The unification of Vassili III

At the beginning of his accession to the throne, Vassili III began the unfinished business of his father, Ivan III of Russia, Russia-continuing to expand the territory, bringing all the surrounding city-states into the territory of Moscow and establishing a unified Russia. Vassili III's primary goal was to incorporate all the Russian city-states on the western border into the mainland and let Lithuania and the small principality on the border recognize his title of all-Russian monarch by force. Compared with Ivan III of Russia of Russia, Vassili III did not have the patience to adopt the strategy of combining military and diplomatic means, but paid attention to military expansion, so that the relationship with the original ally, the Crimean Khanate, gradually became cold, and the diplomatic achievements of Ivan III of Russia during the Russian rule were not effectively consolidated.

On the western front, Lithuania was forced to make peace and give up a large territory after the Moscow army completely defeated Lithuania. 1503, the two sides declared a truce. After the stability of the Western Front, Vassili III was not satisfied with the vassal status of Kazan khanate in the east, and decided to completely incorporate Kazan khanate into the territory of Moscow. 1506, Vassili III used Mohammad Amin Khan of Kazan as an excuse to violate the previously signed peace treaty and sent troops to Kazan Khan. However, as a result, the expedition of the Moscow army was unfavorable, which also led to the Kazan Khanate and the Grand Duchy of Moscow turning against each other. Vasily III failed in his first expedition to the East, but Mohammad Amin, King of Kazan Khanate, only expressed his willingness to surrender to Moscow. As soon as Vassili III withdrew, the Kazan Khanate secretly contacted the Crimean Khanate and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and began to oppose Moscow. The alliance between Kazan Khanate and Kerim Khanate poses a huge potential military threat to Moscow.

This year, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander died. His younger brother succeeded to the throne, known as Sigmund I in history. As soon as Sigmund I ascended the throne, he asked the Grand Duchy of Moscow to return the previously occupied polis and land. The result of this demand is another war between the two sides. At the beginning of the war, Mikhail Glinschi, a very rich and influential nobleman of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy, fell to Vassili III. Glinschi's counterattack dealt a heavy blow to Lithuania, and Glinschi's army occupied a large area of Lithuanian territory. In desperation, Lithuania turned to its allies Kazan Khanate, Clim Hahnert and Livonia for help, but these allies stood by and no one sent troops to help. Lithuania was defeated again, so it had to sign a peace treaty with Moscow, recognizing Moscow's sovereignty over the previously occupied city-states and lands, but Moscow also gave up the Lithuanian territory occupied by Glinschi.

From 1509 to 15 10, Vasily III made great efforts to completely incorporate Pskov into the territory of Moscow. In fact, when Vasily became the Crown Prince, Russian Ivan III of Russia took Pskov as a territory and gave it to Vasily. During this period, Vassili III's main task was to divide and redraw the original territory of Pskov, and then he began to assimilate the residents in the territory.

After Pskov, Vassili III began to prepare for the occupation of Smolensk. 15 12, Vassili III led an army to personally levy Smolensk in an attempt to win this important western frontier town. Just as the battle ahead was deadlocked, there was bad news behind it: the Crimean Khanate invaded on a large scale and went deep into the hinterland of Moscow.

At the end of the reign of Russian Ivan III of Russia, the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Crimean Khanate generally maintained good relations. However, the Tatar army of the Crimean Khanate kept the tradition of nomadic people mowing grass valleys and frequently invaded towns in southern Lithuania, Ukraine and Moscow, with the main purpose of plundering people and property. After the disintegration of Qincha khanate, several khanates established by Tatars, especially the Crimean khanate, plundering people and selling slaves were not only traditional lifestyles, but also the main sources of finance. Tatar troops know how to invade: they usually send a large group of light cavalry into the hinterland of enemy-occupied areas for hundreds of miles, and then turn around and plunder towns and villages along the way. Because the Tatars move quickly and the soldiers are sharp, the defense on the southern border of Moscow is usually like a dummy, and there is no time to react. Clim Kende plundered mainly Ukrainians, Poles and Russians, and these captured people were subsequently sold as slaves to Turkey, the Middle East and even European countries. During the more than 200 years from14th century to the end of16th century, Crimean Tatars sold as many as 3 million slaves.

