One of the sad pages of our history isfragmentation of ancient Russia in the Middle Ages. But internecine war is not the prerogative of the old Russian principalities. The interfeudal wars covered all of Europe, in France alone there were 14 major feudal majorats, between which continuous bloody clashes took place. Civil war is a characteristic feature of the Middle Ages.
The main cause of strife wasweak centralization of power. Strong leaders periodically appeared, such as Vladimir Monomakh or Yaroslav the Wise, shouting about the unity of the state, but, as a rule, after their death, their sons again began to quarrel.
На ранних этапах развития государства periodically some kind of alliances were formed between several princes, and wars were fought in blocs, or for a while all of Kievan Rus united to repel the raids of the steppe peoples.
Civil war is a civil war.This is a bloody major confrontation between the inhabitants of one country, united in certain groups. Despite the fact that in those days our country was a few independent states, it remained in history as Kievan Rus, and its unity, albeit inactive, was still felt. It was such a weak federation, whose inhabitants called representatives of the neighboring principalities non-resident, and foreigners - foreigners.
It is necessary to note the fact that the decision to gothe war against his brother was taken not only by the prince, behind him stood both the townspeople, and the merchants, and the church. The princely power was severely limited by the Boyar Duma and the City Veche. The causes of internecine wars lie much deeper.
Междоусобная война на Руси началась еще в IX century, and small skirmishes between the princes, in essence, never stopped. But there were major civil strife. The first feud arose at the end of the 10th and early 11th centuries, after Svyatoslav’s death. His three sons, Yaropolk, Vladimir and Oleg, had different mothers.
The outbreak of internecine war comes at a timegrowing up brothers - they have already gained strength, had guards and watched their patrimonies. The specific reason was the moment when Oleg discovered the hunters of Yaropolk in his forests, led by the son of the governor Sveneld Lut. After the skirmish that had arisen, Lut was killed, and, according to some sources, his father Svenald strongly urged Yaropolk to attack and in every way heated his hatred for brothers who allegedly dream of the Kiev throne.
The second internecine war of the princes began after the death of Vladimir, between his sons, whom he had 12. But the main struggle unfolded between Svyatopolk and Yaroslav.
In this discord, Boris and Gleb perish, becomingthe first Russian saints. In the end, Yaroslav, who received the later nickname Wise, comes out on top. He ascended the Kiev throne in 1016 and reigned until 1054, in which he died.
Naturally, the third major civil strife beganafter his death between his seven sons. Although Yaroslav during his life was clearly defined with the patrimonies of his sons, and the Kiev throne bequeathed Izyaslav, as a result of fratricidal wars, he reigned on it only in 1069.
Subsequent period of time until the end of XIVcentury is considered a period of political fragmentation. Independent principalities began to form, and the process of crushing and the emergence of new destinies became irreversible. If in the XII century there were 12 principalities on the territory of Russia, then already in the XIII century there were 50, and in the XIV - 250.
In science, this process is called feudalfragmentation. Even the conquest of Russia by the Tatar-Mongols in 1240 failed to stop the crushing process. Only the presence of the Golden Horde under the yoke of the Golden Horde began to incline the Kiev princes to create a centralized strong state.
The internecine wars in Russia destroyed andthey exsanguinated the country, preventing it from developing properly. But, as noted above, civil strife and fragmentation were not only the shortcomings of Russia. The quilt reminded both France, and Germany, and England. Strangely enough, but at some stage of development, fragmentation played a positive role. Within the framework of one state, individual lands began to actively develop, turning into large fiefdoms, new cities were built and flourished, churches were built, large squads were created and equipped. The political, economic and cultural development of the peripheral principalities with the weak political power of Kiev contributed to the growth of their independence and independence. And in a way the rise of democracy.
Однако муждоусобицей на Руси всегда умело enjoyed her enemies, which was enough. So the growth of peripheral estates was put an end to the attack on Russia of the Golden Horde. The process of centralization of Russian lands slowly began in the XIII century and went to the XV. But then there were internecine clashes.
Separate words deserve the beginning of internecinewar in the Moscow principality in the years 1425-1453. After the death of Vasily I, power passed into the hands of his son Vasily II of the Dark, all the years of whose rule were marked by civil strife. Immediately after the death of Vasily I in 1425, up to 1433, the war was fought between Vasily the Dark and his uncle Yuri Dmitrievich. The fact is that in Kievan Rus before the XIII century, the rules of succession were determined by the law of stakes. According to him, the power was transferred to the eldest in the family, and Dmitry Donskoy in 1389 appointed the youngest son Yuri the heir to the throne in the event of the death of the eldest son Vasily. Vasily I died, having his heirs, in particular, the son of Vasily, who also had the rights to the Moscow throne, because from the XIII century power was more and more often transferred from the father to the eldest son.
Вообще первым нарушил это право Мстислав I The great son of Vladimir Monomakh, who ruled from 1125 to 1132. Then, thanks to the authority of Monomakh, the will of Mstislav, the support of the boyars, the other princes were silent. And the rights of Vasily Yury contested, and some relatives supported him.
The beginning of internecine war in the Moscow principalityaccompanied by the destruction of minorities and the strengthening of royal power. Vasily the Dark fought for the unification of all Russian lands. Throughout his reign, which intermittently lasted from 1425 to 1453, Vasily the Dark repeatedly lost the throne in the struggle, first with his uncle, and then with his sons and others eager for the throne of Moscow, but always returned it. In 1446, he went on a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where he was captured and blinded, and therefore received the nickname Dark. The power in Moscow at that time was seized by Dmitry Shemyaka. But, even being blinded, Vasily the Dark continued a tough fight against Tatar raids and internal enemies, tearing Russia to pieces.
Междоусобная война в Московском княжестве ceased after the death of Basil II the Dark. The result of his reign was a significant increase in the territory of the Moscow principality (he joined Pskov and Novgorod), a significant weakening and loss of sovereignty of other princes who were forced to obey Moscow.
