Life of Vasily 3. Maintain power at any cost

There are rulers who have left a noticeable mark on the history of their country, and there are those who remain in their shadow. The latter, without a doubt, includes Vasily 3, whose domestic and foreign policies, at first glance, did not produce tangible results. But was this sovereign really such an insignificant person?

Descendant of the Basileus

On a March night in 1479, the wife of Ivan the Third gave birth to a son. On April 4, Archbishop of Rostov Vassian Rylo and Trinity Abbot Paisiy baptized the boy, giving him the name Vasily. The baby's mother, Sophia Paleologus, came from the family of the deposed Byzantine emperor. Thanks to her ability to intrigue, maneuver and understand the intricacies of the interests of the grand ducal court, Vasily was able to take his father’s throne in October 1505, becoming the sovereign of all Rus'.

What was inherited

When characterizing the domestic and foreign policies of Vasily 3, it is necessary to take into account the situation that developed in the Principality of Moscow at the time of his coming to power. Ivan III did not have time to complete the unification of Russian lands that began in the 13th century. This became the main direction of state activity of his son, Vasily 3.

The Grand Duke’s domestic and foreign policies, however, were not built solely on this basis. As before, it was important for Rus' to ensure reliable protection of its borders from Tatar raids, as well as to carry out governance reforms taking into account the newly annexed territories.

The first years of the reign of Vasily III cannot be called successful:

• in April 1506, the military campaign to Kazan ended in failure;
• in the summer of the same year, Vasily suffered a fiasco in the struggle for the Lithuanian throne;
• in July 1507, the Crimean Khanate, violating peace agreements, attacked the Russian border.

Conquest of the Pskov Republic

The first truly successful act of the foreign and domestic policy of Vasily 3 was the annexation of Pskov in 1510. The reason for this was the complaints of the townspeople against Ivan Repnya, the Moscow grand-ducal governor. Vasily invited the Pskov mayors to come to Novgorod, where, on his orders, they were arrested. The clerk Dalmatov, who was sent to Pskov and enjoyed the special trust of Vasily III, demanded on his behalf to abolish the people's veche and submit to the Moscow prince, which was done. The Pskov boyars were deprived of their possessions, which Vasily III immediately distributed to his servicemen.

Annexation of other lands

In 1514, after the Russian-Lithuanian War, Smolensk came under the authority of Moscow. However, Vasily III sought not only to annex new territories to the Moscow Principality, but also to eradicate the remnants of the appanage system. Thus, during his reign, some of the fiefs of the following princes ceased to exist:

• Volotsky Fyodor (in 1513).
• Kaluga Semyon (by 1518).
• Uglitsky Dmitry (by 1521).

Strengthening the borders

Vasily's relations with the Kazan and Crimean khanates were not stable. Therefore, with the support of small and medium-sized feudal lords, he pursued a policy of developing lands located to the south and east of Moscow. Vasily III began the construction of the abatis line - defensive structures to repel the raids of the Crimean and Nogai Tatars.

They were a system of forest debris (notches), ditches, strongholds, palisades and ramparts. The first defensive line was located in the area of ​​Tula, Ryazan and Kashira. Its construction was completed only in the second half of the 16th century.

Third Rome

The power of the Grand Duke as the supreme ruler under Vasily III was further strengthened. In official documents he was called king, and the title autocrat acquired official status. The recognition of the divinity of the grand ducal power became widespread.

For example, at the beginning of the 16th century, Moscow began to be called the Third Rome. According to this religious theory, Russia, its Orthodox Church and the Russian people as a whole were assigned a special destiny. The theory belonged to the monk Philotheus, abbot of the Eleazar Monastery in Pskov.

He wrote that history is based on divine providence. The first Rome, in which Christianity was born, fell under the onslaught of barbarians in the 5th century, the second Rome - Constantinople, was conquered by the Turks in 1453, leaving only Rus' - the defender of the true Orthodox faith. The concept of “Moscow - the Third Rome” substantiated the greatness of Russia as an independent state in religious and political terms. Thus, the domestic and foreign policies of Vasily 3 Ivanovich received a strong religious justification.

