History of Russia from Ancient Times, Volumes 5–6

51 hrs. 27 min.

Language Russian

Author Sergey Solovyov

Narrator Evgeny Ternovsky

Volume 5. Grand Prince of Moscow Ivan III Vasilyevich and his time, 1462–1505.

Volume 5. Contents

Book content 3
First section
Chapter 01. Novgorod the Great
The significance of Ivan III and his character.— The state of Novgorod the Great.— The Lithuanian side.— The Boretskys.— Clashes with the Grand Prince.— The cautious behavior of the Grand Prince and the metropolitan.— The election of the ruler.— Veche feuds.— A treaty with Casimir of Lithuania.— The war of Novgorod with Moscow.— Peace in the old way.— The consecration of the ruler Feofil.— Novgorod’s lack of armaments; those who were wronged appeal to the grand-princely court.— Peaceful arrival of Ivan to Novgorod for the administration of justice. Court.— Petitioners go to Moscow.— The ruler and the master.— Ivan wants to be master in Novgorod.— A new war.— Novgorod brought on par with Moscow.— Movements in Novgorod in favor of old ways.— Executions and resettlements.— The annexation of Vyatka.— Quarrels of Pskovites with grand-princely officials.— The Moscow Grand Prince administers in Ryazan.— The annexation of Tver to Moscow; the final annexation of Yaroslavl and Rostov.
Chapter 02. Sophia Paleolog
Annexation of the appanage of Vereya to Moscow.— Ivan III’s attitude toward his kinsmen brothers.— Ivan’s second marriage to Sophia Paleolog.— The significance of Sophia.— The struggle between Ivan’s son and grandson.— The fate of the leading nobles.
Chapter 03. The East
Subjugation of Kazan.— Conquest of Perm.— The Yugra princes pay tribute to Moscow; the establishment of Russians on the Pechora; crossing beyond the Ural Mountains.— Raids by Khan Akhmat of the Golden Horde.— Ivan’s behavior during the second raid by Akhmat.— A message to him from Vassian, Archbishop of Rostov.— Akhmat’s retreat from Ugra.— Akhmat’s death in the steppe.— The Crimean Horde.— Ivan’s alliance with the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey; Crimean forces finish off the Golden Horde.— First contacts of Russia with Turkey.— Relations with the Tyumen people, the Nogais, Horesan, and Georgia.
Chapter 04. Lithuania
The favorable position of the Moscow Grand Prince relative to the Lithuanian prince.— Casimir of Lithuania’s hostility toward Ivan.— Ivan allied with the Crimean Khan against Lithuania.— Transfer of minor border princes from Lithuanian subjection to Moscow.— The death of King Casimir.— Offensive movement from Moscow toward Lithuania.— Courtship of Casimir’s son, Grand Prince Alexander, for Elena, Ivan’s daughter.— Peace and marriage.— Troubles regarding Elena.— Transfer of the princes of Belsky, Chernigov, and Seversk from Alexander to Ivan.— Renewed war.— Victories of the Russians at Vèdroshe and near Mstislavl.— Alexander seeks peace.— Mediation by the King of Hungary.— Truce.— Elena’s relations with her father.— Wars with Livonian Germans.— War with the Swedes in alliance with Denmark.— Relations with the Austrian court and Venice.
Chapter 05. Internal state of Russian society in the time of Ivan III
Death and will of Ivan III.— Agreement of Ivan’s sons while their father was alive.— Ivan III’s title.— The form of address of nobles and servants to the Grand Prince.— Seals.— The Grand-Princely treasury.— Wealth of appanage princes.— Grand-princely revenues.— The Grand Prince’s way of life.— Comparative position of the Grand Princes of Moscow and Lithuania.— Princes and boyars in Moscow.— Cross-swearing records.— New court ranks.— The court of the Grand Princess.— Wealth of prince-boyars.— Feeding allowances.— Estates.— Forces in the North-Eastern and South-Western Russia.— Orders (administrative departments).— Cities in South-Western Russia.— Magdeburg law.— The appearance of a Russian city.— Fires.— Rural population.— Yuryev Day.— Rural population in Lithuanian possessions.— Misfortunes.— Trade.— Arts.— Posts.— The Church.— The heresy of Judaizers.— Joseph Volotsky.— Measures to improve the morals of the clergy.— Concerns for literacy.— God-based life in monasteries.— Teachings.— Material condition of the clergy.— Question: should monasteries own populated estates? Connection between the Russian Church and the Eastern Church.— Condition of Orthodox clergy in Lithuanian possessions.— The Sudebnik of Ivan III and the Sudebnik of Casimir of Lithuania.— Popular law.— Public morality.— Literature.

