Vasily III(25.03.1479 - 3.12.1533) ascended the throne in October 1505.

According to the spiritual charter of Ivan III, he inherited his father’s title, the right to mint coins, and received control of 66 cities. Among these cities are centers such as Moscow, Tver, Novgorod.

His brothers inherited 30 cities. They also had to obey Ivan as their father. Vasily III tried to continue his father’s work in both domestic and military foreign policy.

He wanted to show his power, autocracy, while he was deprived of the abilities and merits of his father.

Vasily III strengthened Russia's position in the west, and did not forget about the return of the lands of Rus', which were under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Levon Order.

During the first war between Lithuania and the Moscow state in 1507 - 1508, Polish king Sigismund I and Grand Duke The Lithuanians tried to unite the Moscow opponents together. But they didn’t succeed.

The rebel Mikhail Glinsky was supported by Moscow and Lithuania was forced to sign an eternal peace treaty with the Russians. Yes, the parties existed in peace for only four years. Already in 1512 it began new war, which lasted almost ten years.

Things were not calm in the south either; the danger from the Tatars did not decrease. Although we remember that the Great Horde fell in 1502. Crimean and Tatar Tatars instilled fear in the residents of the southern and eastern outskirts of the Russian state. And if the attackers managed to bypass the border, then they headed to the center and even threatened Moscow.

Vasily III sent gifts to the khans to achieve peace with him. But at the same time, he did not forget to bring the army to the bank of the Oka River in order to protect himself from the uninvited guest. Defensive stone fortresses were also built in Tula, Kolomna, Kaluga, and Zaraysk.

Domestically, Vasily III succeeded. He decided to finally subjugate it (1510), conquered Ryazan (1521). The support of the Grand Duke is service people boyars and nobles. During their service to the sovereign, they were allocated an estate. The peasants who lived on these lands, by order of the Grand Duke, were obliged to support the landowners.

Peasants plowed and sowed the land (corvée), mowed hay and harvested crops, grazed livestock and fished. Also, ordinary people gave away part of the products of their labor (food rent). The distribution of land, during the unification of Russian lands, took on the character of a system. And it was just not enough. The government even wanted to take away the monastery and church lands, but it didn’t work out. The Church promised support for the authorities if only they would leave the land.

Under Vasily III development local system led to the emergence of landowner estates throughout Russia, except for the northern territories. The persistent and cautious king ruled his state with political stability. Economic growth was noticed, new cities were built, crafts developed. In large villages that were located on big roads, markets appeared - a place of trade for artisans.

In such villages, courtyards of “uncultivated peasants” arose, that is, the courtyards of those who gave up plowing the land and took up crafts and trade. These were blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers, coopers and others. It must be said that the population was small; in Moscow, for example, it was about 100 thousand people. There were even fewer people in other cities.

Under Vasily III, the unification of the Russian principalities into one state was completed. In addition to the Russians, the state included Mordovians, Karelians, Udmurts, Komi and many other nationalities. The Russian state was multinational. The authority of the Russian state grew in the eyes of Eastern and European rulers. The Moscow “autocracy” was firmly entrenched in Russia. After the death of Vasily III, came, which was followed by the crowning of his son Vasily to the royal throne.

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, in 1523 the last southern principalities. Thus, the main task of the internal politics 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 fairly strong neighbors.

Western direction

War of 1507-1508

In 1507-1508 there was a war with Lithuania. The reason was that 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 3 annexed were assigned to Russia. This was a big breakthrough and 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

Eastern and south direction the foreign policy of Prince Vasily Ivanovich should be considered in its entirety, since 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 ( future king Ivan groznyj). Soon another son was born - Yuri.

Maintain power at any cost

The reign of Vasily 3 seemed impossible for a long time, 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 pardoned 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

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

The boyars' wish came true: on January 4, 1498, Ivan Vasilyevich crowned his grandson Dmitry with unprecedented triumph, as if to annoy Sofia. In the Assumption Cathedral, an elevated place was built among the church. Three chairs were placed here: for the Grand Duke, his grandson and the Metropolitan. On the top lay Monomakh's hat and barmas. The Metropolitan, with five bishops and many archimandrites, served a prayer service. Ivan III and the Metropolitan took their places on the dais. Prince Dmitry stood in front of them.