Control system

With the formation of a unified state, the system of internal governance also changed. The Boyar Duma began to play the role of a permanent advisory body under the supreme power. With the loss of the sovereignty of the appanage principalities, their nobility could not always participate in council meetings. Only those whom Vasily 3 personally awarded as boyars had this right. The Duma consisted of a small circle of people - descendants of the great and appanage princes who accepted citizenship of Moscow. It included:

• boyars;
• roundabouts;
• boyar children;
• Duma nobles;
• later clerks.

The Boyar Duma was the body through which the domestic and foreign policies of Vasily III were carried out.

The relationship between members of the grand ducal court was regulated by a system of localism. The position or rank depended on the nobility of the family or previous service. Because of this, conflicts often arose, for example, during the appointment of governors, ambassadors, and chiefs of orders. Localism established a hierarchy of noble families, which guaranteed them a corresponding position at the court of the sovereign.

Administrative division

During the reign of Vasily 3, the territory of the Moscow State was divided into:

• counties, the boundaries of which corresponded to the boundaries of the former appanage principalities;
• volosts

The heads of the districts were governors, and the heads of the volosts were the volostels, who received them as food. That is, the maintenance of these officials fell on the shoulders of the local population.

Authorities

During the reign of Vasily 3, the internal and foreign policies pursued by the Grand Duke required the establishment of new national departments:

• the palace in charge of the lands of the Grand Duke;
• the treasury, which dealt with finances, collection of taxes and customs duties.

The state seal and archive were also kept in the treasury, whose employees were also in charge of embassy affairs. Later, such authorities as orders were separated from this institution, which were involved in the management of certain spheres of public life.

Changes in land ownership

Now the supreme owner of all the lands was the Grand Duke, who bestowed them on his subjects. In addition, there was boyar and patrimonial land ownership; it could be inherited, mortgaged or sold.

Local land ownership was given by the Grand Duke for temporary conditional possession as a salary for military service. It could not be sold, bequeathed or transferred to the monastery as a gift.

Results

At the end of 1533, the autocrat of the Grand Duchy of Moscow suddenly fell ill and died. The state was headed by his son, who went down in history under the name of Ivan the Terrible.

Briefly characterizing the domestic and foreign policy of Vasily III, we can conclude that the Grand Duke pursued it quite successfully. He managed not only to complete the unification of Russian lands, but also to largely eradicate the remnants of the appanage system within the country.

Years of reign: 1505 - 1533

From the biography

• Son of Ivan 3 and Sophia Paleologus - nieces of the last Byzantine emperor, father of the future Tsar Ivan the Terrible (b. 1530)
• He is called “the last collector of the Russian land,” since the last semi-independent Russian principalities were annexed during his reign.
• In the treaty of 1514 With Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian 1- was the first to be named king.
• Idea " Moscow-third Rome"- is a political ideology that denotes the global significance of Moscow as a political and religious center. According to the theory, the Roman and Byzantine empires fell because they deviated from the true faith, and the Muscovite state is the “third Rome,” and there will be no fourth Rome, since Muscovite Rus' stood, stands and will stand. The theory was formulated by a Pskov monk Filofey in his messages to Vasily 3.

• FYI: in 395 the Roman Empire split into Western and Eastern. The Western Roman Empire fell in 476, breaking up into a number of independent states: Italy. France, Germany, Spain. The Eastern Empire - Byzantium - fell in 1453, in its place the Ottoman Empire was formed.
• Josephites these are representatives of the church-political movement that was formed during the reign of Vasily 3. These are followers Joseph Volotsky. They advocated strong church power, the influence of the church in the state, and monastic and church land ownership. Philotheus was a Josephite. Vasily 3 supported them in the fight against the opposition.
• Non-covetous - sought to restore the shaky authority of the church, which was caused by the desire of the clergy to take possession of more and more land. At the head - Neil Sorsky. They are for the secularization of church lands, that is, returning them to the Grand Duke.

The struggle between the non-covetous people and the Josephites, which began under Ivan 3, testified to the complex relationship between the princes and the church and the constant competition for supremacy in power. Vasily 3 relied on the church opposition, and at the same time understood that relations with the church began to become complicated.

