The reign of Prince Vasily 3 1505 1533. Domestic and foreign policy of 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 the rapid 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 economic reasons were the main ones.

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 became the first for a long time, which did not begin with a trip to receive a label to the Horde. 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.

The domestic policy of 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 clear definite purpose- 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.

Foreign policy of the Muscovite state of the 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 Baltic Sea, in the southeast and east - the fight against 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.

To early XVI century, it was possible to ensure relative calm on the eastern borders thanks to the victorious campaigns of the grand ducal 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 the Seversk land (captured at one time by Lithuania) came under the rule of Moscow. The Baltic issue became an important and independent part of Russian foreign policy: Russia sought guarantees level playing field- legal and economic - 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 elimination, 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 Basil III

Vasily III came into possession of his father's 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-Girey 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, however, 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 Vasilyevich 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 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 a new way of defense: they made large forest blockages in the south of Russia, 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.

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

In the 17th century, the process of development of Siberia continued. By 1620 in Western Siberia the cities of Berezov, Verkhoturye, Narym, Turukhansk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk were founded. 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 by the middle of the 17th century were: 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 he concluded Eternal Peace” with Poland, which secured Kyiv 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.

At the end of the reign of Ivan IIIthere was an unclear system of succession to the throne. The first wife is Maria Borisovna Tverskaya. The second wife is Sophia Paleolog. The eldest son from Sophia is Vasily Ivanovich (born 1479). Eldest son by Mary- Ivan Young. In 1490 Ivan the Young dies. The son of Ivan Ivanovich - Dmitry Ivanovich is also a contender for the throne. Before Ivan III choice arises. In 1498 Dmitry grandson was declared co-ruler of IvanIII and is crowned king. In 1502 Dmitry's grandson falls into disgrace with his mother. Vasily Ivanovich becomes the heir to the throne.

April 1503. Sophia Paleolog dies. In July 1503 Ivan III fell seriously ill. He begins work on drafting a will. Basil receives a great reign. Yuri receives Dmitrov, Kashin, Bryansk. Dmitry received Uglich, Zubtsov. Semyon received Kaluga and Kozelsk. Andrei received Staritsa and Aleksin. Vasily received the largest territories in his possession.

According to the will of Ivan III, for the first time Moscow was given to one son - Vasily. Also, specific princes were forbidden to print their own money. Vyvorochnye destinies joined the possessions of Vasily.

Autonomous possessions continue to exist. Prince Fyodor Borisovich - nephew of Ivan IIIbelongs to the Principality of Volotsk, Semyon Ivanovich owned Starodub, Gomel, Lyubech, Vasily Shemyatich receives Rytsk and No in the city of Seversky. The Pskov land and the Ryazan principality were autonomous republics.

In 1505 Vasily Ivanovich decides to marry. Vasily chooses Solomoniya Yurievna Saburova. The wedding took place in September 1505.

October 27, 1505 Ivan IIIdies. Vasily becomes prince III(1505-1533).

Relations with neighbors at that time were troubled. The greatest danger comes from the Kazan Khanate, whose khan was Mukhamed-Emin. In 1506 troops are sent to Kazan. May-June 1506 Russian troops were defeated near Kazan. In 1507 peace is concluded with Kazan.

In 1506 King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander dies. Sigismund becomes the new ruler of Poland and Lithuania. When Sigismund learns about the war with the Tatars, he decides to return the lands conquered by Russia in the spring of 1507. the war starts.

Mikhail Lvovich Glinsky in Lithuania. Becomes a favorite of Alexander. When Sigismund comes to power, he finds himself in disgrace. In 1508 begins a rebellion led by Glinsky. Both sides capture some cities. In October 1508 a peace treaty was concluded.

Big problems Vasily III has the clergy. In 1503, the first church council took place, which decided on the inviolability of church land.

In 1507 Joseph Volotsky asks Vasily III and Metropolitan Simon to accept the monastery under their protection. Archbishop Sirapion excommunicated Joseph Volotsky in 1509. from the church. At the same time, a church council was held, at which Sirapion was condemned and defrocked. In 1511 Simon died and Varlaam, who was a supporter of non-acquisitiveness, became the new metropolitan. In 1515 Joseph Volotsky dies.

