Tver

Tver ({{lang-ru|?????}}) is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Tver Oblast. Formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and the model provinical town of Imperial Russia, it has a population of 453,000 (as of 2003). Tver is located at {{coor dm|56|52|N|35|55|E|region:RU_type:city(453,000)}}, at the confluence of Volga and Tvertsa rivers. The city was known as Kalinin (???????) from 1931 to 1990.

Grand princedom

Mikhail of Tver, who ascended the throne of Vladimir in 1305, was one of the most beloved of medieval Russian rulers. His policy of open conflict with the Golden Horde led to his assassination there in 1318. His son Alexander "the Terrible Eyes" succeeded him, and, concluding an alliance with the mighty Lithuania, managed to rise Tver's prestige even higher.

Related Topics:
Mikhail of Tver - Vladimir - 1305 - Golden Horde - 1318 - Lithuania

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Exasperated by Alexander's influence, prince Yury of Moscow engineered his murder by the Mongols in 1327. On hearing the news of this crime, the city revolted against the Horde. The latter joined its forced with Muscovites and brutally repressed the rebellion. Many citizens were killed, enslaved, or deported. This was the fatal blow to Tver's pretensions for supremacy in Russia.

Related Topics:
Yury of Moscow - 1327 - Rebellion

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In the second half of the 14th century, Tver was further weakened by dynastic struggles between its princes. Two senior branches of the ruling house, those of Kashin and Kholmsky, asserted their claims to the grand ducal throne. The claimants were backed up by Moscow and eventually settled at the Kremlin court.

Related Topics:
14th century - Dynastic - Kashin - Kholm - Kremlin

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During the Great Feudal War in Muscovy, Tver once again rised to prominence and concluded defensive alliances with Lithuania, Novgorod, Byzantium, and the Golden Horde. Grand Prince Boris of Tver sent one of his men, Afanasiy Nikitin, to search gold and diamonds as far as India. Nikitin's travelogue, describing his journey from 1466 to 1477, is probably the first ever first-hand account of India by an European. A monument to Nikitin was opened on the Volga embankment in 1955.

Related Topics:
Great Feudal War - Muscovy - Alliance - Byzantium - Afanasiy Nikitin - India - Nikitin's travelogue - 1466 - 1477 - Volga - 1955

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