Historical portrait of Vasily III

Areas of activity

1.Domestic policy

2. Foreign policy

RESULTS OF ACTIVITY

• Under Vasily 3, the process of forming a centralized state was completed.
• A unified state ideology was created that contributed to the unification of the country.
• The church continued to play an important role in the state.
• The grand ducal power increased significantly.
• The public administration system was further improved, and a new government body emerged - the Boyar Duma.
• The prince pursued a successful policy in the west; many western lands were annexed.
• Vasily 3 held back the raids of the Crimean and Kazan khans with all his might, and managed to negotiate peace with them.
• Under Vasily 3, Russia's international authority significantly strengthened. Trade relations were carried out with many countries.

Chronology of the life and work of Vasily III

The reign of Vasily 3 briefly became the end. Vasily 3 actually destroyed the remnants of appanage principalities and created a single state. His son inherited an already powerful state.

In short, in the 1st half of the 16th century. Russia has experienced a great economic boom. Vasily’s father began to pursue an active policy in this direction. He made several campaigns towards Siberia and the Urals, and entered into an alliance with the Crimean Khanate. This policy made it possible to stabilize relations on the southern borders and bring peace there.

Reign of Ivan 3 and Vasily 3

The reign of Ivan 3 and Vasily 3 made it possible to stabilize the situation within the country, and was able to defeat another state hostile to Muscovite Rus' - the Livonian Order. The Livonian Order attacked Pskov. The rule of Pskov and Novgorod was similar, both territories were republics. However, the power of Novgorod was much greater. By the way, Pskov itself helped to annex Novgorod to the territory of the Russian state. But when the Order attacked Pskov, it had to rely only on the help of Moscow. He did not have his own troops in large numbers.

Pskov began to gradually turn into a territory where dual control was established:

1. Pskov Veche;
2. Prince sent from Moscow.

It is clear that the Moscow governor could not agree with the Veche on everything; conflicts arose. When Vasily 3 ascended the throne, he decided that it was no longer necessary to appoint a prince. He planned to abolish this system. Prince Repnya-Obolensky was sent to the city. He provoked a conflict with the Veche and Vasily began to prepare for the attack and conquest of Pskov.

In 1509, Vasily III and his army approached Novgorod. The inhabitants of Pskov found out about this, and hurried to the sovereign with their gifts. Vasily pretended to accept all the gifts. Everyone was ordered to appear at the sovereign's court. There, residents of Pskov were taken into custody. The People's Council was abolished, about 300 families were evicted by order of the sovereign, and the lands were given over to servicemen from Moscow. In 1510, the Pskov Republic ceased to be independent.

It so happened that many perceive the reign of Vasily 3 until his death as the time between the two Ivans. IvanIII became the first sovereign, became the first to collect Russian lands.aka Grozny also made a great contribution to the history of Muscovite Rus'. But here is the reign of VasilyIII is somehow missed by many. But he ruled for almost 30 years. The period is quite impressive.

Beginning of the reign of Vasily 3

The beginning of the reign of Vasily 3 began with the annexation of Pskov. In general, it is worth saying that Vasily III began to continue the work of his eminent father, Emperor Ivan III. The main directions of his policy coincided with his father's. Officially, Vasily Ivanovich was on the throne for 28 years. The reign of Vasily 3 was 1505-1533, but he actually began to rule when Ivan III was still on the throne. Vasily was the official co-ruler.

Vasily Ivanovich knew exactly what fate awaited him. He was being prepared that he might soon lead the Moscow state. But Vasily did not learn about this from an early age. The fact is that he had a son born in his first marriage - Ivan “Young”. He was the heir to the throne. Ivan Ivanovich had a son, Dmitry. The boy could also claim the throne in the event of his father's death. Of course, there was no clear decree that the throne would go to Ivan the Young. However, the young man actively participated in government affairs; many perceived him as the heir. In 1490, Ivan fell ill and soon died.

Thus, at different times three claimed the throne:

1. Ivan Ivanovich “Young”;
2. Vasily Ivanovich III;
3. Dmitry Ivanovich is the grandson of Ivan III.

In 1505, Vasily Ivanovich, the second eldest son of Vasily, was on the throne; he was born in his second marriage to the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleologus. As already mentioned, Vasily continued his father’s political course. He built new temples and stone houses. By 1508, a new palace was built, and Vasily III moved his family there.

