Yury of Zvenigorod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yury of Zvenigorod |
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| Grand Prince of Moscow | |
| Predecessor | Vasily II |
| Successor | Vasily Kosoy |
| Born | 26 November 1374 Pereslavl, Grand Duchy of Moscow |
| Died | 5 June 1434 (aged 59) Galich |
| Burial | Cathedral of the Archangel, Moscow Kremlin |
| Consort | Anastasya Yurievna |
| Issue | Vasily Kosoy Dmitry Shemyaka Dmitry Krasny |
| Dynasty | Rurik |
| Father | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Mother | Eudoxia Dmitriyevna |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox |
Yury Dmitrievich (born November 26, 1374, died June 5, 1434) was an important prince in medieval Russia. He was also known as Yury of Zvenigorod. Yury was the second son of the famous ruler Dmitry Donskoy. From 1389 until his death, he was the Duke of Zvenigorod and Galich.
During the rule of his older brother, Vasily I, Yury helped in military campaigns. He fought in battles against Torzhok in 1392, Zhukotin in 1414, and Novgorod in 1417. Yury played a big part in a civil war against his nephew, Vasily II. During this war, he took control of Moscow twice, first in 1433 and again in 1434.
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Yury's Family and Early Life
Yury Dmitrievich was born in Pereslavl-Zalessky. His father was Dmitry Donskoy, a powerful Grand Prince. His mother was Eudoxia Dmitriyevna. Yury married a woman named Anastasia. She was the daughter of Yury of Smolensk.
Together, Yury and Anastasia had three sons. Their names were Vasily Kosoy, Dmitry Shemyaka, and Dmitry Krasny. Anastasia's sister was married to Švitrigaila. He was a Grand Duke of Lithuania. This made Yury and Švitrigaila brothers-in-law.
What Yury Inherited
When his father, Dmitry Donskoy, passed away, Yury received several towns. These towns were given to him as an "appanage." An appanage was like a special territory given to a prince. Yury became the ruler of Zvenigorod, Ruza, and Galich.
Yury's Claim to the Throne
After his brother, Vasily I, died, Yury believed he should be the next ruler. He wanted to become the Grand Prince of Muscovy. However, Vasily I had a son named Vasily II. Vasily II also wanted to rule.
Yury based his claim on an old family rule. This rule said that the main throne should pass from an older brother to a younger brother. It did not always go from father to son. Yury also used his father's will to support his claim. His father, Dmitry Donskoy, had written his will when Vasily I had no children.
Deciding Who Would Rule
In 1430, Yury and his nephew, Vasily II, decided to let someone else settle their disagreement. They went to the Golden Horde. The Golden Horde was a powerful group of rulers. The leader, called the Khan, decided in favor of Vasily II.
However, the Khan allowed Yury to take control of a territory. This territory belonged to Yury's younger brother, Peter, who had passed away. This decision did not fully please Vasily II. In 1432, Vasily II took this territory by force. He removed Yury's governor from the town.
Yury's First Victory
In response, Yury gathered his army. He marched towards Pereslavl-Zalessky. Vasily II's army was defeated near the Klyazma River. Vasily II had to escape to Kostroma. After this victory, Yury entered Moscow with great success. He declared himself the new Grand Duke.
Instead of putting his nephew in prison, Yury let Vasily II go. He allowed Vasily II to live in Kolomna and rule that town. This act of kindness ended up causing problems for Yury. Many important noblemen and officials from Moscow left Yury. They went to join Vasily II in Kolomna.
This change in support made Yury sign a treaty with Vasily II. In this agreement, Yury gave up his claim to Moscow. He also promised not to help his sons in any future conflicts. Yury exchanged the territory he had taken for other lands. Vasily II then returned to Moscow, and Yury went back to Galich.
More Conflicts and Yury's Death
The next year, Yury's sons, Vasily Kosoy and Dmitry Shemyaka, defeated Vasily II. This battle happened near the Kus River. Vasily II learned that Yury's soldiers were among his enemies. He decided to punish Yury for this betrayal.
In the winter of 1434, Vasily II attacked Galich and set it on fire. But Yury had already escaped north to Belozersk. On March 16, the armies of Yury and Vasily II fought again. This battle took place between Rostov and Pereslavl. Vasily II's army was completely defeated. He had to seek safety in Nizhny Novgorod.
On March 31, 1434, Yury entered Moscow for the second time. He captured Vasily II's family and his treasury. Yury was planning another campaign against Vasily II. However, he died suddenly on July 5, 1434. After his death, his oldest son, Vasily Kosoy, became the new ruler.
Images for kids
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The Nativity Cathedral built by Yury in Zvenigorod around 1405.
