Summary: Ivan III: foreign and domestic policy. Reign of Ivan III

During the reign of Ivan III (1462-1505), the most important step was taken towards the unification of North-Eastern Russia around Moscow. Such large principalities as Tver, Rostov, Yaroslavl, half of Ryazan, as well as the veche cities of Novgorod and Vyatka with their regions were attached to the Moscow possessions. In the XIV century, Moscow was only a hegemon over neighboring destinies, which at the same time retained their independence. But as a result of the reign of Ivan III, specific autonomy was in most cases abolished, and Muscovite Rus turned into centralized state.

Unification of North-Eastern Russia by Moscow 1300-1462

With the exception of Novgorod and Tver, the unification of the Russian lands under Ivan III was carried out by peaceful means. Former appanage princes, as a reward for renouncing autonomy, were rewarded with admission to the Moscow boyars and even retained some administrative rights in their former possessions. This raised the influence of the boyars as an aristocratic class that had the right to legislate together with the Grand Duke in the Boyar Duma. Little by little, the conflict between the boyar aristocracy and the sovereign intensified, which reached its highest point during the oprichnina of Ivan the Terrible.

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The result of the reign of Ivan III was also a noticeable strengthening of Russia's foreign policy and a significant expansion of its borders due to successful wars with neighbors.

Ivan III averted the threat of Novgorod falling away from Moscow to Lithuania (the goal of the Novgorod Boretsky party). As a result of successful wars with Lithuania (1492-1494 and 1500-1503), a vast border territory - the Verkhovsky and Seversky principalities (with the cities of Belev, Odoev, Kozelsk, Novosil, Vyazma, Chernigov, Starodub, Novgorod-Seversky and Putivl) went to the Russian state .

Sofia Paleolog. Reconstruction from the skull of S. A. Nikitin

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The result of the reign of Ivan III was an impressive cultural upsurge in Russia. Architects and engineers who arrived with Sophia Paleolog from Italy (Aristotle Fioravanti, Pietro Solari, Aleviz, etc.) helped to build new walls of the Moscow Kremlin, build a new brilliant Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, the Faceted Chamber and other structures inside it. The works of Russian artists Dionysius, Timothy, Koni developed icon painting. The famous fighter against heresies, Novgorod Archbishop Gennady, actively worked in the field of church education, compiling the first Slavic biblical canon. The works of Joseph Volotsky became brilliant examples of spiritual literature.

Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Built under Ivan III

The main goal of Ivan III in domestic politics was the expansion of grand ducal power over the whole of Great Russia, and ultimately over the whole of Russia. Thus, not only the Grand Duchy of Moscow, but also many other parts of Russia were involved in the sphere of his political activity. His goals can be described as nationally Russian, not specifically Moscow. The old wording in the title of the Grand Dukes of Moscow, All Russia, now took on additional meaning.

The task facing Ivan III during his national policy, had two sides: firstly, he had to annex to Moscow the hitherto independent Russian states, and secondly, to limit the power of his brothers and other specific princes. As we know, he avoided hasty decisions whenever possible, preferring to move gradually and concentrate his attention at every single moment on one particular problem. Therefore, the process of unification of Great Russia continued throughout the reign of Ivan III, and some less significant tasks were even left to be solved by his son and successor Vasily III.

Recall that in 1462, the year of Ivan III's accession to the throne, Great Russia was still far from political unity. In addition to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, there were two more grand principalities (Tver and Ryazan), two principalities (Yaroslavl and Rostov) and three city-republics (Novgorod, Pskov and Vyatka).

The Grand Duchy of Moscow itself was also not completely unified. Although the father of Ivan III, Vasily II, confiscated the inheritances of Dmitry Yuryevich Shemyaka (Galich in the Kostroma land), Ivan Andreevich Mozhaisky and Vasily Yaroslavovich Borovsky, he agreed to leave Prince Mikhail Andreevich in Vereya and Beloozero to rule there as a grand-ducal vassal ("younger brother") . Michael addressed Vasily II as his master and "elder brother". 176

