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76-567: The Türi – Viljandi railway passes through the village on its eastern side. The nearest station is in the small borough of Olustvere about 4 km southeast. Navesti was first mentioned in 1599 as Navosth when the Navesti Manor belonged under the Pärsti Manor. In 1622 the Swedish king Gustav II Adolph gifted both manors to the brothers Casper, Fabian and Michael Engelhardts . The site of

152-408: A barrier to the transformation to absolutism. As a result, he gradually reduced the boyars' economic and political powers. He granted estates called pomestie to a new noble class in exchange for military service and other conditions, allowing him to build up a centralized army and create a counterbalance to the boyars. The old patriarchal systems of government vanished. The boyars, who would meet in

228-474: A centralized Russian state occurred following a period of feudal fragmentation , with Moscow at its center. Following a war with the Novgorod Republic in 1456, due to Novgorod's support of the rebellious Dmitry Shemyaka against Vasily II in his civil war, Moscow began to gradually seize land in the northern territories that were formerly under Novgorodian control for the next decade and half due to

304-438: A council known as a boyar duma , were no longer consulted on state affairs. The sovereign became sacrosanct, while the boyars were reduced to dependency on the will of the sovereign. The boyars naturally resented this revolution and struggled against it. It was in the reign of Ivan III that the new sudebnik , or law code, was compiled by the scribe, Vladimir Gusev. The death penalty was mandated for rebellion or sedition, which

380-573: A desire for luxury furs in the area. This led to a struggle with Novgorod for the Russian fur trade , and thus, an economic rivalry for fur, land and trade ports. Some Novgorodian boyars were opposed to Moscow as a result, while others pursued a pro-Moscow policy in the hopes that good relations could reduce disruption in east-west trade , while Novgorod was also dependent on the Russian lands to its southwest for important imports such as grain. Some Novgorodians were also attracted to Moscow due to it being

456-658: A matrimonial compact, wedding Helena , Ivan's daughter. But the clear determination of Ivan to appropriate as much of Lithuania as possible finally compelled Alexander to take up arms against his father-in-law in 1499. A full-scale war broke out in 1500. The Lithuanians were routed at the Battle of Vedrosha on 14 July 1500, and in 1503, Alexander was glad to purchase peace by ceding Chernigov , Starodub , Novgorod-Seversky , and sixteen other towns. However, Smolensk remained in Lithuanian hands, though Ivan's son Vasily III would take

532-459: A number of pro-Lithuanian boyars and confiscating their lands. In 1477, two Novgorodian envoys, claiming to have been sent by the archbishops and the entire city, addressed Ivan in public audience as gosudar (sovereign) instead of the usual gospodin (sir). Ivan at once seized upon this as a recognition of his sovereignty, and when the Novgorodians repudiated the envoys (indeed, one was killed at

608-543: A war indemnity of 15,500 rubles . Novgorod also had to recognize Moscow's claims to territories to the east of the Northern Dvina which they had been struggling over. Ivan took a promise of allegiance from Novgorod, but left its system of government in place. For the next six years, pro-Moscow and anti-Moscow factions in Novgorod competed with one another. Ivan visited Novgorod several times during this period, persecuting

684-625: A worthy successor to Constantinople, and with that object invited many foreign masters and artificers to settle in Moscow. Ivan's most notable construction was the rebuilding of the Kremlin in Moscow. The most noted of these architects was the Italian Ridolfo di Fioravante , nicknamed "Aristotle" because of his extraordinary knowledge, who built several cathedrals and palaces in the Kremlin, and also supervised

760-464: Is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,407 in 2019. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major Estonian cities, Pärnu and Tartu . The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe. The town became a member of the Hanseatic League at the beginning of the 14th century, and

836-661: Is marked as the end of the "Tatar yoke" over Russia. In the following year, Ahmed Khan, while preparing a second expedition against Moscow, was suddenly attacked, routed and slain by Khan Ibak of the Nogai Horde , whereupon the Golden Horde suddenly fell to pieces. In 1487, Ivan reduced the Khanate of Kazan, one of the offshoots of the Horde, to the condition of a vassal state , though in his later years, it broke away from his suzerainty . With