It is interesting that many historians describe the character of VasilyIII as an arrogant and proud person. He believed in his exclusivity as the ruler of Russia, probably this vanity was instilled in him by his mother, Sophia Paleolog, and his father, IvanIII. He suppressed all resistance in Rus' very harshly, sometimes using cunning and ingenuity. However, there are very few people he has executed. His reign was not like a reign; there was no terror at all. VasilyIII preferred to eliminate his opponents without execution.

The reign of Vasily 3

Based on his political views, Vasily sought to pursue a tough and clear policy. He sometimes consulted with his associates, but made most decisions on his own. But still, the Boyar Duma played an important role in governing the country. The reign of Vasily 3 did not become “disgraced” for the boyars. The Duma met regularly.

At different times, Vasily III's close associates were:

• Vasily Kholmsky;
• Prince of Denmark Puppy;
• Dmitry Fedorovich Volsky;
• Princes from the Penkov family;
• Princes from the Shuisky family and others.

Main events of domestic and foreign policy:

• The confrontation between Moscow and the Crimean Khanate, as a result, Khan Muhammad-Girey went over to the side of Lithuania;
• Strengthening the southern borders, construction of Zaraysk, Tula and Kaluga;
• 1514 capture of Smolensk by the troops of Daniil Shchenya;
• 1518 invitation of a monk from Mount Athos to translate Greek books, Michael Trivolis (Maxim the Greek) arrived;
• 1522 Daniel became the new metropolitan (he replaced the previously removed
• Varlaam);
• Annexation of the Ryazan Principality (1522).

By creating and decorating churches, Vasily Ivanovich adhered to his interests in religion and art. He had excellent taste. In 1515, the Assumption Cathedral was completed on the territory of the Kremlin. When he first visited the cathedral, he noted that he felt great here. Vasily also showed great interest in the Old Russian language, he studied it, and could speak it quite well. And he loved his wife Elena (she was his second wife) and son very much. There are several letters that show the warmth with which he treated them.

Russia during the reign of Vasily 3

In September 1533, Vasily III visited the Trinity-Sergius Monastery with his wife and children, then he went hunting. Soon after his arrival, Vasily fell ill. A tear formed on the sovereign’s left thigh. The inflammation gradually became larger, and later doctors diagnosed “blood poisoning.” It became clear that the sovereign could no longer be saved. Vasily behaved very courageously in the face of impending death.

The last will of the ruler was:

• Securing the throne to the heir - three years of age;
• Take monastic vows.

No one doubted Ivan’s right to the throne, but many opposed Vasily’s tonsure. But Metropolitan Daniel managed to smooth out this situation, and at the beginning of December, when the sovereign was already very ill, he was tonsured. Then, on December 3, he already passed away.

The reign of Vasily III became an important stage in the final unification of Russian lands and their centralization. Many historians speak of his reign as transitional, but this is far from true.

The reign of Vasily 3 briefly video

Biography

Internal affairs

Unification of Russian lands

Foreign policy

Annexations

Marriages and children

Vasily III Ivanovich (March 25, 1479 - December 3, 1533) - Grand Duke of Moscow in 1505-1533, son of Ivan III the Great and Sophia Paleologus, father of Ivan IV the Terrible.

Biography

Vasily was the second son of Ivan III and the eldest son of Ivan's second wife Sophia Paleologus. In addition to the eldest, he had four younger brothers:

• Yuri Ivanovich, Prince of Dmitrov (1505-1536)
• Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka, Prince of Uglitsky (1505-1521)
• Semyon Ivanovich, Prince of Kaluga (1505-1518)
• Andrei Ivanovich, Prince of Staritsky and Volokolamsk (1519-1537)

