Development of Tsarist Autocracy Research Paper

Dynastic conflicts were a main staple of Russian politics as early as the beginnings of Kievan Rus. It, along with military alliances and policies, contributed to the development of tsarist autocracy. This is illustrated by the implementation of the vertical succession pattern by Vasily II and the annexation of neighboring principalities by Muscovite princes. 

Military alliances and policies contributed to the development of tsarist autocracy. In Janet Martin’s Emergence of Moscow, she argues that Dmitrii Donskoi was able to defeat challengers with the help of the “military supplied by his relatives and princely allies.”1 through which he gained the capacity to “pursue […] his grandfather’s policy of extending the authority of the Prince of Moscow.”2 As a result of the military, he had amassed through alliances, he annexed enough land to reap economic benefits, increasing his army’s power. This was continued after the civil war in 1425 by Vasily II who was able to assert dominance over other principalities and their princes by implementing policies which provided him and his successors with a more secure military power in which other princes had either become his subordinate or committed to a treaty to support him3. It is because of alliances under Dmitrii which established Muscovite military and these policies that Ivan III would be able to annex other territories and expropriate its princes, thereby making him sole ruler of all principalities, becoming the first tsar. 

The new vertical pattern of succession was implemented because of the dynastic crisis of 1425 contributing to the development of tsarist autocracy. This would permit the status sole ruler to be handed down to his sons, uncontested. Under the Rota system implemented after Iaroslav’s death.4 It was mandated that “a prince of Kiev should be the son of a prince of Kiev.”5  This diminished contest for the throne, however, did not reduce the claim that a wide variety of princes had to its assets. This led to “a pattern [of dynastic rule] which became ever more complex as the family expanded.”6  In it a family’s assets would be subdivided though generations, diluting the family’s economic power. The Danilovichi’s small size led to a lack of asset division making the family more economically powerful. This consolidation was best illustrated when, because of early deaths, succession would happen vertically within the family. After the civil war and Vasily II’s undisputed victory, he installed a vertical succession for Muscovite princes permitting his heir to inherit his status as sole ruler completely uncontested. This consolidation was a significant development of tsarist autocracy as it would grant the ruler possession of all the power; be an autocrat. 

Military alliances and policies made the annexation of other principalities possible, contributing to the development of tsarist autocracy. Dynastic politics, by which, vertical succession would be implemented contributed to the development of tsarist autocracy as well since it would grant a sole ruler the prerogative to rule as an autocrat.