Empire · 1263–1547 · Europe
Grand Duchy of Moscow (Muscovy)
Also known as Grand Duchy of Moscow
Moscow was a minor town when Daniel, youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, received it around 1263. Its princes rose by serving the Mongol Golden Horde as tax collectors; Ivan I gained the title of grand prince and persuaded the head of the Russian Church to settle in Moscow.
Dmitry Donskoy defeated a Mongol army at Kulikovo in 1380, showing the Horde could be beaten. Ivan III annexed the rich republic of Novgorod in 1478, ended tribute to the Horde after the stand on the Ugra river in 1480, married a Byzantine princess and adopted the double-headed eagle. His son Vasili III completed the gathering of the Russian lands. In 1547 Ivan IV was crowned tsar, turning the grand duchy into the Tsardom of Russia.
- Years
- 1263–1547
- Capital
- Moscow
- Greatest extent
- 1533, about 2.80 million km²
- Region
- Europe
At the death of Vasili III, after absorbing Novgorod, Tver and Pskov; already c. 2.5M km² by 1505
Legacy
Muscovy was the nucleus of the Russian state, which grew into the largest country in the world.
Rulers
- Daniel of Moscow c. 1263 – 1303
First prince of Moscow
- Ivan I Kalita 1325 – 1340
Won the title of grand prince from the Golden Horde
- Dmitry Donskoy 1359 – 1389
Defeated a Mongol army at Kulikovo in 1380
- Ivan III the Great 1462 – 1505
Annexed Novgorod and ended tribute to the Horde
- Vasili III 1505 – 1533
Completed the gathering of the Russian lands
- Ivan IV 1533 – 1547 (as grand prince)
Crowned tsar in 1547
Realms on the map
- Grand Principality of Moscow 1294–1546