God Save the CzAAR: Novgorod as Russia

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It is the will of the Duma that a general history of Russia be written, so that the people may be educated in their past. Thus, I, Alexander Romanov, Czar of All Russia, Protector of the Church, order composed this book of history.

Veliky Novgorod, 1 January 1820

A HISTORY
of the
REPUBLIC OF NOVGOROD
and the
EMPIRE OF RUSSIA

Volume III: The Coronation of Czar Ivan to the Time of Troubles, 1480-1613.

Translated by William Majors, 1877
Published by Geo. E. Stevens and Co., Cincinnati, Ohio​

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This AAR is the extension of Novgorod the Great, my dramatic masterpiece (now in PDF form, thanks to Alexandru H.). It will take the story of a Russia based in Novgorod and surprisingly democratic through 1820. Don't get me wrong, though, the Czars will still be quite a presence.

Country: Russia
Scenario: 1419, but very, very modified.
Goals: Conquer them all and let God sort them out. Special emphasis on Siberia.

 

[C.V. Mannerheim]

Nice, I was hoping you'd continue this story

*subscribes*

CVm

 

[Amric]

I echo my earlier colleague....I'm glad you decided to continue this story....does that mean he and I are part of the Duma?

 

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I echo my earlier colleague....I'm glad you decided to continue this story....does that mean he and I are part of the Duma?

I may mention you at times if you want.

 

[C.V. Mannerheim]

I may mention you at times if you want.

I wonder how I'd look in those big furry hats....

 

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I wonder how I'd look in those big furry hats....

Like this?

 

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I'm very curious how you will guide a ´democratic´ Russia. I tried it once, becoming Russia as Novgorod. Almost all reform events are aimed at getting the ´appropriate´ DPs: full aristocracy, full decentralization and full serfdom. Good luck!

 

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[TheBee: I've done fairly well so far, and I've played well into the 1600s.
Amric: I rememered that Amric in the FC had been in Russia at one point. Thus your cameo appearance will actually be as Alaric. ]

Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Procession of the Nobles (number seven on the list)

The Early Years of the Empire

Ivan III (the Czars used the old Muscovite numbering) was well recieved by the populace, although the Russians had quite a bit of difficulty in keeping the province of Tula in line.

The first war of the Empire was against Genoa. The Italian city-state had declared war upon Georgia, but they had quite a long reach. The Genoese navy brought an army all the way to the coast in Ingermanland, where they were in the process of forcing the towns into submission.

Ivan himself led the new Imperial army into battle. The Russians met the Genoese at Chudovo, about 100 miles north of Novgorod. It was a quick battle. Within a couple of hours Ivan's cavalry had surrounded the Genoese and soon destroyed them. Meanwhile, to the south, the Georgians made a stand against the Genoese who were attacking from Kaffa and soon forced the Genoese to pay 9,200 ducats for peace.

Religion was a major issue in the new empire. During the Genoese War a group of people in Ryazan (most likely accidentaly) preached heretical teachings. They were quickly informed of their error, apologized and atoned, then went along their way. However, some ultra-conservative Orthodox priests considered this a sign of more widespread and sinister heresy. Anyone preaching any sort of modernization was seen as a heretic. Fortunately, the Czar, the Duma, and the Metropolitan did not support them and the wave of obscurantism soon passed.

Most historians agree that the Dumas of 1485-1486 was the best in early Russian history. Led by a senior member, Alaric Amricovich, the son of a mercenary whose company had fought in the Civil War of 1457. Alaric later came back to Russia and became a notable political figure there; he was a member of the Duma from 1465 until 1488.

The Dumas' greatest accomplishments came in November of 1486. First, good investments in trade through Novgorod and gifts from the boyars resulted in a huge budget surplus. Second, through missionary work supported by the Duma, the provinces in Tula were for the first time reported to have an Orthodox majority. Now no area had a minority of Russian Orthodox.