Second section
Chapter 01. Pskov
War with Kazan.— War with Lithuania.— Glinsky.— Death of King Alexander.— Glinsky arms himself against his successor Sigismund and enters into service with the Moscow Grand Prince.— Eternal peace between Vasily and Sigismund.— Hostility between Vasily and Crimea.— Livonian affairs.— Fall of Pskov.
Chapter 02. Smolensk
Renewal of war with Lithuania.— Capture of Smolensk.— Betrayal by Glinsky.— Defeat of the Russians at Orsha.— Sigismund does not take advantage of victory.— Sigismund incites the Crimeans to attack Russian possessions.— Alliance of Vasily with Albrecht of Brandenburg.— Mediation by Emperor Maximilian.— Embassy of Gerberstein.— Alliance of Kazan and Crimea against Moscow.— Invasion by Magmet-Girey.— Truce with Lithuania.— Wars with Kazan.— Relations with Crimea, Sweden, Hanseatic cities, Denmark, Rome, and Turkey.— Annexation of Ryazan, the Principality of Seversk, and the appanage of Volotsk.
Chapter 03. Internal affairs
Relations of the Grand Prince with his brothers.— Divorce of Vasily and a new marriage.— Illness and death of Vasily.— The character of the deceased.— His way of life, family relations.— Relations with nobles.— Title, revenues of the Grand Princes of Moscow and Lithuania.— Customs of the Moscow court.— Composition of the court.— Troops.— Orders.— Charters of grant.— Nobility and troops in Western Russia.— Cossacks.— Cities.— Rural population.— Properties of the land according to foreign descriptions.— Industries.— Trade.— Arts.— Church events.— Joseph Volotsky and Maxim Grek.— Vassian Kosoy.— Everyday life of monasteries.— Relations with Eastern churches.— Condition of the West-Russian Church.— Legislation.— Popular law.— Morals and customs.— Literature.

Volume 6. From the reign of Vasily III Ivanovich to the death of Ivan IV the Terrible, 1505–1584.

