Moscow Prince, Konstantin Dmitrievich in the national historiography and chronicle of the XV-th century

While studying key historical events or processes some personalities lack due attention. As a result theirrole in history may be underestimated. Prince Konstantin Dmitrievich, the youngest son of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoy) becameone of these historical figures. This appanage ruler became one of the first in the Moscow princely family, who opposed Vasily IIs possiblefuture seniority. This fact alone draws attention to him. In the chronicles one can find only fragmentary information about the prince. Theydont even contain the date of his death. This is a unique case among Dmitry Ivanovich's sons. Little attention which had been drawn to Konstantinin sources influenced his perception by historians. In most cases the researches only mention the princes being in Pskov and Novgorodas Grand Dukes regent and alsohis campaign against prince Yury of Zvenigorod etc. Historians have paid some attention only to theperiod of 1419-1421 when Konstantin opposed the decisions of the Grand Duke to raise his sons status in the family to the detriment of thebrothers. In the chronicles notices dated 1425 and 1430 he was mentioned in connection with campaigns against prince Yuri of Zvenigorod,the applicant for great reigning. Since then Konstantin Dmitrievich looked as quite loyal to the young grand duke. As a result in historiographythere appeared the image of an ambitious, but ordinary and insignificant appanage prince. Meanwhile, there are reasons to believe thatKonstantin of Uglich was quite an influential figure in the political arena of Russia in the first third of the XV-th century. Pskovskaya I andNovgorodskaya chronicles allow to see him asa talented military leader, governor and diplomat. It was the way he approved himself in Pskovin 1407 in Novgorod in the years 1419-1421. Konstantin played a significant role in interprincely relations. The reaction of Vasily IDmitrievich to his younger brothers rebellion in 1419 did not fit into the framework of usual intrafamilial conflicts. The latter lost his inheritanceand went into exile, and his boyars were sent to prison. The position Dmitry Ivanovichs youngest son in the family during the periodof 1421-1433 is difficult to define. It is known that Vasily Vasilievich broadened his inheritance by Rzheva, which was situated on the borderwith the Grand Principality of Lithuania. The city demanded the owners constant attention due to its endangered location. This fact ledPrince Konstantin Dmitrievichs to visible neutrality at the next stage of the struggle for the great reign. But this neutrality disguised actualloyalty to Yuri of Zvenigorod. This is proven by the behavior of Uglich Prince towards the boyar I.D. Vsevolozhsky, who fled from GrandDuke. Thus, we can conclude that the youngest son of Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich was a remarkable person, who had a considerableinfluence on the situation in Northern Russia. Only the position of a younger relative, and, possibly, the negative attitude toward him, on thepart of the Great Dukes prevented him from taking the rightful place among the representatives of the Moscow prince's family.

Keywords

Authors

References