The coast of the Baltic Sea, formerly owned by Novgorod and Pskov, was conquered by German knights Livonian Order and the Swedes. The Livonian Confederation was interested in controlling the transit of Russian trade and significantly limited the possibilities of Russian merchants. Trade exchange with Europe could be carried out only through the Livonian ports (Riga, Narva, etc.), and goods could be transported only on the ships of the Hanseatic League.
Livonia was more geographic than political concept... There were three political systems- Livonian order, church and cities. Social contradictions were growing in Livonia. Estonians and Latvians in the cities were persecuted by the Germans who were part of the city elite. Social contradictions were closely intertwined with national ones. Weakened from year to year, the Livonian Order did not represent a formidable rival for Russia.
Having achieved brilliant success in the east, Ivan IV turned his attention to the west. Trying to reach the Baltic coast, Ivan IV fought the exhausting Livonian War for 25 years. The war with Livonia was prompted by the need to establish close ties with Western Europe, which could most easily be achieved through the seas, as well as by the need to defend Russia's western borders. The Russian nobles were interested in this war: it opened up the possibility of acquiring new economically developed lands. Thus, the war was conditioned by the objective needs of the development of Russia at that time. The reason for the war was the delay by the Livonian Order of 123 Western specialists invited to the Russian service, as well as the failure to pay tribute by Livonia for the city of Yuryev, which the Livonians had to pay in accordance with the agreement concluded with Ivan III in 1503. The Livonian ambassadors, who came to Moscow for negotiations, could not give a satisfactory explanation of the reasons for the non-payment of the tribute on time. When the ambassadors were invited to a feast, they saw empty dishes in front of them. This was an unheard of insult and effectively meant war.
In 1558 Ivan IV moved his troops to Livonia. The beginning of the war is characterized by the victories of the Russian troops who took Narva and Yuryev. In total, 20 cities were taken. Russian troops fought successful battles, advancing towards Riga and Revel (Tallinn). In 1560, the troops of the Order were defeated, and its master was captured. This led to the collapse of the Livonian Order (1561), the lands of which came under the rule of Poland, Denmark and Sweden. Fearing the consolidation of Russia on the Baltic shores, Sweden, Denmark, Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania opposed Russia. Instead of one, Russia now had three strong rivals.
Resistance to the Livonian War also grew among the ruling elite of the Russian state. The chosen one is glad were not supporters of the war. Boyar service children supported the war. Representatives of the nobility believed that the war in the west diverted forces from the struggle with the Crimean Khanate, which was necessary in order to ensure the security of their estates, as well as the rich and fertile steppes of the south. In a difficult situation, Ivan IV broke with his advisers. In 1560. The Chosen Rada has fallen.
However, this fact did not force Ivan IV to abandon the continuation of the war. During the second stage (1563-1577) in February 1563. After a long siege, Russian troops took the key city of Belarus, Polotsk. But the next year the Russians were defeated: in January 1564. by the Ula river, in July - near Orsha. The situation was further worsened by the Crimean Khanate's raid on Russia.
The most important international event of these years was the formation of a unified Polish-Lithuanian kingdom "Rzecz Pospolita" as a result of the signing of the Union of Lublin - state union between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
In 1572. died the last representative of the Polish-Lithuanian Jagiellonian dynasty Sigismund II Augustus, leaving no heir. The last major success of the Russian troops was the campaign in 1577, during which they captured most of Polish Livonia.
But already the next year, which opened the third and last period of the Livonian War, was a time of defeats for Russia. The troops of the Commonwealth, led by the newly elected king Stephen Bathory, went on the offensive and returned many Livonian cities. Magnus went over to the winner. In 1579 Sweden entered the war again. In 1850. Stefan Batory took Polotsk, Velikiye Luki and the Island, laid siege to Pskov. Then the Swedes captured Narva.
Lack of real allies in the face foreign states and internal instability, military setbacks in the Baltics and the blockade of the Baltic sea route in Russia, Ivan IV was forced to turn with peace proposals first to Stephen Bathory, and then to Johan III.