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912-463: Is one of five Estonian towns and cities in the league. The once influential Estonian newspaper Sakala was founded in Viljandi in 1878. The flag of Viljandi is bi-coloured, its upper part is light blue and lower part white. The city's shield-shaped coat of arms is light blue, with a white rose in the middle. Viljandi is the white rose city – in midsummer there are 720 white roses flowering in front of

988-544: Is successful in offering various information and consulting services. Primary Schools Grammar Schools Vocational education can be acquired at Viljandi Joint Vocational Secondary School. Higher and applied higher education can be acquired at Viljandi Culture Academy a college of the University of Tartu. There are sports events in Viljandi for both top athletes and amateurs. Family sports events, Sunday skiing trips, cycling tours in spring and autumn are very popular. In

1064-647: Is the nature-protected Castle Park, but also Valuoja Park, Kiigepark, Uueveski Park are worth mentioning. The main tree species are oak , lime , birch , and pine . The grandest tree-lined avenues are Maramaa (named after August Maramaa , twice the mayor of Viljandi) and Lembitu avenues. Among foreign species, American larch can be found in Köler avenue and Douglas fir in Uus street. There were 871 businesses in Viljandi on 1 May 2005, 50% of them in service, 45% in trade, and 5% in production areas. The major industries represented are

1140-557: Is unknown whether Andrey Menshoy signed a treaty. He died in 1481, leaving his lands to Ivan. In 1491, Andrey Bolshoy was arrested by Ivan for refusing to aid the Crimean Khanate against the Golden Horde . He died in prison in 1493, and Ivan seized his land. In 1494, Boris, the only brother able to pass his land to his sons, died. However, their land reverted to the tsar upon their deaths in 1503 and 1515 respectively. The character of

1216-614: The Habsburgs , Ivan was offered the title of king ( rex ) if he would join the alliance against Turkey, but he rejected such offers and continued his own policy, laying claim to the Kievan legacy and adopting the title of autocrat ( samoderzhets ), sovereign ( gosudar ) of the Russian land, and grand prince of Moscow and all Russia. Beginning in 1484, Ivan began to use the title of tsar in his foreign correspondence with secondary powers in Europe including

1292-689: The Holy Roman Empire in 1489, the Kingdom of Denmark in 1493, and the Ottoman Empire in 1496. The outline of Russian foreign policy for the next several generations was shaped during Ivan's reign, where his successors would continue to struggle with Poland and Lithuania over the territories of the East Slavs, while a more differentiated policy was pursued towards the Muslim khanates, with attempts at subjugating

1368-524: The Holy See , Ivan III wedded Sophia Palaiologina (also known under her original name Zoe) in 1472, daughter of Thomas Palaeologus , despot of Morea , who claimed the throne of Constantinople as the brother of Constantine XI , the last Byzantine emperor. Frustrating the Pope's hopes of reuniting the two faiths, the princess endorsed Eastern Orthodoxy . Due to her family traditions, she encouraged imperial ideas in

1444-566: The Khanate of Kazan and neutralizing the Crimean Khanate . In 1476, Ivan refused to pay the customary tribute to Ahmed Khan , and in 1480, Ahmed Khan launched an invasion of Russia. Throughout the autumn, the Muscovite and Tatar hosts confronted each other on opposite sides of the Ugra River until 11 November 1480, when Ahmed retreated into the steppe . In traditional Russian historiography, it

1520-643: The Livonian Order . At times the title was translated as imperator , such as in a 1493 treaty with Denmark where Ivan was called "domino Johanne totius Rutzie imperator". Ivan also began insisting on the title to the Habsburgs in 1489, and he continued to portray himself to his subjects and foreign states as the Orthodox emperor. Whenever was possible in diplomatic situations, Ivan and his representatives would refer to him as tsar. According to Isabel de Madariaga , had

1596-582: The Livonian War and in 1560, the forces of Knyaz Andrey Kurbsky of Muscovite Russia succeeded in seizing and demolished the town and the stronghold. During the Polish–Russian War in the first quarter of the 17th century, the town and the stronghold were destroyed. Under Swedish rule in the 17th century the town bylaws of Viljandi were cancelled. After the Great Northern War , Russians seized

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1672-574: The Moscow Kremlin and introduced a new legal code . Ivan is credited with ending the dominance of the Tatars over Russia; his victory over the Great Horde in 1480 formally restored its independence. Ivan began using the title tsar , and used the title tentatively until the Habsburgs recognized it. While officially using "tsar" in his correspondence with other monarchs, he was satisfied with