Ivan III, pursuing a policy of centralization, took care of transferring all power through the line of his eldest son, while limiting the power of his younger sons. Therefore, already in 1470, he declared his eldest son from the first wife of Ivan the Young as his co-ruler. However, in 1490 he died of illness. Two parties were created at court: one grouped around the son of Ivan the Young, the grandson of Ivan III Dmitry Ivanovich and his mother, the widow of Ivan the Young, Elena Stefanovna, and the second around Vasily and his mother. At first, the first party gained the upper hand; Ivan III intended to crown his grandson as king. Under these conditions, a conspiracy matured in the circle of Vasily III, which was discovered, and its participants, including Vladimir Gusev, were executed. Vasily and his mother Sophia Paleolog fell into disgrace. However, the grandson’s supporters came into conflict with Ivan III, which ended in the grandson’s disgrace in 1502. On March 21, 1499, Vasily was declared Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov, and in April 1502, Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir and All Rus', autocrat, that is, he became co-ruler of Ivan III.

The first marriage was arranged by his father Ivan, who first tried to find him a bride in Europe, but ended up choosing from 1,500 girls presented to the court for this purpose from all over the country. The father of Vasily Solomonia's first wife, Yuri Saburov, was not even a boyar. The Saburov family descended from the Tatar Murza Chet.

Since the first marriage was fruitless, Vasily obtained a divorce in 1525, and at the beginning of the next year (1526) he married Elena Glinskaya, the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vasily Lvovich Glinsky. Initially, the new wife also could not get pregnant, but eventually, on August 15, 1530, they had a son, Ivan, the future Ivan the Terrible, and then a second son, Yuri.

Internal affairs

Vasily III believed that nothing should limit the power of the Grand Duke, which is why he enjoyed the active support of the Church in the fight against the feudal boyar opposition, harshly dealing with all those who were dissatisfied. In 1521, Metropolitan Varlaam was exiled due to his refusal to participate in Vasily’s fight against Prince Vasily Ivanovich Shemyachich, the Rurik princes Vasily Shuisky and Ivan Vorotynsky were expelled. The diplomat and statesman Ivan Bersen-Beklemishev was executed in 1525 because of criticism of Vasily’s policies, namely because of open rejection of Greek novelty, which came to Rus' with Sophia Paleologus. During the reign of Vasily III, the landed nobility increased, the authorities actively limited the immunity and privileges of the boyars - the state followed the path of centralization. However, the despotic features of government, which were fully manifested already under his father Ivan III and grandfather Vasily the Dark, only intensified even more in the era of Vasily.

In church politics, Vasily unconditionally supported the Josephites. Maxim the Greek, Vassian Patrikeev and other non-covetous people were sentenced at Church councils, some to death, some to imprisonment in monasteries.

During the reign of Vasily III, a new Code of Law was created, which, however, has not reached us.

As Herberstein reported, at the Moscow court it was believed that Vasily was superior in power to all the monarchs of the world and even the emperor. On the front side of his seal there was an inscription: “Great Sovereign Basil, by the grace of God, Tsar and Lord of All Rus'.” On the reverse side it read: “Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov and Tver, and Yugorsk, and Perm, and many lands of the Sovereign.”

The reign of Vasily is the era of the construction boom in Rus', which began during the reign of his father. The Archangel Cathedral was erected in the Moscow Kremlin, and the Ascension Church was built in Kolomenskoye. Stone fortifications are being built in Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, Kolomna, and other cities. New settlements, forts, and fortresses are founded.

Unification of Russian lands

Vasily, in his policy towards other principalities, continued the policy of his father.

In 1509, while in Veliky Novgorod, Vasily ordered the Pskov mayor and other representatives of the city, including all the petitioners who were dissatisfied with them, to gather with him. Arriving to him at the beginning of 1510 on the feast of Epiphany, the Pskovites were accused of distrust of the Grand Duke and their governors were executed. The Pskovites were forced to ask Vasily to accept themselves into his patrimony. Vasily ordered to cancel the meeting. At the last meeting in the history of Pskov, it was decided not to resist and to fulfill Vasily’s demands. On January 13, the veche bell was removed and sent to Novgorod with tears. On January 24, Vasily arrived in Pskov and dealt with it in the same way as his father did with Novgorod in 1478. 300 of the most noble families of the city were resettled to Moscow lands, and their villages were given to Moscow service people.