In 1582. in Yama-Zapolsky, Russia entered into a truce with the Commonwealth for 10 years, subject to the preservation of the old pre-war borders, and according to which it lost almost all of its territorial gains in Livonia and Belarus. Velikie Luki remained with Russia. Stefan Batory demanded that the Russians actually surrender to the Swedes. In 1583. in Plyuss, a truce was concluded with Sweden, to which almost the entire coast of the Gulf of Finland was withdrawn. For Russia, a section of the Baltic coast with the mouth of the Neva has been preserved. Russia did not achieve access to the Baltic, failed to establish relations on an anti-Polish basis with England. The war laid a heavy burden on the shoulders of the Russian people, and completely bled the state. And only the courage of the Pskovites saved then from even more difficult conditions. Although Russia was so close, it seemed, to a victory for the Baltic, it was not yet ready to repel the onslaught of the union of several states.
Many Orthodox shrines remained in Livonia, and the fate of them worried about the Russian government. Fearing to be ruled by Catholics Orthodox shrines were not mocked, even during the peace negotiations, the Russians sought the transfer of all sacred icons and objects to Russia, as well as the free departure of Orthodox clergy from Livonia. Some of Batory's ambassadors objected to this, but the papal legate Anthony Possevin succeeded in convincing his fellow believers that the Russians' demands were fully justified.
The reasons for Russia's defeat in the Livonian War were the country's economy, which could not withstand prolonged tension during the war years, the unfavorable international situation that developed during the war years, and the oprichnina policy pursued by Ivan the Terrible.
The Baltic lands were seized by Poland and Sweden. The war drained Russia's power. The main task is to conquer the exit to Baltic Sea was failed.
The unpopular 25-year war drained the country's economy and intensified the oppression of the masses. It took a considerable time for Russia to recover from the consequences of the Livonian War.
The conquest of Siberia by Yermak. 1895. Artist V. Surikov
Many, when preparing for exams and analyzing topics, do not have a very good idea of the foreign policy of this or that ruler. In this post, the foreign policy of Ivan 4 the Terrible is analyzed as it should be done with any such topic.
Main directions
Moscow surrounded several states. The main directions foreign policy were:
- East direction... In the East and Southeast Moscow state surrounded the states that were formed during the crushing of the Golden Horde: the Siberian Khanate, Kazan, Astrakhan and Nogai Horde.
- South direction. Here Muscovy was trapped by another hostile state - Crimean Khanate... The situation was complicated by the fact that this khanate became a vassal of Turkey ( Ottoman Empire; Ports). And the Ottomans always helped Crimea if someone attacked it.
- Western direction. Here were the states of Lithuania and Poland, which in 1569 united into one state by the Union of Lublin - the Commonwealth. Also, the road to the Baltic was blocked by the Livonian Order and Sweden.
The main tasks of foreign policy
- The task of absorbing the fragments of the Golden Horde, since these khanates constantly attacked the Russian borderlands, took people prisoner, and inflicted damage on the economy of the border lands.
- The task of creating a defensive system of fortresses - notch lines to repel raids Crimean Tatars.
- The task of reuniting with the old Russian lands: Galician, Kiev, Chernigov, etc.
- The task of recapturing the outlet to the Baltic Sea.
Key events
East and South-East direction.
- 1552 - the third - now a successful campaign against the Kazan Khanate and its annexation to the Moscow state.
- 1556 - a successful campaign against the Astrakhan Khanate and its peaceful annexation. Before the arrival of the Russians, the Astrakhanians voluntarily joined Moscow.
- 1557 - annexation of the Nogai Horde.
- Ermak Timofeevich's campaigns (hired by the industrialists Stroanovs) to annex the Siberian Khanate.
South direction.
Creation of a serif line against the raids of the Crimean Tatars. Forests were cut down, watchtowers were built to counter the Tatar cavalry.
Western direction.
Livonian War 1558 - 1583
Causes: the need for access to the Baltic Sea for trade with countries Western Europe... This was necessary because Arkhangelsk was frozen in winter and navigation was impossible.
