shah Ali Khan, friendly to Moscow, became Khan of Kazan, but he did not rule for long: in 1521 he was overthrown by the Crimean protégé Sahib Giray. In the same year, fulfilling allied obligations with Sigismund, the Crimean Khan Mehmed I Giray announced a raid on Moscow. Together with him, the Kazan Khan stepped out of his lands, near Kolomna, the Krymchaks and Kazanians united their armies together. The Russian army under the leadership of Prince Dmitry Belsky was defeated on the Oka River and was forced to retreat. The Tatars approached the walls of the capital. Vasily himself at that time left the capital for Volokolamsk to collect an army. Magmet-Giray was not going to take the city: having devastated the district, he turned back to the south, fearing the Astrakhans and the army gathered by Vasily, but taking a letter from the Grand Duke that he recognizes himself as a faithful tributary and vassal of the Crimea. On the way back, having met the army of the governor Khabar Simsky at Pereyaslavl Ryazansky, the khan began, on the basis of this letter, to demand the surrender of his army. But, having begged the Tatar ambassadors with this written commitment to his headquarters, Ivan Vasilievich Obrazets-Dobrynsky (such was the generic name of Khabar) withheld the letter, and dispersed the Tatar army with cannons. In 1522, the Crimeans were again expected in Moscow, Vasily and his army even stood on the Oka. Khan did not come, but the danger from the steppe did not pass. Therefore, Vasily in the same 1522 concluded a truce, according to which Smolensk remained with Moscow. The Kazanians did not calm down. In 1523, in connection with another massacre of Russian merchants in Kazan, Vasily announced a new campaign. Having ruined the khanate, on the way back he founded the city of Vasilsursk on the Sura, which was to become a new reliable place for bargaining with the Kazan Tatars. In 1524, after the third campaign against Kazan, Sahib Giray, who was allied to the Crimea, was overthrown, and Safa Giray was proclaimed Khan instead. In 1527, Islyam I Girey attacked Moscow. Having gathered in Kolomenskoye, Russian troops took up defense 20 km from the Oka. The siege of Moscow and Kolomna lasted five days, after which the Moscow army crossed the Oka and defeated the Crimean army on the Osetr River. Another steppe invasion was repulsed. In 1531, at the request of the Kazan people, the Kasimov prince Jan-Ali Khan was proclaimed khan, but he did not last long - after the death of Vasily, he was overthrown by the local nobility.

The results of the foreign policy of Vasily 3: Under Vasily 3, Russia developed good trade relations with France and India, Italy, and Austria. Pskov (1510), Smolensk (1514), Ryazan (1521), Novgorod-Seversky (1522) were annexed to Moscow.

Foreign policy of Ivan IV

Ivan IV in 1547 became the Tsar of All Russia. Ivan's foreign policy had three main directions: the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea, the war with the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates. The Kazan and Astrakhan khanates are states that were formed as a result of the collapse of the Golden Horde. Ivan the Terrible wanted to conquer these lands for several reasons. Firstly, in order to master the Volga trade route, and secondly, these territories had very fertile soil. Kazan at that time was the most impregnable fortress. Several times the Russians tried to take it, but it was all to no avail. In 1552, a fortress was transported across the Volga on logs. And near the confluence of the Sviyaga River into the Volga, the city of Sviyazhsk was built. This fortress became the main stronghold in the fight against Kazan. In the same year, the Russians captured Kazan, the Kazan Khanate fell. In 1556, Russian troops captured Astrakhan and the Astrakhan Khanate itself. And in 1557, Chuvashia and part of Bashkiria voluntarily joined Russia, then the Nogai Horde. All these annexed territories gave Russia the opportunity to fully own the Volga trade route, and the zone of interaction between Russia and other countries expanded (peoples were added to them North Caucasus and Central Asia). Also, the conquests allowed the Russians to advance into Siberia. In 1581, Yermak penetrated the territory of the Siberian Khanate, mastered the lands, and a year later conquered the Siberian Khanate. From the south, the calm of Russia was threatened by the Crimean Khanate. The people of this state constantly raided Russia, but the Russians came up with new way defense: in the south of Russia they made large blockages of forest, and in between

erected wooden fortresses (prisons). All these heaps prevented the movement of the Tatar cavalry.

Western direction.

