In the middle of the XV century, the most important task, which was to deal with Ivan III, was annexed to Moscow in Veliky Novgorod.But he was not the only contender for the land.Their rights to them and tried to present the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
conflict began
no secret that Moscow's history has always been closely linked with Novgorod.The roots of the conflict go back in the feudal war that erupted among the descendants of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, which lasted for several decades - from 1425 to 1453.
main warring parties were Vasily the Dark and Dmitry Shemyaka.After the defeat in the last battle for power had taken refuge in Novgorod.Vasily the Dark failed in 1449 to sign a lucrative for themselves contract with the Lithuanian prince and the then Polish king Casimir IV on the fact that each of the parties will not accept on its territory of political opponents of each other.In addition, Lithuania has agreed to renounce attacks on Novgorod.After 4 years of Basil with their faithful people poisoned Shemyaka.
treaty of yazhelbitsy
history of Veliky Novgorod knows many bloody battles.One of them took place in 1456 at the town called Ruz.Then Moscow troops managed to take it fairly easy and almost without resistance.But soon they attacked the cavalry Novgorod.Muscovites under the leadership of its governor and Striga Basenko hid behind a snow-covered elevation.They began to shoot arrows not in the Novgorod warriors and their horses.There was a mess.Novgorod were dressed in heavy armor, so they could not fight on par with the Muscovites.As a result, the majority of the boyars were captured or killed.
Thus, Moscow has gained a complete victory over Novgorod.Thus troop first side was 20 times less than a second.After some time in Yazhelbitsy Basil Dark took the embassy, headed by Archbishop of Novgorod Euthymius II with a view to concluding a peace treaty.After some negotiations, the parties signed a bilateral agreement.According to him, the losers had to pay quite a large indemnity to the winner, was 8 th. Rubles.But the accession of Novgorod to Moscow did not take place.It is remained independent.
situation after the peace
Novgorod History has it that back in 1136 he became the very first freestyle Republic located on the territory of Kievan Rus.It acted in a democratic institution such as the Chamber.It existed even before the events that led to the annexation of Novgorod to Moscow.But, despite this, not all of the citizens were in favor of independence of their land and were willing to fight for it.
It is worth noting the fact that the rights of ordinary citizens of modest means often not respected, and the poor population, which consisted of serfs in general been deprived of the right to be present in the Chamber.The gap between rich and poor is too large, so the ordinary people of Novgorod were not eager to fight with Moscow for the rights of the boyars.
In 1460 Grand Prince Vasily came to the embassy to Novgorod for negotiations.But the townspeople were made against him and even tried to kill him.So another conflict broke out, which was authorized by Bishop Jonah, intimidate Novgorod Tatar invasion with Muscovites.
3 years after visiting the Novgorod Prince of Moscow, the republic refused military support Pskov, asks to help him fend off assaults Livonian Knights.Help came from Moscow.Thereafter Novgorod took openly hostile position with respect to Pskov.This time the conflict is resolved wise policy of Prince Ivan III.
New disagreements
Novgorod elite all the time was under constant pressure from the two neighboring states sufficiently powerful - Moscow and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.Boyars were aware that to keep their possession will be possible only in the event that an alliance with one of them.
History of Moscow points to the fact that the controversy over the land connection existed in the Novgorod.Boyars called for an alliance with the Lithuanian principality, because everyone expects to maintain its privileges, while ordinary citizens supported the Moscow tsar, because they saw his face, especially the Orthodox ruler.
reasons hostilities
occasion, which served for a campaign in May 1471 to Veliky Novgorod, were rumors suggesting alleged that most of the boyars, led by Martha Boretskaya widow mayor signed an agreement with the Lithuanian side of vassalage.Many historians believe that these rumors were the only reason for the violence.Yet there is also the fact that Novgorod was asked to be his deputy Lithuanian prince.In addition, they have sought to create their own, independent of the Moscow church.That is why the campaign against Novgorod has got kind of war against the apostates and the restoration of the Orthodox faith.
another campaign
This time the military operations against the republic, headed the Moscow Prince Daniel Kholmsk.I must say that it was a considerable risk, because the spring that year stood out quite cold, and a large number have not yet melted snow could significantly slow the advance of the troops forward.But it was impossible to postpone the campaign.The Golden Horde and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was ready to come to the aid of Novgorod.
In the early days of the campaign there were almost no fighting.Moscow army effortlessly captured the cities of the country, one after another.Only in mid-July was held Shelonsky battle.On the battlefield, the army of Novgorod agreed, consisting of 40 thousand. Man, and the 12000th army of the enemy.The final outcome of this battle, decided to attack the powerful Moscow cavalry.Poorly organized Novgorod could not resist this onslaught.
2 weeks after Shilonskoy battle, there was another battle near the river Shilengi.It also ended in victory for the Muscovites.Then began peace negotiations in Korostyn.
Consequences truce
As a result, Novgorod had to abandon the patronage of the Polish-Lithuanian King Casimir IV.In addition, the losers pay about 15 thousand rubles. And in fact, recognized the supremacy of the Prince of Moscow.So the campaign in 1471 was more than successful.He proved that mere unlike Novgorod boyars not want to fight with their neighbors.
Partly fate of the Republic was already a foregone conclusion.But the final accession of Novgorod to Moscow will be only 7 years.
last campaign
spring 1477 is not the first Novgorod embassy arrived in Moscow.But it turned out that it was not sent vechem, and a handful of boyars.They wanted a speedy and final recognition of the rule of Moscow, which would give them the right to keep all their land and wealth.This was learned in Novgorod.In the next few pro-Moscow Chamber of boyars were killed and came to power supporters of the Lithuanian prince.But their reign was short-lived.
In October 1477 was the last campaign against the republic under the leadership of Ivan III.At this time, the Novgorod army did not come out of the city.Began long negotiations.After 2 months of Muscovites have been put forward final requirements.They included the abolition Posad office and dissolution of the Chamber.With these two requirements of Novgorod agreed, but the discussion about saving their nobles estates delayed.In the end, they still had to give the Prince of Moscow monastery and Vladychna land.At the negotiations were completed.January 15 Moscow prince and his entourage, accompanied by militia entered the city without a fight.
Results
In the history of 1478 - the year of annexation of Novgorod to Moscow.War is finally over.This time there were no executions, but many knights of the family were expelled from Novgorod.Among them was Martha Governor's Wife and Boretsky with his grandson.Later, she was tonsured a nun, and her possessions confiscated.
When was the accession of Novgorod to Moscow, began to control all the lands 4 governor, who had the right to manage and lead a lot of courts.Trade, agriculture and industry is now carried out under the control of the new government.
Boyarskoe leadership and the Chamber have been eliminated.The symbol of the independence of Novgorod - assembly bell - taken.Since then, he has become secondary cities, and possessions of Muscovy increased almost 2-fold.Thus ended the story of Veliky Novgorod as a republic, which lasted more than three centuries.