1748-533: The stronghold of Viljandi, which also became the economic centre of the ancient Sakala district. In 1211 the hillfort of the Estonians in Viljandi was besieged by a joint army of Germans , Latvians , and Livonians . The Livonian Sword Brethren (later the Livonian Order ) captured the hillfort in August 1223 from a contingent of the people of Ruthenians , who joined forces with the insurgent Estonians. In place of

1824-515: The veche and several others of the pro-Moscow faction were killed with him) and swore openly in front of the Moscow ambassadors that they would turn to Lithuania again, he marched against them. Surrounded by Ivan's army, Novgorod ultimately recognized Ivan's direct rule over the city and its vast hinterland in a document signed and sealed by Archbishop Feofil of Novgorod (1470–1480) on 15 January 1478. Ivan dispossessed Novgorod of more than four-fifths of its land, keeping half for himself and giving

1900-484: The Great , was Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia from 1462 until his death in 1505. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his blind father Vasily II before he officially ascended the throne. He multiplied the territory of his state through conquest, purchase, inheritance and the seizure of lands from his dynastic relatives, and laid the foundations of the centralized Russian state. He also renovated

1976-576: The Kievan metropolitans and clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church having been Greeks. The Russians had also long called the Byzantine emperor tsar , and had known of the South Slavic writers who gave the title to their most successful rulers. A Serbian monk who had arrived in Moscow in the early 1440s helped to provide the foundation for the title, having composed a "chronograph" which included

2052-677: The Novgorodian boyars questioned Ivan's sovereignty over the city-state as their prince . Novgorod negotiated with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and requested Casimir IV to send them a prince. This led to Mikhailo Olelkovich , Ivan's cousin, to be accepted as the new prince, though he would step down as prince shortly after. Ivan saw the actions of Novgorod as a cause for war, and he also called it an act of apostasy from Orthodoxy (in part, because Poland and its monarchs were Catholic ). Ivan led his troops to Novgorod where his army defeated

2128-434: The Novgorodians at the Battle of Shelon on 14 July 1471. Ivan then had the four leaders of the anti-Moscow faction in Novgorod executed, including the son of Marfa Boretskaya , an influential boyar woman who had played a leading role in the faction. In a peace treaty signed on 11 August 1471, Novgorod agreed to abandon its overtures to Lithuania and to cede a considerable portion of its northern territories, while paying

2204-508: The Russian Orthodox Church had earlier declared itself autocephalous in 1448, and a native metropolitan was installed in Moscow. The transformation to absolutism was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church, which benefitted from Moscow's increased international standing, with the doctrine of Moscow as the " third Rome " beginning to emerge. Ivan's son with Maria of Tver , Ivan Ivanovich , whom he had designated as his heir and

2280-781: The Russian lands but also implied claims to other territories inhabited by the East Slavs which were under the control of the Lithuanian grand dukes, and would later lead to conflict with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Other principalities were eventually absorbed by conquest, purchase, or marriage contract: the Principality of Yaroslavl in 1463, Rostov in 1474, Tver in 1485, and Vyatka 1489. Ivan also increased Moscow's dominance over Pskov, with his son and successor Vasily III formally annexing it in 1510. Prince Mikhail Andreyevich of Vereya , who had been awarded an appanage by Vasily II,

2356-678: The Russian monarchs as their natural allies against the Muslim regional powers. The first attempt at forging an alliance was made by Alexander I , king of a small Georgian kingdom of Kakheti , who dispatched two embassies, in 1483 and 1491, to Moscow. However, as the Russians were still too far from the Caucasus, neither of these missions had any effect on the course of events in the region. In 1488, Ivan sought gun founders, master gunners for siege cannons, gold and silversmiths, and Italian master builders from King Matthias Corvinus . In his dealings with

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2432-691: The Russian-Estonian border, opposite the fortress of Narva held by the Livonian Confederation . In the Russo-Swedish War , Ivan unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Vyborg from Sweden , but this attempt was checked by the Swedish garrison in Vyborg Castle led by Lord Knut Posse . Ivan deemed Moscow to be the legitimate heir to the territories that formerly belonged to Kievan Rus' , leading to wars with Lithuania, including skirmishes in