In 1510 Pskov is annexed. In 1509 Ivan Repnya Obolensky was poisoned by the Polish prince. The people complained about the prince, and the prince complained about the people. In January 1510 in Pskov they remove the veche bell and take the oath.

Relations with Lithuania are aggravated. In 1512. in Moscow they learn that Elena (sister of Vasily III and widow of Alexander) was arrested. In 1513 Elena is dying. In the autumn of 1512 Vasily declares war on Lithuania. November 1512. the siege of Smolensk begins, but ends unsuccessfully. In the autumn of 1513 - another unsuccessful trip. In the summer of 1514 the third assault on the fortress was made (successful). August 1, 1514 Smolensk was annexed, Prince Vasily Shuisky was appointed governor. Mikhail Lvovich Glinsky decides to flee to Lithuania, he was caught and letters of the Polish king were found, he was abolished the death penalty, but left in prison. The Lithuanian troops were commanded by Prince Vasily Ostrozhsky. September 8, 1514 the Battle of the Korshun took place. Due to the inconsistency of the Russian troops, the army was defeated. Residents of Smolensk decide to change Russia. But Prince Vasily Shuisky finds out about the conspiracy and cracks down on the conspirators. The war with Lithuania continues from 1512 to 1522.

In 1518 in Kazan, Khan Mukhamed - Emin dies. The question arises about the heir. Two groups are fighting in Kazan: pro-Moscow and pro-Crimea. As a result, the pro-Moscow group wins and turns to Vasily III with a request to choose an heir. Basil appoints Khan Shigalei. In the spring of 1521 a coup against the khan took place and the Crimean princes began to rule in Kazan.

1521 - Invasion of the Crimean Tatars, led by Khan Mukhamed Giray, Kazan Tatars attack in the east. Vasily III fled from Moscow. In order not to burn Moscow, he signs a letter with a promise to pay tribute. But she disappeared. As a result, it turns out that Russia cannot wage war at the same time. In 1522 Peace is made with Lithuania. In 1523 trip to Kazan. A fortress appears at the mouth of the Sura River. 1524 - a new campaign against Kazan, after which peace was concluded. One of the conditions for peace is the appearance of the Makariev Fair.

Annexation of Novgorod-Seversky Principality. Vasily III invites Vasily Shemyatich to Moscow for the purpose of arrest, but he does not agree to come. Vasily Shemyatich asks for guarantees of his safety. In 1522 Daniel becomes metropolitan. He gives Shemyatich a safe conduct. April 1523. Shemyatich arrives in Moscow, where he is arrested.

1525 - Condemnation of some persons from the environment of the Grand Duke. Reasons: dissatisfaction of part of the courtiers with the desire of Vasily IIIdivorce his first wife, possible connection of some of the convicts with the Turkish government, a critical attitude towards Vasily's policiesIII, heresy. Convicts: Maxim Grek, Persen Beklimishev.

Maxim Grek, real name - Mikhail Privolis, was born in Greece, in his youth he left for Italy. He became a monk of one of the Florentine monasteries. In 1505 became a monk of the Athos monastery. In 1518 appears in Russia at the invitation of Vasily III. A circle forms around it. At the end of 1524 Maxim Grek is arrested. In 1529 they were condemned. Maxim was accused of having connections with the Turkish ambassador, talking with condemnation of Vasily's policyIII, accusation of heresy, non-recognition of Russian metropolitans, tk. they are placed without the consent of Constantinople. As a result, Maxim the Greek was sent into exile in the Joseph-Volotsky Monastery.

November 1525 - divorce of Vasily III and tonsure in the monastery of Solomon. main reason- absence of children. But according to church canons, divorce is prohibited. Information about the investigation into witchcraft has been preserved.

January 1526 Vasily III enters into a new marriage with Elena Vasilievna Glinskaya.
Soon, Prince Mikhail Glinsky was released from prison.

