reasons for the fragmentation of Russia (as well as all other European countries, the Middle Ages) had objective preconditions.Of course, this phenomenon was a natural result of the development of social, economic and political relations in the early barbarian states.Actually, the feudal fragmentation of modern scholars called the weakening of the central government with a parallel strengthening of regional elites in the country.The monarch was still the senior managers in the hierarchy, but was not able to fully control all its territory.And in some cases, it was not even able to protect his throne by military force of its own vassals or their unions.It is interesting that the term can be applied only to the European world.The same definition is sometimes used to denote the collapse, such as the Golden Horde and the Arab Caliphate.However, this comparison may be allowed only in the figurative sense, because no way to talk seriously about the suzerain-vassal relationship in non-European societies.
reasons for the fragmentation of ancient Russia
medieval Russian state was not something dramatically different from the pan-European countries.And here and there a lot of similar processes occurred.The reasons for the fragmentation of Russia also lay in the fact that the vassals in their own estates were able to get considerable independence from the central city and, as a consequence, efforts in all respects.A capital nominal ruler of Russia was the Prince of Kiev, and his vassals - the various princes of the unit (Chernigov, Chernigov, Suzdal and other).However, during the XII - XIII centuries intensively increases the size of land holdings boyars, as well as the number of dependent peasants, boyars.Naturally it makes them more powerful, deprived of all necessary to hold on to the patronage of the Prince of Kiev.This friendship with the local prince of considered very useful.
Such landscape in no small part accompanied by weak economic links between different regions of the country and the absence of particular importance and necessity of trade relations.The feudal disintegration was also due to the considerable size of the state.The country has been extremely difficult to keep in a single authority.During this period, growing and cities, which are increasingly advocated the expansion of government and reducing dependence on the prince's structures.Thus, the reasons for the fragmentation of Russia were mainly to weak economic ties between the regions as well as in the natural aspiration of the provincial forces for independence.The last prince of Kiev, who still managed to keep the unity of the Russian land, was the son of Vladimir Monomakh - Mstislav.However, after his death, which happened in 1132, the country broke up into a number of virtually independent principalities.
Kiev for a long time remained the most prestigious center for Russian princes, but his role was no longer decisive.Along with general European trends, the reasons for the fragmentation of Russia and the very nature of this phenomenon were also in the peculiarities of the local system of succession.The fact is that in the West there was a so-called Salic law, dictate that the heir may be a son of the King (usually the eldest of living).This monarch younger brothers and their children legitimate rights to the throne had not.In Russia also, according to tradition, the main throne occupied the eldest son, and his younger brothers sat in the peripheral lands, but after the death of the prince of Kiev had the right to declare their claims to the empty throne.After just a few generations was confused tangle, creating numerous quarrels between relatives, cousins, nephews and uncles Rurik dynasty.Thus creating for the political disintegration of the state and the reasons are obvious prerequisites.
And the consequences of fragmentation Russia
earth Eastern Slavs in this period began to be a large number of independent principalities.Strengthening local ruling courts and noble families gave the Russian republic of Novgorod land, Galicia-Volyn and Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the emergence and rise of Moscow.As in the rest of Europe, feudal fragmentation in Russia after several centuries gave way to centralization, and later the absolution of royal power.