2508-580: The Sakala wooden stronghold a powerful Order Centre was started in 1224. The following year the Grand Master Volquin led the construction of Viljandi Castle at the site of the former hillfort. Viljandi (Fellin) castle was one of the largest in the Baltic region . It was a major fortification of the Livonian Order and was appointed a commander from 1248. The fortress was continually rebuilt and modernized over

2584-539: The Traditional Music Storehouse, a restored store house on Kirsimägi in the Castle ruins. The mission of the center is to promote and teach traditional music. Religion in Viljandi (2021) [1] The town is situated on the north-western shore of Lake Viljandi , which lies in the primeval valley. Green zones cover 27% of the town area. Public green areas cover about 418 ha , including 92 ha of parks. The largest

2660-562: The Trepimägi stairs. The longest tradition – the race around Lake Viljandi has been organised since 1928. This race takes place annually on 1 May, with the number of participants being about 1300 in the recent years. The winners' names are cut into stone columns. The legendary Hubert Pärnakivi, whose monument is also a tribute to the race, was an 11-time winner of the race. Other popular fields of sport in Viljandi are handball, football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, archery and rowing. Often

2736-469: The ancient pass over the Navesti River which connected the ancient counties of Sakala and Järvamaa is located in the village. This Viljandi County location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Viljandi Viljandi ( Estonian pronunciation: [ˈvilʲːjɑnʲːdi] , German : Fellin , Latvian : Vīlande , Polish : Felin , Swedish : Fellin )

2812-404: The center of Russian Orthodoxy as opposed to Lithuania, where Catholicism was dominant and its culture was being increasingly polonized , though some Novgorodian clergy adopted a pro-Lithuanian policy for political reasons due to fears that embracing the grand prince of Moscow would eventually lead to the end of Novgorod's independence. By 1470, with the pro-Lithuanian faction being dominant,

2888-486: The city hall, planted for the town's anniversary in 2003. In summer, the White Rose Day is celebrated in Viljandi. The first records of civilization in the surroundings of Viljandi date back to the 5th millennium B.C. The first written record of the earthen stronghold of Viljandi was in the year 1154 in the commentaries to al-Idrisi 's world atlas Geography . In the 12th century, a permanent settlement emerged around

2964-641: The city in 1514. Ivan conquered or brought under his control the lands of " Great Russia ", leading to Russian historians to call him the "gatherer of the Russian lands". Ivan therefore arguably became best known for his consolidation of Muscovite rule; his contemporaries and later historians saw Ivan as a skilled politician who was consistent and efficient in the construction of a unified and autocratic Russian state. His predecessors had increased Moscow's territory from less than 600 square miles (1,600 square kilometres) under Ivan II ( r.  1353–1359 ) to more than 15,000 square miles (39,000 square kilometres) at

3040-522: The city there are 53 sports clubs, a large sports hall and the new sports hall of Maagümnaasium. Also, the country's first artificial speed skating oval was opened in 2014. Soon, the jogging and cycling track around Lake Viljandi will be completed. A new skateboarding and roller-skating area has been built in Männimäe. At the lakeside are tennis courts and the city stadium. Several races are held in Viljandi – around Lake Viljandi and Lake Paala and up and down

3116-650: The construction materials industry, textile industry, and food and bakery industry. In 2005, the Investor of the Year title was awarded to the waterworks operator AS Viljandi Veevärk, the Employer award to AS Toom Tekstiil, and the Sponsor of the Year title to AS Viljandi Metall. Unemployment rate among the working-age population in Viljandi was about 3%. At the moment, 3 modes of transport can be used – free local buses, road and rail. One of

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3192-642: The construction of the walls of the Kremlin. These include the Dormition Cathedral and Palace of Facets . Construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower also started in 1505, which was completed after his death. Moscow played an increasingly visible role in international affairs as it established diplomatic relations with the Crimean Khanate and the Republic of Venice in 1474, the Kingdom of Hungary in 1482,

3268-497: The daughter of an appanage prince and a granddaughter of Vladimir the Bold . The first time Ivan is called heir and grand prince in treaties between his father and other Russian princes is in a treaty with Ivan Vasilyevich of Suzdal dating from 1448 or 1449. The title of grand prince is not included in a treaty with Casimir IV of Poland dating from 13 August 1449, but appears again in treaties with Vasily Yaroslavich of Serpukhov in

