The novel is devoted to one of the most complex and difficult periods in the history of Ancient Rus’. At the very beginning of the 14th century, the confrontation between Tver and Moscow took shape in the struggle for the label (yarlik) for the Grand Prince’s throne of Vladimir—and thereby for leadership in the gathering of Russian lands. Generous, as Karamzin called him, Prince Mikhail of Tver and proud, self-serving Prince Yuri of Moscow are the central figures of this tragic tale.