Chapter 4 1453-1456
This is the record of Ivan Wolf II, the son of the man who served Vasily I and Vasily II for more than 30 years. It is with tears that I write the account of the Lithuanian war, for it brought ruin to our country. The siege of Moscow resulted in utter misery and many deaths. Scarcely any family was spared, and with so much calamity it may seem selfish to focus on one man, but that one man's death brought me more sadness than any other, for that one man was my father.
As my father wrote in our country's official record, the Lithuanians set siege to Moscow in February 1453. At first we were hopeful that we could collect an army powerful enough to defeat the siege forces and relieve our capital. To our sorrow and ruin, that was not to be. For the Lithuanian army was soon joined by a huge force from Novgorod. As if that were not enough, our scouts reported a large Polish army of 20 thousand marching toward Moscow, and soon after that, another 20 thousand Pommeranians. The Lithuanians added more for good measure, and we were powerless even to intercept the reinforcements, let alone relieve the city. At its height the siege force numbered more than 130 thousand from four nations. Moscow was doomed.
All the while we were recruiting and training what troops we could, hoping against hope that we would have a chance to inflict at least some local defeats on the Lithuanians. The news of Moscow's fall in October 1453 brought first shock, then grief, then anger to our soldiers. We swore to retake it whatever the cost, though to be honest it seemed to me that only a miracle would revive our chances.
When our fortunes revived -- was it a miracle? I would have asked Father Zossima, but my childhood priest had died years before -- yes, our fortunes did revive, in a way I had not foreseen. Soon after the fall of Moscow, Pommern offered us a white peace. You treacherous dogs, why then did you fight against us? Having seen Moscow, now you have had your fill of war? Be that as it may, I accepted their offer, and our enemies were reduced to three. Immediately thereafter, we received a peace proposal from Novgorod. No white peace, they demanded tribute in the form of Karelia, which we had taken from them in 1424. Well, it was nothing but a wasteland of ice and reindeer; if that was all it took to get them out of the war, they could have it.
Let me also give credit to our allies. Suzdal fought mainly in Novgorod, and not too well, but the Tverians fought fiercely to defend Pskov and to besiege Welikia. By the time Moscow fell, Tver clearly had the upper hand, so the Lithuanians sent the bulk of their army to fight against Tver. Our enemies left a medium sized Polish army to hold Moscow. This was our chance to fight back, at last! For once, when we absolutely had to have a battlefield victory, our troops held and we defeated the Poles. While most of the Polish-Lithuanian forces fought against Tver and Suzdal in Pskov and Welikia, our siege army held against small enemy attacks. We recovered Moscow in August 1454, and then conquered Tula in April 1455.
Soon after that each side's allies settled; only Muscovy and Lithuania remained. After some skirmishing, Lithuania offered a white peace in December. We still held Tula and out of revenge Vasily II wanted to press for harder terms. But we were broken after seven years of war. We could fight no longer. Though we choked on our words, we accepted the Lithuanians' offer, and at last our land had peace.
Vasily and I returned to Moscow soon thereafter. We hardly recognized our beloved homeland. What had been a prosperous city had become ruin and devastation. As the royal procession marched through the city, Muscovites lined the streets to hail us. But there was little cheer; this was a broken, defeated people. Vasily stopped at the side of an old man with tears on his face: "My son died during the Battle of Moscow." Nearby, a woman sobbed: "My husband died at the walls." Others joined in, telling of sons, fathers, and husbands who had paid the ultimate price in defense of their beloved country. Worse were the accounts of those who had lost their loved ones to starvation during the siege, for this included women and children as well as old men. Vasily kept himself composed as a king should, but I broke down and wept. And as I wept I swore to myself that we would have revenge on the hated Lithuanians. Yes, we hated the Mongols, but they were a known enemy, not operating by deceit and treachery. Looking at my king I sensed that he was sharing the same thought. Someday, somehow, Lithuania, you will pay for this.
At last I entered my father's chamber, now the home of a dead man. Knowing my father, I was certain he had left a record, and I searched until I found it -- yes! here it is, the journal of a faithful servant, a broken and dying man. I dismissed all who were with me as I read my father's journal, with trembling hands and vision blurred with tears.
The record of the city's suffering during the siege was painful and direct. Just as we in Vologda could see hope extinguished as the siege army doubled and doubled again, so those trapped in the city also understood that there would be no relief. One by one our defenders perished at the walls; one by one the Muscovites starved as food ran short. But that much I had known already. What I wanted to know was what was my father's fate? How did he die? I had to know. The late entries finally told the tale:
September 5, 1453. Starvation in the city. Even the young die. I cannot bear it. Today I met a young woman with two small girls. She begged me for food, not for herself, but that her children would not die. I gave her a ring and told her to show it to the Mayor. I am old; I cannot live at the expense of the young.
So it went, day after day, my father sacrificing himself to save those he could. I had found the truth. My father, the ruler of Moscow, starved.
Very slowly Moscow came back to life as relief supplies were brought in from the provinces. Fortunately, aside from Moscow itself there had been only small clashes elsewhere, and little damage. In time the normal routines reestablished themselves, and Moscow was once again a city.
As I directed the rebuilding of Moscow, it happened one day that my guards told me a woman wanted to see me -- no, she insisted on it. I was preoccupied with my work and did not even notice as she entered the room. Her voice both startled and soothed me with its sweetness.
"My Lord, forgive my intrusion, but I have something that belongs to you."
"Young woman, I have never met you. How can you have something of mine?" I was still focused on my work, barely paying attention to her.
"Forgive me, my Lord, but it is something your noble father gave me. It saved my life, and the lives of my two daughters." And with that, she held out a ring for me to take. Now she had my attention. I looked in amazement and saw that she spoke the truth. It was my father's ring.
Stunned, I was unable to move my lips to give voice to the questions that sprang into my mind. So she told me her story. She was the young woman my father met as he walked in the doomed city shortly before its fall. The Mayor, upon seeing her with the official ring, gave her a generous ration, which brought life to her and her children. Unable to thank the man who had saved her, she showered praise and thanks upon the man's son, who was completely unworthy of any such honor.
As she spoke, I marveled at her courage and her beauty. Her husband, as so many others, had fallen in battle. I could not bear to leave her a widow, so she and I were married. I adopted her two young daughters, and our son Ivan was born in 1457. He was named Ivan not for me, but in memory of my dear father.
On May 1, 1456, our king Vasily II Temny presided over a memorial service for all who had fallen in the city. Many spoke in loving remembrance of those who had sacrificed themselves. Finally, it was our king's turn, and as he addressed the people he swore vengeance upon our enemies:
"Woe to you, Novgorod! Your nation will fall as Muscovy will rise. The destiny of all Russians lies with Muscovy and not Novgorod. Behold! Even now your glory is fading."
"Woe to you, Pommern! And woe to you, Poland! For what cause did you fight against us? What profit did you obtain? I say to you, woe! Just as you caused the ruin of an innocent nation for no cause and no profit, so shall it be for you. At a time of crisis you will be attacked by a distant power which will destroy you for no motive."
"And woe to you, Lithuania! As you have sown, so shall you also reap. When you are in need, weak and alone, at that time you will be stabbed in the back by a great power who will show you no mercy. Though it not be until the time of my grandson's grandson, we will crush your bones."