3344-437: The early 1450s. Ivan had four brothers: Yury, Andrey Bolshoy ("the big"), Boris, and Andrey Menshoy ("the little"). In the same will that Vasily II had given Ivan III the grand principality, his brothers were awarded appanages. Yury was given Dmitrov , Mozhaysk and Serpukhov , Andrey Bolshoy was given Uglich , Bezhetsk and Verkh and Zvenigorod , Boris was given Volokolamsk , Rzhev and Ruza , while Andrey Menshoy

3420-507: The east of Vyatka in the late 15th century, some of whom had fled eastward as far as the Ob River , but by 1500, they were all paying tribute. Whereas his father Vasily II followed the custom of dividing the realm between his sons, seeing this as a cause for weakness and instability, Ivan consolidated his exclusive control over Muscovy during his reign. Ivan's refusal to share his conquests with his brothers, and his subsequent interference with

3496-406: The end of Vasily II 's reign. It remained for Ivan III to absorb Moscow's old rivals, Novgorod and Tver, and establish virtually a single rule over what had been appanages . Although the circumstances surrounding the acquisitions varied, the results were basically the same: former sovereign or semi-autonomous principalities were reduced to the status of provinces of Moscow, while their princes joined

3572-593: The government of Moscow changed significantly under Ivan III, taking on a new autocratic form, as Moscow increased its hegemony , but also to new imperial pretensions. After the fall of Constantinople , Orthodox canonists were inclined to regard the grand princes of Moscow , where the Metropolitan of Kiev moved in 1325 after the Mongol invasions, as the successors of the Byzantine emperors . Ivan himself appeared to welcome

3648-411: The grand prince. The rival republic of Pskov owed the continuance of its own political existence to the readiness with which it assisted Ivan against its old enemy. The acquisition of Novgorod alone nearly doubled the size of his realm. Soon after the formal annexation of Novgorod, Ivan assumed the title of sovereign of all Russia ( gosudar vseya Rusi ); the title reflected his achievements in uniting

3724-626: The idea of Moscow as the true successor to Byzantium and, hence, to Rome. An impressive building program in Moscow took place under Ivan, directed primarily by Italian artists and craftsmen. New buildings were erected in the Kremlin in Moscow, and its walls were strengthened and furnished with towers and gates. In 1475, Ivan III established the first cannon foundry of Russia in Moscow, which started native cannon production. The British historian J. L. I. Fennell emphasizes Ivan's military and economic success, as well as his success in centralizing control over local rulers; however, he stated that his reign

3800-402: The idea, and he began to use the title of tsar in foreign correspondence, meaning caesar . The adoption of Byzantine symbolism and its ceremonial style in effect allowed for the Muscovite grand prince to claim the powers of that of a Byzantine emperor . Russian ruling circles were already well aware of Byzantine traditions, including the court, hierarchy, and symbolism, due in part to most of

3876-414: The internal politics of their inherited principalities, involved him in several wars with them, from which, though the princes were assisted by Lithuania, he emerged victorious. Finally, Ivan's new rule of government, formally set forth in his last will to the effect that the domains of all his kinsfolk, after their deaths, should pass directly to the reigning grand prince instead of reverting, as hitherto, to

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3952-565: The lake to this day, longing to see those wonderful blue eyes again. According to another story, it was a boatman from Gauja who had dedicated a song to his loved one. As the young woman had moved near Viljandi, the song had changed, too. Viljandi as historic Hanseatic town is a member of the international City League the Hanse . Viljandi is twinned with: Ivan III of Russia Ivan III Vasilyevich ( Russian : Иван III Васильевич ; 22 January 1440 – 27 October 1505), also known as Ivan

4028-454: The late 1480s and early 1490s. The further extension of his dominion was facilitated by the death of Casimir IV in 1492, when Poland and Lithuania once again parted company. The throne of Lithuania was now occupied by Casimir's son Alexander , a weak and lethargic prince so incapable of defending his possessions against the persistent attacks of the Muscovites that he attempted to save them by

4104-399: The marriage fitted well into the general trend of elevating the Muscovite ruler. Following his second marriage, Ivan developed a complicated court ceremonial on the Byzantine model and began to use the title of "tsar" and "autocrat". Also during the reign of Ivan and his son, Vasily III, Moscow came to be referred to by spokesmen as the third Rome . Philotheos , a monk from Pskov, developed