It was the turn of Ryazan, which had long been in Moscow’s sphere of influence. In 1517, Vasily called to Moscow the Ryazan prince Ivan Ivanovich, who was trying to enter into an alliance with the Crimean Khan, and ordered him to be put into custody (after Ivan was tonsured a monk and imprisoned in a monastery), and took his inheritance for himself. After Ryazan, the Starodub principality was annexed, in 1523 - Novgorod-Severskoye, whose prince Vasily Ivanovich Shemyachich was treated like the Ryazan principality - he was imprisoned in Moscow.

Foreign policy

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, Prince of Uglitsky Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka, were defeated, but the Kazan people asked for peace, which was concluded in 1508. At the same time, Vasily, taking advantage of the turmoil 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 Lithuanians recognized the capture of his father.

In 1512 a new war with Lithuania began. On December 19, Vasily Yuri Ivanovich and Dmitry Zhilka set out on a campaign. Smolensk was besieged, but it was not possible to take it, and the Russian army returned to Moscow in March 1513. On June 14, Vasily set out on a campaign again, but after sending 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 the 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 outskirts of the city, Vasily ordered a retreat and returned to Moscow in November.

On July 8, 1514, the army led by the Grand Duke again set out for Smolensk, this time his brothers Yuri and Semyon walked with Vasily. A new siege began on July 29. The artillery, led by gunner Stefan, inflicted heavy losses on the besieged. On the same day, Sologub and the clergy of the city came to Vasily and agreed to surrender the city. On July 31, the residents 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 for himself, 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 were never able to return Smolensk. Smolensk remained a disputed territory until the end of the reign of Vasily III. At the same time, residents of the Smolensk region were taken to the Moscow regions, and residents of the regions closest to Moscow were resettled to Smolensk.

In 1518, Shah Ali Khan, who was friendly towards Moscow, became the Khan of Kazan, but he did not rule for long: in 1521 he was overthrown by his Crimean protege 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 came out from his lands; near Kolomna, the Crimeans and Kazan people 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 gather an army. Magmet-Girey did not intend to take the city: having devastated the area, he turned back to the south, fearing the Astrakhan people and the army gathered by Vasily, but taking a letter from the Grand Duke stating that he recognized himself as a loyal tributary and vassal of the Crimea. On the way back, having met the army of governor Khabar Simsky near Pereyaslavl of Ryazan, the khan began, on the basis of this letter, to demand the surrender of his army. But, having asked the Tatar ambassadors with this written commitment to come to his headquarters, Ivan Vasilyevich Obrazets-Dobrynsky (this was Khabar’s family name) retained 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 River. Khan never came, but the danger from the steppe did not pass. Therefore, in the same 1522, Vasily concluded a truce, according to which Smolensk remained with Moscow. The Kazan people still 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 Sura, which was supposed to become a new reliable place of trade with the Kazan Tatars. In 1524, after the third campaign against Kazan, Sahib Giray, an ally of the Crimea, was overthrown, and Safa Giray was proclaimed khan in his place.

In 1527, the attack of Islam I Giray on Moscow was repelled. Having gathered in Kolomenskoye, Russian troops took up defensive positions 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 Sturgeon River. The next 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.

Annexations

During his reign, Vasily annexed Pskov (1510), Smolensk (1514), Ryazan (1521), Novgorod-Seversky (1522) to Moscow.

Marriages and children

Wives:

• Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova (from September 4, 1505 to November 1525).
• Elena Vasilievna Glinskaya (from January 21, 1526).

Children (both from his second marriage): Ivan IV the Terrible (1530-1584) and Yuri (1532-1564). According to legend, from the first, after the tonsure of Solomonia, a son, George, was born.

Vasily 3 (reigned 1505-1533) was marked by the final gathering of Russian lands around Moscow. It was under Vasily III that the process of unifying 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 greatly inferior to his father, Ivan 3. It is difficult 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.