1530 - campaign against Kazan (ended in defeat)

1531 Church Cathedral. Solutions: Non-recognition of Russian saints, because they owned inhabited lands. Accusation of Vasian Patrikeev on the alteration of the helmsman's book. Maxim Grek was declared to be in translation errors and exiled to Tver.

August 25, 1530 son Ivan was born in 1533. second son George was born.

Autumn 1533 Basil III goes hunting and falls seriously ill.

The results of the reign of Vasily III:

1. Strengthening of the princely power. He was the supreme commander in chief, possessed the highest court, laws were issued on his behalf, and pursued domestic and foreign policy. Before making a decision, he consulted with the boyars and those close to him. A new organ appears - the Boyar Duma. Ranks: boyar, okolnichiy, duma nobles, duma clerks.

2. The nobility consisted of 3 groups: the Rurik princes (Shuisky, Gorbaty, Obolensky), the Gedeminovich princes (Mstislavsky, Golitsyn), the old Moscow boyars.

3. Ranks:

one). Konyush - boyars (headed the Boyar Duma).

2). Butler (court, administration of grand ducal lands)

3). Gunsmiths (grand princely armor)

four). Yaselniki, falconers, hunters (hunting).

5). Bedding (bed and security).

6). Treasurer (finance, foreign policy).

7). Printer (storage of the Grand Duke's seal).

Appointment to a position in the Boyar Duma depended on the Grand Duke. When appointed Grand Duke took into account localism - the procedure for appointment to a position, depending on the origin and service of the ancestor. An important role continues to be played by the clerks who conducted office work. Governors and volostels were engaged in local government (they were fed at the expense of the population). Such an order of management is feeding. Governors and volostels were given income lists. The town clerk appears.

Bibliography

Dvornichenko A.Yu., Kashchenko S.G., Florinsky M.F. National history(until 1917): Proc. allowance.

Orlov A., Georgiev V., Georgiev N., Sivokhina T. History of Russia from ancient times to the present day

Under Vasily III, the last semi-independent destinies and principalities joined Moscow. The Grand Duke limited the privileges of the princely-boyar aristocracy. He became famous for the victorious war against Lithuania.

Childhood and youth

The future emperor of the Rus was born in the spring of 1479. They named the grand-ducal offspring in honor of Basil the Confessor, at baptism they gave the Christian name Gabriel. Vasily III is the first son born to her husband Sophia Paleolog, and the second in seniority. At the time of his birth, his half-brother was 21 years old. Later, Sophia gave birth to her husband four more sons.

The path of Vasily III to the throne was thorny: Ivan the Young was considered the main heir and successor of the sovereign. The second competitor to the throne was the son of Ivan the Young - Dmitry, who was favored by the august grandfather.

In 1490, the eldest son of Ivan III died, but the boyars did not want to see Vasily on the throne and sided with Dmitry and his mother Elena Voloshanka. The second wife of Ivan III Sophia Paleolog and her son were supported by the clerks and boyar children who led the orders. Supporters of Vasily pushed him to a conspiracy, advising the prince to kill Dmitry Vnuk and, having seized the treasury, flee from Moscow.

The sovereign's people uncovered the conspiracy, those involved were executed, and Ivan III put the rebellious offspring into custody. Suspecting his wife Sophia Paleolog of bad intentions, the Grand Duke of Moscow began to beware of her. Having learned that fortune tellers were coming to his wife, the sovereign ordered to seize the “dashing women” and drown them in the Moscow River under cover of night.

In February 1498, Dmitry was crowned reigning, but a year later the pendulum swung in the opposite direction: the mercy of the sovereign left his grandson. Vasily, at the behest of his father, accepted Novgorod and Pskov as princes. In the spring of 1502, Ivan III imprisoned his daughter-in-law Elena Voloshanka and grandson Dmitry, and blessed Vasily with a great reign and declared all Russia an autocrat.

Governing body

In domestic politics, Vasily III was an adherent of strict rule and believed that power should not be limited by anything. He immediately dealt with discontented boyars and relied on the church in confrontation with the opposition. But in 1521, Metropolitan Varlaam fell under the hot hand of the Grand Duke of Moscow: for his unwillingness to take the side of the autocrat in the struggle against the appanage prince Vasily Shemyakin, the priest was exiled.

