The character of the principalities, 117. The unity of the principalities, 120. The theory of succession, 121. Civil wars, 122. Vsevolod, 124. Sviatopolk, 124. Vladimir Monomakh, 126. The “Instruction” of Vladimir Monomakh, 127. The fall of Kiev and the rise of Suzdal, 129. CHAPTER III THE TIME OF TATAR DOMINATION (1235-1462 A.D.) 133 Jenghiz Khan; the Tatar invasion, 134. Influences of Tatar domination, 136. Alexander Nevski, 139. Death of Alexander Nevski; appreciation of his character, 142. The grand princedom, 143. The growing ascendency of Moscow, 144. The principle of direct succession, 148. The battle of the Don or Kulikovo, 151. Significance of the battle of Kulikovo, 152. The destruction of Moscow, 153. The death of Dmitri Donskoi; his place in history, 154. The reign of Vasili Dmitrievitch, 156. Vasili Vasilievitch (afterwards called “The Blind” or “The Dark”), 158. Jonas becomes metropolitan, 159. A review of the internal development during the Tatar period, 160. The influence of Tatar domination, 163. Wallace’s view, 164. CHAPTER IV FROM IVAN THE GREAT TO IVAN THE TERRIBLE (1462-1584 A.D.) 166 Accession of Ivan (III) Vasilievitch, 166. Character and aims of Ivan, 168. Ivan Vasilievitch marries the Greek princess Sophia, 170. The growth of autocracy, 171. Subjugation of the republics, 172. The final overthrow of the Tatars, 176. Affairs of Lithuania, 179. Last years of Ivan; inheritance left to his sons, 181. Appreciations of Ivan Vasilievitch, 181. Accession of Vasili Ivanovitch, 184. Wars with Lithuania, 184. Wars with the Tatars, 188. The growing power of Russia, 189. Maxine the Greek, 190. Private life of Vasili Ivanovitch; his death, 192. A forecast of the reign of Ivan (IV) the Terrible, 192. The minority of Ivan IV, 194. Ivan assumes the reins of government, 196. The discovery of Siberia, 197. The restraining influences of Anastasia, 198. Ivan’s atrocities, 199. The Polish invasion, 200. The reign of terror, 202. The march against Novgorod, 203. Carnage in Moscow, 205. The struggle for Livonia, 207. Projects of alliance with England, 208. Death of Ivan the Terrible, 208. Karamzin’s estimate of Ivan, 209. Ivan the Terrible compared with Peter the Great, 212. CHAPTER V THE CENTURY AFTER IVAN THE TERRIBLE (1584-1682 A.D.) 213 Character of Boris Godunov, 214. War with Sweden, 215. Serfdom, 218. Death of Dmitri, 219. The reign of Boris, 222. The false Dmitri appears, 224. Career and murder of Demetrius, 227. The false Dmitri; marriage and death, 228. Vasili Ivanovitch Shuiski, 229. Accession of the house of Romanov, 237. The Cossacks, 239. Last years of Michael, 242. Alexis, 243. Feodor, 247.