Principality of Tver
In 1246, Yaroslav Yaroslavich became the first prince of Tver. This event marked the detachment of the city from the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky principality. Yaroslav Vsevolodovich had given his son Alexander Nevsky control over the western slice of his father's patrimony earlier in the 1230s or 1240s. The Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' between 1237 and 1241 devastated many cities like Vladimir on the Klyazma and Ryazan. Depopulation was less severe in regions around Tver, Moscow, and Yaroslavl. These areas received refugees from more war-torn zones. Tver experienced population growth during the early Golden Horde hegemony. A bishopric was founded during the reign of Yaroslav before his death in 1271. The Transfiguration Church began construction in the late 13th century. It was one of the first northeastern Rus' cities to start major post-invasion works. Tver held an advantageous location on the Upper Volga for luxury goods traders moving toward Sarai.
Mikhail of Tver succeeded his father in 1285 and became grand prince of Vladimir by 1305. Özbeg Khan of the Golden Horde decided that Tver grew too strong. He supported Moscow against Tver with a military campaign led by Yuri Danilovich in 1317. Mikhail met Yuri's army at Bortenevo and won the battle. During this encounter, Konchaka, Özbeg's sister and Yuri's wife, was captured as a prisoner of war. She died in captivity within Tver. Yuri blamed Mikhail for her death when summoned to the Golden Horde. Mikhail faced a month of imprisonment and torture before execution in 1318. His son Dmitry was executed there in 1326. Another son, Aleksandr Mikhailovich, was executed in 1339 along with his son Fyodor. An anti-Tatar uprising occurred in 1327 and was suppressed. The city burned down and lost considerable population. Ivan I of Moscow later received the title of grand prince of Vladimir. Moscow remained on good terms with the Tatars while absorbing surrounding principalities. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Moscow.
During the Great Troubles from 1359 to 1381, the Golden Horde descended into internal succession wars. This weakness allowed Algirdas of Lithuania to score victory at Blue Waters in 1362 or 1363. Tver sided with Lithuania against Moscow during the Lithuanian, Muscovite War of 1368 to 1372. Mikhail II became the last prince appointed as grand prince of Vladimir in 1371. His reign marked the final period where Tver could rival Moscow and oppose the Golden Horde. When Algirdas sued for peace and retreated in 1372, Tver shifted allegiance to Mamai. Mamai granted Mikhail II the yarlik of grand prince of Vladimir again in 1375. A Muscovite-led expedition besieged Tver for four weeks that same year. Mikhail signed a treaty recognizing Dmitry Donskoy as his elder brother. He pledged military support if conflict arose. No troops from Tver reinforced Dmitry's anti-Mamai coalition at Kulikovo in 1380. Tokhtamysh defeated and killed Mamai at the Battle of the Kalka River in 1381.
In the early 15th century, the power of the Golden Horde waned while Lithuania gained strength. Vytautas gained direct control over Smolensk by 1404. He secured indirect control over Novgorodian holdings in 1408 and 1428. An alliance formed with Boris of Tver in 1427 and Ryazan in 1430. Vytautas held considerable influence over the Muscovite court between 1406 and 1430 as Vasily I's father-in-law. The Muscovite War of Succession broke out from 1425 to 1453. Principalities including Tver, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Ryazan, Novgorod, and Pskov remained independent of Moscow. They usually allied with Lithuania against Moscow despite Moscow having more territory and resources by 1425. Passages from the pokhval'noe slovo attributed to monk Foma suggest Tver held similar aspirations as Moscow. Some scholars interpret this text as an expression of desire to become the center for unification of the Russian land. Charles Halperin argues that Foma did not identify Tver as Constantinople's successor. Instead he suggested the Tverian land and Muscovite land were equals within the broader region.
Mikhail III of Tver signed treaties with Ivan III during the 1470s. These agreements essentially discriminated against Tver economically and politically. When Mikhail II sought an alliance with Lithuania to compensate for these terms, Ivan III acted swiftly. The army of Ivan III conquered Tver in 1485. The principality was annexed by Moscow immediately after. Tver was given to Ivan the Young as an appanage. Throughout its history as an independent state, there is no record of any annexations made by princes of Tver. Its boundaries likely remained the same from the 13th to 15th centuries. The principality stretched from Kashin in the east to Zubtsov in the west. The Shosha River flowed through the south as a tributary of the Volga. The Lama River also flowed from Volok Lamsky into the Shosha.
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Common questions
When did Yaroslav Yaroslavich become the first prince of Tver?
Yaroslav Yaroslavich became the first prince of Tver in 1246. This event marked the detachment of the city from the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky principality.
Who executed Mikhail of Tver and when did it happen?
Mikhail of Tver was executed by the Golden Horde in 1318 after a month of imprisonment and torture. His son Dmitry was also executed there in 1326, and another son Aleksandr Mikhailovich was executed in 1339 along with his son Fyodor.
What happened to Tver during the anti-Tatar uprising of 1327?
An anti-Tatar uprising occurred in 1327 and was suppressed. The city burned down and lost considerable population during this conflict.
Which year did Ivan III conquer Tver and annex it to Moscow?
The army of Ivan III conquered Tver in 1485. The principality was annexed by Moscow immediately after that date.
Where were the boundaries of the Principality of Tver located geographically?
The principality stretched from Kashin in the east to Zubtsov in the west. The Shosha River flowed through the south as a tributary of the Volga, and the Lama River also flowed from Volok Lamsky into the Shosha.