Prince Daniel Alexandrovich Moscow – Motherland

Prince Daniil of Moscow is one of the few rulers of the Russian state who has not earned any reproaches from historians. Everyone unconditionally recognizes his masterly ability to maneuver available resources and defend the interests of the Moscow Principality in the face of inevitable external challenges.

Curriculum Vitae

Daniil Alexandrovich (1261-1303), Prince of Moscow (from 1276), son of Alexander Nevsky. He annexed Kolomna and a number of volosts. He received Pereyaslavl-Zalessky in his will, marking the beginning of the growth of the Moscow principality. The ancestor of the Moscow line of Rurikovichs: Moscow princes, great princes and kings of “all Rus’”.

Start small

Daniil Alexandrovich, as the youngest son of Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky, inherited an insignificant inheritance, consisting of only one city of Moscow with adjacent lands. The Moscow Principality of the 13th century included the future counties: Moscow, Zvenigorod, Ruzsky, the southern part of Dmitrovsky, Bogorodsky, Bronnitsky and Podolsky. Although the principality was small (even by the standards of the 13th century), it occupied an important strategic and, in part, trading position. Firstly, the Moscow principality bordered on the principalities of Ryazan, Smolensk, Tver, Pereyaslavl and Vladimir. Secondly, the most convenient routes from Southern and Western Rus’ and the land of Ryazan to the land of Rostov-Suzdal ran through Moscow. Thirdly, along the rivers Oka, Moscow, its tributary Skhodna, Lama, Volga and Tvertsa there was a water trade route from southern Rus’ to Novgorod.

A. Vasnetsov. Courtyard of the appanage prince (XIII-XIV centuries). 1908-1909. Photo: wikipedia.org

Prince Daniil was smart and energetic. He quickly realized the significance of his small inheritance in the princely strife. He himself, as the youngest son of the Grand Duke, had no chance of laying claim to the Grand Duke’s table (throne) in Vladimir, but as an ally he could significantly strengthen one or another group that laid claim to the Grand Duke. In the current situation of constant princely strife, Daniil Alexandrovich never had permanent allies, but always had constant interests. For tactical reasons, the prince easily moved from one opposing camp to another, always winning in this maneuver, slowly but surely increasing the size of his possessions. He believed that it is better to resolve any controversial issue not through war, but through negotiations. During the congress of all Russian princes in the city of Dmitrov in 1301, it was Daniil Alexandrovich who convinced everyone to make peace and stop the internecine hostility. This congress played a fateful role in the destinies of the Moscow Principality and all of Rus’.

At the same time, according to the state historiographer Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, Prince Daniil of Moscow, who did not consider it shameful to take up the sword in case of urgent need, “defeated and captured the Ryazan Prince, Konstantin Romanovich, killing many Tatars in battle (then yes, Horde men): amazing courage that had no consequences. The Russians began to take heart and, taking advantage of the Khans’ slumber, sharpened their swords from afar for the final crushing of tyranny.”

Narrating about this victory won by Daniil Alexandrovich, the pre-revolutionary historian Sergei Mikhailovich Solovyov makes an important clarification that allows one to judge the prince’s peace-loving character: “Daniil, according to the chronicler, held his captive in honor, wanted to strengthen himself with him with a kiss of the cross and release him to Ryazan.” .

“Superior to his contemporaries in dexterity and intelligence”

N.M. Karamzin highly appreciated the services of Prince Daniil Alexandrovich to the Russian state: “He was the first to exalt the dignity of the Rulers of Moscow and the first of them was buried in this city, in the Church of St. Michael, leaving behind the long-term memory of the good, fair, prudent Prince and preparing Moscow to take his place Vladimir”.

J. Chevalier. Prince Daniil Alexandrovich. 1783 Photo: wikipedia.org

Although Prince Daniil Alexandrovich himself never visited the great reign in Vladimir, it was he, thanks to his flexible policy, who significantly increased the decisive influence of the Moscow principality in the development of North-Eastern Rus’. Subsequently, it was his children, contrary to the existing tradition, who not only occupied the Vladimir table, but also strengthened it for themselves.

The pre-revolutionary historian Sergei Mikhailovich Seredonin (1860-1914) spoke sympathetically about Daniil Alexandrovich, paying tribute to his ability to maneuver in the stormy sea of ​​incessant strife: “Modern chronicles have preserved for us little news about Prince Daniil. In the era of weakening clan relations, the dominance of physical strength, Prince Daniil is a typical representative of the North Russian the prince, looking after the interests of his family and estate; with undoubted political dexterity, he acts first with Andrei Gorodetsky against his elder brother, Dmitry, then with the son of this Dmitry against his former ally, Prince Konstantin of Ryazan, Daniel captivated “without rising.” above the moral level of his contemporaries, Prince Daniel surpassed them in dexterity and intelligence: to his children he handed over the Moscow reign, at least twice as large as what he himself received from his father, and thus prepared the successes of his successors. Prince Daniel had five sons left: Yuri, Ivan (Kalita), Alexander, Afanasy and Boris. Prince Daniel was buried in the wooden church of St. Michael, which stood on the site of the current Archangel Cathedral. Ivan the Terrible restored the Danilov Monastery, which had fallen into complete decline, the foundation of which is attributed to Prince Daniil.”

N. Ostashev. General view of the Danilov Monastery and scenes from the life of the Blessed Prince Daniil of Moscow. 1903 Photo: Moscow Danilov Monastery

The lack of reliable historical sources about the time of the prince’s reign gave a good reason for novelists to show their creative imagination. Writer Dmitry Mikhailovich Balashov (1927-2000) wrote the novel “The Youngest Son,” dedicated to Daniil of Moscow, first published in 1975 and becoming the first book in the extensive historical series “The Sovereigns of Moscow.” On September 18, 1996, the Northern Fleet nuclear torpedo submarine B-414, launched in 1990, received the personal name “Daniil Moskovsky”. The submarine remained in service until October 28, 2022, when the Naval Ensign was lowered on it.