Yury of Moscow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yury I
Prince of Moscow
Reign	1303–1325
Predecessor	Daniel of Moscow
Successor	Ivan I
Grand Prince of Vladimir
Reign	1318–1322
Predecessor	Mikhail Yaroslavich
Successor	Dmitry of Tver
Born	1281 Moscow, Principality of Moscow, Vladimir-Suzdal
Died	November 21, 1325 (aged 44–45)
Spouse	Konchaka
Dynasty	Rurik
Father	Daniel of Moscow
Religion	Russian Orthodox

Yury (Georgy) Danilovich (born 1281 – died November 21, 1325) was an important leader in early Russian history. He was the Prince of Moscow from 1303 to 1325. He also held the powerful title of Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1318 to 1322.

Yury's Early Life and Rise to Power

Becoming Prince of Moscow

Yury was the oldest son of Daniel of Moscow. Daniel was the very first prince of Moscow. Yury's family, the Daniilovichi, came from Daniel. Yury's first big task was to protect Pereslavl-Zalessky. He defended it from the grand prince of Vladimir, Andrey of Gorodets.

After his father Daniel passed away in 1303, Yury became the new prince of Moscow. He then wanted to become the Grand Prince of Vladimir. This was the most important position among all the princes in the northeast.

Competing for the Grand Prince Title

Yury faced a challenge from his uncle, Mikhail of Tver. Mikhail also wanted to be the Grand Prince. Yury's father had never been Grand Prince. So, Yury did not have a clear right to the title. This was according to the old rules of succession.

The leader of the Golden Horde, Tokhta Khan, chose Mikhail of Tver. This happened after Andrey of Gorodets died in 1304. Mikhail traveled to the Golden Horde's capital city, Sarai. There, the khan officially made him Grand Prince.

Yury did not agree with this decision. He tried to fight against it. But Mikhail of Tver attacked Moscow twice. These attacks happened in 1305 and 1308. Yury had to accept the khan's choice. Mikhail's army even surrounded Pereslavl and Moscow itself.

Expanding Moscow's Power

While this was happening, Yury took control of more lands for Moscow. He took Kolomna, an important fortress from Ryazan. He also captured Mozhaisk, which used to belong to the princes of Smolensk.

By 1314, Yury gained support from Metropolitan Peter. Metropolitan Peter was a very important church leader. Yury also made a military agreement with Novgorod. This alliance was against Tver. Yury now felt strong enough to challenge Mikhail of Tver again. He decided to go to the Golden Horde.

Yury and the Golden Horde

Alliance with Uzbeg Khan

In 1315, Yury went to the Golden Horde. He stayed there for two years. During this time, he formed a strong alliance with Uzbeg Khan. Yury married the khan's sister, Konchaka. She was a Tatar princess. Konchaka became a Russian Orthodox Christian for her marriage to Yury. She took the name "Agafiia."

Uzbeg Khan then removed Mikhail from his position. He made Yury the Grand Prince of Vladimir instead. Yury returned to Moscow with a large Tatar army. He then marched towards Tver.

A Major Conflict and Its Aftermath

However, Yury's army was defeated. His brother Boris and his wife were captured. Yury escaped to Novgorod and asked for peace. While she was held captive in Tver, Yury's wife died suddenly. Yury used this sad event to his advantage. He told the khan that Mikhail had poisoned her.

Uzbeg Khan called both princes to Sarai. After a trial, Mikhail was put to death on November 22, 1318. Yury had relied on Uzbeg Khan's favor. He was allowed to be the Grand Prince of Vladimir for the next four years, from 1318 to 1322.

Yury's Final Years

Challenges as Grand Prince

Yury returned to Suzdalia in 1319. He spent a lot of time in Novgorod. Other princes and the people did not fully accept him. They thought his appointment as Grand Prince was not fair.

Yury was given the job of collecting tribute for the Horde. This means he had to collect taxes for the Golden Horde. He faced a lot of resistance. Uzbeg Khan sent four groups of soldiers to Rus' to help Yury. This happened during Yury's last two years as Grand Prince. These soldiers helped enforce Yury's authority.

Mikhail's son, Dmitry "the Terrible Eyes" of Tver, still opposed Yury. Dmitry wanted revenge for his father's death. In 1322, Dmitry went to Sarai. He convinced the khan that Yury had kept a large part of the tribute for himself.

Yury's Death

Uzbeg Khan then gave the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir to Dmitry. Yury was called to the Horde for a trial. But before any official investigation, Dmitry attacked Yury, and Yury died. This happened on November 21, 1325. Eight months later, Dmitry was also put to death in the Horde. In early 1326, Yury's body was brought back to Moscow. He was buried by the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Peter led the burial.

Other Achievements

Before he died, Yury led the army of Novgorod to fight the Swedes. He built a fort at the mouth of the Neva River. In 1323, he signed the Treaty of Orekhovo. After that, Yury continued eastward. He conquered Velikiy Ustyug in the same year.