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

After these words, the Metropolitan invited Dmitry to stand in the place assigned to him, put his hand on his bowed head and prayed loudly, may the Almighty grant him His mercy, may virtue, pure faith and justice live in his heart, etc. The two archimandrites handed it to the Metropolitan first the barmas, then Monomakh’s hat, he handed them over to Ivan III, and he already placed them on his grandson. This was followed by a litany, a prayer to the Mother of God and many years; after which the clergy congratulated both grand dukes. “By the grace of God, rejoice and hello,” proclaimed the Metropolitan, “Rejoice, Orthodox Tsar Ivan, Grand Duke of All Rus', autocrat, and with your grandson Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich, of All Rus', for many years to come!”

Then the Metropolitan greeted Dmitry and gave him a short lesson so that he would have the fear of God in his heart, love truth, mercy and righteous judgment, and so on. The prince repeated a similar instruction to his grandson. This ended the coronation ceremony.

After mass, Dmitry left the church wearing a barm and a crown. At the door he was showered with gold and silver money. This showering was repeated at the entrance to the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedral, where the newly crowned Grand Duke went to pray. On this day, Ivan III hosted a rich feast. But the boyars did not rejoice at their triumph for long. And not a year had passed before terrible disgrace befell the main opponents of Sofia and Vasily - the princes Patrikeevs and Ryapolovskys. Semyon Ryapolovsky's head was cut off on the Moscow River. At the request of the clergy, the Patrikeevs were given mercy. The father was tonsured a monk in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, the eldest son in Kirillo-Belozersky, and the youngest was kept in custody in Moscow. There are no clear indications why the sovereign’s disgrace befell these strong boyars. On one occasion, only Ivan III said about Ryapolovsky that he was with Patrikeev “ arrogant" These boyars, apparently, allowed themselves to bore the Grand Duke with their advice and considerations. There is also no doubt that some of their intrigues against Sophia and Vasily were revealed. At the same time, disgrace befell Elena and Dmitry; Probably, her participation in the Jewish heresy also harmed her. Sofia and Vasily again took their former position. From that time on, the sovereign began, according to the chroniclers, “not to care about his grandson,” and declared his son Vasily the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. The Pskovites, not yet knowing that Dmitry and his mother had fallen out of favor, sent to ask the sovereign and Dmitry to keep their fatherland in the old way, not to appoint a separate prince to Pskov, so that the great prince who would be in Moscow would also be in Pskov.

This request angered Ivan III.

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

He even ordered two of the ambassadors to be imprisoned. In 1502, it was ordered to keep Dmitry and Elena in custody, not to remember them at litanies in the church and not to call Dmitry the Grand Duke.

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

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

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

“Our sovereign was about to grant his grandson Dmitry, but he began to be rude to our sovereign; but everyone favors the one who serves and strives, and the one who is rude is the one for whom he is to be favored.”

Sophia died in 1503. Ivan III, already feeling weak in health, prepared a will. Meanwhile, the time has come for Vasily to get married. An attempt to marry him to the daughter of the Danish king failed; then, on the advice of one courtier, a Greek, Ivan Vasilyevich followed the example Byzantine emperors. It was ordered to bring the most beautiful maidens, daughters of boyars and boyar children to the court for the viewing. One and a half thousand of them were collected. Vasily chose Solomonia, the daughter of the nobleman Saburov.

This method of marriage later became a custom among the Russian tsars. There was little good in him: when choosing a bride, they valued health and beauty, they did not pay attention to character and intelligence a lot of attention. Moreover, a woman who accidentally came to the throne, often from an ignorant state, could not behave as a real queen should: in her husband she saw her ruler and mercy, and was not a friend for him, but a slave. She could not recognize herself as an equal with the king, and it seemed inappropriate for her to sit on the throne next to him; but at the same time, as a queen, she had no equal among those around her. Alone in the brilliant royal chambers, in precious jewelry, she was like a prisoner; and the king, her ruler, was also alone on the throne. The morals and orders of the court also affected the lives of the boyars, and among them the separation of women from men, even seclusion, became even more intense.

