The Principality of Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal (), also known as Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod (also spelt ''Nizhnii''), was a
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
formed in 1341. Its main towns were
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod ( ; rus, links=no, Нижний Новгород, a=Ru-Nizhny Novgorod.ogg, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj ˈnovɡərət, t=Lower Newtown; colloquially shortened to Nizhny) is a city and the administrative centre of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast an ...
,
Suzdal
Suzdal (, ) is a Types of inhabited localities in Russia, town that serves as the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which is located along the Kamenka tributary of the Nerl (Klyazma), Nerl River, north o ...
, Gorokhovets, Gorodets, and Kurmysh. Nizhny Novgorod was the seat of the principality from 1350. The prince
Dmitry of Suzdal
Dmitry Konstantinovich (; 1323–1383) was Prince of Suzdal and Grand Prince of Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal from 1365. He took the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir from his son-in-law, Dmitry Donskoy, from 1360 to 1363.yarlik (patent) for the title of
Grand Prince of Vladimir
The Prince of Vladimir, from 1186 Grand Prince of Vladimir (), also translated as Grand Duke of Vladimir, was the title of the monarch of Vladimir-Suzdal. The title was passed to the prince of Moscow in 1389.
Overview
The monarch of Vladimir-Su ...
merged the principalities of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod in 1341 with the approval of Jani Beg, who became Khan of the
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde, self-designated as ''Ulug Ulus'' ( in Turkic) was originally a Mongols, Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the division of ...
next year. In 1341, after the death of Ivan Kalita, Khan Uzbek divided the main territories of northeastern Rus'. Part of the land, which included Nizhny Novgorod, Gorodets and Unzha, became the property of Prince Konstantin of Suzdal. An independent Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal Principality was formed, which occupied a vast territory. In the east, its border ran along the Sura River, in the southeast and south - along the rivers Pyana and Seryozha. The main stronghold in the east was the Kurmysh Fortress, founded in 1372. Along the border stood small fortresses, in which border guards lived. The remains of such fortresses are found along the Piana River in Buturlinsky and Sergachsky districts.
The bubonic plague hit Nizhny Novgorod again in 1365.
In 1377, the Horde attacked Nizhny Novgorod. In the battle on Pyana River, the Russian army suffered a severe defeat from the Horde prince Arapsha.
Dmitry of Suzdal
Dmitry Konstantinovich (; 1323–1383) was Prince of Suzdal and Grand Prince of Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal from 1365. He took the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir from his son-in-law, Dmitry Donskoy, from 1360 to 1363.Gorodets. On 5 August 1377, the Horde army conquered Nizhny Novgorod. The city was burnt. A year later, on July 24, 1378, the city was re-conquered.
Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal did not participate in the 1380
Battle of Kulikovo
The Battle of Kulikovo () was fought between the forces of Mamai, a powerful Mongol military commander of the Golden Horde, and Russian forces led by Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, Dmitry of Moscow. The battle took place on 8 September 1380, at Ku ...
. After the battle, the Horde Khan Tokhtamysh, in 1382 with a large army went to
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
. When the Tatar army approached Nizhny Novgorod, Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal, wishing to save his land from ruin, sent his sons Vasily and Semyon to him, who went with the army and persuaded Moscow to surrender.
The death of Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich in 1383 triggered a decade-long
war of succession
A war of succession is a war prompted by a succession crisis in which two or more individuals claim to be the Order of succession, rightful successor to a demise of the Crown, deceased or deposition (politics), deposed monarch. The rivals are ...
between his brother and his sons. In the end, khan Tokhtamysh awarded Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal to Vasily I of Moscow in 1392. The local Konstantinovich dynasty, supported by various Tatar warlords such as Edigei, refused to recognise the Daniilovichi claim for twenty more years, in 1410 even attacking and looting the city of Vladimir. After Vasily I married off his daughter to a Suzdalian prince in 1418, and placed his own governors in Nizhny Novgorod, the Konstantinovichi ceased their resistance against Muscovite overlordship.
List of princes
* (Prince of Suzdal 1332–1341, Prince of Nizhny Novgorod–Suzdal 1341–1355).
* (Prince of Nizhny Novgorod–Suzdal 1355–1365).
*
Dmitry of Suzdal
Dmitry Konstantinovich (; 1323–1383) was Prince of Suzdal and Grand Prince of Nizhny Novgorod-Suzdal from 1365. He took the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir from his son-in-law, Dmitry Donskoy, from 1360 to 1363.Tokhtamysh of the
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde, self-designated as ''Ulug Ulus'' ( in Turkic) was originally a Mongols, Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the division of ...