Ivan the Terrible wanted to seize access to the Baltic Sea. The reason for this was that, if successful, rather profitable agricultural lands would join Russia, and ties with Europe (primarily trade) would also improve.

1558-1583 - Livonian War

In 1558, Russia began a war with the Livonian Order. At first, the war was successful for Russia: the Russians captured several cities, victories came one after another. But everything changed after the fall of the Livonian Order. The lands of the Livonian Order passed to Poland, Lithuania and Sweden. From that moment on, Russia's successes ceased, there were too many opponents. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland united to form the Commonwealth. The setbacks continued in 1582, the Commonwealth and Russia concluded the Yam-Zapolsky Peace, and in 1583 Russia and Sweden concluded the Truce of Plus.

Muscovite Rus under Ivan IV became a strong independent state with powerful defense lines and extensive international ties.

In the 17th century, the process of development of Siberia continued. By 1620, the cities of Berezov, Verkhoturye, Narym, Turukhansk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk were founded in Western Siberia. In 1632, the Yakut prison was founded. By 1640, Russian pioneers were in Transbaikalia. The cities of Nizhneudinsk, Irkutsk, Selenginsk were built. The expedition of Ivan Moskvin (1639) went to Pacific Ocean. Further expeditions by Semyon Dezhnev, Vasily Poyarkov, Yerofey Khabarov significantly expanded the ideas of Russian people about Siberia. Foreign policy The main directions of foreign policy to mid-seventeenth century of steel: western - the return of the lost in Time of Troubles lands and the south - achieving security from the raids of the Crimean khans. fighting against the Commonwealth in 1632-1634 ended unsuccessfully for Russia. According to the Polyanovsky peace treaty (1634), the cities captured at the beginning of the war were returned to the Poles. A new clash began in 1654 and went on with varying success until 1667, when the Andrusovo truce was signed (Smolensk and all the lands east of the Dnieper were returned to Russia). In 1686, the “Eternal Peace” was concluded with Poland, securing Kiev for Russia. During these hostilities, Russia also conducted unsuccessful military operations against Sweden. In 1661, the Treaty of Cardis was concluded, according to which the entire Baltic coast remained with Sweden. In the south, the Crimean Khanate posed the greatest danger. In 1637, the Don Cossacks managed to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov, which they held for five years. In 1681, the Bakhchisaray peace was concluded. The Dnieper was recognized as the border between Russia and Crimea. The Crimean Khanate promised not to attack Russia and not help its enemies for 20 years. However, in 1686 the peace was terminated by Russia, which united with Poland to fight against the Turkish-Tatar aggression.

In 1490, the eldest son of Ivan III died from his first marriage, who also bore the name Ivan. The question arose, who should be the heir: the second son of the sovereign - Vasily or grandson Dmitry, the son of the deceased prince? Noble, dignitaries really did not want the throne to go to Vasily, the son of Sophia Palaiologos. The late Ivan Ivanovich was titled Grand Duke, was, as it were, equal to his father, and therefore his son, even according to the old family accounts, had the right to seniority. But Vasily, on his mother's side, came from the famous royal root. The courtiers were divided: some stood for Dmitry, others for Vasily. Prince Ivan Yurievich Patrikeev and his son-in-law Semyon Ivanovich Ryapolovsky acted against Sophia and her son. These were persons very close to the sovereign, and all the most important things went through their hands. They and the widow of the deceased Grand Duke - Elena (Dmitry's mother) used all measures to persuade the sovereign to the side of his grandson and cool him to Sophia. Supporters of Dmitry started rumors that Sophia had plagued Ivan Ivanovich. The sovereign apparently began to lean towards the side of his grandson. Then the supporters of Sophia and Vasily, for the most part, humble people - boyar children and clerks, plotted in favor of Vasily. This plot was opened in December 1497. At the same time, Ivan III realized that some dashing women with a potion came to Sophia. He was furious, and did not want to see his wife, and ordered his son Vasily to be kept in custody. The main conspirators were executed by a painful death - first they cut off their arms and legs, and then their heads. The women who came to Sophia were drowned in the river; many were thrown into prison.

The desire of the boyars was fulfilled: on January 4, 1498, Ivan Vasilyevich crowned his grandson Dmitry with unprecedented triumph, as if to annoy Sophia. In the Assumption Cathedral, an elevated place was arranged among the church. Three chairs were placed here: the Grand Duke, his grandson and the Metropolitan. On the tarp lay Monomakh's cap and barm. The Metropolitan served a prayer service with five bishops and many archimandrites. Ivan III and the Metropolitan took their places on the dais. Prince Dmitry stood before them.

