Vladimir Andreyevich the Bold (; July 15, 1353 – 1410) was the most famous prince of
Serpukhov. His moniker alludes to his many military exploits committed in the wars waged by his cousin,
Dmitri Donskoi of
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
.
Biography
A grandson of
Ivan Kalita, Vladimir inherited
Serpukhov,
Borovsk, and a third part of
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
from his brother at the age of 5. As his cousin
Dmitry of Moscow was also a child, both princes had to be tutored by the
Metropolitan Alexis who arranged a treaty stipulating Vladimir's loyalty to his Muscovite cousin.
Pursuant to the treaty, Vladimir helped Dmitry to fight
Tver
Tver ( rus, Тверь, p=tvʲerʲ) is a city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is northwest of Moscow. Population:
Tver was formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and a model provincial town in the Russia ...
(1375),
Ryazan (1385), the
Livonian Knights (1379), and the
Republic of Novgorod (1392). Although he married a daughter of
Algirdas
Algirdas ( be, Альгерд, Alhierd, uk, Ольгерд, Ольґерд, Olherd, Olgerd, pl, Olgierd; – May 1377) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He ruled the Lithuanians and Ruthenians from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his br ...
of
Lithuania in 1371, Vladimir still loyally supported Dmitry in his
struggle against the Lithuanians.
In 1374, anxious to defend his capital, Vladimir built the first oaken
kremlin in
Serpukhov. In 1377, Vladimir sacked the
Severian towns of
Trubchevsk and
Starodub. In the great
Battle of Kulikovo (1380) Vladimir commanded
cavalry which decided the Russian victory. When
Tokhtamysh invaded Russia two years later, Vladimir defeated his force near
Volokolamsk.
It is not clear why Vladimir quarrelled with his cousin in 1388. Although they made peace the same year, Vladimir was forced to leave Serpukhov for
Torzhok following Dmitry's death and enthronement of his son
Vasily I. A year later, he returned to Serpukhov and concluded a treaty with Vasily, whereby he obtained the appanage towns of
Volokolamsk and
Rzhev
Rzhev ( rus, Ржев, p=ˈrʐɛf) is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:
His ...
. Later, he exchanged these towns for
Gorodets,
Uglich, and
Kozelsk, while forfeiting his claims to
Murom and
Tarusa.
Vladimir's last military campaign was to defend
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
against the horde of
Edigu in 1408. He died two years later and was interred in the
Archangel Cathedral. His seven sons continued the lineage of
Serpukhov princes until 1456. His granddaughter
Maria of Borovsk married
Vasily II and gave birth to
Ivan the Great
Ivan III Vasilyevich (russian: Иван III Васильевич; 22 January 1440 – 27 October 1505), also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his blin ...
, who expelled the last princes of Serpukhov to
Lithuania. The last of Vladimir's male-line descendants died in 1521.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vladimir Andreyevich
Princes in Rus'
People of the Grand Duchy of Moscow
Rurik dynasty
1353 births
1410 deaths
Eastern Orthodox monarchs