In the first or second year of his reign, Ivan III, in turn, concluded an agreement with Mikhail on approximately the same terms as the Treaty of 1450. Mikhail's political dependence on the Grand Duke was reflected in the same terminology: 177 in the Treaty of 1472, Ivan called himself Mikhail's "elder brother" and his "master." Similar terms were also used in the Treaty of 1482. 178 In the Treaty of 1483, Mikhail had to recognize as his “elder brother” also the son of Ivan III, Ivan the Young. 179 It can be seen how Ivan III consistently strengthened the power of the Grand Duke, which was reflected in the change in the "terminology of subordination." Approximately in 1483, Mikhail Andreevich wrote a will in which he called Ivan III not only his master, but also his sovereign; moreover, he added the expression "All Russia" to Ivan's title. 180 And what was even more important for Ivan III, he bequeathed to him the principalities of Vereiskoe and Beloozero. Michael died in 1486, and both of his principalities were then officially ceded to Muscovy.

All the brothers of Vasily II died in infancy (except for one who died at the age of 21) and left no offspring. Thus, during the reign of Vasily II, the question of appanages within the grand-ducal family did not arise. Vasily left 5 sons, including Ivan III. The old Russian idea, according to which each son received a share of his father's property, was so strong that Vasily II had to take it into account. In the last will and order, Vasily "blessed" the eldest son of Ivan III with the Grand Duchy and gave him direct control about half of the territory: fourteen cities against twelve, divided among the other four sons. 181

From the brothers of Ivan III, Yuri became the prince of Dmitrovsky; Andrei Bolshoi - Prince of Uglich; Boris - prince of Volotsk; Andrei Menshoi - Prince of Vologda.

Although Ivan III honored the will of his father and recognized the specific rights of his brothers, he had no intention of expanding their possessions. When Yuri Dmitrovsky, leaving no offspring, died in 1472, Ivan III ordered that his inheritance be returned to the Grand Duke as escheat. This was contrary to ancient tradition, according to which each of the remaining brothers was entitled to a share of the property of the deceased brother. Then, in 1478, Ivan Vasilyevich refused to give the brothers a share of the land received from Novgorod. The policies of Ivan III angered Andrei Bolshoy and Boris, and as we have seen, they actually rebelled against him the following year. The immediate reason for this speech was the conflict with Ivan III in the case of Prince Ivan Vladimirovich Obolensky-Lyko. 182 Prince Obolensky was the viceroy of the Grand Duke in the city of Velikiye Luki. The townspeople were outraged by Obolensky's abuses, and they complained to the Grand Duke. Ivan III deposed Obolensky and ordered him to be put on trial. Then the offended Obolensky left Ivan III and entered the service of Prince Boris Volotsky, using the old boyar privilege of freedom of service. Ivan III, however, no longer recognized this principle and sent his people to capture Obolensky and bring him by force to Moscow for trial. The act of the Grand Duke, naturally, aroused the indignation of Princes Boris and Andrei the Great. However, in 1480, during the invasion of Khan Akhmat, Boris and Andrei, under pressure from their mother and the Rostov Bishop Vassian, agreed to peace with Ivan. Ivan III made some concessions. He granted Andrei Bolshoi the important city of Mozhaisk, adding it to the Uglich inheritance, and Boris the small town of Vyshgorod with several villages in Dmitrov land in addition to Volok. Both Mozhaisk and Vyshgorod were part of the inheritance of the late Prince Yuri. But despite this agreement, relations between Ivan III and the two brothers remained strained.

In 1481, Prince Andrei Menshoi of Vologda died childless. His inheritance, as before the inheritance of Yuri, passed to the Grand Duke, which could not improve the relations of Ivan III with Andrei Bolshoi and Boris. In 1491, Andrei the Great was unable to take part in the campaign against the Golden Horde. Then he and Boris were accused of treason. Ivan III forgave Boris, Andrey was taken into custody, and his inheritance was confiscated, 183 he died in prison in 1493. The following year, Prince Boris Volotsky died, leaving two sons. One of them was unmarried and died in 1504; the second - married, but without sons - died in 1513. This happened during the reign Basil III, who appropriated Volok as escheat property, which was one of those cases when Vasily III completed his father's work.

As for the external rulers, the Yaroslavl princes ceded their rights eleven years later. Died in 1456 Grand Duke Ivan Ryazansky, leaving his nine-year-old son Vasily, whom he entrusted to the care of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily II. In 1464, Ivan III married his sister Anna to the young Vasily of Ryazan. After that, Ryazan, albeit formally independent, became subordinate to Moscow. Vasily died in 1483, leaving two sons, Ivan and Fedor. The latter bequeathed his half of the Ryazan principality Ivan III Moscow (1503), but Ivan (V), who died in 1500, was succeeded by his son Ivan (VI).