“Father, Metropolitan,” Ivan Vasilyevich said loudly, “since ancient times, our ancestors gave the great reign to their first sons, so I blessed my first son Ivan with the great reign. By the will of God, he died. I now bless his eldest son, my grandson Dmitry, with me and after me with the Grand Duchy of Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod. And you, father, give him your blessing."

After these words, the metropolitan invited Dmitry to stand in the place intended for him, laid his hand on his bowed head and prayed loudly, that the Almighty would vouchsafe him with His mercy, that virtue, pure faith and justice, etc., live in his heart. first barm, then Monomakh's hat, he handed it to Ivan III, and he already laid them on his grandson. This was followed by a litany, a prayer to the Theotokos, and many years; after which the clergy congratulated both Grand Dukes. “By the grace of God, rejoice and hello,” the Metropolitan proclaimed, “rejoice, Orthodox king Ivan Grand Duke of all Russia, autocrat, and with his grandson Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich, of all Russia, for many years!

Then the metropolitan greeted Dmitry and gave him a brief instruction so that he would have the fear of God in his heart, love the truth, mercy and righteous judgment, and so on. The prince repeated the same instruction to his grandson. With this, the coronation ceremony ended.

After mass, Dmitry left the church wearing barm and a crown. At the door he was showered with gold and silver money. This shedding was repeated at the entrance to the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedral, where the newly married Grand Duke went to pray. On this day, a rich feast was arranged at Ivan III. But the boyars did not rejoice at their triumph for long. And less than a year later, a terrible disgrace befell the main opponents of Sophia and Vasily - the princes Patrikeev and Ryapolovsky. Semyon Ryapolovsky was beheaded on the Moscow River. At the request of the clergy, the Patrikeyevs were shown mercy. The father was tonsured a monk in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, the eldest son in Kirillo-Belozersky, and the youngest was kept in custody in Moscow. There are no clear indications why the sovereign's disgrace befell these strong boyars. On one occasion, only Ivan III expressed himself about Ryapolovsky, that he was with Patrikeev " high-minded". These boyars, apparently, allowed themselves to annoy the Grand Duke with their advice and considerations. There is also no doubt that some of their intrigues against Sophia and Vasily were revealed. At the same time, Elena and Dmitry fell into disgrace; probably, her participation in the Jewish heresy also damaged her. Sophia and Vasily again took up their former position. From that time on, the sovereign began, according to the chroniclers, "not to take care of his grandson", and declared his son Vasily the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. The Pskovites, not yet knowing that Dmitry and his mother had fallen out of favor, sent to ask the sovereign and Dmitry to keep their fatherland in the old way, would not appoint a separate prince to Pskov, so that the Grand Duke who would be in Moscow would also be in Pskov.

This request annoyed Ivan III.

“Am I not free in my grandson and in my children,” he said in anger, “to whom I want, I will give the principality!”

He even ordered two of the ambassadors to be imprisoned. In 1502, Dmitry and Elena were ordered to be kept in custody, not to commemorate them at litanies in the church and not to call Dmitry the Grand Duke.

Sending ambassadors to Lithuania, Ivan ordered them to say this if their daughter or anyone else asked about Vasily:

“Our sovereign granted his son, made him a sovereign: as he himself is a sovereign in his states, so is his son with him in all those states a sovereign.”

The ambassador, who went to the Crimea, had to talk about the changes at the Moscow court like this:

“Our sovereign granted his grandson Dmitry, but he began to be rude to our sovereign; but after all, everyone favors the one who serves and strives, and who is rude, the one for which to favor.

Sofia died in 1503. Ivan III, already feeling weak in health, prepared a will. Meanwhile, it was time for Vasily to get married. An attempt to marry him to the daughter of the Danish king failed; then, on the advice of a courtier, a Greek, Ivan Vasilyevich followed the example of the Byzantine emperors. It was ordered to the court to gather the most beautiful girls, daughters of the boyars and boyar children, for the bride. They collected fifteen hundred of them. Vasily chose Solomonia, the daughter of the nobleman Saburov.

