The first mention of Moscow in the annals was associated with the name of the Grand Duke. By what year is the first mention of Moscow?

The history of ancient Russia is a very interesting period from the point of view of both a professionally interested person and an amateur. It is then that various socio-economic, socio-political processes are emerging, forming and developing. There are numerous cities that have survived to this day. It is to this era that the first mention of Moscow applies.

A bit of ancient history

If you make a brief excursion into the distant past of our country, you can find out that the settlements of people here have already been from the second millennium BC. Of course, these were very primitive parking lots, but this all begins. The active migration processes that were going on at that time made it possible to find and settle the most convenient places for it, one of them becomes the East European Plain, in particular the Central Russian Upland. It was here that the Proto-Slav tribes advanced, which then separated from the German and Baltic into the Slavic proper. Even later, the Slavic mass was divided into three large groups: western, southern and eastern. Naturally, the year of the first mention of Moscow was still very far away. However, the Slavs settled in the future territory of Russia, and the neighborhood of our capital began to settle on the most comfortable for this site - Borovitsky hill.

The first mention: the annals of Moscow

In historical science there was a version about the appearance of Moscow at the dawn of the formation of the state among the Eastern Slavs. Indeed, archaeological data allowed to say that in this place there was a settlement, and quite developed. However, to say that it was Moscow, it is impossible. The fact is that there are no sources of written character about this, and, accordingly, there is no reason to be sure either. The main document on the history of ancient Russia is the "Tale of Bygone Years" by monk Nestor. If you study it carefully, you can understand that only in the twelfth century is the first mention of Moscow. The date of this event is localized in 1147, when it is possible to find out a new somewhat distorted name "Moscow". In general, at that time, this region, in comparison with other cities of North-Eastern Russia, can be called quite backward, and the city itself was deaf and rural.

The prince's natural advantages and foresight

However, the terrain is very conveniently located geographically, so it attracted the eyes of princes of different ranks. But Moscow will come to the forefront very soon. This area was once chosen by the youngest son of Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Vladimirovich, nicknamed Dolgoruky. Being a Rostov-Suzdal prince, he also looked closely at Kiev, but he understood that it was necessary to have solid rear lines for an internecine struggle. And the old cities had well-organized and strong boyar groups. In addition, the city was located, figuratively speaking, in the center of Russian possessions, which was very convenient for attacking virtually all major principalities of the Northeast. Therefore, the first mention of Moscow is associated with the name of Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich, it was here on the military council that he invited his companion for the supremacy in Russia and the relative of Prince Svyatoslav Olegovich.

Hypotheses and disputes

However, even so, among historians there is no consensus on the year of the founding of the city. This is due to the contradictions that occur in the annals, despite the fact that it was with 1147 that the first mention of Moscow was connected. The date is called into question because in another chronicle the information is given that in 1156 Prince Yuri Dolgoruky founded a fortress on the site of the future capital. Although it is known that at this time he ruled in Kiev, and if he founded Moscow during this period, this event would be reflected in the annals. However, in this regard, the source keeps a complete silence, which causes bewilderment. Despite the mention of Moscow back in 1147, historians suggest that at that time it could not be called a full-fledged settlement. Most of the scientists consider all the same the year of the fortress and urban settlement of 1153. It was then that the Rostov-Suzdal prince was in those places, so we can assume such a version.

Kuchkovo - Moscow

Nevertheless, Yuri Vladimirovich did not for nothing pay attention to the town. As mentioned above, the location of Moscow made it a very convenient and advantageous transfer point, which is fully realized by the ruler. Even being a prince of Kiev, he devotes a part of his attention to the Moscow possessions. This policy was continued by his son Andrei Bogolyubsky, but to say that at that time Moscow had an important strategic significance, it is impossible. It was a small frontier point where the borders of principalities, trade routes crossed. It is with the convenient location of the Moscow possessions that the killing of Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky is connected. The local lands belonged to the small boyar Stepan Kuchka and were called Kuchkovo. Wanting to turn possession into his own, the prince first tried to persuade Stepan to give this place, but the boyar's intractability led to his execution and discontent among the boyar estate, which resulted in the plot and murder of Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky. However, despite this, the district of the future capital was assigned to Monomakhovichi.

