DMITRY MIKHAILOVICH

(1299–1326), Prince of Tver and grand prince of Vladimir.

Dmitry Mikhailovich ("Terrible Eyes") was born on September 15, 1299. Twelve years later he led a campaign against Yury Danilovich of Moscow to capture Nizhny Novgorod. But Metropolitan Peter, a supporter of Moscow, objected. Dmitry therefore cancelled the attack. In 1318, when Khan Uzbek executed his father Mikhail, Dmitry succeeded him to Tver. Soon afterward, he strengthened his hand against Moscow by marrying Maria, daughter of Grand Prince Gedimin, thereby concluding a marriage alliance with the Lithuanians. In 1321 Yury, now the Grand Prince of Vladimir, marched against Dmitry and forced him to hand over his share of the Tatar tribute and to promise not to seek the grand princely title. In 1322, when Yury delayed in taking the tribute to Khan Uzbek, Dmitry broke his pledge. He rode to Saray to complain to the khan that Yury refused to hand over the tribute and to ask for the grand princely title. For his service, the khan granted him the patent for Vladimir. Because Yury objected to the appointment, Uzbek summoned both princes to Saray, but the khan never passed judgment on them. On November 21, 1325, Dmitry murdered Yury to avenge his father's execution. He therewith incurred the khan's wrath. The latter sent troops to devastate the Tver lands and had Dmitry executed in the following year, on September 13,1326.

See also: golden horde; grand prince; metropolitan; yuri danilovich

bibliography

Fennell, John L. I. (1968). The Emergence of Moscow 1304–1359. London: Secker and Warburg.

Martin, Janet. (1995). Medieval Russia 980–1584. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Martin Dimnik