This method of marriage later became a custom among the Russian tsars. There was little good in him: when choosing a bride, they valued health and beauty, they did not pay much attention to temper and mind. Moreover, a woman who accidentally came to the throne, often from an ignoble state, could not behave like a real queen: in her husband she saw her master and merciful, she was not a friend for him, but a slave. She could not recognize herself as an equal with the king, and it seemed out of place for her to sit on the throne next to him; but at the same time, as a queen, she had no equal among those around her. Alone in the brilliant royal chambers, in precious jewelry, she was like a prisoner; and the king, her lord, was also alone on the throne. The manners and customs of the court also responded to the life of the boyars, and among them the separation of women from men, even seclusion, intensified even more.

In the same year that Vasily's marriage was completed (1505), Ivan III died on October 27, at the age of 67.

According to the will, all his five sons: Vasily, Yuri, Dmitry, Simeon and Andrei received allotments; but the eldest was assigned 66 cities, the richest, and the remaining four received 30 cities together; besides, they were deprived of the right to judge criminal cases in the destinies and to mint coins.

Therefore, the younger brothers of Ivan III certainly could not be called sovereigns; they were even obliged by an oath to keep the Grand Duke as master "honestly and menacingly, without offense." In the event of the death of an older brother, the younger ones had to obey the son of the deceased as their master. Thus, a new order of succession to the throne was established from father to son. Even during his lifetime, Ivan Vasilyevich ordered Vasily to conclude a similar agreement with Yuri, his second son; moreover, the will said: “If one of my sons dies and leaves neither a son nor a grandson behind, then his entire inheritance goes to my son Vasily, and the younger brothers do not intervene in this inheritance.” The grandson of Dmitry was no longer mentioned.

All his movable property, or "treasury", as it was then said (precious stones, gold and silver items, furs, dresses, etc.), Ivan III bequeathed to Vasily.

IV˜AN III Vasilyevich (January 22, 1440 - October 27, 1505, Moscow), Grand Duke of Moscow (since 1462), eldest son of Vasily II Vasilyevich the Dark. Since 1450, he has been referred to as the Grand Duke - co-ruler of his father. In the reign of Ivan III, a centralized apparatus of power began to take shape: a command system of government was born, the Sudebnik of 1497 was drawn up. Landownership was developed and the political importance of the nobility increased. Ivan III fought against the separatism of the specific princes and significantly limited their rights. By the end of the reign of Ivan III, many destinies were liquidated. In the 1460s-1480s, the Moscow prince successfully fought the Kazan Khanate, which since 1487 fell under the strong political influence of Russia. His most important achievement was the overthrow of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. With the broad support of the entire Russian population, Ivan III organized a strong defense against the invasion of Khan Akhmat (Standing on the Ugra). During the reign of Ivan III, the international prestige of the Russian state grew, diplomatic ties were established with the papal curia, the German Empire, Hungary, Moldova, Turkey, Iran, and the Crimea. Under Ivan III, the registration of the full title of the Grand Duke of "All Russia" began (in some documents he is already called the king). For the second time, Ivan III was married to Zoya (Sophia) Paleolog, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor. During the reign of Ivan III, large-scale construction began in Moscow (the Kremlin, its cathedrals, the Palace of Facets); stone fortresses were built in Kolomna, Tula, Ivangorod. Under Ivan III, the territorial core of the Russian centralized state was formed: Yaroslavl (1463), Rostov (1474) principalities were attached to the Moscow principality, Novgorod Republic(1478), Grand Duchy of Tver (1485), Vyatka (1489), Perm and most of Ryazan lands. The influence on Pskov and the Ryazan Grand Duchy was strengthened. After the wars of 1487-1494 and 1500-1503 with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a number of western Russian lands went to Moscow: Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky, Gomel, Bryansk. After the war of 1501-1503, Ivan III forced the Livonian Order to pay tribute (for Yuryev).

The reign of Basil III.

After the death of Ivan III, his eldest son from his second wife Vasily III (1505 - 1533) became the Grand Duke.

The new Grand Duke continued his father's policy. Under him, the independence of the last remaining unattached Russian lands was finally eliminated. In 1510, the independent history of Pskov ended: the veche bell was removed and taken to Moscow, the governors of the Grand Duke began to rule the city, and in 1521 the Ryazan principality suffered a similar fate. The last prince of Ryazan was able to flee to the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

No less important was another task: to return the Russian lands that continued to be part of Lithuania. In 1512 - 1522. there was another Russian-Lithuanian war. The Moscow government apparently hoped to occupy Smolensk, and then the territories of modern Belarus and Ukraine. But these optimistic hopes were not destined to come true. Only the capture of Smolensk (1514) was a major success. After that, new victories could be expected, but in reality it happened differently: in the same year, the Russian troops suffered a heavy defeat near Orsha. The war, which continued for several more years, did not lead either side to decisive successes. Under the terms of the truce of 1522, only Smolensk with its district became part of Russia.

