THE VLADIMIR-SUZDAL PRINCIPALITY 

In the 12th century the Kiev Russ, as Russia was called then, broke up into a number of feudal principalities, each of which was a separate state. The Vladimir-Suzdal principality, situated in north-eastern Russia, started acquiring special status among them. 

With the fall of the Kiev Russ, people from there began to make their way to the north-east, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. They followed the rivers Dnieper and the upper Volga. These folk settled in the basins of small rivers which were plentiful there, amidst dense, impenetrable woodlands. The climate there was a good deal more severe, and the land lacked in fertility. In the first half of the 12th century towns were few and far between there, with the villages being the prevalent type of settlement. Thus, one-time townsfolk were forced to become peasants and work the tough clay land. Since one could hardly make a decent living off the land, the settlers were obliged to take up hunting, fishing, gathering berries, mushrooms, nuts and wild honey in the woods. 

When moving to Vladimir-Suzdal principality, our Russian ancestors encountered there locals of Finnish origin. The newcomers didn’t seek to drive out the natives, and were in no rush to enforce their culture on them. However, the Finns, despite this, became totally assimilated and russified. However, for the Slav settlers from the Kiev lands this encounter with the Finns was not without consequences. Firstly, their dialect underwent changes; secondly, certain alterations became manifest in the physiological type, and thirdly, the moral and mental outlook and features of the Russian settlers underwent changes. In a word, the two races, thus thrown together, on the lands of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality evolved into a separate one, the Veliko-Ross one that was quite different from the one that had inhabited the Kiev land. 

From the second half of the 12th century the increased influx of refugees to the Vladimir-Suzdal principality resulted in the building of new towns. The principality was gaining strength. Impenetrable forests provided natural protection from the nomadic tribes of the plains, who were laying waste the southern part of Russia. The local princes did not have to concern themselves about the safety of their territory of prepare for war in a land so ideally sheltered by Nature itself. 

Besides, the local princes commanded a major trade route, namely, the mighty Volga River. By this route they transported furs and wax to the fabulously rich Asiatic countries, situated on the banks of the middle and lower Volga. Besides they were selling grain to the north-western town of Novgorod. 

It was here, in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, that the Russian nation gained strength and eventually drove out the invader. It was here that the city of Moscow was built to become the capital of the future Russian state. The mighty influence of this powerful north-eastern principality spread to embrace all of Russia. 

The Vladimir-Suzdal principality was ruled by Prince Yuri, whom his contemporaries called Dolgoruki, the Long-Armed, obviously because he coveted far alien lands. Like several others, he dreamed of capturing the throne of Kiev, which was deemed prestigious despite the decline of the Kiev Russ. The Kiev throne gained one the status of Grand Prince. Yuri Dolgoruki did manage to defeat his rivals after a fierce struggle. The ruler of north-eastern Russia now became Prince of Kiev, too. He was the first of the northeastern princes to seek to dominate all of Russia. When he died, his son, Andrei Bogoliubsky ruled over the north-eastern principality from 1157 until 1174. 

Prince Andrei was an outstanding ruler and an important political figure. He built many fortified towns and settled them with merchants and artisans. He paid particular attention to Vladimir, the capital of the principality, which he wanted to turn into another Kiev, even with its own church primate. A very religious man, Andrei did much for the poor, built many churches, had food and drink distributed to the sick and poor. A chronicler wrote of him, however: “...Though wise in all matters and so valourous, Prince Andrei lacked self-control...” 

In other words, the prince could not curb his passionate impulses, was harsh, power-hungry and tried to rule the land by himself. To rid himself of the rivals, he drove out his younger brothers and kept the boyars, the feudal aristocracy, in check. As part of his effort to subdue the other principalities, Andrei Bogoliubsky seized Kiev in 1169 and plundered it; he then left a retainer in charge. Unable to forgive him this infringement of their rights and writhing under his grim rule, the boyars plotted against Andrei and killed him... 

The splendid cathedral of the Assumption in Vladimir and the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin on Nerli stand as reminders of his reign when Russian culture thrived. Russia of the time was on a par with leading European countries in architecture, painting and the applied arts. Many historical chronicles and annals of daily events were written, as well as literary works. An outstanding example of the literature of the period is the “Lay of the Warfare Waged by Igor”, which provided the plotline for the no less famous opera by Alexander Borodin “Prince Igor”. 

One Russian author wrote with reason about Russia of those days: “Oh, brightest of the bright, beautifully adorned Russian Land! You astound us with your multitude of beasts, your rivers, your steep mountains and high hills, your leafy forests, your wonderful fields, your great cities, your delightful villages, your great noblemen; you have everything, Russian Land!” 

But the 13th century opened with feudal struggles in Russia coming to a head. The princes fought one another, then made peace and concluded treaties with neighbouring countries. Common Russian interests meant little to them. Yet, a new and dangerous enemy was lurking in the offing. 

In 1223 the grim news swept Russia that a previously unknown enemy had come form the east, had utterly defeated the troops of the southern princes on the Kalka river, and disappeared in the boundless plains. Few suspected that a devastation by the Tatar-Mongol hordes was in store for Russia. 

The disastrous battle of the Kalka river should have warned the Russian princes that this was no time for them to pick quarrels with one another. They did not heed the warning. Even when Khan Baty’s Tatar-Mongol hordes came pouring into Russia in 1237, the prince of Vladimir-Suzdal did not lift a finger to help the other princes. He thought he could deal with the enemy on his own. His forces were not enough, however. 