Occasion: The Livonian Order did not pay tribute for the city of Dorpat and did not allow the nobles sent by Ivan the Terrible to study in Europe through their territory.
Russian gunners at the battle of Wenden (Cesis) during the Livonian War. Artist V.A. Nechaev.
Course of events:
- The first period of the war, from 1558 to 1569, was successful for Muscovy. During the first period, the Livonian Order as a state was destroyed, the Russians went to ports in the Baltic. In 1569 Lithuania and Poland united to form the Rzeczpospolita.
- The second period of the war, from 1569 to 1583, was unsuccessful. For the lands of the Livonian Order, which ceased to exist, the Commonwealth and Sweden entered the struggle. As a result, the troops of Stefan Batory (the Polish king) were able to defeat the Russian armies and lay siege to Pskov. Only the heroic defense of Pskov contributed to the conclusion of a peace treaty with the Commonwealth.
Results of the war:
- In 1582, the Yam-Zapolsk truce was concluded with Poland, through which the Smolensk and Seversk lands retreated to it.
- In 1583, the Plyusskoe truce was concluded with Sweden, according to which the Baltic lands were ceded to her.
The results of Ivan's foreign policy 4
On the one hand, the Moscow state successfully pursued a policy in the East. Its territory was expanded at the expense of the territories of the khanates. This affected social structure Moscow state: the share of state peasants has expanded, the status of which has acquired local population... The most distinctive peoples began to pay tribute with furs (yasak) and enrich the royal treasury.
On the other hand, unsuccessful Western policies undermined the country's economy, coupled with the oprichnina. The mistakes made in foreign policy will not soon make possible both the reunification of the old Russian lands and the annexation of the Baltic states.
Best regards, Andrey Puchkov
Became the Grand Duke back in three years old(in 1533) ruled until 1584, and in 1547 he became the first king of all.
Kazan hikes
The constant threat and raids from the Kazan Khanate forced the young tsar to undertake three campaigns on his land: in 1547 - 48, in 1549 - 50. and in 1552
The first two were unsuccessful, but as a result of the second Kazan was taken, the protégé of the Russian Tsar Alexander Shuisky was brought to power in it, and an episcopal see was established, headed by the archbishop.
Astrakhan hikes
To seize control of the lower reaches of the Volga from him, Russian troops twice marched against the Astrakhan Khanate. Both times Astrakhan was taken without a fight, but only as a result of the second campaign (1556) the Khanate was completely subordinated.
Crimean campaigns
The Crimean Khanate regularly raided the Russian lands, and in 1558 and 1559. Ivan IV sent his troops to the Crimea. He managed to break Crimean army and ruin Geselev. And, although in 1571 the Crimean Khan was able to capture and burn, already in next year the Russian army defeated the Crimean army near its capital.
War with Sweden
The reason for the war was Sweden's dissatisfaction with the fact that Russia stopped using transit through Swedish lands for trade with England. It lasted from 1554 to 1557. As a result, a forty-year truce was concluded on the terms of Russia.
Livonian war
It began in 1558 due to the fact that the Russian tsar decided to secure himself access to the Baltic, bypassing the Hansa and Livonia. At first, the Russian troops were successful, but after Poland entered the war, and her army not only recaptured most Livonian cities, but also invaded the Russian lands, in 1582 the Yam-Zapolsky peace, disadvantageous for Moscow Russia, was concluded, which nullified all the successes of Russia in. Relations with England After one of the English ships discovered the way to the lands of Muscovite Russia, the Russian tsar hastened to establish trade relations with England, transferring trade rights to the London “Moscow Company” and sending his embassy to London in 1556.
Outcomes
Muscovite Rus under Ivan IV became strong independent state with powerful defense lines and broad international ties.
The activities of the elected council laid the foundations for the estate-representative monarchy.
Estates-representative monarchy is a form of government in which the ruler commands his subjects, focusing not only on his own will, but also relying on representatives of various estates (it existed until the 2nd half of the 17th century).
The social base of the autocracy was the nobility, which was economically dependent on the tsar.
The control system has been updated.
All links of government are subordinate to the king.