Results of the reign of Basil III

completed the territorial unification of North-Eastern and North-Western Russia. In 1510, the autonomous state existence of Pskov ceased, and the entire Pskov elite was moved to the central and southeastern districts of the country. In 1521, the "independent" life of the Ryazan Grand Duchy ended. under him, the last semi-independent Russian lands were annexed to Moscow: Pskov (1510), Volotsky inheritance (1513), Ryazan (about 1521), Novgorod-Seversky (1522) principalities. During the reign of Vasily III, the landed estates of the nobility grew; measures were taken to limit the immune political privileges of the princely-boyar aristocracy. In foreign policy, Vasily III fought for Russian lands in the west and southwest, as well as with the Crimean and Kazan khanates. As a result of the Russian-Lithuanian wars of 1507-1508, 1512-1522, Smolensk was annexed to Russia (1514).

12. Alternatives to reforming Russia in the 16th century Reforms of Ivan IV. Oprichnina. From the end of the 1540s he ruled with the participation of the Chosen One. Under him, the convocation of Zemsky Sobors began, the Sudebnik of 1550 was drawn up. Court and administration reforms have been carried out, including the introduction of elements of self-government at the local level (Gubnaya, Zemskaya and other reforms). In 1565, after the betrayal of Prince Kurbsky, the oprichnina was introduced. From 1549 together with Chosen Rada(A.F. Adashev, Metropolitan Macarius, A.M. Kurbsky, priest Sylvester) Ivan IV carried out a number of reforms aimed at centralizing the state: Zemstvo reform, Lip reform, transformations were carried out in the army, in 1550 a new Sudebnik of Ivan IV was adopted. In 1549 the first Zemsky Sobor was convened, in 1551 the Stoglavy Sobor, which adopted a collection of decisions on church life called Stoglav. In 1555-1556, Ivan IV abolished feeding and adopted the most successful zemstvo reform took place in the northeastern Russian lands, where the black-eared (state) peasantry prevailed and there were few patrimonials, worse in southern Russian, where boyars-patrimonials prevailed. The betrayal of Kurbsky and the unwillingness of the patrimonial boyars to participate in the struggle against Poland and Lithuania leads the tsar to the idea of ​​establishing a personal dictatorship and defeating the boyars. In 1565 he announced the introduction of the oprichnina in the country. The country was divided into two parts: the territories that were not included in the oprichnina became known as the zemshchina. The oprichnina included mainly the northeastern Russian lands, where there were few boyars-patrimonials. Oprichnik took an oath of allegiance to the king and pledged not to communicate with the Zemstvo. Oprichniki dressed in black clothes, similar to monastic ones. Horse guardsmen had special insignia, gloomy symbols of the era were attached to the saddles: a broom - to sweep out treason, and dog heads - to gnaw out treason. With the help of the guardsmen, who were released from legal liability, Ivan IV forcibly confiscated the boyar estates, transferring them to the noble guardsmen. A major event of the oprichnina was the Novgorod pogrom in January-February 1570, the reason for which was the suspicion of Novgorod's desire to go over to Lithuania. In the abolition of the oprichnina in 1572, according to some historians, the invasion of Moscow in 1571 by the Crimean Khan played a role, the guardsmen showed their military failure. However, most of the Russian troops at that time were on western borders and the southern border of the state was bare.

Vasily the Third Ivanovich was born on March 25, 1479 in the family of Ivan the Third. However, Ivan the Young, his eldest son, was declared co-ruler of Ivan back in 1470. There was no hope that it was Vasily who would receive power, but in 1490 Ivan the Young died. Soon Vasily the Third is declared the heir. At the same time, he became the official heir to his father only from 1502. At that time, he was already the Novgorod and Pskov Grand Duke.

Like foreign policy, domestic policy was a natural continuation of the course begun by Ivan the Third, who directed all his actions towards the centralization of the state and upholding the interests of the Russian church. In addition, his policy led to the annexation of vast territories to Moscow.

