1492-1516: Ryazan, the new World Power
Ryazan, which by all rights should not have been on any map, has a strange place in history. The Ryazan People were normally peaceful merchants, searching for foreign areas to trade with. This merchantism allowed them to recruit some of the most amazing groups of mercenaries to do any fighting that might come up. Though they were not known worldwide as a country, but as a thorn in Kazan's side, that would easily be plucked away, as soon as the Russian/Crimean Alliance broke up. Several other countries were present in this Alliance, such as Pskov, and of course, Ryazan.
In 1496 Russia declared a state of War between itself and Kazan. Tens of thousands of soldiers marched out of Russia towards Kazan, and the Ryazan merceneries were called upon to help. Ryazan had to take out a loan, as most of its money was invested in goods.
What few people realize, is that although Kazan was annexed by the Russians, Ryazan was given Tambow for the great part they played in the total defeat of Kazan.
After the annexation of Kazan, Ryazan's depleted resources had to be rebuilt. Also, riots rampaged through the streets of Tambow. They wanted to be free. Ryazan hired extra mercenaries to police the riots. Nothing major ever came of it.
Still, the world's picture Ryazan as just a part of Kazan never really faded, and some even thought of Ryazan as a part of Russia, but it wasn't. It wasn't even a vassal. It was a country, all its own. And it was going to prove it, though no-one knew it at the time.
The Ryazan merchants hit Venice while it was in its prime, gaining trade levels as fast as such countries as Spain, and France.
In 1510, the Golden Horde declared a state of War between itself and Ryazan. Ryazan called upon its mercenaries, and allies, to fight the war for it, leaving the foreign markets alone for the period of the war. Russia 'russed' in to save it's ally, completely devestating the Horde, leaving only 7 thousand soldiers standing, and taking the treasury of the Horde with it in a peace treaty, as Ryazan concentrated on Saratow.
Saratow fell as Ryazan took another loan to raise more troops. The new mercenaries, and the just researched artillery manned by mercenaries, marched east the Kujbyschew and Samara, ripping the Horde to shreds. The others went through Vorones, which had no fortifications, which means no fight, and then through Bogutjar, and to Donetsk, as the Samara siege ended, and those troops marched to Lugansk. The Golden Horde was not so golden anymore. In August of 1516, Ryazan annexed the 8 provinces of the former Golden Horde, and forever banished the thoughts of an easy annexation for Russia. Ryazan would live on.
Ryazan, which by all rights should not have been on any map, has a strange place in history. The Ryazan People were normally peaceful merchants, searching for foreign areas to trade with. This merchantism allowed them to recruit some of the most amazing groups of mercenaries to do any fighting that might come up. Though they were not known worldwide as a country, but as a thorn in Kazan's side, that would easily be plucked away, as soon as the Russian/Crimean Alliance broke up. Several other countries were present in this Alliance, such as Pskov, and of course, Ryazan.
In 1496 Russia declared a state of War between itself and Kazan. Tens of thousands of soldiers marched out of Russia towards Kazan, and the Ryazan merceneries were called upon to help. Ryazan had to take out a loan, as most of its money was invested in goods.
What few people realize, is that although Kazan was annexed by the Russians, Ryazan was given Tambow for the great part they played in the total defeat of Kazan.
After the annexation of Kazan, Ryazan's depleted resources had to be rebuilt. Also, riots rampaged through the streets of Tambow. They wanted to be free. Ryazan hired extra mercenaries to police the riots. Nothing major ever came of it.
Still, the world's picture Ryazan as just a part of Kazan never really faded, and some even thought of Ryazan as a part of Russia, but it wasn't. It wasn't even a vassal. It was a country, all its own. And it was going to prove it, though no-one knew it at the time.
The Ryazan merchants hit Venice while it was in its prime, gaining trade levels as fast as such countries as Spain, and France.
In 1510, the Golden Horde declared a state of War between itself and Ryazan. Ryazan called upon its mercenaries, and allies, to fight the war for it, leaving the foreign markets alone for the period of the war. Russia 'russed' in to save it's ally, completely devestating the Horde, leaving only 7 thousand soldiers standing, and taking the treasury of the Horde with it in a peace treaty, as Ryazan concentrated on Saratow.
Saratow fell as Ryazan took another loan to raise more troops. The new mercenaries, and the just researched artillery manned by mercenaries, marched east the Kujbyschew and Samara, ripping the Horde to shreds. The others went through Vorones, which had no fortifications, which means no fight, and then through Bogutjar, and to Donetsk, as the Samara siege ended, and those troops marched to Lugansk. The Golden Horde was not so golden anymore. In August of 1516, Ryazan annexed the 8 provinces of the former Golden Horde, and forever banished the thoughts of an easy annexation for Russia. Ryazan would live on.