Russia's politics during the 1480s weren't all good, however. In April 1488 a scandal erupted in the Duma over possible bribes from the nobility. Several members, including Alaric, resigned. Trust in the Duma (and thus stability) temporarily fell, although the people soon recognized that the Duma was doing more good than harm.

This was challenged once again in July of 1489. A group of nobles burst into the Novgorod Kremlin and demanded that they be given more of their former rights. The Duma almost unanimously agreed that the nobles be executed. Czar Ivan gave the order, and, on 24 July 1489 the twenty-five nobles were executed just outside the Kremlin. Some of the nobles considered this a drastic step but the peasants cheered.

Russia had now survived a decade of the new political system. The people began to look to the future--and outward. Russia's true borders were still a good distance from being reached.

 

[Amric]

Judas, however did you get the font to make the lettering so much larger? BTW, in the FC Amric was there in Russia prior to what you have it here, but since it is a different story it really doesn't matter. Very cool to be in an AAR as a brief character, I love that...Alaric Amricovich...has a ring to it, it does!

Durn nobles should know better than going against the rightful Czar! Getting them killed off was a good thing. Now they can't cause any more trouble!

 

[stnylan]

Nice to see this extension. Alaric Amricovich being associated with scandal? What is the world coming too?

 

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Amric: I just used text[ /size] (without the space, of course). As for the nobles, they will be a perpetual thorn in the side, but a bit of a blessing as well.

stnylan: What, did you expect a politician to come out smelling like roses?

 

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The Turn of the New Century

The early 1490s were spent recovering stability throughout the empire and increasing our presence in trade through Novgorod. Late 1491 is known for the great burst of entrepeneurship as government-sponsored merchants rushed to compete for money in the Novgorodian center of trade.

At this time the Western Europeans were tearing themselves apart through wars. Austria, France, Spain, England, and incredible numbers of smaller states fought for supremacy. But back in Russia, things were much more peaceful. Agriculture flourished, and improvements in farming methods resulted in an agricultural revolution during the 1494 harvest.

Russia's true borders, of course, extended much farther than what we had at the time. Many areas controlled by Lithuania and the Mongols were ours by right, including that far-off but important city of Kiev to the south. Many people wanted war, such as Ivan Lyapun, who called for a quick strike against the Golden Horde, then exploration and conquest of lands to the east. But the Duma was still mostly in support of peace, and so was the Czar. "An arrow which is released too soon," Ivan is reported to have said, "will fly neither far nor straight."

Rather than fight then, the pro-war sections of the Duma merely satisfied themselves with promoting reforms of the army in 1497. These proved quite successful. Swedish advisors were paid to teach new tactics and introduce new weapons.

It was also this time that Czar Ivan added a new title, Protector of the Orthodox Church, which the Czar uses even today. With the title he swore to protect all countries of the Orthodox faith

[Footnote: This extended to the Greek Orthodox as well, at the insistance of Ivan's wife Sophia Paleologa].

In July of 1500 the King of Lithuania claimed a large piece of Russian land, and issued an (unintentionally) harsh ultimatum. This started the pro-war members of the Duma to start calling for an invasion of Lithuania. But the Czar managed to keep order, and the Duma settled with the Lithuanians, compensating them slightly for the land.

In 1501, the Teutons in the Baltic lands declared war upon Poland and Lithuania. Everyone in Russia looked on in interest. Whomever won would be a major power on Russia's southwestern border and a probable rival.

During this war the Polish nobles, perhaps looking at Russia's political system, drew up the Constitution of Radom. In it they made the Sejm (the "parliament" of nobles) the true power in the land, the king becoming almost powerless. The Sejm pursued the war vigorously, and in October 1505 forced the Teutons to give up the Danzing area and the southern half of Prussia.

It was also in October 1505, on the 29th, that Czar Ivan the Great died. The Duma was called into an emergency session, and immediately and almost unanimously elected Ivan's son Vasily the new Czar of Russia. The entire country went into mourning upon the news, as Ivan had been much loved by the people for keeping the Duma in order, but still allowing popular control of the government.