Zemsky sobors play the role of a counterweight to the boyars.
The role of the noble boyars is limited in all spheres of state life.
- In Russia, a centralized state is formed and the autocratic power of the tsar is strengthened.
Centralized state - a state in which political and economic unification takes place around a strong central government.
Question 3. Foreign policy of Ivan 4 the Terrible.
1. Implementation of the eastern direction of Russia's foreign policy.
In the 15th century. Golden Horde split into several states: the Big Horde, the Kazan Khanate, the Siberian Khanate, the Nogai Horde, the Crimean Khanate. The Big Horde ceased to exist in 1481 after standing on the Ugra in 1480 under Ivan 3.
A). Ivan 4 undertook 3 campaigns against Kazan. Two of them were unsuccessful. In 1551, under the leadership of a talented military engineer clerk Ivan Vyrodkov, the Sviyazhsk fortress was built on the Volga. She became a stronghold for the Russian army in the 3rd campaign. After a long and difficult siege October 2, 1552 Kazan fell ... The Kazan Khanate ceased to exist, it was annexed to Russia.
B). In 1556 Astrakhan was taken.
V). In 1557 the Nogai Horde was annexed to Russia.
G). In 1558 Bashkiria became part of Russia.
The Volga trade route ended up in the hands of Moscow. The annexation of the peoples of the Volga region to Russia began.
2. Accession of Western Siberia.
The capture of Kazan and Astrakhan opened the way for the development of the Urals and Western Siberia. The Stroganov merchants played an important role in the advancement of the Russians to the east.
Stroganovs - wealthy merchants and entrepreneurs of the 16-17 centuries. They got rich on the extraction and trade of salt. They received from Ivan 4. letter to the land along the river. Kama, r. Tobol, r. Irtysh. They built iron and copper smelters in the Urals. They organized a campaign in Western Siberia for a detachment under the command of Ermak in 1581-85.
Ermak Timofeevich - Cossack chieftain, who led a campaign against the Siberian Khan Kuchum in
1581-85 In 1585 Yermak's detachment was defeated, and Yermak himself died trying to swim across the Irtysh.
Despite the death of Yermak's detachment, Khan Kuchum was soon defeated, and the Siberian Khanate was annexed to Russia.
In 1586 the city of Tyumen was founded. In 1587 the city of Tobolsk was founded. Non-Russian peoples who became part of Russia were obliged to pay a special tax in kind to the Russian state - yasak, most often yasak was furs.
3. Western direction of foreign policy. Livonian War 1558 - 1583
Causes of the Livonian War:
Exit to the Baltic,
The return of the old Russian lands.
1st stage of the war 1558-63 was successful for Russia. The main enemy of Russia was the Livonian Order.
In 1558 Russian troops took the fortresses of Narva and Dorpat
In 1559 Ivan 4 unexpectedly signed a truce with the Livonians, it was signed under the influence of A. Adashev, who considered this war hopeless and insisted on active action against the Crimean Khanate.
In 1560 g. Russian army renews the offensive against the Livonian Order. In 1561 the Order ceases to exist. Its lands are divided by Poland and Sweden.
In 1563, Russian troops took Polotsk - this was the last major success of the Russians in this war.
On further move The war was influenced by events within Russia: the end of the Chosen Rada and repression against their former comrades-in-arms, as well as the establishment of the oprichnina.
2nd stage of the war 1563-83 was unsuccessful for Russia.
In 1564, fearing for his life, Prince Kurbsky fled to Lithuania.
V 1569 the Union of Lublin (union - agreement, union, unity) was concluded between Poland and Lithuania. She meant creation of a unified Polish-Lithuanian state - the Commonwealth.
Thus, at the 2nd stage of the war, Russia had more opponents - the Commonwealth and Sweden.
An experienced commander became the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Stefan Bathory.
In 1579 Stefan Batory captured Polotsk and Velikiye Luki, and the Swedes captured Novgorod.
In August 1581, Stephen Bathory laid siege to Pskov. The Swedes captured Russian fortresses on the coast of the Gulf of Finland - Yam, Koporye, Karela, Narva.