In the same year as Vasily’s marriage took place (1505), Ivan III died on October 27, 67 years old.

According to the will, all his five sons: Vasily, Yuri, Dmitry, Simeon and Andrey received plots; but the eldest was assigned 66 cities, the richest, and the remaining four all together received 30 cities; Moreover, the right to judge criminal cases and mint coins was taken away from them.

That is, younger brothers Ivan III certainly could not be called sovereigns; They even pledged an oath to keep the Grand Duke as their master “honestly and menacingly, without offense.” In the event of the death of the elder brother, the younger ones had to obey the son of the deceased as their master. In this way it was installed new order succession to the throne from father to son. During his lifetime, Ivan Vasilyevich ordered Vasily to conclude a similar agreement with Yuri, his second son; Moreover, the will said: “If one of my sons dies and leaves neither a son nor a grandson, then his entire inheritance goes to my son Vasily, and the younger brothers do not step into this inheritance.” There was no longer any mention of grandson Dmitry.

All your movable property, or “treasury”, as they said then ( gems, gold and silver items, furs, dresses, etc.), Ivan III bequeathed to Vasily.

Reign of Vasily III (briefly)

Reign of Vasily III (briefly)

On March 25, 1479, Vasily the Third, the future ruler, was born. Vasily was born into the family of Ivan the Third and was his second son. For this reason, in 1470, the prince announced Ivan the Young (eldest son) as his co-ruler, intending to transfer complete rule to him in the future. However, unfortunately, Ivan died in 1490, and already in 1502, Vasily the Third Ivanovich, who at that time was already the Pskov and Great Novgorod prince, was declared co-ruler and future full heir of Ivan the Third.

In his policy, Vasily the Third fully adhered to the course that was chosen by his father. Its main goals were:

· centralization and strengthening of power;

· defending the interests of the Orthodox Church.

During the reign of Vasily the Third, the Starodub and Novgorod-Seversky principalities, as well as the lands of Ryazan, Smolensk and Pskov, were annexed to the Moscow principality.

Trying to protect Russian borders from active regular Tatar raids from the Crimean and Kazan kingdoms, Vasily the Third introduced the practice of introducing Tatar princes into the service, giving them considerable territories for this. The policy of this ruler in relation to distant states was quite friendly. Vasily even discussed with the Pope about the possibility of a union against Turkey, which was disadvantageous for both, and also tried to develop trade contacts with Austria, Italy and France.

In domestic policy Vasily the Third concentrated his efforts on strengthening the autocracy, which soon led to the “curtailment” of the privileges of the boyars and princes. For example, they were removed from solving important state issues, which from now on were taken exclusively by Vasily the Third and his circle of close advisers. At the same time, representatives of the boyar class were able to retain important places in the prince’s army.

Historians indicate that the prince was married twice. The first time with Solomonia Saburova, who herself was from a noble boyar family, but turned out to be childless. And the second time he married Elena Glinskaya, who bore him two sons, the youngest of whom, Yuri, suffered from dementia.

On December 3, 1533, Moscow Prince Vasily the Third died from a blood poisoning disease, after which he was buried in the Moscow Kremlin (Archangel Cathedral). In subsequent years, the boyars Belsky and Glinsky acted as regents for the young Ivan.

Basil III Ivanovich in baptism Gabriel, in monasticism Varlaam (born March 25, 1479 - death December 3, 1533) - Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow (1505-1533), Sovereign of All Rus'. Parents: father John III Vasilyevich the Great, mother Byzantine princess Sophia Paleolog. Children: from first marriage: George (presumably); from his second marriage: and Yuri.

Vasily 3 short biography (article review)

The son of John III from his marriage to Sophia Palaeologus, Vasily the Third was distinguished by his pride and inaccessibility, punishing the descendants of appanage princes and boyars under his control who dared to contradict him. He is “the last collector of the Russian land.” After annexing the last appanages (Pskov, the northern principality), he completely destroyed specific system. He fought with Lithuania twice, following the teachings of the Lithuanian nobleman Mikhail Glinsky, who entered his service, and finally, in 1514, he was able to take Smolensk from the Lithuanians. The war with Kazan and Crimea was difficult for Vasily, but ended in the punishment of Kazan: Trade was diverted from there to the Makaryev fair, which was later moved to Nizhny. Vasily divorced his wife Solomonia Saburova and married the princess, which further aroused the boyars who were dissatisfied with him against him. From this marriage Vasily had a son, Ivan IV the Terrible.

