

With the Domination DLC, the yoke is represented as an annual tribute that must be paid on pain of mass looting, until the yoke can be thrown off in one of several ways. In the game, their independence represents their de facto degree of autonomy at this stage.

The Russian principalities didn't fully break the so-called Tatar Yoke until 1480, when the Tatar Horde declined to engage the superior, firearm-equipped Russian army across the Ugra river the once-mighty Golden Horde was finally destroyed in an alliance with the Crimean Khanate in 1502. However, the Mongol Khanate had been losing effective control for decades. Historically, the Grand Duchy of Moscow was a tributary of the Great Horde in 1444. They're in a prime position to eventually form Russia, which historically was done by Grand Prince Ivan IV "the Terrible", who had himself crowned "Tsar of All the Russias" in 1547. They begin with five vassals: Beloozero, Perm, Pskov, Rostov, and Yaroslavl. Muscovy is a country in northeastern Europe. If the many khanates, natives and the nature itself can be overcome then there is no limit to how rich a united Russian state could grow.
#Europa universalis 4 muscovy convert full#
If the Tatar Yoke could be crushed once and for all there is also the vast expanse of Siberia, full of untold riches, and dangers. If they can be overcome there is seemingly no limit to how much the Great Principality could grow. Their interests are directly opposed to the growing power of Moscow, but their claim to the Rus legacy is quite dubious.
#Europa universalis 4 muscovy convert free#
To the west the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland are doing what they can to assume the leadership of all Russias, asserting authority over most Ruthenian lands as well as a constant factor in the politics of the free Russian states in the north. Moscow is not the only strong state with interest in the Russian region, however, in the north the Republic of Novgorod has colonized much of the White Sea coastline, securing the valuable waterways and a source of fur, the soft gold of the north and east. Often even by simply buying out the poorer Princes and adding their lands to the Muscovite domain. Muscovy has made good use of this power vacuum, expanding their control over the other principalities rapidly, through both cunning and use of military resources. The core of their empire, the Great Horde is still a strong power in its own right, but it is fraught by internal struggles and has been unable to project much power over the Russians.

Since the crushing defeat of the Golden Horde at the hands of the Timurid armies, their empire has fractured into a number of successor states. Making their princes both relatively safe and able to grow rich. More importantly their princes have often acted as collectors for the Khans of the Golden Hordes. Located in the relatively fertile Opolye, Muscovy has a stronger internal economy than many other principalities.

While the Grand Principality of Muscovy is not the oldest of these states it has recently grown to be the strongest. The Tatars have been ever present in Russian politics, collecting tribute, taxes and acting as kingmakers in the Christian states. At the end of 1444 Russia is divided in a number of principalities, all of whom have for a long time lived in the shadow of the Tatar Golden Horde.