The greatest achievement of Ivan III in the unification of Great Russia was the annexation of Novgorod (1478). Novgorod was subjugated only after a long struggle and a series of coercive measures applied to the townspeople for several years after 1478. However, the deed was done, albeit at the cost of destroying Novgorodian traditions.

The conquest of Tver turned out to be much easier. It should be noted that Mikhail, the Grand Duke of Tver (brother of the first wife of Ivan III), helped Ivan III in his campaigns against Novgorod. As a reward for his help, he expected to receive part of the Novgorod territories, but was refused. Around 1483, Mikhail concluded an alliance against Moscow with Casimir of Lithuania. As soon as the news of the agreement reached Ivan III, he sent troops to Tver (1484). Having not received support from Casimir, Mikhail went to peace negotiations. 184

According to the Treaty of 1485, Mikhail recognized Ivan III of "All Russia" as his master and elder brother, and Ivan the Young as his elder brother. 185 Michael was forced to take an oath never to conclude any agreements with Casimir of Lithuania. Although Mikhail signed this agreement, he was not going to fulfill it and continued secret negotiations with Casimir. Soon, Moscow agents intercepted one of Mikhail's letters to Casimir, after which Ivan III personally led the army to Tver (August 24, 1485). The city surrendered on the third day of the siege, and Michael fled to Lithuania. To facilitate the transition to the new government for the townspeople, Ivan III appointed a new prince to Tver - his son, Ivan the Young.

Having conquered Tver, Ivan III turned his attention to a small northern republic Vyatka. Originally a colony of Novgorod, Vyatka gained independence at the end of the 12th century. 186 The city of Khlynov became its capital. Novgorodians were irritated by the loss of a valuable region, and the Vyatichi were constantly on the alert to repel their attempts to restore their dominance here. Vyatichi were free people and very arrogant. They managed to quarrel with almost all their neighbors, including the Dvintsy (who were subordinate to Novgorod) and the inhabitants of the city of Ustyug, annexed to Moscow under the reign of Vasily I. The Vyatichi gradually extended their power to the south, down the Vyatka River, a tributary of the Kama. Some Finnish clans from the Votyak and Cheremis tribes became their subjects. After the formation of the Kazan Khanate, the Kazan Tatars, moving north, penetrated into the region of the lower Vyatka, as a result of which several clashes took place between them and the Vyatichi.

Seeking a compromise either with Novgorod or with Kazan, the Vyatichi often turned to Moscow for help. When they realized that such assistance could threaten their independence, they instead tried to establish friendly relations with the Kazan Khanate. During civil war in Muscovy, in 1451-52, the Vyatichi supported Dmitry Shemyaka against Vasily II. After the victory over Shemyaka, Vasily II sent a detachment to Vyatka. This first Muscovite campaign against Vyatka failed. In the second campaign, the Muscovites defeated the Vyatichi, and they gave Vasily II. oath of allegiance (1460) 187 , but soon after the departure of the Moscow troops restored their independence.

When Ivan III, in 1468, asked the Vyatichi to support the Moscow campaign against Kazan with troops, they refused and declared neutrality in the Moscow-Kazan conflict. Three years later, however, they agreed to take part in the Moscow campaign against Novgorod. This, of course, was a mistake, because, despite all the dislike for Novgorod, its very existence served as a certain limitation of the Moscow policy of unification. In 1486, the Vyatichi raided Ustyug, the possession of Muscovy. A year later, they again refused to participate in the war with Kazan. Then Ivan III asked Metropolitan Gerontius to send a message to the Vyatichi people. The Metropolitan urged the Vyatichi people not to help Muslims against Christians and threatened them with excommunication. 188 Having received no answer, Ivan III sent to Vyatka a strong army under the command of Prince Danila Shcheni and boyar Grigory Morozov. Tver, Ustyug and Dvinsk formations participated in the campaign together with the Moscow army, which included cavalry. Ivan's vassal Khan Mohammed-Emin fielded 700 cavalry. Recall that both the Ustyugians and the Dvinians had their own claims against Vyatka and therefore were eager to punish the Vyatichi.