4180-471: The mind of her consort. It was through her influence that the ceremonious etiquette of Constantinople (along with the imperial double-headed eagle and all that it implied) was adopted by the court of Moscow. Ivan combined the double-headed eagle with his emblem of St. George slaying the dragon ; his family seal became and remained a symbol of the Russian tsars until the monarchy was abolished in 1917. Ivan's marriage would add to Moscow's prestige after

4256-619: The most important is the Viljandi railway station , which was opened in 1897, through which the Lelle -Viljandi railway and the Viljandi- Mõisaküla railway pass. There are 7 schools and 7 kindergartens in Viljandi, a vocational secondary school and a university college. Special interests are catered for by a variety of institution providing extracurricular studies and activities in such fields as sports, music etc. The Youth Centre of Viljandi County

4332-407: The next two-hundred years. In the 13th century, a medieval town arose on the northern side of the stronghold. The Hamburg-Riga town bylaws , lands and population of it were first recorded in 1283. During the first half of the 14th century, Viljandi joined the influential Hanseatic League – the town had become an important stop for merchants on their way to Russia and back. In 1365, the town council

4408-527: The other Muslim powers, the khan of the Crimean Khanate and the sultans of the Ottoman Empire , Ivan's relations were peaceful and even amicable. The Crimean khan, Meñli I Giray , helped him against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania , and facilitated the opening of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Constantinople , where the first embassy appeared in 1495. The Christian rulers in the Caucasus began to see

4484-418: The other half to his allies. Subsequent revolts (1479–1488) were punished by the removal en masse of the richest and most ancient families of Novgorod to Moscow, Vyatka , and other cities. Many merchants, landholders, and boyars were replaced with loyalists who came from Moscow. The Novgorod veche and its elected offices were also abolished. Archbishop Feofil was also removed to Moscow for plotting against

4560-456: The popular song is sung about the Boatman of Viljandi or the legend of him is told. Long-long ago, as a young man he had once taken a young girl across the lake on a summer evening and fallen hopelessly in love with the girl's blue eyes. Nobody knows what happened on the lake, but on the other side, the girl just waved him good-bye and left... However, the Boatman, a grey old man now, is said to row on

4636-439: The power and Viljandi was without laws until the year 1783, when in the course of the regency reforms of Catherine II Viljandi became a district town. This involved the re-establishment of town bylaws. The economic and political importance of Viljandi started to increase. The population, meanwhile, having decreased to the minimum, started to rise again; handicraft, trading and cultural life were enlivened. In 2005, Estonian Match,

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4712-620: The princes' heirs, put an end once and for all to these semi-independent princelings. Ivan had four brothers. The eldest, Yury, died childless on 12 September 1472. He only had a draft of a will that said nothing about his land. Ivan seized the land, much to the fury of the surviving brothers, whom he placated with some land. Boris and Andrey Bolshoy signed treaties with Vasily in February and September 1473. They agreed to protect each other's land and not to have secret dealings with foreign states; they broke this clause in 1480, fleeing to Lithuania. It

4788-523: The prophecy of a "Russian" clan coming to rule in Constantinople. He also referred to the Muscovite grand prince as the "Orthodox tsar and autocrat" following the Council of Florence . This movement coincided with a change in the family circumstances of Ivan III. After the death of his first consort in 1467, Maria of Tver , and at the suggestion of Pope Paul II in 1469, who hoped thereby to bind Moscow to

4864-490: The ranks of the Muscovite service nobility. After the death of his first wife in 1467, Ivan married Sophia (Zoë) Palaiologina in 1472, a Byzantine princess and niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI , who was killed in battle in 1453. The Vatican sponsored the marriage in hope of bringing Moscow under the sway of the Pope and of establishing a broad front against the Turks, a goal that failed. From Ivan's point of view,

4940-407: The same year. Viljandi Puppet Theatre Sakala Centre Viljandi Library built in 2002 is also a venue for exhibitions, meetings with famous people, culture seminars, etc. Kondas Centre is dedicated to Estonian naïve artist Paul Kondas. The center hosts exhibitions of representatives of naïvism and is also a meeting place for artistic people. Estonian Traditional Music Centre located in

