Ivan I of Moscow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ivan I |
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Portrait in the Tsarskiy titulyarnik (1672)
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| Prince of Moscow | |
| Reign | 21 November 1325 – 31 March 1340 or 1341 |
| Predecessor | Yury |
| Successor | Simeon I |
| Born | 1 November 1288 Moscow |
| Died | 31 March 1340 or 1341 (aged 51–52) Moscow |
| Burial | Cathedral of the Archangel |
| Consort |
1.Elena Aleksandra; 2.Ulyana |
| Issue more... |
Simeon Ivanovich Ivan Ivanovich |
| House | Rurik |
| Father | Daniel of Moscow |
| Mother | Maria |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox Church |
Ivan I Danilovich Kalita (Russian: Иван I Данилович Калита; born November 1, 1288 – died March 31, 1340 or 1341) was an important ruler in early Russian history. He was the Prince of Moscow starting in 1325. Later, from 1332, he also became the Grand Prince of Vladimir. He is often called "Kalita," which means "Moneybag," because he made Moscow very rich.
Contents
Life and Rule
Ivan was the son of Daniil Aleksandrovich, who was also a Prince of Moscow. After his older brother Yury passed away, Ivan became the new Prince of Moscow.
Becoming Grand Prince
Ivan wanted to become the Grand Prince of Vladimir. This was a very important title. To get it, a prince needed approval from the Khan of the Golden Horde. The Golden Horde was a powerful Mongol empire that ruled over many Russian lands at the time.
Ivan's main rivals were princes from Tver. These princes, like Mikhail and Alexander II, also wanted the title. However, they all lost the title and were killed by the Golden Horde. In 1328, Ivan Kalita finally got the Khan's approval. Muhammad Ozbeg allowed Ivan to become the Grand Prince of Vladimir. This gave Ivan the right to collect taxes from all Russian lands.
Why Moscow Grew Strong
Historians say that Moscow became powerful under Ivan I Kalita for a few reasons:
- Safe Location: Moscow was located in the middle of other Russian lands. This protected it from attacks from both the East and the West. Unlike its neighbors, Moscow was attacked less often.
- People Moved to Moscow: Because Moscow was safer, many people moved there from other areas. They were tired of constant raids and wanted a peaceful place to live and work.
- Trade Routes: Moscow was on an important trade route. This route connected the city of Novgorod to the Volga river, which helped Moscow's economy grow.
The Khan of the Golden Horde also made a big decision. He put Ivan in charge of collecting all taxes and tribute from Russian cities. Ivan was very good at this, always paying on time. This made his position even stronger and helped Moscow become a major power in the region.
Peace and Wealth
Ivan Kalita worked hard to bring more people to his principality. He invited people from other places to move to Moscow. He even bought back Russian people who had been captured by the Mongols during raids.
He also made sure his lands were safe. He got rid of thieves, which made it safe for merchants to travel. This peace and order, along with fewer Mongol raids in Moscow, was called "great peace, silence, and relief of Russian land" in old Russian writings.
Ivan made Moscow very rich. This is why he earned the nickname "Kalita," or "Moneybag." He used this wealth to lend money to other Russian principalities. These cities often fell into debt, which later allowed Moscow's rulers to take them over. Ivan also bought lands around Moscow, often from poor owners. This helped Moscow grow bigger.
Many cities and villages joined Moscow under Ivan's rule. These included Uglich in 1323, Belozero between 1328 and 1338, and Galich in 1340. Ivan's biggest success was convincing the Khan that his son, Simeon the Proud, should become the next Grand Duke of Vladimir. After this, the title almost always stayed with the rulers of Moscow. The head of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Peter, also moved his main church from Vladimir to Moscow, which made Moscow even more important.
In 1335, after a raid by Lithuanian forces, Ivan fought back. He burned down the towns of Osechen and Riasna.
Ivan died in Moscow on March 31, 1340, or 1341. He was buried on April 1 in the Church of the Archangel Michael. He had built this church and was the first person to be buried there.
Family
Ivan Kalita was married two times. His first wife was named Elena. We don't know much about where she came from. Some people think she was the daughter of Prince Alexander Glebovich of Smolensk.
Ivan and Elena had several children:
- Simeon Ivanovich (born 1316 – died 1353), who later became the Grand Duke of Moscow.
- Daniel Ivanovich (born 1319/20 – died 1328).
- Fefinia Ivanovna (died young).
- Maria Ivanovna (died 1365), who married Prince Konstantin of Rostov.
- Ivan Ivanovich (born 1326 – died 1359), who also became the Grand Duke of Moscow.
- Andrei Ivanovich (born 1327 – died 1353), who was the Prince of Novgorod.
- Evdokia Ivanovna (born 1314 – died 1342), who married Prince Vasili Mikhailovich of Yaroslavl.
- Feodosia Ivanovna (died 1389), who married Prince Fyodor Romanovich of Belozersky.
Princess Elena passed away in 1331. About a year later, Ivan married again. His second wife's name was Ulyana. Some believe she was the daughter of Fyodor Davydovich Galitsky. Ulyana outlived Ivan and died sometime between 1366 and 1372.
Legacy
Under Ivan Kalita, Moscow grew a lot. His home on the Borovitsky hill became the main part of the city. New buildings, made of wood or white stone, were started in the Kremlin. Many churches were built, including:
- The Assumption Cathedral (1326–1327)
- The Church of Ivan of the Ladder (1329)
- The Cathedral of the Saviour on the Bor (1330)
- The Cathedral of Archangel Michael (1333), where Ivan Kalita and his family were buried.
Between 1339 and 1340, Ivan Kalita also built a new, larger oak fortress on the Borovitsky hill.
In Ivan's will, a "golden cap" was mentioned for the first time. This cap is thought to be the famous Monomakh's crown, which became the main crown for Russian rulers.
Much later, in the 1470s, Ivan Kalita was called the "gatherer of the Rus' land." This was part of an effort by Moscow's writers to show that Moscow was the true heir to the ancient Russian rulers. They wanted to prove that Moscow's princes were the rightful leaders of all Russian lands.
See also
In Spanish: Iván I de Rusia para niños