On August 16, 1486, the united Moscow army appeared in front of Khlynov. The Moscow military leaders demanded that the Vyatichi swear obedience to Ivan III and hand over their three leaders. Three days later, they obeyed. Three leaders were handed over to the guards of the Ustyug residents. This, however, was not all. On September 1, all citizens of Vyatka with their families (there must have been several thousand of them) were ordered to leave their homes and taken to Moscow via Ustyug. In Moscow, three leaders were executed. All other Vyatichi were to enter the grand ducal service. A few were granted estates. 189 This was the end of Vyatka.

As a result of these events, by the end of the reign of Ivan III, only part of the Ryazan principality and the city of Pskov remained independent states in Great Russia. Neither Ryazan nor Pskov constituted any threat to Moscow. Pskov needed the support of Moscow against the Livonian knights, and therefore one could count on its commitment to the Grand Dukes of Muscovy.

Internal and foreign policy Ivan 3 the Great was aimed at making Russia a centralized state that would be reckoned with in the international arena - and he completely succeeded. This cautious and intelligent sovereign during the years of his reign (1462-1505) managed to do a lot.

Domestic political decisions

The internal policy of Ivan 3 was aimed at putting an end to specific disunity and rallying all the lands around Moscow. He was actively engaged in this from the very beginning of his reign, later with the active support of his wife, Sophia Palaiologos.

Rice. 1. Sofia Paleolog.

The main struggle was with Novgorod, which protested against Moscow's desire to completely subjugate the "free city".

The Novgorodians even made an alliance with the Polish king Casimir, but when Ivan the Great defeated them on Ilmen and Shelon in 1471, the ally did not come to their aid.

The confrontation did not end there: after the demand put forward by the tsar to recognize him as the full master of Novgorod (1477), a rebellion arose again. In 1478, he was finally suppressed, and the city came under the hand of Moscow.

Also were subordinated and several specific principalities.
The chronology of events can be easily traced by the table:

The Ryazan principality passed to the tsar by right of inheritance: he married his sister to the local prince and later received it from her son.

Ivan 3 got rid of his brothers ruthlessly - they were completely absent from state affairs, and in some cases even sent to jail.

Foreign policy

Among its main areas of priority was the fight against Lithuania. Despite the fact that the Lithuanian King Alexander was the son-in-law of Ivan the Third, relations between the states did not improve, and in 1500 hostilities began. For Russia, they were quite successful: it conquered parts of Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky and Smolensk principalities. In 1503 a peace treaty was signed, but eternal peace Moscow did not agree, since Smolensk and Kyiv still remained under Lithuania.

The diagram below clearly shows how the three-year war with Lithuania went.

Rice. 2. Scheme of military operations in 1500-1503.

The Kazan principality was also in the area of the tsar's attention - in 1487, 17 years after the signing of the peace treaty, Ivan the Great took its capital and put a young khan on the throne, who remained faithful to him for the next 17 years.

In 1502, the Golden Horde ceased to exist.

Reforms of Ivan the Great

The reign of this king was also marked by several important reforms to be listed point by point:

He began to draw up the title of “Grand Duke of All Russia” - and in some documents he is even called the king.
He created the Code of Civil Laws, which contributed to the establishment of order within the country. According to this code, the Grand Duke was approved as the chief judge, and the Boyar Duma became the highest institution. Local and command systems of government spread.
He limited the right of the peasants to leave the fortress and left them only one day when they were allowed to move to another owner. Thus, the prerequisites for the final establishment of serfdom in Russia appeared.

The results of the reign of Ivan the Great

The territory of the Russian state has expanded significantly, Moscow finally strengthened in the role of its center. The Slavic lands finally got rid of the threat from the Golden Horde.

Rice. 3. Ivan 3.

What have we learned?

What are important for Russian history events took place during the reign of Ivan the Great - both in foreign and domestic policy. The tsar rallied many lands around Moscow, finally subjugated Novgorod and gathered under his hand many specific principalities. However, his achievements were not limited to this: the result of the war with Lithuania was the annexation of a number of lands, and with the Kazan Principality, the establishment of the power of a prince loyal to Moscow. It was briefly reviewed internal reforms, which contributed to the centralization of power on the one hand and the establishment of serfdom in Russia - on the other. Thanks to the activities of this ruler, Russia received many strategically important lands, strengthened its external and internal positions. Under him, the idea of statehood was developed.