5016-595: The successor of the 100-year-old Viljandi Match Factory, made a six-metre match, which was registered as the largest match in the world in the Guinness Book of Records . Viljandi is sometimes called the cultural capital of Estonia, partly due to the Viljandi Culture Academy being located there. Ugala Theatre since 1920, Viljandi has had the Ugala drama theatre. The tradition of open-air performances dates back to

5092-421: The title of Russian monarchs continued to be translated as rex , Russia's assimilation into the ranking order of states in Europe would have been much easier. In Nordic affairs, Ivan concluded an offensive alliance with John of Denmark and maintained regular correspondence with Emperor Maximilian I , who called him a "brother". He built a strong citadel in Ingria , named Ivangorod after himself, situated on

5168-426: The title of grand prince at home. Through marriage to Sophia Palaiologina , Ivan made the double-headed eagle Russia's coat of arms , and adopted the idea of Moscow as the third Rome . His 43-year reign was the second-longest in Russian history , after that of his grandson Ivan IV . Ivan Vasilyevich was born on 22 January 1440 into the family of Vasily II , the grand prince of Moscow , and Maria of Borovsk ,

5244-400: Was a more severe penalty compared to that of the earlier Russkaya Pravda . It restricted the mobility of peasants, also requiring an exit fee to be paid to the landlords, which were in the interests of the new noble class. Ivan therefore laid the groundwork for serfdom , which would negatively impact Russia's development in the following centuries. Ivan did his utmost to make his capital

5320-401: Was also marked by cultural depression, lack of freedom, and isolation from the West. During Ivan's reign, "the Russian state was consolidated, Russian territory tripled in size, trade expanded, and Western contacts shaped society". Tatar rule formally ended and Ivan elevated the principality to a sovereign nation, leading to him to be called "Ivan the Great". Ivan died on 27 October 1505, and

5396-459: Was dictated by the crisis connected with the Sect of Skhariya the Jew , as well as by the imperial prestige of Sophia's descendants. Dmitry was put into prison, where he died, unmarried and childless, in 1509, already under the rule of his uncle. His successor Vasily was made co-ruler in 1502, and during Vasily's reign, he would expand the usage of the title of tsar in all matters. The grand prince increasingly held aloof from his boyars , who were

5472-412: Was given Vologda . Ivan's rule is marked by vastly expanding the territory and his control of Muscovy . As part of the successful " gathering of the Russian lands ", Ivan brought the independent duchies of different Rurikid princes under the direct control of Moscow, leaving the princes and their posterity without royal titles or land inheritance. It was during Ivan's reign that the emergence of

5548-427: Was made co-ruler in 1471, died in 1490, leaving from his marriage with Elena of Moldavia an only child, Dmitry Ivanovich . Ivan attempted to secure his title for his successor, and the latter was crowned as successor by his grandfather on 15 February 1498, but later Ivan reverted his decision in favor of Sophia's elder son Vasily , who was ultimately crowned co-regent with his father on 14 April 1502. The decision

5624-505: Was party when peace between Denmark and Hansa was concluded. In 1470, Johann Wolthus von Herse, then master of the order, took up residence in the castle. In the Middle Ages, Viljandi was a typical small commercial town, which got its main income from transit trade. The local trade and handicraft played an equally important role. In 1481, Ivan III of Russia laid siege to the castle but could not take it. The decline of Viljandi started during

5700-558: Was pressured in 1478 into giving Belozersk to Ivan, who received all of Mikhail's land on his death in 1486. Some princes from the Upper Oka region , who had been under Lithuanian rule, left Lithuanian service and joined the Muscovite court in the 1480s, including the Vorotynskys , Odoyevskys , Gorchakovs , and others. A peace treaty signed on 5 February 1494 legalized the acquisitions. Moscow also subjugated several Finno-Ugric tribes to

5776-522: Was succeeded by his son, Vasily III. In the 1480s, during his consolidation of territories, Ivan III had the following title: "By the Grace of God, the Great Sovereign of the Russian land, Grand Prince Ivan Vasilyevich, Tsar of all Russia, Vladimir, and Moscow, and Novgorod, and Pskov, and Yugorsk, and Vyatka, and Perm, and others". At the beginning of the 1490s, he also had the following title: "Ivan, by

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