Countless Mongol hordes broke into the north-eastern principality and besieged the city of Vladimir. The residents together with the troops resisted desperately, but they were outnumbered. The city fell. The Mongols set fire to the city and mercilessly killed everyone they could. The city of Vladimir turned into a heap of smoking ruins. Other towns in the principality met with the same fate. The prince’s troops were mown down, and the Prince himself killed. 

The insatiable hordes of invaders now set their sights on Novgorod, but suddenly turned back before reaching it and left the Russian lands. They were back two years later, however. This time Khan Baty struck his main blow at southern Russia. Vast numbers of his warriors besieged Kiev and conquered the city after fierce fighting. 

The hordes now moved toward the western Russian lands; they even broke into neighbouring countries, but the invaders had been weakened by stubborn Russian resistance, and this fact saved the European countries from enslavement by the Tatar-Mongols. However, Russia was destined to languish under the yoke for some 300 years... 

At the time the Tatars were not the only ones threatening Russia. Clouds were gathering over its western and northern frontiers, too. The German and Swedish crusaders were prepared to attack Russia. They had set their sights on the north-western lands, namely, Novgorod and Pskov, which had escaped the Tatar raids. 

The defence of those cities in that dreadful time signified more than the usual warfare. It meant preserving Russia, keeping alive the people’s faith in their ability to rid themselves of the conquerors. To young Prince Alexander, the vice-regent of the town of Novgorod, fell the great task of defeating his native land and keeping hope alive. 

In the summer of 1240 a big fleet of Swedish ships sailed into the mouth of the Neva River. The Swedes planned to seize the Ladoga fortress and force Novgorod to accept Swedish rule. Alexander rushed his men to the scene to give battle on the banks of the Neva. Though far superior  numerically, the Swedes suffered total defeat. For this the Prince was awarded the honorary title Alexander Nevsky, Alexander of the Neva. Two years later he defeated the German crusaders on the ice at Lake Peipus (Chudskoye). This battle went down in the history as the Battle on the Ice. Here is how one chronicler described the battle: 

“Prince Alexander ranged his men in battle formation and moved towards the enemy. The ice at Lake Chudskoye was covered with large numbers of warriors of both sides. Alexander had many brave men, like King David had in ancient times. It was Saturday. The troops clashed when the sun rose. It was a fierce battle. The crackle of breaking spears and the clang of swords sounded as though the frozen ice were moving. The ice could not be seen being completely covered with blood...” 

Prince Alexander was a gifted statesman and an outstanding military leader. He received a title of Grand Prince which he well deserved. 

Having preserved the Russian lands in the west, Alexander Nevsky clearly realized he needed to maintain peaceful relations with the Golden Horde. Weakened and devastated as it was then, Russia was in no position to fight on two fronts. So Grand Prince Alexander decided to go and see Khan Baty, ruler of the Golden Horde. As the Prince’s contemporaries testified, he was noted for remarkable good looks. According to the chronicles, “Khan Baty was amazed when he saw him, saying to his nobles: “It’s true what they said, that there is no one like him.” He paid the Prince all due honours and let him go free.” 

Alexander visited the Tatar camp on more than one occasion in order to ward off fresh ruinous campaign against Russia. Reluctantly, he compelled the freedom-loving residents of Novgorod to submit to the Tatar emissaries, who came to collect tributes. Those who could not pay were led off into slavery, often with their entire families. Russia suffered grievously from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Its development was thrown back several centuries. Many trades died out, its stone architecture declined. The towns, too, fell into decay. Thousands of people were enslaved. Foreign trade and international ties were practically at a standstill. 

Although he remained a vassal of the Golden Horde, Alexander Nevsky tried to ward off fresh losses for the country. But while returning from the Tatar camp in 1263 the Prince fell ill and died. It was a grievous loss for the Russian people. A chronicler wrote in consternation: 

“The sun has set on Suzdal land. No one like him will be found in Suzdal. There was so much weeping and groaning as had never been heard before; the land trembled.” 

Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky was revered as a saint right after he was buried, for even this woeful event was marked by a miracle. During the memorial church service the hand of the deceased stretched forth of its own accord and took the scroll the prayer of deliverance from the clergyman’s hand. Saint Alexander Nevsky is regarded as the patron Saint of all Russian warriors. 

The Holy relics of the Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, untouched by decay, were retrieved in 1380, on the eve of the famous Kulikovo battle, which marked the beginning of the victorious struggle of our Russian ancestors against the Tatar-Mongol invaders. The acquisition of the Prince’s relics signified his Heavenly Patronage and blessing for the Russian land. 

In 1547 the pious Prince Alexander Nevsky was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church as a Saint for his saintly life and the miracles his relics brought about. For his unwavering protection of the Orthodox Faith and his Homeland. 

To this day his grave at the Alexander-Nevsky Monastery draws crowds of Russian pilgrims, who come to honour the memory of this outstanding personality, remarkable statesman and military leader in Russian history. 

Historian Nikolai Karamzin wrote on Russia of the period of the Tatar-Mongol yoke: 

“Russia was in a most deplorable condition: it seemed that a river of fire had swept from its eastern borders to those of the west, that plagues, earthquakes and all other natural disasters together have ravaged it.”