60°00′N37°50′E / 60.000°N 37.833°E /60.000; 37.833
Principality of Beloozero Белозерское княжество | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1238–1486 | |||||||||
 Coat of arms | |||||||||
 Principality of Beloozero (14th century) | |||||||||
| Status | Principality | ||||||||
| Capital | Beloozero | ||||||||
| Common languages | Russian | ||||||||
| Religion | Russian Orthodoxy | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Prince of Beloozero | |||||||||
• 1238–1278 | Gleb Vasilkovich(first) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Established | 1238 | ||||||||
• Annexed toMoscow | 1486 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Russia | ||||||||
ThePrincipality of Beloozero (Russian:Белозерское княжество) was a Russianprincipality which flourished between the 13th and 15th centuries in theRussian North. In terms of the current administrative division of Russia, the principality was located in the west ofVologda Oblast, around the south ofLake Beloye.
Its capital wasBeloozero (now Belozersk), one of the five original towns mentioned in thePrimary Chronicle. It was closely associated withRostov until it became independent in 1238 during theMongol invasions.Dmitry Donskoy secured control over Beloozero and passed it to his descendants; it was formally annexed to Moscow byIvan III.[1]
ThePrimary Chronicle states thatRurik sent theVes tribe to Beloozero. But even before this, the town already had their own aboriginal inhabitants.Simon Franklin cautions against taking the chronicle at present value; of legendary tales of brothers founding a new city and a new ruling dynasty, similar to other mythological origin stories that happened across different cultures.[2]: 38–39
During the Rurik period, Rostov and Beloozero were under the authority of Novgorod but were later detached and governed directly from Kiev,[3] during the late 11th century.[2]: 229 Later in the early- to mid-12th century,Rostov-Suzdal (who would later claim authority over Beloozero) emerged in power under the rule ofYuri Dolgorukiy (son ofVladimir Monomakh) and made state policy to dominate the Novgorod trade route along the Volga.[3]
The chronicle mentioned that in 1071, the Kievantysiatskii, Ian Vyshatich was collecting tribute while in Beloozero, when he saw locals refusing to hand over thevolkhvy (pagan priests). The volkhvy had previously killed many women whom they blamed for hoarding supplies and caused a famine inRostov. Ian later managed to kill the volkhvy.[2]: 229
The duchy had lost its former significance by the early 14th century. In the first half of the 14th century,Ivan Kalita, the Grand Prince of Moscow, was already appointingnamestniks of Beloozero who administered the principality instead of the princes.[4]
The principality was detached from the Principality ofRostov in 1238.[5] The town of Beloozero (today'sBelozersk) became its capital.Prince Gleb was the firstprince of Beloozero (ca. 1238–1278).[6] He increased his standing enormously by marryingSartaq's daughter. The later rulers of Beloozero could claim adescent from Genghis Khan through this marriage. During Gleb's reign, the duchy's territory embraced thebasin ofLake Beloye, the lower streams of theSheksna River, andLake Kubenskoye.
In 1389, it was subjugated byMuscovy.Dmitry Donskoy, the Grand Prince of Moscow, handed the principality out to his sonAndrey Dmitriyevich. At the end of the 14th century, two influential monasteries were founded on the lands belonging to the principality:Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in 1397 andFerapontov Monastery in 1398. The creation was supported by the Moscow princes who considered the foundation of the monasteries as an arm of the influence of Moscow in the north.
In 1486, the principality, which at the time was part of the united Principality of Beloozero andVereya, was formally incorporated into theGrand Duchy of Moscow. Numerous descendants of the rulingRurikid princes moved to Moscow and continue in a male line to the present. TheBelosselsky-Belozersky family was the most notable among them.
The chronicle suggests a high importance to Beloozero as it was the residence of Rurik's brother, yet the town did not develop into a major political center, however, it became a frequent port of call. Even though Beloozero was a small rural settlement, Scandinavian items such as combs have been excavated there, suggesting extensive trade networks.[2]: 48–49 Furthermore, 10th-century fragments found in Beloozero suggest imports from the southern regions to the town.[2]: 129 Kievan glassware was traded in Beloozero, indicating trade contacts between the towns.[2]: 281
Dmitry Donskoy's son Andrei and his son Mikhail were the nominal princes of Beloozero until it was formally annexed in 1485.
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