Death of Foti, 1431.—Succession of Iona.—Church divisions and troubles.—Union of Churches.—Mohammed expelled from the Horde by Kutchuk.—Mongol troops sent against Russia, 1445.—March of Vassili to meet the enemy.—Defeat of Vassili. Seizure of his person.—Return of Vassili to Moscow, 1445.—Plot of Ivan against Vassili.—Capture of Vassili by Ivan.—Blinding of Vassili.—Shemyaká reigns in Moscow.—Shemyaká frees Vassili.—Defeat of Shemyaká.—Surrender of Galitch to Vassili, 1450.—Death of Shemyaká, 1453.—Influence of Vassili over Tver and Ryazan.—Campaign of Vassili against Novgorod.—Death of Vassili, 1462.—Influence of Poland.—The Poles plan to seize Podolia and Volynia.—Stratagem of Polish knights.—Imprisonment of Polish envoys by Svidrigello.—Polish king leads an army into Volynia, 1431.—Sacking of Vladimir by Poles.—Olesnitski the chancellor.—Lithuania acknowledges Sigismund.—Crowning of Sigismund.—Death of Yagello.—Vladislav successor of Yagello.—Agreement of Sigismund with Kief and Volynia.—Victory of Sigismund.—Diet summoned by Sigismund.—Murder of Skobeiko.—Kazimir made prince.—Entrance of Kazimir into Vilna.—Crowning of Kazimir.—Peace between Michael and Kazimir.—Poles seek to turn Lithuania and Russia into Polish provinces.—Death of Svidrigello, 1415.—Peace of Thorn, 1466.—Alexander receives Kief regions from Vassili of Moscow.—Death of Alexander, 1455.—Simeon rules in Kief till 1471.—Succession of Michael.—Plot to assassinate King Kazimir.—Execution of Alexander’s son, Michael, 1482.—Separation of the Orthodox Church into two parts.—Death of Kazimir IV, 1492.—Khanate of the Crimea.—Origin of the Crimean khanate.—Raids of Mongols against Russians.—Death of the first Khan of the Crimea.—Condition of the Crimean khanate.—Change of Russian boundaries.—Founding of Kremnchug and Cherkasy by Vitold 427 CHAPTER XIX Birth of Ivan III, January 22, 1440.—Consolidation of Russia.—Decline of Novgorod.—Martha Boretski, the Novgorod patriot, favors Kazimir.—Defeat of the Boretski party.—Disputes in Moscow.—Epistles of the metropolitan Philip.—Fall of Novgorod.—Decision of Ivan of Moscow.—Prince Shuiski.—Attack on Novgorod by Ivan.—Siege of Deman by Moscow.—Riots in Novgorod.—Success of Moscow.—Submission of Novgorod 454 CHAPTER XX