Biography of Vasily III

The beginning of the reign. Bride's choice

The new Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III Ivanovich began his reign by resolving the “throne issue” with his nephew Dmitry. Immediately after his father’s death, he ordered him to be shackled “in iron” and put in a “close room,” where he died 3 years later. Now the tsar had no “legitimate” opponents in the competition for the grand princely throne.

Vasily ascended the Moscow throne at the age of 26. Having later shown himself to be a skilled politician, even under his father he was preparing for the role of autocrat in the Russian state. It was not in vain that he refused a bride from among the foreign princesses and for the first time a bridesmaid ceremony for Russian brides was organized at the Grand Duke's palace. 1505, summer - 1,500 noble girls were brought to the bride.

A special boyar commission, after a careful selection, presented the heir to the throne with ten worthy candidates in all respects. Vasily chose Salomonia, the daughter of boyar Yuri Saburov. This marriage would be unsuccessful - the royal couple had no children, and, first of all, no son-heir. In the first half of the 20s, the problem of an heir for the grand ducal couple worsened to the limit. In the absence of an heir to the throne, Prince Yuri automatically became the main contender for the kingdom. Vasily developed a hostile relationship with him. Known fact that the appanage prince himself and his entourage were under the watchful eye of informants. Cut to Yuri supreme authority in the state generally promised a large-scale shake-up in the ruling elite of Russia.

According to the strictness of the observed tradition, the second marriage of an Orthodox Christian in Russia was possible only in two cases: the death or voluntary departure of the first wife to a monastery. The sovereign's wife was healthy and, despite official message, had no intention of voluntarily joining a monastery. Salomonia's disgrace and forced tonsure at the end of November 1525 completed this act family drama, which split Russian educated society for a long time.

Grand Duke Vasily III Ivanovich on the hunt

Foreign policy

Vasily the Third continued his father’s policy of creating a single Russian state, “followed the same rules in foreign and domestic policy; showed modesty in the actions of monarchical power, but knew how to command; loved the benefits of peace, not fearing war and not missing the opportunity to gain important for the sovereign power; less famous for his military happiness, more for his cunning that was dangerous to his enemies; did not humiliate Russia, he even exalted it...” (N. M. Karamzin).

At the very beginning of his reign, he undertook in 1506. unsuccessful trip against the Kazan Khan, which ended with the flight of the Russian army. This beginning greatly inspired King Alexander of Lithuania, who, relying on the youth and inexperience of Vasily III, offered him peace with the condition of returning the lands conquered by John III. A rather stern and brief answer was given to such a proposal - the Russian Tsar owns only own lands. But, in the letter of accession to the throne sent to Alexander, Vasily rejected the complaints of the Lithuanian boyars against the Russians as unfair, and reminded of the inadmissibility of converting Elena (Alexander’s wife and sister of Vasily III) and other Christians living in Lithuania to Catholicism.

Alexander realized that a young but strong king had ascended the throne. When Alexander died in August 1506, Vasily tried to offer himself as king of Lithuania and Poland in order to end the confrontation with Russia. However, Alexander’s brother Sigismund, who did not want peace with Russia, ascended the throne. Out of frustration, the sovereign tried to recapture Smolensk, but after several battles there were no winners, and a peace was concluded, according to which all the lands conquered under John III remained with Russia and Russia promised not to encroach on Smolensk and Kyiv. As a result of this peace treaty, the Glinsky brothers appeared in Russia for the first time - noble Lithuanian nobles who had a conflict with Sigismund and who came under the protection of the Russian Tsar.

By 1509 it had been settled external relations: letters were received from a longtime friend and ally of Russia - the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey, which confirmed the invariability of his attitude towards Russia; A 14-year peace treaty was concluded with Livonia, with the exchange of prisoners and the resumption of: security of movement in both powers and trade on the same mutually beneficial terms. It was also important that, according to this agreement, the Germans broke off allied relations with Poland.

