Daniil Aleksandrovich - Junior son of Alexander Nevsky. He entered the history thanks not only to the reignbut also the creation of the St. Daniel Monastery. In addition, Daniil Aleksandrovich is considered one of the revered Moscow saints. Today we will get acquainted with his biography and merits.
Childhood
Prince Alexander Nevsky and sons made quite a significant contribution to the well-being of Russia. Daniel was born in 1261. When great Alexander Nevsky - the son of the Russian land, died, Danilo was only 2 years old.The first years the boy lived in Tver, with his uncle Yaroslav Yaroslavich. The latter was first Prince of Tver, and then Vladimir. Moscow then was part of the grand duke's lot and was under the leadership of the “tiuns” - the governors of the prince of Tver.
Principality
What time and from whom younger son of Alexander Nevsky получил в свой удел Москву, в точности неизвестно.Historians believe that this happened in the 70s of the XIII century. In the annals Daniel first appeared in 1282. At this time he was already a full-fledged prince of Moscow. It is worth noting that this was the first mention of Moscow in the annals after the terrible Batu ravage, which occurred in 1238. Such a long silence was very significant. The fact is that in the annals of that time mentions of cities were entered only if there were any disasters, civil strife, major fires, Tatar invasions and so on.
Thus, there is reason to believe thatMoscow in those times was more or less calm. According to many historians, it was this silence, which lasted for more than forty years, and predetermined the future greatness of Moscow. In quiet times, the city and its districts gained strength. Many refugees from the devastated areas of Russia, mostly southern, moved here: the Ryazan, Kiev and Chernihiv lands. Among the settlers met artisans, farmers and warriors.
According to the "Tale of the conception of the great cityMoscow ”, Prince Danilo loved life in Moscow and therefore tried to populate the city and expand its borders. It is also said that he was virtuous and tried to help the poor. Speaking of Daniel Alexandrovich, one cannot overlook the fact that he has always been a deeply religious man.
Civil wars
Russian land was often shaken by internecine wars. Despite the love of peace, which was famous for Moscow Prince, the younger son of Alexander Nevsky, he was forced to take part in them. Most of the conflicts in which he was involved ended in peace and did not reach bloodshed.
In 1281, war broke out between the eldersbrothers Daniel - Dmitry and Andrey. Both princes wanted to find support in the Horde. Andrei asked for help from Tud-Meng - the legitimate Khan, and Dmitri tried to enlist the support of Nogai - the main rival Tud-Meng. At different times, Daniel supported one brother or the other. His only interest in this conflict was the maximum security of Moscow and the prevention of another rout.
In 1282 the Moscow prince stepped on the sideAndrew. According to the chronicles, he, together with the Novgorodians, Muscovites and Tverches, went to war against Prince Dmitry to Pereyaslavl. Upon learning of this, Dmitry went to meet them. He stopped at Dmitrov, and the opponents did not reach the city five miles away. There, the troops of both sides stood for five days, communicating through messengers. In the end, they decided to make peace. Soon elders also made up sons of Alexander Nevsky. Biography Daniil of Moscow will continue to be closely associated with one of them - Dmitry.
Friendship with Tver
In 1287, three brothers Alexandrovich togetherwent to war against Mikhail Alexandrovich - the newly created Prince of Tver. Approaching Kashin, they stayed there for nine days. The army of princes devastated the city, burnt down the neighboring Ksnyatin, and from there decided to advance to Tver. Prince Mikhailo of Tver sent them to meet his messengers, the brothers responded. After short negotiations, the parties decided that the war was of no use to them. Further son of Alexander Nevsky Daniel will be friends with Tver, then againrival. With whom his relationship will grow stronger, it is with his elder brother, Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich. It is worth noting that thanks to the friendship with Dmitry, and later his son Ivan, Danil of Moscow will receive a serious political advantage.
End of truce
In 1293, a shaky truce between the princesAndrew and Dmitry violated. Once again, Andrew went to the Horde to the newly-minted khan Toktu, to ask him for help. As a result, a huge army of Tatars headed by Khan’s brother, Tudan, went to Russia. Accompanied by Tatars there were many Russian princes. Upon learning of the invasion of the Tatars, Dmitry decided to flee. Residents of Pereyaslavl also fled. At that time, the Tatars conquered and defeated Vladimir, Suzdal, Yuryev-Polsky and some other cities. Moscow also did not avoid trouble. Having deceived Daniel, the Tatars entered the city and caused him irreparable harm. As a result, they took Moscow completely, together with villages and volosts.
Dmitry's death
In 1294, Prince Dmitry died.Pereyaslavl passed to his son Ivan, with whom Daniel Michael of Tver maintained good relations. In 1296, during the congress of princes, which took place in Vladimir, another conflict arose between the brothers. The fact is that Andrei Gorodetsky, who was now the Grand Duke, decided, along with some other princes, to capture Pereyaslavl. Daniel with Michael prevented him.
Acting now by conviction, by force and passionately believing in one’s own business, the younger son of Alexander Nevsky able to strengthen his principality and expand itthe limits. For a short period, he even managed to establish himself in Veliky Novgorod. There, the prince became his young son Ivan, who in the future will be called Ivan Kalita.
Change of priorities
In 1300, at the next congress of princes inDmitrov, Daniel of Moscow confirmed the contract with the princes Andrei Ivan. However, his alliance with Mikhail of Tver had to be broken. In subsequent years, there will be fierce enmity between the sons of Daniel and the Prince of Tver. In the same year, Daniel fought with Prince Konstantin of Ryazan. Then the army of the Moscow prince defeated many Tatars who had defended Ryazan, and even managed to capture Constantine. According to the common assumption of historians, it was as a result of the march on Ryazan that Moscow managed to annex Kolomna, located near the confluence of the Moscow River into the Oka.