Basil III considered criticism unacceptable. In 1525 he executed the diplomat Ivan Bersen-Beklemishev: statesman did not accept the Greek innovations introduced into the life of Russia by the sovereign's mother Sophia.

Over the years, the despotism of Vasily III intensified: the sovereign, increasing the number of landed nobility, limited the privileges of the boyars. The son and grandson continued the centralization of Russia begun by his father Ivan III and grandfather Vasily the Dark.

In church politics, the new sovereign took the side of the Josephites, who defended the right of monasteries to own land and property. Their nonpossessor opponents were executed or imprisoned in monastic cells. During the reign of Father Ivan the Terrible, a new Sudebnik appeared, which has not survived to this day.

For the era of Basil III Ivanovich there was a building boom that was started by his father. The Archangel Cathedral appeared in the Moscow Kremlin, and the Church of the Ascension of the Lord appeared in Kolomenskoye.

The Tsar's two-storey travel palace, one of the oldest monuments of civil architecture in the Russian capital, has survived to this day. There were quite a few such small palaces (“Putinok”), in which Vasily III and the retinue accompanying the tsar rested before entering the Kremlin, but only the palace on Staraya Basmannaya has survived.

Opposite the "Putinka" there is another architectural monument - the Church of Nikita the Martyr. It appeared in 1518 by order of Vasily III and was originally made of wood. In 1685, a stone church was built in its place. Under the vaults ancient temple prayed, Fedor Rokotov,.

In foreign policy, Vasily III was noted as a collector of Russian lands. At the beginning of his reign, the Pskovites asked to join them to the Moscow principality. The tsar acted with them, as Ivan III did with the Novgorodians earlier: he resettled 3 hundred noble families from Pskov to Moscow, giving their estates to service people.

After the third siege in 1514, Smolensk was taken, for the conquest of which Vasily III used artillery. The annexation of Smolensk was the greatest military success of the sovereign.

In 1517, the tsar put into custody the last prince of Ryazan, Ivan Ivanovich, who had conspired with the Crimean khan. Soon he was tonsured a monk, and his inheritance was "finished" to the Moscow principality. Then the Starodub and Novgorod-Seversk principalities surrendered.

At the beginning of his reign, Vasily III made peace with Kazan, and after the violation of the agreement, he went on a campaign against the khanate. The war with Lithuania was crowned with success. The results of the reign of the sovereign of all Russia Vasily Ivanovich was the strengthening of the country, they learned about it abroad. Relations with France and India began.

Personal life

Ivan III married his son a year before his death. It was not possible to pick up a noble wife: Solomonia Saburova, a girl of a non-Yarsk family, was chosen as Vasily's wife.

At the age of 46, Vasily III was seriously concerned that his wife had not given him an heir. The boyars advised the tsar to divorce the barren Solomon. Metropolitan Daniel approved the divorce. In November 1525, the Grand Duke parted ways with his wife, who was tonsured a nun at the Nativity Convent.

After the tonsure, rumors broke out that imprisoned in the monastery ex-wife gave birth to a son, Georgy Vasilievich, but there is no convincing evidence for this. According to popular rumor, the grown-up son of Saburova and Vasily Ivanovich became the robber Kudeyar, sung in Nekrasov's "Song of the Twelve Thieves".

A year after the divorce, the nobleman chose the daughter of the late Prince Glinsky. The girl conquered the king with her education and beauty. For the sake of the prince, he even shaved off his beard, which went against Orthodox traditions.

4 years passed, and the second wife did not give the king a long-awaited heir. The sovereign, together with his wife, went to Russian monasteries. It is generally accepted that the prayers of Vasily Ivanovich and his wife were heard by the Monk Pafnuty Borovsky. In August 1530, Elena gave birth to their first child, Ivan, the future Ivan the Terrible. A year later, a second boy appeared - Yuri Vasilyevich.

Death

The king did not enjoy fatherhood for long: when the first-born was 3 years old, the sovereign fell ill. On the way from the Trinity Monastery to Volokolamsk, Vasily III discovered an abscess on his thigh.