In today's lesson, you will learn about the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III (1462-1505), whose name is associated with the process of centralization Russian state.

Topic: Old Russian state

Lesson: The reign of Ivan III. Domestic politics

By the beginning of the reign of Ivan III, the Grand Duchy of Moscow was the largest, but not the only one. The territorial growth of the Moscow principality began from the first years of the reign of Ivan III. In the middle - the second half of the 60s, the Yaroslavl principality finally lost its sovereignty, the princes of which had long been "handmaidens" of the Moscow rulers.

In 1474, the remnants of the independence of the Rostov Principality were liquidated even more calmly: the remnants of their rights were bought from the local princes.

A difficult task was the annexation of the Novgorod land, where the traditions of independence remained very strong. Part of the Novgorod boyars, led by the widow of the posadnik (“posadnitsa”) Martha Boretskaya and her sons, sought an open break with Moscow and sought help from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in order to keep their liberties. Other boyars hoped that a good relationship with the Grand Duke will help preserve the independence of Novgorod. In 1471, the Boretskys gained the upper hand. Novgorod concluded an agreement with the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Casimir IV. Such an agreement was a legitimate pretext for war against Novgorod. Ivan III gathered the troops of all the princes subordinate to him, including Tver, and set off on a campaign. On the Shelon River (July 1471), the Novgorodians were defeated. Ivan III did not seek to strengthen the dependence of Novgorod, but to completely annex it. In 1477 a new campaign was undertaken. In January 1478, the Novgorod authorities capitulated, the veche was canceled, the veche bell was taken to Moscow, instead of posadniks and thousandths, Moscow governors now ruled the city. The lands of the boyars most hostile to Ivan III were confiscated, but Ivan III promised not to touch other boyar estates.

Now the hour has struck for the liquidation of the independence of the Tver land. After the annexation of Novgorod, it turned out to be sandwiched between Moscow's possessions, only in the west bordering for a short distance on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. On September 15, 1485, Tver was taken by the Moscow army. Ivan III and his son Ivan solemnly entered the city. Ivan Ivanovich, who was the maternal grandson of the Tver Grand Duke Boris Alexandrovich, became the Grand Duke of Tver. Although Pskov and Ryazan were still formally independent, the annexation of Tver meant the creation united state. It is not without reason that since then Ivan III has been titled the sovereign of all Russia.

Rice. 2. The growth of the territory of the Moscow principality in the second half of the XV - early XVI century()

The creation of a single state centered in Moscow meant that now there was one ruler in Russia - a single grand duke. Ivan III tried in every possible way to emphasize his special position. Under him, a new coat of arms appeared. They became the symbol of Byzantium - the double-headed eagle. The marriage of the Moscow prince to Sophia Paleolog was considered a union of the Moscow and Byzantine dynasties, which "reinforced" the adoption of a new coat of arms. Now on the Grand Duke's seal, which sealed all the most important government documents, there were two images. On one side was placed the former symbol - St. George the Victorious sitting on a horse, striking a snake with a spear. On the other hand, a double-headed eagle was depicted.

The authority of the ruler of the Muscovite state grew. Both foreign rulers and those close to him began to call him not only the Grand Duke, but also the sovereign of all Russia. Sometimes the prince was compared with the powerful Byzantine emperor, they called him "the great Christian king."

During ceremonial receptions, the head of the sovereign flaunted the Monomakh's hat. She was made of gold, adorned with fur, precious stones and crowned with a cross. In the grand ducal environment, it was believed that this was the Byzantine crown, which passed to Vladimir Monomakh from the emperor of Byzantium, his grandfather. (In fact, this is one of the Khan's gifts received in the Horde by Ivan Kalita, decorated by Russian craftsmen.) The scepter and orb, which he clutched in his hands during palace ceremonies, were also signs of the sovereign's power.

The Moscow Kremlin has become another true symbol of Russia. New walls, towers and cathedrals were built, which have survived to this day. Their beauty and grandeur symbolized in the eyes of both Russian people and foreigners, the new image of the state.

Rice. 3. Moscow Kremlin of the times of Ivan III ()

Residents of Russia began to comprehend in a new way historical place his country and its capital. The abbot of one of the monasteries Philotheus called Moscow "the third Rome." He spoke about the fact that in history there were three world centers of Christianity. Philotheus considered Rome the first of them, Constantinople the second. After the refusal of the Byzantine Empire from "true Christianity" - the conclusion of an alliance with the Catholics - it fell. After that, Filofei believed, the eyes of all Orthodox rushed to Moscow. The capital of Russia "chosen by God" as the only legitimate heir to ancient Rome.