Domestic policy

Tsar Vasily believed that nothing should limit the power of the Grand Duke. He enjoyed the active support of the Church in the fight against the feudal boyar opposition, harshly dealing with those who expressed dissatisfaction.

Now Vasily the Third could get busy internal politics. He turned his attention to Pskov, which proudly bore the name of “brother of Novgorod.” Using the example of Novgorod, the sovereign knew where the boyars' freedom could lead, and therefore wanted to subjugate the city to his power without leading to a rebellion. The reason for this was the refusal of the landowners to pay tribute, everyone quarreled and the governor had no choice but to turn to the court of the Grand Duke.

In January 1510, the young tsar went to Novgorod, where he received a large embassy of Pskovites, which consisted of 70 noble boyars. The trial ended with all the Pskov boyars being put into custody, because the tsar was dissatisfied with their insolence against the governor and injustice against the people. In connection with this, the sovereign demanded that the Pskov residents abandon the veche and accept the sovereign's governors in all their cities.

Noble boyars, feeling guilty and not having the strength to resist the Grand Duke, wrote a letter to the people of Pskov, asking them to agree to the demands of the Grand Duke. It was sad for the free people of Pskov to gather in the square for the last time to the ringing of the veche bell. At this meeting, the sovereign’s ambassadors announced their consent to submit to the royal will. Vasily III arrived in Pskov, restored order there and installed new officials; took an oath of allegiance to all residents and pledged new church Saint Xenia, the commemoration of this saint occurred precisely on the day of the end of freedom of the city of Pskov. Vasily sent 300 noble Pskovites to the capital and went home a month later. They soon followed him and veche bell Pskovites.

By 1512, relations with Crimean Khanate. The intelligent and loyal Khan Mengli-Girey, who was a reliable ally of John III, grew very old, became decrepit, and his sons, the young princes Akhmat and Burnash-Girey, began to lead politics. Sigismund, who hated Russia even more than Alexander, was able to bribe the brave princes and incite them to campaign against Rus'. Sigismund was especially furious when he lost Smolensk in 1514, which had been under Lithuania for 110 years.

Sigismund regretted that he released Mikhail Glinsky, who diligently served the new land, to Russia, and began to demand the return of the Glinskys. M. Glinsky made special efforts during the capture of Smolensk; he hired skilled foreign soldiers. Mikhail had the hope that, out of gratitude to his services, the sovereign would make him the sovereign prince of Smolensk. However, the Grand Duke did not love and did not trust Glinsky - he who cheated once will cheat a second time. In general, Vasily struggled with inheritances. And so it happened: offended, Mikhail Glinsky went over to Sigismund, but fortunately, the governors were quickly able to catch him and, by order of the tsar, he was sent in chains to Moscow.

1515 - the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey died, and his throne was inherited by his son Muhamed-Girey, who, unfortunately, did not inherit many of his father’s good qualities. During his reign (until 1523), the Crimean army acted either on the side of Lithuania or Russia - everything depended on who would pay the most.

The power of Russia of that era aroused respect various countries. Ambassadors from Constantinople brought a letter and an affectionate letter from the famous and terrible Turkish Sultan Soliman for all of Europe. Good diplomatic relations with him frightened the eternal enemies of Russia - Mukhamet-Girey and Sigismund. The latter, without even arguing about Smolensk, made peace for 5 years.

Solomonia Saburova. Painting by P. Mineeva

Unification of Russian lands

Such a respite gave the Grand Duke time and strength to fulfill his and his great father’s long-standing intention - to completely destroy the appanages. And he succeeded. The Ryazan inheritance, ruled by the young Prince John, almost separated from Russia, under active participation Khan Mukhamet. Put in prison, Prince John fled to Lithuania, where he died, and the Ryazan principality, which had been separate and independent for 400 years, merged in 1521 into the Russian state. There remained the Seversk Principality, where Vasily Shemyakin, the grandson of the famous Dmitry Shemyaka, who troubled power during the times, reigned. This Shemyakin, so similar to his grandfather, had long been suspected of friendship with Lithuania. 1523 - his correspondence with Sigismund was revealed, and this is already open treason to the fatherland. Prince Vasily Shemyakin was thrown into prison, where he died.

