Principality of Ryazan

The Principality of Ryazan (Russian Рязанское княжество ) was from 1129 to 1521 a Russian principality part with center in Ryazan. It was located south of the Principality of Vladimir - Suzdal on the border of steppe.

History

The Principality of Ryazan broke up in 1129 as part of the progressive fragmentation of Rus ( see Senioratsprinzip ) from the Principality of Murom - Ryazan out. Ryazan declared itself independent of Vladimir, and Ryazan subsequently led numerous wars against Suzdal, Kiev and Vladimir. A dispute because of the old Ryazan city of Kolomna led to great tensions with Vladimir. 1176 began the war between the Rjasanerfürsten and the Grand Prince Vsevolod III .. The Rjasanerfürsten were militarily defeated. So Perejaslawl - Rjasanski (Old Ryazan ) and the suburbs was occupied and pillaged by the troops Wsewolods 1180. The officials of the Rjasanerfürsten were captured and taken to Vladimir and Suzdal. Thus the religious independence of the Principality of Ryazan was declared invalid. War and devastation covered Ryazan. It was not until 1212 included both powers peace. At the beginning of the 13th century a short flowering period for the Ryazan principality began. Its capital Ryazan time numbered about 15,000 inhabitants, Perejaslawl - Rjasanski probably had about 2000 inhabitants.

During the Mongol invasion in 1237, it was the first major principality was ravaged. Then Ryazan was for the Mongols of the dependent Russian splinter states which actively playing off against each other. The Principality was lying on the border with the Tatars and protected the Rus as before Tatar raids. At times it was a serious competitor of the Grand Duchy of Moscow for the lead role in the northeastern Rus. So the Rjasanerfürst Oleg Ivanovich led (1340-1402) a campaign against the still staying in the Horde Ivan II of Moscow He suggested the troops and took the Grand Princes of Moscow caught. Under Oleg's reign the borders of the Principality were extended at the expense of Moscow to the Mestscheragebiet and put the princes of Yelets, Murom, Kozelsk and Pronsk in service. To break the influence Rjasans, the Moscow Grand Prince Prince Oleg wrote to contacts with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in order to drive this into isolation. On the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo the Ryazan prince Oleg Ivanovich was not allied with the coalition of the Russians, but with the Tatars, because he feared that would be the first succumb to his principality in this dispute the devastation of the Tatars. However, he took no active part in the battle. The Principality of Ryazan was not permanently unable to endure the same time, the struggle against foreign enemies and withstand the growing demands of Moscow, on whose help it was more and more dependent. When the Ryazan Prince Ivan Fedorovich 1456 died, he put his infant son Vasily under the tutelage of the Grand Princes of Moscow.

The last prince of Ryazan was of Vasily III. 1516 thrown in jail because of this secret relations with the Crimean Tatars Khan Mehmed Giray I had entertained. His son then fled to Lithuania. 1521 Ryazan was finally annexed by Moscow State as the last part of Russian principality.