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Daniil AleksandrovichPrince of Moscow.
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
Biography of Prince Daniil of Moscow
Prince Daniil of Moscow was the son of Saint Aleksandr Yaroslavich Nevsky, the Grand Prince of Vladimir and All Rus, and his wife, Princess Aleksandra Bryachislavovna of Polotsk. He was born in the city of Vladimir-na-Klyazme in 1261. Prince Daniil was consecrated as a saint by the Orthodox Church.
Early Life and Rule
Upon the division of territories with his brothers, Prince Daniil received Moscow. In 1282, he was supposed to lead the people of Moscow and Novgorod in a battle against his brother, Prince Andrey of Gorodets. However, the battle did not take place, and a peace treaty was signed five miles from Dmitrov. In 1293, Prince Daniil welcomed the Tatars into Moscow, only to see the city plundered by them.
In 1294, when his brother Andrey ascended to the throne of Vladimir, Prince Daniil began seeking independence. He waged war on the land of Ryazan and fought at Pereyaslavl against Prince Konstantin of Ryazan. The chronicles state that through some trickery, Prince Daniil captured and brought Prince Konstantin to Moscow in the fall of 1300.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1302, following the testament of his nephew, Prince Ivan Dmitrievich of Pereslavl, Prince Daniil expelled the boyars and judges of the Andreev family from the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. He passed away in Moscow as a monk on March 4th (or according to Karamzin, March 5th) in 1303.
Prince Daniil was married to an unknown woman, with whom he had six sons, including Grand Princes Yuri (Georgy) of Vladimir and Ivan (nicknamed Kalita) of Moscow.
Prince Daniil's body, buried according to his own instructions at the cemetery of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, was found incorruptible and placed inside the monastery's cathedral in a silver coffin on August 30, 1652. Today, his remains rest in the Danilovskiy Pridel (Chapel) of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael at the Danilov Monastery.