The new symbols reflected the power of the young Russian state. Its rulers considered themselves successors not only old Russian princes but also Byzantine emperors.

At the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century, the system of government of the Russian state was transformed. It became centralized - power was concentrated in one center - Moscow, in the hands of the sovereign. The Grand Duke's throne was inherited from father to son, usually the eldest. Like the vast majority known to us from the course of history ancient world and the Middle Ages of states, Russia was a monarchy (ruled by one person - a monarch, transferring his power by inheritance). After the annexation of Novgorod and Pskov to Moscow and the elimination of veche rule there, the traditions of the republican system left Russian society for a long time.

In the second half of the 15th - early 16th centuries, the position of the previously powerful specific princes also changed. With the strengthening of the power of the Moscow sovereign in the Russian lands, they lost their influence. Now the former appanage rulers were no longer rightful owners in their possessions - they went to bow to Moscow. After all, all power in the state belonged to the Moscow Grand Duke and his entourage. In addition, many noble landowners from Lithuanian Rus themselves moved to the Muscovite state. Here they were welcomed as welcome guests. So the once powerful rulers of individual lands became service princes, that is, they entered the service of the sovereign. For this, they either retained their former land holdings, or received new ones. All this was reminiscent of the order of service of the Horde beks to the Khan of the Golden Horde.

The creation of a centralized state was also evidenced by the establishment of uniform laws throughout its territory. In 1497, the Sudebnik was adopted - the all-Russian legislative code. He claimed the spread of the power of the Grand Duke throughout the state.

As in Western Europe, centralized power in Russia relied on a strong army - the "sovereign army". Now it did not consist of detachments of individual princes, but was a militia of all secular landowners. Gradually, the Moscow rulers began to form the core of the army from the nobles - those who served at the sovereign's court. The armed forces of the state were divided into regiments headed by governors.

During the reign of Ivan III, the administrative apparatus of a centralized state began to take shape. The Boyar Duma became a permanent advisory body under the sovereign. Here, in the circle of duma officials - the most noble boyars, the sovereign discussed the most important economic, diplomatic, military issues. The number of boyars included former appanage princes, whose possessions became part of the Russian state.

In the distribution of power in the Duma, the nobility and antiquity of the family played the most important role. The most well-born boyars sat as close as possible to the Grand Duke, occupied the most honorable places. Therefore, the principle of appointment to important government positions was called parochialism.

Approximate of the monarch - the boyars and service people who carried out his instructions and were in the army, made up the sovereign's court. Issues of collection and distribution Money state was engaged in the Treasury. A special service - the Palace - was in charge of the sovereign's land holdings. The executors of the instructions of the central government, who worked in the Treasury and the Palace, were clerks and clerks. With the expansion of the administrative apparatus for managing specific state affairs, orders began to appear. So, for example, the Ambassadorial, Discharge (military), Yamskaya (postal) orders appeared.

The whole state was divided into 117 counties. They, in turn, consisted of smaller camps and volosts, of which there were more than a thousand. The counties were ruled by governors, and the camps and volosts were ruled by volosts.

Rice. 4. Management of the Moscow state under Ivan III

The state did not pay money to its local representatives for their work. Governors and volostels had the right to "feed" at the expense of the funds they collected from the population in favor of the central government. This procedure for obtaining income by local authorities was called feeding.

Gradually, a centralized state administration apparatus dependent on the Grand Duke was created in Russia.

Alekseev Yu.G. Under the banner of Moscow / Yu. G. Alekseev. M., 1992.
Gumilyov L.N. From Russia to Russia. M., 1992.
Sinitsyna N.V. Third Rome. Origins and evolution of the Russian medieval concept. (XV-XVI) M., "Indrik", 1998.
Cherepnin L.V. The formation of the Russian centralized state in the XIV-XV centuries: essays on the socio-economic and political history Russia. M., 1960.

Rumyantsev Museum ().
Prometheus ().

What was the significance of the annexation of Novgorod to the Muscovite state?
What changes in government took place during the reign of Ivan III?
What new symbols of power appeared during the reign of Ivan III?