Principality of Tver

The Principality of Tver was a principality which existed between the 13th and the 15th centuries with its capital in Tver. It was one of the states established after the decay of the Kievan Rus'. During the 14th century, Tver rivaled the Principality of Moscow with the aim to become the center of the united Russian state. Eventually it lost, decayed, and in 1485, it was annexed by Moscow. The principality was located approximately in the area currently occupied by Tver Oblast and the eastern part of Smolensk Oblast in Russia. History Origins In the 1230s or the 1240s, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the grand prince of Vladimir, detached the city of Tver from the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky principality (where it previously belonged), and gave it to his son Alexander Nevsky. In 1246, another son of Yaroslav, Yaroslav of Tver, became the prince of Tver, and the principality was ruled by his descendants until 1485, when it was abolished. In 1264, Yaroslav was appointed the grand prince of Vladimir, which at the time meant he was the supreme authority of all of today's northwest Russia. In the 13th century, the Principality of Tver was less dependent from the Golden Horde than other Russian principalities were, and its population grew up. The combination of these two factors led to the rivalry between Tver and Moscow, each of which were trying to become the most influential Russian principality.