The end of the appanage system

Ivan 3 transferred all power to Vasily 3, and ordered his younger sons to obey their elder brother in everything. Vasily 3 inherited 66 cities (30 to his other sons), as well as the right to determine and conduct the country's foreign policy and mint coins. The appanage system was preserved, but the power of the Grand Duke over others became increasingly stronger. The system of Rus' of that period was very accurately described by Joseph Volotsky (church leader), who called the reign of Vasily 3 the reign of the “Sovereign Sovereign of All Russian Lands.” Sovereign, Sovereign- that’s how it really was. There were sovereigns who owned appanages, but over them there was a single sovereign.

In the fight against the estates, Vasily 3 showed cunning - he forbade his brothers, the owners of the estates, to marry. Accordingly, they had no children and their power died away, and the lands became subordinate to Moscow. By 1533, only 2 estates were settled: Yuri Dmitrovsky and Andrei Staritsky.

Domestic policy

Land unification

The domestic 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. The Pskov prince Ivan Repnya-Obolensky, who was a cruel and unprincipled man, contributed greatly to this. The people of Pskov did not like him and staged riots. As a result, the prince was forced to turn to the main Sovereign, asking him to pacify the citizens. After this there are no exact 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 300 of the most influential families of Pskov to the central regions of the country.

In 1521, the Ryazan principality submitted to the authorities of Moscow, and in 1523, the last southern principalities. Thus, the Sami main task of the internal policy of the reign of Vasily 3 was solved - 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

The expansion of the Russian state under Vasily 3 also turned out to be quite extensive. The country managed to strengthen its influence, despite its 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 Rus'. The last to do this was Prince Mikhail Glinsky (before that the Odoevskys, Belskys, Vyazemskys and Vorotynskys). The reason for the reluctance of the princes to be part of Lithuania lies in religion. Lithuania banned Orthodoxy and forcibly introduced Catholicism to the local population.

In 1508, Russian troops besieged Minsk. The siege was successful and Sigismund 1 asked for peace. As a result, 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 learned that Lithuania had reached an agreement with the Crimean Khanate and was preparing for a military campaign. The prince decided to take the lead and besieged Smolensk. The assault on the city was difficult and the city repelled two attacks, but ultimately, in 1514, Russian troops 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. It was not possible to take the city.

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.

Southern and eastern directions

The eastern and southern directions of the foreign policy of Prince Vasily Ivanovich should be considered together, since the Crimean Khan and the Kazan Khan acted together. Back in 1505, the Kazan Khan invaded Russian lands with plunder. In response, Vasily 3 sends an army to Kazan, forcing the enemy to again swear allegiance to Moscow, as was the case under Ivan 3.

1515-1516 - the Crimean army reaches Tula, devastating the lands 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 this, 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 for negotiations. They dragged on for several years.

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

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

Key dates

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

The king's wives

In 1505, Vasily 3 decided to get married. A real show was organized for the prince - 500 noble girls from all over the country came to Moscow. The prince's choice settled on Solomnia Saburova. They lived together for 20 years, but the princess could not give birth to an heir. As a result, by the decision of the prince, Solomnia was tonsured as a nun and sent to the Suzdal convent of the Intercession.

In fact, Vasily 3 divorced Solomonia, violating all the laws of that time. Moreover, for this it was even necessary to remove Metropolitan Varlaam, who refused to arrange a divorce. Ultimately, after the change of metropolitan, Solomonia was accused of witchcraft, after which she was tonsured a nun.

In January 1526, Vasily 3 married 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 (the future Tsar Ivan the Terrible). Soon another son was born - Yuri.

Maintain power at any cost

The reign of Vasily 3 for a long time seemed impossible, since his father wanted to pass the throne to his grandson from his first marriage, Dmitry. Moreover, in 1498, Ivan 3 crowned Dmitry as king, declaring him heir to the throne. The second wife of Ivan 3, Sophia (Zoya) Paleologus, together with Vasily, organize a conspiracy against Dmitry in order to get rid of a competitor for the inheritance of the throne. The plot was discovered and Vasily was arrested.

• In 1499, Ivan 3 had mercy on his son Vasily and released him from prison.
• In 1502, Dmitry himself was accused and imprisoned, and Vasily was blessed to reign.

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

I am king and lord by right of blood. I didn’t ask anyone for titles or buy them. There are no laws that require me to obey anyone. Believing in Christ, I reject any rights begged from others.

Prince Vasily 3 Ivanovich