Volume 6. Contents

Chapter 01. The reign of the Grand Princess Elena
Elena’s right to rule.— Turmoil.— The imprisonment of the appanage prince Yuri.— The triumph of Telepnev-Obolensky and Glinsky’s imprisonment.— The flight of nobles to Lithuania.— The flight of the appanage prince Andrey from Staritsa, his arrival in Moscow, and his imprisonment.— The Lithuanian war, negotiations and truce.— Crimean affairs.— Machinations by Belsky in Constantinople.— The Girays’ involvement in Kazan affairs.— Peace treaty with Sweden and relations with other states.— Building of cities; calling settlers from abroad.— Measures against counterfeit and clipped money.— Children of boyars living in the Duma.— The Onega charter; the charter for Vladimir beavers (i.e., fur-trappers).— The power of Telepnev-Obolensky.— Elena’s death.
Chapter 02. Boyar rule
The character of Prince Vasily Shuisky.— The death of Telepnev-Obolensky.— Shuisky’s quarrel with Belsky and the latter’s imprisonment; execution of clerk Mishurin.— The reign of Ivan Shuisky.— Deposing the metropolitan Daniel and elevating Joasaph.— Release of Ivan Belsky; his reign and that of the metropolitan Joasaph.— Release of Prince Vladimir Andreevich Staritsky.— The triumph of the Shuiskys.— The death of Belsky.— Deposing the metropolitan Joasaph and elevating Makary.— The reign of Andrey Shuisky.— Removal of the ruler’s favorite—Vorontsov.— The upbringing of Ivan and the formation of his character.— The death of Andrey Shuisky.— Exiles and disgraces (opalas).— Acceptance of the royal title and Ivan’s marriage to Anastasia Romanovna.— Fires in Moscow.— Accusations against the Glinskys for sorcery; the people’s uprising against them.— Sylvester and Adashev.— Summoning elected representatives and the king’s speech from the Lobnoye Mesto (Place of the Annunciation).— Significance of the boyar rule.— Lithuanian, Crimean, and Kazan affairs during this reign.— Misfortunes caused by external and internal enemies.— Lip charters.— New news about the children of boyars living in the Duma.— The flight of Pyotr Friazin.
Chapter 03. Kazan, Astrakhan, Livonia
An unsuccessful campaign against Kazan in 1550.— Foundation of Sviyazhsk; subjugation of surrounding tribes and Kazan itself.— Hatred in Kazan toward Tsar Shig-Alei, the vassal of Moscow.— The Kazan people’s request to appoint for them a Moscow boyar as viceroy instead of Shig-Alei.— The ruler agrees, but the Kazan people do not let boyars into the city.— Campaign against Kazan in 1552.— Invasion by the Crimean Khan.— Siege and capture of Kazan.— The tsar’s return to Moscow.— Significance of taking Kazan.— Struggle with five Kazan peoples.— Moscow’s attitude toward Nogais.— Conquest of Astrakhan.— Attitude toward peoples of the Caucasus region.— Struggle against Crimea.— War and peace with Sweden.— Livonian War.— Relations with Sweden, Denmark, and Lithuania.— The beginning of relations with England.
Chapter 04. The Oprichnina
Causes of displeasure between the tsar and Sylvester.— The illness of Ivan and the behavior of some nobles during it.— Travel to the Kirillov Monastery.— Maxim Grek.— Vassian Toporkov.— The flight of Prince Semyon Rostovsky.— Reviewing the evidence regarding Sylvester’s and Adashev’s removal.— Executions.— Moral corruption of Ivan.— Exile of the princes Kurlatev and Boratyinsky.— Stipendiary records.— Kurbsky’s flight to Lithuania and his correspondence with Ivan.— The impression made by Kurbsky’s departure on the tsar.— Ivan’s departure from Moscow.— Establishment of the oprichnina.— Metropolitan Philip.— The death of Prince Vladimir Andreevich.— Novgorod executions.— The secret traitorous investigation.— Ivan’s spiritual testament of 1572.— Grand Prince Simeon.
Chapter 05. Polotsk
Russian successes in Livonia; its fragmentation.— The idea of Ivan marrying the sister of the Polish king.— Capture of Polotsk.— Negotiations for peace with Lithuania.— A cathedral in Moscow concerning these negotiations.— Renewed military actions.— Cessation because of the king’s illness.— The idea of electing Ivan as his successor.— The king makes the Danish prince Magnus a vassal king of Livonia.— Relations with Sweden.— Magnus’s unsuccessful actions against Reval.— Importance of the Baltic shores for Russia according to the opinions of its enemies.— Crimean affairs.— Unsuccessful campaign of the Turkish troops toward Astrakhan.— Invasion by the Crimean Khan and burning of Moscow.— The second invasion and repelling it by Prince Vorotynsky.
Chapter 06. Stephen Báthory
The condition of Poland and Lithuania under the last Jagiellon.— The death of Sigismund-August and the question of electing a new king.— Negotiations with John on this matter.— Election of Henry of Anjou.— His flight from Poland.— New elections.— Election of Stephen Báthory.— John’s relations with Sweden and war in Estonia and Livonia.— Báthory’s offensive movement.— Causes of his successes.— Báthory’s capture of Polotsk, Sokol, and other fortresses; Swedes attacking from the other side.— The second campaign of Báthory.— Negotiations.— Báthory’s third campaign and the siege of Pskov.— Jesuit Possevin.— The Truce of Zapolye.— The tsar’s conversation with Possevin about faith.— Truce with Sweden.— Negotiations with England about an alliance.— Relations with the emperor and Denmark.— Uprisings among the Cheremis.
Chapter 07. The Stroganovs and Yermak
First contacts with Siberia.— The precariousness of its dependence on Moscow.— First reports about the Stroganovs.— Grigory Stroganov receives lands on the Kama and builds small towns.— The Stroganovs obtain the right to establish settlements beyond the Ural Mountains.— Strengthening of Cossacks on the Don.— Hostile clashes of the Cossacks with the state.— Cossack ataman Yermak among the Stroganovs and sent by them across the Ural Mountains.— The tsar’s anger at the Stroganovs for this.— Yermak’s successful actions in Siberia.— He informs Ivan about them.— Dispatching royal voivodes to accept Siberian cities from the Cossacks.— Ivan’s premature decline, its causes.— Tsar’s marriages.— The killing of a son.— Ivan’s illness and death.— Explaining his character and activities.
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