Yury of Moscow

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Yury I
Mikhail Yaroslavich
SuccessorDmitry of Tver
Born1281
Moscow, Principality of Moscow, Vladimir-Suzdal
DiedNovember 21, 1325 (aged 44–45)
SpouseKonchaka
DynastyRurik
FatherDaniel of Moscow
ReligionRussian Orthodox

Yury (Georgy) Danilovich[a] (Russian: Юрий (Георгий) Данилович; 1281 – 21 November 1325) was Prince of Moscow from 1303 to 1325 and Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1318 to 1322.[2]

Biography

Early life

Yury was the oldest son of

grand prince of Vladimir, Andrey of Gorodets
.

Conflict with Mikhail of Tver

After his father Daniel died in 1303, Yury became prince of Moscow, and contended over the title of grand prince of Vladimir (the supreme position among princes in the northeast) with his uncle

Tokhta, granted Mikhail of Tver the grand princely title when Andrey of Gorodets died the next year on 27 July 1304.[4] Mikhail went to the Golden Horde's capital city Sarai, where the khan elevated him grand prince.[citation needed] His nephew Yury rebelled against this appointment, but two military campaigns by Mikhail of Tver against Moscow in 1305 and 1308 forced Yury to comply with the khan's decision.[5] The Tverian army besieged Pereslavl and Moscow itself.[citation needed
]

In the meantime, Yury arranged the murder of Prince Konstantin of

Novgorod against Tver. Now, he felt strong enough to challenge Mikhail of Tver in the Horde.[citation needed
]

In 1315, Yury went to the

Tatar princess[7] who converted to Russian Orthodox Christianity for her marriage to Yury, and adopted "Agafiia" as her baptismal name.[6] Uzbeg Khan deposed Mikhail and nominated Yury as the Grand Prince of Vladimir.[6] Back in Moscow with a large force of Tatars, Yury approached Tver. However, Yuri's army was defeated and his brother Boris and his wife were taken prisoners. Thereupon he fled to Novgorod and sued for peace. At that time his wife, still held in Tver as a hostage, died unexpectedly. Yury availed himself of the confusion that followed and announced to the khan that she had been poisoned on Mikhail's order. Uzbeg Khan summoned both princes to Sarai and, after a trial, had Mikhail executed on 22 November 1318.[8] Yury, who both depended on and benefited from Uzbeg Khan's favour, was allowed to be the grand prince of Vladimir for the next for years (1318–1322).[8]

Last years

Yury returned to Suzdalia in 1319, spending much time in Novgorod.[8] He was fiercely resisted by other princes and populace alike, as his appointment to grand prince was considered illegitimate.[8] Now entrusted with the task of gathering tribute to the Horde, Yury faced much opposition; Uzbeg sent no fewer than four punitive expeditions to the northeastern principalities of Rus' during Yury's last two years as grand prince (1320–1322) in order to enforce their joint authority.[8] In particular, Mikhail's son and successor, Dmitry "the Terrible Eyes" of Tver, still opposed him. In 1322,[8] Dmitry, seeking revenge for his father's murder,[citation needed] went to Sarai[8] and persuaded the khan that Yury had appropriated a large portion of the tribute due to the Horde.[citation needed] Uzbek granded Dmitry the patent for grand prince of Vladimir.[8] Yury was summoned to the Horde for a trial but, before any formal investigation, was killed by Dmitry. Eight months later, Dmitry was also executed in the Horde.[9] In early 1326, Yury's remains were returned to Moscow and buried by the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church headed by Metropolitan Peter.[10]

Shortly before his death, Yury led the army of Novgorod to fight the

Velikiy Ustyug the same year.[citation needed
]

Notes

  1. ^ Also spelled Yuri Daniilovich[1]

References

  1. ^ Halperin 1987, pp. 71, 131.
  2. .
  3. ^ Martin 2004, p. 428.
  4. ^ a b c d Martin 2007, p. 193.
  5. ^ Martin 2007, p. 194.
  6. ^ a b c Halperin 1987, p. 71.
  7. ^ Halperin 1987, p. 131.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Martin 2007, p. 195.
  9. ^ John Fennell, "Princely Executions in the Horde 1308-1339," Forschungen zur Osteuropaischen Geschichte 38 (1988), 9-19.
  10. .

Bibliography

Regnal titles
Preceded by Prince of Moscow
1303–1325
Succeeded by
Preceded by Grand Prince of Vladimir
1318–1322
Succeeded by