Mongolian Dependence of Rus'

🏰 After the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, the Russian lands came under the influence of a new power — the Golden Horde. The destruction of many cities and the weakening of the principalities allowed the Mongol rulers to establish control over Rus'. However, the Golden Horde did not directly include the Russian lands into its territory. Russian principalities kept their own rulers, local traditions, and the Orthodox faith. Dependence was expressed mainly through political submission, tribute payments, and the need to receive permission from the khans to rule. 💰 The main obligation of the Russian lands was the payment of tribute to the Golden Horde. At first, Mongol officials conducted population censuses to determine the number of taxpayers and the amount of payments required. Special representatives collected tribute, but later many of these responsibilities were transferred to Russian princes themselves. Tribute included different types of payments and became a heavy burden for the population. These payments strengthened the power of the Golden Horde and allowed the khans to maintain control over the Russian principalities. 📜 An important part of the system of dependence was the issuing of yarlyks — special documents granted by the khans to Russian princes. A yarlyk confirmed a prince's right to rule a particular territory. To receive such a document, princes had to travel to the Horde and negotiate with the khans. This increased the influence of the Mongol rulers because they could support certain princes and weaken the position of others. The struggle for the yarlyk to rule the most important Russian territories became a major part of political life. 🌍 Relations between the Russian principalities and the Golden Horde were complex. On one hand, princes depended on the decisions of the khans and took part in Horde politics. On the other hand, they preserved significant independence in internal affairs. Over time, some principalities became stronger, especially Moscow, which managed to build favorable relations with the Horde and gain important political advantages. The period of Mongol dependence lasted for several centuries and had a major influence on the development of Russian statehood.