The siege of Pskov lasted until December 1581. The commander, Prince Ivan Shuisky, led the defense of Pskov. The city withstood 31 assaults. The Poles lost 7 thousand people near Pskov and were forced to retreat.
The Livonian War brought Russia some losses. Russia not only failed to reach the Baltic coast, but also lost what it had there.
Peace treaties with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden.
The main task of the Livonian War remained unfulfilled, the western direction in Russian foreign policy was being implemented unsuccessfully.
Reasons for Russia's defeat in the Livonian War:
Russia's economic lag behind Western Europe,
The ruin of the country during the oprichnina period,
Inability to fight several strong opponents at once,
The war was waged only by ground forces, Russia did not have a fleet.
In 1584-85. the port city of Arkhangelsk was built on the White Sea.
Foreign policy Ivan the Terrible.
In the foreign policy of Ivan IV, three directions should be distinguished: southern, western and eastern.
Foreign policy. East direction. Accession and development of new lands
The Golden Horde split into many separate state entities, among which were the Kazan Khanate and the Astrakhan Khanate, which constantly posed a threat to the Russian lands. The Volga trade route was under their control. In addition, the nobility was interested in obtaining these fertile lands. The Mari, Mordovians, Chuvashs living in these territories strove to free themselves from the Khan's dependence. It seemed possible to subjugate these khanates in only two ways: to plant their henchmen there or to conquer them. Diplomatic efforts did not bring results, and in 1552, the 150 thousandth army of Ivan IV approached the walls of Kazan. Kazan, at that time, was considered a very good military fortress. The king made preparatory measures. Not far from Uglich, a wooden fortress was built, which was then dismantled and floated down the Volga to the confluence of the Sviyaga. Then, 30 km. From Kazan, the dismantled fortress was reassembled, which laid the foundation for a new city - Sviyazhsk, which became a strong point in the struggle for Kazan. Ivan Grigorievich Vyrodkov, a talented craftsman, supervised all the work on the construction of the fortress, the construction of mines and siege devices during the assault on Kazan.
The assault on Kazan began on October 1, 1552. Part of the wall of the Kazan Kremlin was destroyed as a result of the explosion of 48 barrels of gunpowder, previously laid in the trenches. Through the gaps in the wall, Russian troops broke into the city. Khan Yadigir-Magmet was captured. Kazan was taken. Subsequently, the khan was baptized, received the name Simeon Kasayevich, became an active ally of the tsar and the owner of Zvenigorod.
Astrakhan was annexed in 1556. Chuvashia and part of Bashkiria voluntarily became part of Russia in 1557. The Nogai Horde, which also separated from the Golden Horde, recognized its dependence on Russia. The state received its name after the ruler Nogai, and its territories covered the steppe regions from the Volga to the Irtysh. Thus, new fertile land and the entire Volga trade route was part of Russia. Russia’s ties with peoples expanded North Caucasus and Central Asia.
The prerequisites for the advance to Siberia were the annexation of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates. The development of Siberia is associated with merchants from the Stroganov family, who received letters from the tsar for the ownership of lands along the Tobol River. With their own money, they equipped a detachment of free Cossacks, according to various sources, from 600 to 840 people, led by Yermak Timofeevich. In 1581, Ermak set out to conquer Siberia. A year later, Kuchum, Khan of the Siberian Khanate, was defeated. Also, the Cossacks captured the capital of the Siberian Khanate - Kashlyk (Isker). The population of the annexed territories had to pay the Russian tsar - yasak - a natural rent with fur.
Foreign policy. South direction.
In the southern direction, the state was faced with the task of strengthening the southern borders from raids. Crimean khans... To this end, the development of the fertile lands of the Wild Field begins. Serif lines appeared - defensive lines consisting of forest heaps (serifs), in the intervals of which wooden fortresses (forts) were placed, which blocked the passage of the Tatar cavalry in serifs. This is how the Tula and Belgorod serif features appeared.
Foreign policy. Western direction foreign policy is associated with Livonian War, which will be discussed in the next article.
