In the XV century, after the victory of Prince Dmitry Donskoy on Kulikovo Field, the role of Moscow in the process of collecting Russian lands significantly increased. Due to internal contradictions, the gradual disintegration of the Golden Horde begins. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, formed on the western borders of Moscow Rus, is becoming a formidable rival to the Moscow princes.

In 1408, Vasily I and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas concluded a treaty and established a border between their states along the Ugra River. Because of the persecution of Orthodoxy, some princes of the western regions begin to serve Moscow.

Power in the Golden Horde is seized by Temnik Edigei, who makes a campaign against Moscow. The principality is ruined, but besieged Moscow resisted. Vasily I is forced to pay a huge tribute of 3 thousand rubles.

1410 The Battle of Grunwald took place, in which the combined forces of Poland and Lithuania, supported by Czechs, Hungarians and Smolensk regiments, completely defeated the troops of the Teutonic Order.

1426-1428 Vytautas makes repeated trips to the lands of Pskov and ravages them, but the city itself remains impregnable.

1433 In the Crimea, the Crimean Khanate, independent of the will of the Great Horde, was formed. Haji Giray becomes the ancestor of the ruling Giray dynasty.

1436-Genghisid Ulu-Mukhammed forms the Kazan Khanate on the lands of Volga-Kama Bulgaria.

1445 The troops of Ulu-Mukhammed in the Suzdal region inflict a heavy defeat on the Moscow regiments of Vasily II, who later received the nickname Dark. The prince himself was captured and had to pay a huge ransom for his release.

1446 Conspirators led by Dmitry Shemyakaexploiting the absence of the Grand Duke, capture MOSCOW. SOON, VASILY II HIMSELF IS CAPTURED BY SHEMYAKO, WHO WAS SENT TO UGLICH AND BLINDED.

1448. VASILY II THE DARK, WITH the SUPPORT of BORIS Alexandrovich of Tver and with the help of the Tatar detachments of Kasim Khan who remained loyal to him, recaptures Moscow from Shemyaki.

1452 As a reward for his help during the war with Shemyaka, Vasily II the Dark gives Kasim Khan a city called Kasimov. This is the first time that a Mongol prince voluntarily becomes a vassal of the ruling Russian dynasty.

1462 Vasily II the Dark died. His reign was spent in fierce civil strife, from which he not only emerged victorious, but also strengthened the centralized state. The Grand Duke's powerful rivals - Yuri Galitsky, Vasily Kosoy and Dmitry Shemyaka-were eliminated from the political arena. The throne of Vasily II the Dark is inherited by his eldest son Ivan.

1463 Ivan III buys their possessions from the Yaroslavl princes and joins them to Moscow.

In 1466, the Astrakhan Khanate was established.

1467-1469 The first Kazan War, during which Russian troops besieged Kazan and forced the Kazan tsar Ibrahim to make peace "with all the will of the sovereign".

1472 The second marriage of Ivan III Vasilyevich with Sophia Palaiologos, the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI. This alliance makes Muscovy the successor of the Byzantine Empire.

1473 Ivan III enters into an alliance with the Crimean Khan Men-gli-Giray to jointly fight the Great Horde.

1480 Horde Khan Akhmat makes a campaign to Russia. On the Oka coastal line, he is met by Russian regiments. Skirmishes between Tatar and Russian troops have been taking place along the banks of the Ugra River for seven days. The "Stand on the Ugra" ended with the retreat of the Tatar army. The final overthrow of the Mongol yoke.

1491 Moscow Rus is once again on the verge of feudal war. The Grand Duke was opposed by two of his brothers - Andrey Bolshoy and Boris, Where by force, and where by bribery, Ivan 111 was able to win over all the supporters of the treacherous brothers. Andrey Bolshoy is captured, and his lands are taken away

1494 Treaty between Ivan III and Grand Duke Alexander of Lithuania, which recognizes the Moscow Prince as the sovereign of All Russia and marries his daughter Elena.

1496-1497 The war with Sweden. Russian regiments under the command of Daniil Shcheni march on Vyborg, and then defeat a seven-thousandth Swedish detachment in Finland. For a short time, the Muscovite state received unimpeded access to the Baltic Sea.

1498 A grand Byzantine wedding ceremony is being held in Moscow as the co-ruler of Ivan III's grandson Dmitry. Ivan III was first called "the autocrat of All Russia".

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