After the treatment, there was a short relief, but after a couple of months the doctor delivered a verdict that only a miracle could save Vasily: the patient began to become infected with blood.

In December, the king died, having blessed the first-born on the throne. The remains were buried in the Moscow Archangel Cathedral.

Researchers suggest that Vasily III died of cancer in the last stage, but in the 16th century, doctors did not know about such a disease.

Memory

• During the reign of Vasily III, a new Sudebnik was created, the Archangel Cathedral, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord were built.
• In 2007, Aleksey Shishov published the study Vasily III: The Last Gatherer of the Russian Land.
• In 2009, the premiere of the series "Ivan the Terrible" by the director took place, in which the role of Vasily III went to the actor.
• In 2013, the book by Alexander Melnik "Moscow Grand Duke Vasily III and the cults of Russian saints" was published.

Vasily 3 (r. 1505-1533) was marked by the final collection of Russian lands around Moscow. It was under Vasily III that the process of uniting the lands around Moscow was completed and the process of creating the Russian state continued to take shape.

Most historians agree that Vasily 3 as a ruler and personality was much inferior to his father, Ivan 3. It is hard to say for sure whether this is true or not. The fact is that Vasily continued the business (and successfully) started by his father, but did not have time to start his own important business.

End of specific system

Ivan 3 transferred full power to Vasily 3, and younger sons ordered to obey the older brother in everything. Vasily 3 got 66 cities (other sons 30), as well as the right to determine and conduct the country's foreign policy and mint coins. The specific system was preserved, but the power of the Grand Duke over others became stronger and stronger. Joseph Volotsky very accurately described the system of Russia of that period ( church figure), who called the reign of Vasily 3 the reign over "All Russian lands by the sovereign sovereign." Sovereign sovereign- that's how it really was. There were sovereigns who owned inheritances, but there was a single sovereign over them.

In the fight against the inheritances, Vasily 3 showed cunning - he forbade his brothers, the owners of the inheritances, to marry. Accordingly, those did not have children and their power withered away, and the lands passed into submission to Moscow. By 1533, only 2 inheritances were sown: Yuri Dmitrovsky and Andrei Staritsky.

Domestic politics

Consolidation of lands

The internal policy of Vasily 3 continued the path of his father, Ivan 3: the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. The main initiatives in this regard were as follows:

• Subjugation of independent principalities.
• Strengthening the borders of the state.

In 1510, Vasily 3 subjugated Pskov. contributed greatly to this Pskov prince Ivan Repnya-Obolensky, who was a cruel and unprincipled man. The people of Pskov did not like him, they staged riots. As a result, the prince was forced to turn to the main Sovereign, asking him to pacify the citizens. After that, there are no reliable sources. It is only known that Vasily 3 arrested the ambassadors who were sent to him from the townspeople, and offered them the only solution to the problem - submission to Moscow. That's what they decided on. To gain a foothold in this region, the Grand Duke sends central regions countries of the 300 most influential families of Pskov.

In 1521, the Ryazan principality submitted to the authorities of Moscow, in 1523 the last southern principalities. Thus, the main task of the domestic policy of the era of the reign of Vasily 3 was solved by the Saami - the country was united.

Map of the Russian state under Vasily 3

A map showing the last stages of the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. Most of These changes took place during the reign of Prince Vasily Ivanovich.

Foreign policy

Extension Russian state under Basil 3 it also turned out to be quite extensive. The country managed to strengthen its influence, despite the rather strong neighbors.

Western direction

War of 1507-1508

In 1507-1508 there was a war with Lithuania. The reason was that the border Lithuanian principalities began to swear allegiance to Russia. The last to do this was Prince Mikhail Glinsky (before that, the Odoevsky, Belsky, Vyazemsky and Vorotynsky). The reason for the unwillingness of the princes to be part of Lithuania lies in religion. Lithuania forbade Orthodoxy forcibly planted Catholicism on the local population.

