{{Short description|Collection of Russian principalities}} {{Use Oxford spelling |date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates |date=June 2025}} {{CS1 config |mode=cs1 }} {{Use shortened footnotes |date=June 2025}} [[File:Верхнеокские земли в конце XIV — начале XV века.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|The principalities at the turn of the 15th century]]
In [[Russian historiography]], the '''Upper Oka Principalities''',{{efn|{{langx|ru|Верхнеокские княжества|Verkhneokskiye knyazhestva}}.}} also known as the '''Upper Principalities''' or the '''Principalities of the Upper Reaches''',{{efn|{{langx|ru|Верховские княжества|Verkhovskiye knyazhestva}}.}} were a number of small [[Russian principalities]] situated along the upper reaches of the [[Oka River]] around the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries.{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=97}}{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}}
==History== [[File:Maksimov usadba.jpg|thumb|Estate of a petty medieval prince]]
They were formed between the 13th and 15th centuries as a result of the [[Feudal fragmentation|fragmentation]] of the [[Principality of Chernigov]].{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} They were ruled by the "upper princes", each descended from [[Michael of Chernigov|Mikhail Vsevolodovich]].{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} His eldest son, [[Roman Mikhailovich|Roman]], received [[Bryansk]], and his line was considered senior.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} The Bryansk princes were crushed by the [[Golden Horde]] due to their aspirations for unification, leading to the emergence of independent [[appanage]] principalities in the mid-14th century.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}}
From the mid-14th century, the principalities became [[buffer state]]s between the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] to the west and the [[Grand Principality of Moscow]] to the north;{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} they fluctuated between alignments with each of these two major regional powers.{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=97}} Many princes became semi-dependent on Moscow, with the [[Diocese of Bryansk]] remaining subordinate to the metropolitan of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], who was based in Moscow.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}}
The princes of [[Novosil]] and [[Tarusa]] participated in the {{ill|Pereyaslavl congress (1374)|ru|Переяславский съезд (1374)|lt=all-Russian congress}} of princes in [[Pereslavl-Zalessky]] in 1374.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} The following year, the princes of Novosil, Tarusa, and [[Obolenskoye, Zhukovsky District, Kaluga Oblast|Obolensk]] were mentioned as participating in the all-Russian campaign against [[Tver]].{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} Many of the "upper princes" also took part in the [[Battle of Kulikovo]] in 1380.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|pp=171–172}} However, around the turn of the 15th century, Lithuania renewed its campaign to increase its control over the region.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}}
In the early 15th century, the princes became dependent on Lithuania and were required to pay an annual tribute.{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=97}} In 1395–1396 or 1406–1408, the Lithuanians were able to capture Obolensk, Tarusa, [[Mtsensk]], [[Mosalsk]], [[Vorotynsk, Peremyshlsky District, Kaluga Oblast|Vorotynsk]], [[Meshchovsk|Mezetsk]], [[Karachev]], and [[Kozelsk]].{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}} In 1408, the princes of [[Belyov]] and [[Peremyshl, Russia|Peremyshl]] fled to Moscow, along with [[Švitrigaila]] and other princes.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} At the same time, the princes quarrelled with each other over the boundaries of their holdings.{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=97}}{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}} Increased Lithuanian oppression in the territories bordering Muscovite lands led to discontent among Russian princes and nobles.{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|pp=97–98}} The principalities of Karachev, Kozelsk, and Tarusa were abolished; the descendants of those princes were reduced to the status of minor service princes.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}}
In the second half of the 15th century, as religious oppression intensified, Grand Prince [[Ivan III of Russia|Ivan III]] took advantage of the situation and began to interfere in the relations of the princes who were in Lithuanian service.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}}{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=98}} As a result, these princes began to "depart" to Moscow.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}} A border conflict between Lithuania and Russia took place in 1487–1494, consisting of minor clashes and generally waged by the forces of the border principalities.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}} According to a 1494 treaty, Lithuania was compelled to recognize these principalities as belonging to the Russian state.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}}{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=98}} The incorporation of these principalities strengthened Moscow's southwestern border, and some of them continued to exist as [[appanage]]s until 1573, including Vorotynsk, Novosil, and Odoyev.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}}{{sfn|Kashtanov|1986|p=98}}