After Vassili III ascended the throne, he was busy expanding his territory on the western border, and temporarily took passive defensive measures against the invasion of the Crimean Khanate, mainly consolidating border defense, recruiting tens of thousands of troops to serve in the border areas every year, and paying money to the Crimean Khanate every year to protect himself. 1478, the Crimean khanate became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, and Mongoji Rehan actually became the agent of the Ottoman Empire in Crimea.

15 12, the Crimean khanate suddenly attacked Moscow, because the Lithuanian Grand Duke Sigmund I bought the Mongolian Gori Khan of Crimea with 15000 gold coins. Vassili III at the front line had no time to transfer troops to defend, and Mongo Jirehan quickly captured Ryazan. Moscow's army made effective resistance, and Mongo Gilehan was also unwilling to fight, so he took advantage of the fish in troubled waters and retreated. Since then, the relationship between the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Crimean Khanate has officially become hostile. Vasily III's first task was to annex all Russian city-states, and even the invasion of Crimean Tatars failed to make Vasily III withdraw his troops from the Smolensk front. Sure enough, Vassili's concentration finally got rich harvest.

When the Crimean khanate army arrived at the gates of Moscow, Vassili III remained in Smolensk. But although Vassili personally led the army in front, the impregnable Smolensk could not be captured for a long time. Vasily had no choice but to besiege Smolensk until the city ran out of ammunition and food. 15 14, Smolensk, which has persisted for two years, can no longer hold on, and finally rises. When Vassili III conquered Novgorod, he imitated his father Ivan III of Russia, appointed a warlord, Grand Duke Chouisky, to take charge of the newly occupied city, and then retreated back to Moscow.

As soon as Vassili III withdrew, the church and some nobles in the city secretly contacted Lithuania, demanding that Vassili withdraw and counterattack Smolensk at the same time. Joysky intercepted the letter sent back by Lithuania, thus discovering the conspiracy planned by the nobles in the city. Because of the critical situation, Joysky failed to inform Vassili III, so he had to arrest all the accomplices and put them to death. At the same time, he organized the city defense to prepare for the Lithuanian army's attack. After the Lithuanian army began to counterattack, it was found that Joysky was ready for the battle and the original surprise attack plan could not be realized. Vassili III heard about the changes in the city and sent troops to help. The two sides changed hands in Smolensk and the war resumed. The situation of the second battle is in a stalemate.

15 17, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I sent a special envoy to the two countries for diplomatic mediation. Moscow and Lithuania both insisted on Smolensk's sovereignty, but diplomatic mediation failed. Stalemate until 1520, the two sides finally reached a settlement and signed a five-year armistice agreement. Although Lithuania never recognized Moscow's sovereignty over Smolensk, Moscow's effective occupation of the city enabled Vassili III to take a series of measures to consolidate its sovereignty.

Vassili III no longer sent overseers to these cities, but adopted an unprecedented means: immigration. He ordered a large number of residents from Pskov, Smolensk and other places to live in the territory of Moscow, while a large number of residents from the former territory of Moscow were moved to these newly occupied lands. In addition, the old methods are still used to disrupt the original administrative divisions, re-divide, and directly bring these areas into the administrative jurisdiction of Moscow. For the archduke of Ryazan and other small city-states, Vassili III took a more direct approach: he ordered them to come to Moscow and directly announced to take over their territory. If you have a good attitude, you will enjoy a piece of land elsewhere; Those who react violently should be killed and shut down, mercilessly depriving these big noble territories. Vassili III refused to spare his relatives. Russian cousin Ivan III of Russia, who owns territory abroad, died early one after another, leaving no descendants. Vassili III led these city-states in a proper way; Other brother city-states should also be recovered, but the means adopted are relatively mild: in exchange for the territory of other places, the original city-state will be owned by Moscow. Through these means, Rocco, Kaluga, Urgorri, Ryazan, Skoye-Novgorod, Cherwell and other city-states were successively incorporated into Russian territory. After several years of operation, Russia, which is in its infancy at this time, looks like a unified country with Moscow as its capital.