Expansion
В 1302 году умер переяславский князь Иван, who accounted for Danil Moscow nephew. The God-loving, meek and quiet Ivan Dmitrievich did not have time to have children, therefore he bequeathed his principality to Daniel Alexandrovich, whom he loved most of all. At that time, Pereyaslavl was considered one of the main cities in the north-east of Russia. His accession immediately strengthened Moscow several times. The chronicles and the "Life" of Prince Daniel with particular attention emphasize that Pereyaslavl was attached to Moscow in an absolutely legal way.
Prince Andrey tried to reign over Pereyaslavl. Upon learning of Ivan’s decision regarding the succession to the throne, Daniel, son of Alexander Nevsky, did not hesitate and immediately sent toPereyaslavl his son Yuri. When he arrived in the city, he saw that the governors of Prince Andrew already began to govern there. Apparently, they appeared in the city immediately after the death of Ivan Dmitrievich. Yuri drove the uninvited guests. Fortunately, everything was decided peacefully. In the fall of 1302, Prince Andrew once again went to the Horde in the hope of securing support in the campaign against his brother. But the next war was not to be.
Death of prince daniel
March 5, 1303 Moscow Prince Daniel, son of Alexander Nevsky, умер.Before his death, he took monastic vows. Regarding the burial place of the Grand Duke sources diverge. According to some reports, the prince was buried in the church of Archangel Michael, in whose place now stands the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. And for others - in the Danilov Monastery, which the prince himself founded.
Monastery
Even during the reign of the younger son of Alexander Nevsky founded a monastery in the south of Moscow in honorRev. Daniel the Stylite - his heavenly patron. This monastery became the first known history of Moscow monasteries. In the Life of the saint, it is said that it was pleasing in the Moscow Region that Prince Daniel raised a monastery beyond the Moscow River and named it in honor of his angel Daniel the Stylite.
The fate of the monastery has developed in an amazing way:27 years after the death of the prince, his son Ivan Kalita transferred the monastery together with archimandritia to his princely court in the Kremlin and installed a church in his name in the name of the Transfiguration of the Savior. So Spassky Monastery was founded. As the Life of Daniel of Moscow tells us, many years later, due to the negligence of the Spassky archimandrites, the Danilovsky Monastery became so impoverished that the trace of him disappeared. Only one church remained - the Church of Daniel the Stylite. And the place where she stood was called the village Danilovskoe. About the monastery soon everyone forgot. Under the rule of Grand Duke Ivan the Third, the Spassky Monastery was again transferred outside the Kremlin, across the Moscow River, to Krutitsa Mountain. This monastery is still there and is called Novospassky.
Miracles
On the site of the ancient Danilov Monastery more than once miracles happened, confirming the holiness of its founder. Let's get acquainted with the description of some of them.
Once upon a time Prince Ivan Vasilyevich (he's IvanThe third), while in the ancient Danilovsky monastery, drove past the place where the relics of Prince Daniel rested. At that moment a horse stumbled over a noble young man from the prince's regiment. The young man fell behind the rest and was left alone in that place. Suddenly a stranger appeared to him. So that the prince’s companion is not afraid, the stranger said to him: “Do not be afraid of me, I am a Christian, my lord of this place, my name is Daniel of Moscow. By God's will, I put it here. ” Then Danil asked the young man to send a message from him to the prince with these words: “Do you console yourself in every way, and why did you turn me into oblivion?” After that, the appearance of the prince disappeared. The young man immediately caught up with the Grand Duke and told him everything to the smallest details. Since then, Ivan Vasilyevich ordered the funeral services and divine services to be sung, and also distributed alms to the departed souls of his relatives.
After many years, the son of Ivan the Third, PrinceVasily Ivanovich, drove past the same place with a lot of confidants, among whom was Prince Ivan Shuisky. When the latter stepped on a stone, under which the relics of Daniel of Moscow were buried, in order to mount his horse, the peasant who happened here prevented him. He asked him not to defile the stone under which Prince Daniel lies. Prince Ivan scornfully replied: "Is there not enough princes here?", And finished his plan. Suddenly, the horse reared, fell to the ground and died. Prince with great difficulty dragged from under his horse. He repented and commanded to serve a prayer for his sin. Soon, Ivan recovered.
Во времена царствования Ивана Грозного купец из Kolomna sailed to Moscow in the same boat with his young son and Tatars. On the way, the young man became seriously ill, so that his father no longer believed in his recovery. When the boat approached the church, in which the relics of Prince Daniel rested, the merchant and his son approached the tomb of the saint. Telling the priest to sing a prayer, the merchant began to pray to God with great faith, calling on Prince Daniel to help. Suddenly, his son, as if awakened from a dream, recovered and gained strength. Since then, the merchant with all his heart believed in St. Daniel, and every year came to his coffin to make prayers there.
Alexander Nevsky - named son of Batu
Another interesting fact, which, of course, was reflected in the lives of the children of Alexander Nevsky, is his fraternity with Prince Sartak. Information that Alexander Nevsky - the son of Batu, is perceived by historians as contradictory.One thing is known for sure - the decision to serve the Golden Horde and the brotherhood with Tsarevich Sartak named Alexander Nevsky was made purely in the interests of the state. At that time, blood kinship was little appreciated: the princes vied with each other for their destinies and did not disdain betrayal. But this relationship is firmly revered as a shrine. Therefore, going to such a step, Alexander Nevsky, the son of Khan Batu Sartak and the Khan himself acted purely in political interests.