== List of principalities == *[[Principality of Odoyev]] and {{ill|Principality of Novosil|ru|Новосильское княжество}} – seats of the [[Odoyevsky family|Odoyevsky]] princes in [[Odoyev]] and [[Novosil]];{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *[[Principality of Belyov]] – seat of the [[Belyovsky]] princes in [[Belyov]];{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Vorotynsk|ru|Воротынское княжество}} – seat of the [[Vorotynsky]] princes in [[Vorotynsk, Peremyshlsky District, Kaluga Oblast|Vorotynsk]];{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Mosalsk|ru|Мосальское княжество}} – seat of the [[Massalski family|Mosalsky]] princes in [[Mosalsk]];{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Zvenigorod|ru|Звенигородское княжество (Чернигово-Северская земля)}} – seat of the {{ill|Zvenigorodsky|ru|Звенигородские}} princes;{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Karachev|ru|Карачевское княжество}} – seat of the {{ill|Khotetovsky|ru|Хотетовские}} princes in [[Karachev]]; *{{ill|Principality of Kozelsk|ru|Козельское княжество}} and {{ill|Principality of Peremyshl (Upper Oka Principalities)|ru|Перемышльское княжество (Чернигово-Северская земля)|lt=Principality of Peremyshl}} – seats of the [[Gorchakov]] princes in [[Kozelsk]] and [[Peremyshl, Russia|Peremyshl]]; *[[Principality of Tarusa]] and {{ill|Principality of Mezetsk|ru|Мезецкое княжество}} – seats of the {{ill|Mezetsky|ru|Мезецкие}} princes in [[Tarusa]] and [[Meshchovsk]];{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Boryatino|ru|Барятинское княжество}} – seat of the [[Boryatinsky]] princes in [[Boryatino]]; *{{ill|Principality of Obolensk|ru|Оболенское княжество}} – seat of the [[Obolensky]] princes in [[Obolenskoye, Zhukovsky District, Kaluga Oblast|Obolensk]].{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}}
==Gallery== {{Gallery |title=Maps of the Upper Oka Principalities |align=centre |width=345 |height=200 <!-- |mode=packed --> <!-- |noborder=yes -->
|File:Upper Oka Principalities (13th-14th century).png |Early principalities on the Upper Oka {{circa}} 1300 {{legend|LemonChiffon|[[Principality of Tarusa]]}} {{legend|LightSalmon|Principality of Novosil}} {{legend|Thistle|Principality of Karachev}}
|File:Principality of Ryazan 14th century.png |{{legend|#C9FEC9|Upper Oka Principalities {{circa}} 1350}}
|File:Upper Oka Principalities 1389 ru.png |Upper Oka Principalities in 1389 {{legend|#D7ECC8|[[Principality of Odoyev]]}} {{legend|#EAF389|[[Principality of Tarusa]]}} {{legend|#B7DC32|Principality of Kozelsk}} {{legend|#BAC737|Principality of Masalsk}}
|File:Upper Oka Principalities circa 1400 pl.jpg |Upper Oka Principalities {{circa}} 1400
|Upper Oka Principalities 1434 pl.png |Upper Oka Principalities in 1434 {{Legend striped|#F3AEC3|#ED89AC|[[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]}} {{Legend striped|#DDCB9B|#C0A264|Vassals of the [[Golden Horde]]}}
|Upper Oka Principalities 1462 ru.png |Upper Oka Principalities in 1462 {{Legend striped|#EAF389|#D8EA4A|[[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]}} {{legend|#F5AECB|[[Principality of Ryazan]]}} {{legend|#F9C6DB|[[Grand Principality of Moscow]]}} {{legend|white|[[Golden Horde]]}} }}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist |30em}}
== Sources == {{Refbegin |30em}} * {{cite book |last1=Boguslavsky |first1=Vladimir V. |last2=Kuksina |first2=Elena I. |title=Славянская энциклопедия. Киевская Русь — Московия. Т. 1: А–М |date=2001 |publisher=ОЛМА Медиа Групп |location=Moskva |isbn=9785224022502 |pages=171–172 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/kNNEiqIIouwC?hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjf7Ibn2pSQAxXF0AIHHVkbKCwQ7_IDegQIJhAC |language=ru |chapter=Верховские княжества}} * {{cite book |last1=Kashtanov |first1=S. M. |title=The Modern Encyclopedia Of Russian and Soviet History |volume=41 |date=1986 |publisher=Academic International Press |pages=97–98 |url=https://archive.org/details/modernencycloped0041jose/page/96/mode/2up |chapter=Upper Reaches, Principalities of}} *{{cite encyclopedia |last=Rusyna |first=Olena Volodymyrivna |year=2003 |trans-title=Upper princes |script-title=uk:Верховські князі |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine]] |language=uk |volume=1 |publication-place=Kyiv |publisher=Institute of History of Ukraine |isbn=966-00-0734-5 |url=http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Verkhovski_kniazi |access-date=8 May 2025 |script-quote=uk:У 2-й пол. 14 – 70-х рр. 15 ст. володіння в.К., що лежали у поріччі верхньої Оки (прит. Волги), відігравали роль буфера між сферами впливу литов. і моск. князів. }} {{Refend}}
== Further reading == {{Refbegin |30em}} *{{cite book |last=Bazilevich |first=K. V. |year=1952 |title=Внешняя политика Русского централизованного государства: Вторая половина XV века |trans-title=Foreign affairs of the Russian centralized state: second half of the 15th century |location=Moscow |publisher=none }} * {{cite journal |last1=Bespalov |first1=Roman |title=Гипотеза о появлении термина «верховскии князи» в московско-литовской дипломатии |trans-title=A hypothesis about the emergence of the term "upper princes" in Muscovite–Lithuanian diplomacy |journal=Древняя Русь. Вопросы медиевистики |date=December 2017 |volume=70 |issue=4 |pages=42–52 |url=https://www.academia.edu/35513460/Беспалов_Р_А_Гипотеза_о_появлении_термина_верховскии_князи_в_московско_литовской_дипломатии_Древняя_Русь_Вопросы_медиевистики_М_2017_4_70_С_42_52 |issn=2071-9574}} *{{cite book |last=Lyubavsky |first=M. K. |author-link=Matvei Lyubavsky |year=1892 |title=Областное деление и местное управление Литовско-Русского государства. |trans-title=Regional division and local administration in the Lithuanian–Russian state |location=Moscow |publisher=none }} {{Refend}}
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[[Category:Former principalities]] [[Category:Historical regions in Russia]] [[Category:Medieval history of Russia]] [[Category:Olgovichi family]] [[Category:States and territories established in the 14th century]] [[Category:States and territories established in the 15th century]]