{{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}} 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== thumb|Estate of a petty medieval prince
They were formed between the 13th and 15th centuries as a result of the fragmentation of the Principality of Chernigov.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=171}} They were ruled by the "upper princes", each descended from Mikhail Vsevolodovich.{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} His eldest son, 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 states 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 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, Mezetsk, Karachev, and Kozelsk.{{sfn|Boguslavsky|Kuksina|2001|p=172}} In 1408, the princes of Belyov and 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 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 appanages 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 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;{{sfn|Rusyna|2003|p=494}} *{{ill|Principality of Mosalsk|ru|Мосальское княжество}} – seat of the 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; *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 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}}
{{coord missing|Russia}}
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