 

[stnylan]

It's that elected office JM. If they are in positions of power by virtue of breeding they need not prostitute themselves to the people. But as soon they as they are elected, by whatever electorate, it just goes straight down the drain.

A very good update. Pity to see Ivan go. He's such a great monarch. How's that war going on your border?

 

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How's that war going on your border?

The Poles won, as I already said:

The Sejm pursued the war vigorously, and in October 1505 forced the Teutons to give up the Danzing area and the southern portion of Prussia.

That's how.

 

[stnylan]

Damn. My only excuse is my lack of sleep last night *embarrassed*

 

[Amric]

I see trouble in the future of Russia. Usually the TO wins that fight. I wonder if Russia staying out of it helped them to be unable to defeat Lithuania and Poland? Great update, JM!

 

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[Wars among those Catholics are not my concern, really. Let the others bleed first! Oh, wait, that won't be until 1700. ]

Music: Modest Mussogorsky: Fair at Sorochinsk (sorry, you'll have to scroll down quite a bit...)

The Second Czar

The new Czar immediately endeared himself to the neighboring nations by holding a great Royal Hunt in the Ryazan area. The hunt was a great succeess. All parties involved agreed that it was the best hunt they had been in for quite some time. Of course, those who were not invited didn't like the new Czar very much, but Vasily was willing to take that chance.

In May 1507 the Duma passed a law organizing the country into cantonments for military purposes. This made conscription more efficient and helped strengthen Russia's military (the pro-war factions were still making their presence felt).

Despite the fact that the Duma and not the Czar held most of the power, there were still a few times during Vasily's reign that some infringement on personal liberty was affected. For example, in March 1510 a philosopher attacked the Czar. Vasily had him imprisoned. The story was kept quiet, however, and most people didn't notice.

During this time the Tatars on the steppes to the south were continuing their process of disintegration. On 1 March 1511 the people of the city of Saratov and the surrounding countryside petitioned the Duma for entrance into the Russian Empire. The Duma happily agreed and Vasily personally visited the city so they could pronounce him their Czar.

In September, another scandal hit the government, this time in the Czar's court. It turned out that one of the new Saratov nobles was, in fact, a spy for the Tatars. The spy was quickly executed, but for a time all the courtiers were under suspicion. This soon passed, however.

In the meantime, the Czar and Duma looked at Poland and Lithuania with interest and some slight fear. The two kingdoms, which had one king, were growing closer and closer together, creating a powerhouse even the incompetence and bickering of the Sejm couldn't weaken too much. Compounding the situation was an insult the Lithuanian nobles sent to the Duma calling it "a ridiculous collection of the basest men in Russia, who should not have been given power even over a shack in Kola." Vasily considered sending back a message to the effect of "At least it's not the Sejm," but decided not to make things worse.

In May of 1516 a group of men on the Baltic coast volunteered themselves and their five ships to the service of the Russian Navy. Czar Vasily merely told them that there was no Russian Navy and that they should just go back home.

In August of 1517 several cities demanded the right to set up their own councils, and asked that some powers be transferred from the Duma to these councils. The Duma and the Czar bluntly refused and sent the cities' representatives home without any further discussion. This likely would have exploded into revolt if another event hadn't taken everybody's attention.

On October 31, a Catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed to a church door in Wittenberg a list of ninety-five grievances he had with the Catholic Church. The Pope immediately demanded that he retract his statements. Emperor Karl V convened a council at Worms and summoned Luther there. There, the Emperor repeated the Pope's demand. Luther remained adamant. "I cannot and will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience," he said. "I can do nothing else, here I stand."

The Emperor was enraged and wanted Luther executed then and there. Luther fled, however, and the Elector of Saxony kept him safe from Karl's wrath. There, Luther announced that he no longer considered the Pope God's representative on Earth and, in essence, broke with the Catholic Church and began the Protestant Reformation. Luther's new faith spread through Germany quickly, and soon spread to Scandinavia and England.

More news came from the west. In 1518 the Teutonic Order once again declared war upon Poland. This time, however, they had the backing of Sweden and Norway. It was easy to see that these two could easily turn the tide of the constant conflict between the Poles and Teutons.