So in 1510, Pskov was annexed to the Moscow principality, four years later - Smolensk, and in 1521 Ryazan. A year later, Novgorod-Seversk and Starodub principalities were also annexed. The cautious innovative reforms of Vasily III led to a significant restriction of the privileges of the princely-boyar families. All important state affairs were now taken personally by the prince, and he could receive advice only from trusted persons.

The policy of the ruler in question had a clearly defined goal of preserving and protecting the Russian land from regular raids, which periodically occurred “thanks to” the detachments of the Kazan and Crimean khanates. For solutions this issue the prince introduced a rather interesting practice, inviting noble Tatars to serve and allocating vast territories for them to rule. In addition, in foreign policy, Vasily III was friendly to distant powers, considering the possibility of concluding an anti-Turkish union with the Pope, etc.

During his entire reign, Vasily the Third was married twice. His first wife was Solomonia Saburova, a girl from a noble family of boyars. However, this marriage union did not bring heirs to the prince and was terminated for this reason in 1525. A year later, the prince marries Elena Glinskaya, who gave him two sons, Yuri and Stepan.

On December 3, 1533, Vasily the Third died of blood poisoning, after which he was buried in the Moscow Kremlin. Historians consider the unification of the northeastern and northwestern territories of Russia to be the most important result of the era of his reign. After Vasily the Third, his young son Ivan ascended the Russian throne under the regency of Glinskaya, who became the most famous king of Russia.

Video lecture by Vasily III:

Stages of formation of the Russian centralized state.

In the XIII-XIV centuries, the prerequisites for the formation of a Russian centralized state were formed - economic and political. The starting point in the development of the feudal economy was fast development Agriculture development of abandoned lands. There was a need for more new, more advanced tools, which led to the separation of craft from agriculture, and hence the growth of cities. There is a process of exchange in the form of trade between the artisan and the farmer, i.e. between city and countryside. The division of labor between individual regions of the country required the political unification of the Russian lands. Nobles, merchants, artisans were especially interested in this. The strengthening of economic ties was one of the reasons for the formation of a single Russian state. During this period, the exploitation of the peasants intensifies, which leads to an aggravation of the class struggle. The feudal lords strive to legally subjugate the peasants to themselves, to secure them for their property. Only a centralized state can perform such a function. The threat of attack from outside accelerated the process of centralization of the Russian state, because. all strata of society were interested in the struggle against an external enemy.

In the process of formation of a unified Russian state, three stages can be distinguished.

Back in the XII century, there was a tendency to unite the lands under the rule of one prince in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

· First stage (end of the 13th century) - the rise of Moscow, the beginning of unification. Moscow becomes the main contender to be considered the center of Russian lands.

· Second phase (1389-1462) - the fight against the Mongol-Tatars. Strengthening Moscow.

· Third stage ( 1462-1505) - the completion of the formation of a unified Russian state. The Mongol-Tatar yoke was overthrown, the process of unification of Russia was completed.

Unlike countries Western Europe the formation of the Russian centralized state had its own characteristics:

· The unification took place against the backdrop of late feudalism, and not flourishing, as in Europe;

· The unification of Russian lands was led by Moscow princes, and in Europe by the urban bourgeoisie;

· First of all, Russia united for political reasons, and then for economic ones, while for European countries the main ones were economic reasons.

Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible, the son of Vasily III, became the first king of all Russia and the supreme judge. The appanage princes were now under the control of proteges from Moscow.

The young centralized state in the XVI century. became known as Russia. The country has entered a new stage of its development.

Activities of Ivan 3.

For the first time, Prince Ivan 3 Vasilievich led the army at the age of 12. And the campaign against the Ustyug fortress turned out to be more than successful. After a victorious return, Ivan married his bride. Ivan 3 Vasilyevich made a victorious campaign in 1455, directed against the Tatars invading Russian borders. And in 1460 he was able to close the way to Russia for the Tatar army.

The prince was distinguished not only by lust for power and perseverance, but also by intelligence and prudence. It was the great reign of Ivan 3 that was the first in a long time that did not begin with a trip to the Horde to receive a label. During the entire period of his reign, Ivan 3 sought to unite the northeastern lands. By force or with the help of diplomacy, the prince annexed to his lands the territories of Chernigov, Ryazan (partially), Rostov, Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Dimitrovsk, Bryansk, and so on.