In 1508, Russian troops besieged Minsk. The siege was successful and Sigismund 1 sued for peace. According to its results, all the lands that Ivan III annexed were assigned to Russia. This was a big breakthrough and an important step in foreign policy and in strengthening the Russian state.

War of 1513-1522

In 1513, Vasily 3 learns that Lithuania has agreed with the Crimean Khanate and is preparing for a military campaign. The prince decided to take the lead and laid siege to Smolensk. The assault on the city was heavy and the city repelled two attacks, but in the end, in 1514, Russian troops still took the city. But in the same year, the Grand Duke lost the battle of Orsha, which allowed the Lithuanian-Polish troops to approach Smolensk. The city was not taken.

Minor battles continued until 1525, when peace was signed for 5 years. As a result of the peace, Russia retained Smolensk, and the border with Lithuania now ran along the Dnieper River.

South and East Directions

Eastern and south direction The foreign policy of Prince Vasily Ivanovich should be considered together, since the Crimean Khan and the Kazan Khan acted jointly. As early as 1505, the Kazan Khan invaded Russian lands with robberies. In response, Vasily 3 sends an army to Kazan, forcing the enemy to swear allegiance to Moscow again, as was the case under Ivan 3.

1515-1516 - the Crimean army reaches Tula, devastating the land along the way.

1521 - the Crimean and Kazan khans simultaneously began a military campaign against Moscow. Having reached Moscow, the Crimean Khan demanded that Moscow pay tribute, as it was before, and Vasily 3 agreed, since the enemy was numerous and strong. After that, the Khan's army went to Ryazan, but the city did not surrender, and they returned to their lands.

1524 - the Crimean Khanate captures Astrakhan. All Russian merchants and the governor were killed in the city. Vasily 3 concludes a truce and sends an army to Kazan. Kazan ambassadors arrive in Moscow to negotiate. They dragged on for several years.

1527 - on the Oka River, the Russian army defeated the army of the Crimean Khan, thereby stopping the constant raids from the south.

1530 - the Russian army sends to Kazan and takes the city by storm. A ruler is installed in the city - a Moscow protege.

Key dates

• 1505-1533 - the reign of Vasily 3
• 1510 - annexation of Pskov
• 1514 - annexation of Smolensk

The king's wives

In 1505, Vasily 3 decided to marry. For the prince, real brides were arranged - 500 noble girls from all over the country came to Moscow. The choice of the prince settled on Solomnia Saburova. Together they lived for 20 years, but the princess could not give birth to an heir. As a result, by decision of the prince, Solomnia was tonsured a nun and sent to the Suzdal convent of the Intercession.

In fact, Basil 3 carried out a divorce from Solomon, violating all the laws of that time. Moreover, for this, even Metropolitan Varlaam, who refused to arrange a divorce, had to be removed. But in the end, after the change of metropolitan, Solomonia was accused of witchcraft, after which she was tonsured a nun.

In January 1526, Vasily 3 marries Elena Glinskaya. The Glinsky family was not the most noble, but Elena was beautiful and young. In 1530, she gave birth to her first son, who was named Ivan (future Tsar Ivan the Terrible). Soon another son was born - Yuri.

Maintain power at all costs

The reign of Vasily 3 seemed impossible for a long time, since his father wanted to transfer the throne to his grandson from his first marriage, Dmitry. Moreover, in 1498, Ivan 3 crowns Dmitry to reign, declaring him heir to the throne. The second wife of Ivan 3 Sophia (Zoya) Paleolog, together with Vasily, organizes a conspiracy against Dmitry in order to get rid of a competitor in the succession to the throne. The plot was revealed, and Vasily was arrested.

• In 1499, Ivan 3 pardons his son Vasily and releases him from prison.
• In 1502, Dmitri himself was accused and imprisoned, and Vasily was blessed to reign.

In the light of the events of the struggle for the rule of Russia, Vasily 3 clearly understood that power is important at any cost, and anyone who interferes with this is an enemy. Here, for example, what words are in the annals:

I am king and lord by right of blood. I did not ask anyone for titles and did not buy them. There are no laws according to which I have to obey someone. By believing in Christ, I renounce any rights demanded from others.

Prince Vasily 3 Ivanovich