Thus the dream of uniting the fragmented appanage principalities Rus' became a single whole under the rule of one king.

1523 - the Russian city of Vasilsursk was founded on Kazan soil, and this event marked the beginning of the decisive conquest of the Kazan kingdom. And although throughout his reign Vasily the Third had to fight the Tatars and repel their raids, in 1531 the Kazan Khan Enalei became a novice of the Russian Tsar, recognizing his power.

Divorce and marriage

Everything was going well in the Russian state, but Vasily III did not have an heir for 20 years of marriage. And various boyar parties began to be formed for and against a divorce from the barren Saburova. The king needs an heir. 1525 - a divorce took place, and Solomonida Saburova was tonsured a nun, and in 1526, Tsar Vasily Ivanovich married Elena Vasilievna Glinskaya, the niece of the traitor Mikhail Glinsky, who in 1530 gave birth to her first son and heir to the throne, John IV (the Terrible ).

Elena Glinskaya - second wife of Grand Duke Vasily III

Board results

The first signs of the prosperity of the Russian state were successfully developing trade. The largest centers in addition to Moscow they became Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk and Pskov. The Grand Duke cared about the development of trade, which he constantly pointed out to his governors. Handicrafts also developed. Craft suburbs - settlements - emerged in many cities. The country provided itself, at that time, with everything necessary and was ready to export more goods than import what it needed. The wealth of Rus', the abundance of arable land, forest lands with precious furs, are unanimously noted by foreigners who visited Muscovy in
those years.

Under Vasily III, urban planning and the construction of Orthodox churches continued to develop. The Italian Fioravanti builds in Moscow, following the model of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, the Kremlin Assumption Cathedral, which becomes the main shrine of Muscovite Rus'. The cathedral will be an image for Russian temple craftsmen for many decades.

Under Vasily III, the construction of the Kremlin was completed - in 1515 a wall was erected along the Neglinnaya River. The Moscow Kremlin is turning into one of the best fortresses in Europe. Being the residence of the monarch, the Kremlin becomes a symbol of the Russian state right up to the present day.

Death

Vasily III always had enviable health and he was not seriously ill with anything, probably because it was so unexpected that an abscess on his leg led him to death 2 months later. He died on the night of December 3-4, 1533, having managed to give all orders for the state, transferring power to his 3-year-old son John, and the guardianship of his mother, the boyars and his brothers - Andrei and Yuri; and before his last breath he managed to accept the schema.

Vasily was called a kind and affectionate sovereign, and therefore it is not surprising that his death was so sad for the people. Throughout the 27 years of his reign, the Grand Duke worked hard for the good and greatness of his state and was able to achieve a lot.

That night, for the history of the Russian state, “the last collector of the Russian land” passed away.

According to one of the legends, during the tonsure Solomonia was pregnant, gave birth to a son, George, and handed him over “to safe hands,” and everyone was told that the newborn had died. Subsequently, this child will become the famous robber Kudeyar, who with his gang will rob rich carts. This legend interested Ivan the Terrible very much. The hypothetical Kudeyar was his older half-brother, which means that he could lay claim to royal throne. This story is most likely a folk fiction.

For the second time, Vasily III married a Lithuanian woman, young Elena Glinskaya. Only 4 years later Elena gave birth to her first child, Ivan Vasilyevich. As the legend goes, at the hour of the baby's birth, a terrible thunderstorm allegedly broke out. Thunder struck from the clear sky and shook the earth to its foundations. The Kazan Khansha, having learned about the birth of an heir, said to the Moscow messengers: “A king was born to you, and he has two teeth: with one he can eat us (Tatars), and with the other you.”

There was a rumor that Ivan was an illegitimate son, but this is unlikely: an examination of the remains of Elena Glinskaya showed that she had red hair. As you know, Ivan was also red-haired.

Vasily III was the first Russian tsar to shave his chin hair. As legend has it, he trimmed his beard to make himself look younger to his young wife. He did not last long in a beardless state.