Domestic politics Ivan 3 was focused on the fight against the princely-boyar aristocracy. During his reign, a restriction was introduced on the transfer of peasants from one landowner to another. This was allowed only during the week before and the week after St. George's Day. Artillery units appeared in the army. From 1467 to 1469 Ivan 3 Vasilievich conducted military operations aimed at subjugating Kazan. And as a result, he put her in vassalage. And in 1471 he annexed the lands of Novgorod to the Russian state. After military conflicts with the Lithuanian principality in 1487-1494. and 1500 - 1503. the territory of the state was expanded by joining Gomel, Starodub, Mtsensk, Dorogobuzh, Toropets, Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky. Crimea during this period remained an ally of Ivan 3.

In 1472 (1476) Ivan the Great stopped paying tribute to the Horde, and Standing on the Ugra in 1480 marked the end Tatar-Mongol yoke. For this, Prince Ivan received the nickname Saint. During the reign of Ivan 3, chronicle writing and architecture flourished. Such architectural monuments as the Faceted Chamber and the Assumption Cathedral were erected.

The unification of many lands required the creation of a single legal system. And in 1497 a judicial code was created. Sudebnik Ivan 3 united the legal norms previously reflected in "Russian Truth" and Statutory letters, as well as individual decrees of the predecessors of Ivan the Great.

Ivan 3 Sovereign of All Russia, was married twice. In 1452 he married the daughter of the prince of Tver, who died at the age of thirty. According to some historians, she was poisoned. From this marriage there was a son, Ivan Ivanovich (Young).

In 1472 he married the Byzantine princess Sophia Palaiologos, niece of Constantine 9, the last Byzantine emperor. This marriage brought the prince the sons of Vasily, Yuri. Dmitry, Semyon and Andrey. It is worth noting that the second marriage of Ivan 3 caused great tension at court. Part of the boyars supported Ivan the Young, the son of Maria Borisovna. The second part supported the new Grand Duchess Sophia. At the same time, the prince took the title of Sovereign of All Russia.

After the death of Ivan the Young, the great Ivan III crowned his grandson Dmitry. But, Sophia's intrigues soon led to a change in the situation. (Dmitry died in prison in 1509). Before his death, Ivan 3 proclaimed his son Vasily. Prince Ivan III died on October 27, 1505.

Activities of Vasily 3.

In 1470, Ivan the Young, his eldest son, was declared co-ruler of the Grand Duke. The prince's hopes for the transfer of full power to him did not materialize. Ivan the Young died in 1490. After that, Vasily 3 was declared the heir. Officially, he became the co-ruler of his father, starting in 1502. By that time he was the Grand Duke of Pskov and Novgorod.

The internal policy of Vasily 3, as well as the external one, was a natural continuation of the actions of Ivan 3, taken by him to defend the interests Orthodox Church and centralization of the state. His activities led to the annexation of significant territories to the Principality of Moscow. In 1510 - Pskov, in 1514 - Smolensk, in 1521 - Ryazan. A year later, in 1522, the Starodub and Novgorod-Seversk principalities were annexed. The reforms of Vasily 3 led to the fact that the privileges of the princely-boyar Russian families were noticeably limited. All serious state decisions were made by the prince personally, consulting only with a narrow circle of trusted persons.

The foreign policy of Vasily 3 had a clearly defined goal - to protect the lands of the principality from raids periodically carried out by detachments of the Crimean and Kazan khanates. To this end, a rather peculiar practice was introduced. Tatars from the noblest families were invited to the service, while allocating land to them. The prince was also friendly towards more distant states. He sought to develop trade with European powers. He considered the possibility of concluding a union (directed against Turkey) with the Pope and so on.

For his life Vasily 3 short biography which is reflected in this article, was married twice. His first wife was a girl from the noblest boyar family, Solomonia Saburova. But, this marriage did not bring children to the prince. On this basis, it was dissolved in 1525. The following year, the prince took another wife - Elena Glinskaya. She gave the prince sons Ivan and Yuri. Vasily 3 died from blood poisoning on December 3, 1533. Vasily 3, whose brief biography is described in the article, was buried in the cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The most important result of the reign of this prince was the completion of the unification of the northwestern and northeastern lands of Russia. Vasily 3 was succeeded by the young son Ivan 4, who later became the most famous ruler of Russia.