The role of the heirs of Alexander Nevsky in the development of Moscow's influence

But the development of the city was very slow. From the moment when the first chronicle mention of Moscow took place, and until it acquired its own influence, more than one and a half centuries passed. Only in the thirteenth century it began to acquire the features of a large urban settlement and an important strategic point. The first mention of Moscow in a new capacity falls precisely on this period. This testifies to the growing influence of the city on all-Russian affairs. The real heyday begins after Alexander Yaroslavovich, who received for his exploits the nickname of Nevsky, leaves her as a legacy to his youngest son Daniel. Initially, the young prince was upset that he got such a seedy princedom, but as he married, he began to understand the importance of this region and the influence on the entire policy of Rus during the period of fragmentation. He strengthened it in every way with the help of dynastic marriages, military strength. Not the least role played and cunning of the prince. By the end of his reign, the Moscow Principality and the city were already quite significant rivals for the primacy in the country.

Daniilovichi in the struggle for primacy

Especially it should be noted that the rise of Moscow is due to the fact that the former centers (Kiev, and then Vladimir) gradually retreated to second roles, and Tver and the same "golden-headed" moved to the forefront. One should also mention the important influence of such a social institution as the Russian Orthodox Church. At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the Metropolitan's residence was moved from Vladimir to Moscow. This, in fact, meant a sharp increase in the status and influence of the latter. This event happened not just so, but was a consequence of the far-sighted policy of the Moscow princes. The strategic direction, given by Daniil Alexandrovich, was continued by his heirs: Yuri, who did not differ in political outlook, and Ivan, who sat on the throne after the death of his brother. Ivan, nicknamed Kalita, is a true designer of the strengthened influence of a young but ambitious city. It was with him that the Mongol khans paid tribute to the Moscow rulers.

Political affairs

When the prince appears chroniclers, which include the first mention in the annals of Moscow to the ninth, and even to the beginning of the eighth century. All this was done in order to justify the right of the city and the principality to take precedence in the all-Russian affairs. Princes and court boyars strongly supported this version. Politics of Kalita continued his sons Ivan Red, who received his nickname for a beautiful appearance, and Semyon Proud, who was characterized by an exorbitant pride. They also made changes to the annalistic arch in order to slightly "age" the future capital. However, it is clear that the first mention in the annals of Moscow, deduced by the devoted chroniclers, does not correspond to the truth, and this was done purely out of political motives. Dmitry Ivanovich further strengthened the leading position of the city, having won a decisive victory over the troops of the Mongol-Tatars on the Kulikovo field in 1380. However, two years later, a new raid by the conquerors caught the city by surprise, and it was taken and burned almost completely.

Family conflicts for the Moscow inheritance

Later on, a struggle for power broke out between the heirs, which in the historical literature received the name of a great feudal war. This page in the history of Russia is full of tragic moments. The winner was Vasily II the Dark, and already his son, Ivan III, for the first time since feudal fragmentation receives the title of Grand Duke of All Russia, and Moscow becomes the capital of a united Russia. Subsequently, the city was further strengthened and expanded. According to the observations of British merchants, he was more than London. Moscow retained its Moscow status right up to the construction of St. Petersburg and for three hundred years lost the palm of primacy to the northern capital. However, in 1918, through the efforts of the Bolsheviks, it again became the capital at the beginning of the RSFSR, and then the USSR.

Moscow: from the capital of the principality to the capital of Russia

So it is possible to briefly outline the main points of the foundation and development of the city: from the first mention of the chronicle of Moscow as a small settlement to the status of the capital of a large and strong state. On this path, it has undergone numerous changes both in appearance and in the degree of its influence on the general course of events. In particular, the son of Basil the Dark built the Kremlin in such a way that we can observe it in our time, from red brick. The entire historic center of the city was built during the Middle Ages, and then only slightly changed. And although historians have broken many copies, expressing hypotheses about the period of the populated area, there is a generally accepted view that the first mention of Moscow dates back to the twelfth century, and the founder is considered to be Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The year of the first mention is 1147. Now the city is one of the largest megacities of the world and the capital of our country.