But the Swedes also had their own agenda. And theirs involved Russia. On June 16, 1519, King Erik XIV of Sweden sent a message to the Duma stating that Ingermanland, Karelia, and several other border territories belonged by right to Sweden. The Duma refused his ultimatum, and Erik immediately declared war.

 

[Amric]

War! This could get messy...the Swedes tend to have powerful leaders...let slip the dogs of war, and conscript those Russian cannonfodder! Good luck!

 

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Music: Sergei Prokofiev: from Alexander Nevsky (It's an MP3 file, so it may take longer to load up than to play )

The Karelian War (1519-1521)

The situation did not seem good for Russia. In the north, the hardy Norwegians attempted to reduce the fortifications in Kola (which Ivan III had built for the very purpose of defending against the Norwegians). The Swedes were advancing along the Neva River. The Teutonic Knights were marching out of Estonia towards Pskov. All three of these enemies had better weapons than the Russians, and combined their forces outnumbered Vasily's.

Thus, Vasily intended to make sure they would not combine. Seeing as the Norwegians were for the moment of no concern (Kola's fortifications were strong), It would either be the Swedes or the Teutons who would need to be defeated first. Thus, Vasily chose to strike at the Swedes.

The first battle was fought on 12 September* 1519. Over the next two months the Swedes were slowly pushed back over the border into their own territory. In December, they attempted a second attack, but Vasily nearly trapped them against Lake Ladoga and the Swedes barely managed to escape again.

[*Vasily intentionally chose the feast day of St. Alexander Nevsky to begin the attack.]

After leaving a small force behind to keep an eye on the Swedes, Vasily led his main army south to Pskov, which the Teutonic Knights were still attempting to force into surrender. Before the battle, Vasily's cavalry had secretly destroyed all the bridges across the Velikaya for some distance. Now, as the battle took place in winter the river was frozen over, and the ice was (unlike in Nevsky's battle upon nearby Lake Peipus) thick enough for the Knights to travel across. But Vasily didn't need the Knights to be trapped.

Vasily's grand army struck on 8 February 1420. At first, the Knights held their place, inflicting many casualties. But the immense Russian army was too large for the Knights to handle, and Grand Master Albrecht von Hohenzollern ordered his army back over the river. Now, he could cross, but ice makes perilous footing and the going was slow. Compounding this, just after Albrecht himself had crossed Vasily ordered the five cannons he had brought from Novgorod to fire. The ice may have been able to support the weight of knights if crossed carefully, but not the heavy and hot cannon-balls. Gaping holes were left where ice and Knights had been earlier.

Russian cavalry destroyed the Knights left on the east side of the river, and the Grand Master retreated to Riga. The Teutons were now practically out of the war.

Vasily could now focus on the Scandinavians. While his main army struck for Vyborg a large group of cavalry was sent north into Kola where the Norwegians were still sitting in front of Russian fortifications, there numbers greatly reduced by the winter. The Norwegians were quickly and utterly destroyed, and Russian cavarly rode through the northern parts of Norway.

Meanwhile, Vasily had given up an attack on Sweden as not worth the casualties and decided to wait for them to attack him. Meanwhile, the Danes took advatage of Sweden's weakness, and on 1 August 1520 declared war, hoping to avenge their earlier defeats at Sweden's hand.

In December King Erik decided to lead an immense army against the Russians. The two armies met just north of where St. Petersburg is now on 5 January 1521. The battle was quite quick, as Erik was killed in the first charge. The Swedes attempted to continue the battle, but soon realized the Russians would not break easily and requested a truce. Vasily approached Erik's son Gustav, now King of Sweden, and proposed a full peace treaty, asking for a small sum of money to help pay for rebuilding. Gustav accepted, and the Karelian War ended on 21 January 1521, with the signing of the peace treaty at Vyborg.

 

[stnylan]

Sounds like a pretty successful defensive war. I bet you have several more of those along the way.