Empire of Rus

**Empire of** **Rus-**(so called *Federation)* Largest country in Europe. It was created by Tsar Daniil I *the Great**.*

## History before Empire

Country's ancient origins comes from mythical Kingdom of Severia that held territories from San to Don River.

### **Duchy of Volhynia**

Severia has split up, one of the countries formed by this collapse was Duchy of Volhynia. It conquered neighbouring duchies-Turov and Galicia creating Duchy of Galicia and Volhynia. First king to entitle himself King of Galicia-Volhynia was named Vyacheslav.

### **Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia**

Kingdom was expanding. For short time it was also known as Kingdom of Galicia-Wolhynia-Bohemia. It had rivalries with various countries-Polotsk Rus, Ruthenia, Pannonia, Bulgaria, Abbasids etc.

#### **Kingdom's first years**

Kingdom was almost always at war, with another country, or in rebels war.

Around 890 there was Galician-Lendian war ended by annexation of Lendian lands, though in 930 they split up to the Pannonia

Around year 900 Galicia inherited Duchy of Bohemia and Kingdom of Moravia, but around year 950, Bohemia split up from Galicia-Volhynia forming Kingdom of Bohemia. Although Moravian lands were still in demense of Galicia-Volhynia. For short time even capital of Galicia-Volhynia was in Veligrad (Ve'lihrad), city lying in Moravia, because they were far more rich than Galicia-Volhynia proper.

Country inherited also Duchy of Kiev and Duchy of Chernigov.

In one of civil wars Galicia also lost control over Moldavia.

#### **First Baptism of Galicia-Volhynia**

In 930 king Sviatopolk embraced catholic faith. Volhynia became almost fully catholic. After his death country came back to pagan rules.

#### **Galician-Meryan War**

It has taken place in 1006. It was one of major wars in history of Galicia-Volhynia, it was symbolic holy war on Suomensko belief. United forces of Slavic Pagans, Romuvans and Catholics conquered Merya.

#### **Yeremey I**

In 1026 king Yeremy has taken Second Baptism of Galicia. In 1044 Galicia-Volhynia adopted feudalism.

In 1054 he won Galician-Pannonian war over Lesser Lendia.

#### **Expansion to the east**

In XI and XII century Galicia-Volhynia was very often fighting with pagan and muslim rulers on the east.

### **The** **Empire**

In 1183 King Daniil I proclaimed the Empire of Rus by *Pacta Imperia.*

### **Conflict with church**

Popal State many times attacked Empire of Rus, because they demanded central Italy to themselves. Finally after proclamation of anti-pope in Tver, and war over papacy, Rome was annexed into the Empire, and taken titular self-proclaimed title of the Emperor of Rome.

## Imperial History

Empire was growing peacfully, annexating countries by diplomacy and royal marriages.

### **Scottish War**

Around 1247 Rus participated in Scottish War. Alexei the Wise had claims on the kingdom after his mother Cygenyth Ætheling. After the war he created Republic of Scotland dependent to Rus.

### **Italian inheritance**

Unexpectedly in 1273, King Yelisey of Vladimir inherited Kingdom of Italy Isabella Ramberti which added Italy to the Empire.

### **Conquest of Bohemia**

Tsar Daniil II the Black has conquered Bohemia althought after conquest it revolted bunch times, and son of ex-king of Bohemia killed Tsar

### **Crusade on Egypt**

In 1340 Empire of Rus has took part in Crusade on Egypt, conquering it.

### **Uncertain times**

Since 1360 there were so called Uncertain times-any emperor from this time didn't ruled longer than 20 years. They were assassinated, imprisoned, died in battle etc.

## Territorial division

Empire is divided between numerous vassals. The core empire consisted mainly of:

* Kingdom of Chernigov
* Republic of Novgorod
* Kingdom of Lendia
* Kingdom of Bohemia
* Kingdom of Ruthenia
* Kingdom of Ryazan
* Kingdom of Vladimir

but there were also many more smaller vassals.

There was also a entities called dependies. They were countries united with Rus by Federation. There were:

* Kingdom of Egypt
* Republic of Scotland
* Kingdom of Ireland
* Kingdom of Italy (dependent to Vladimir for some time)
* Kingdom of Ravenna
* Kingdom of Africa (dependent to Bohemia for some time)

## Religion

Country didn't have one official religion-it was divided. Most of time rulers were following catholic or orthodox faith. Even though belonging to catholic church, Rus always wanted to stay autonomous from the Papacy, as Pope always pressed claims to Italian territories of the Empire. There were two Papal-Russian Wars, both won by defending Rus. In 1340 Tsar Iordan set anti-pope in Tver.

## Demographics

Empire was very divided between many ethnicities, but most important was so called Greater Russians living in core of the Empire.

### **Cultures**

#### Slavic

* Greater Russian (Rusyn)
* Lesser Russian (Ruthian)
* Novgorodian
* Lendian
* Silesian
* Polish
* Mazovian
* Pannonian
* Carpathian
* Bohemian
* Danubian (Slavo-Bulgarian)

### Ugro-finnic

* Karelian
* Finnish
* Nenets
* Magyar

### Romance

* Italian
* Burgundian

### Afro-European

* Egyptian
* Lybian
* Numidian

### Celtic

* Scottish
* Irish
* Brithon

### Arabic

* Caucasian
* Khazarian

## Vassal families

There were many houses ruling lands in the Empire.

## Diplomatic relations

Empire had many friends and rivals. Diplomatic situation of the country has been changing many times.

### **Eternal Russian-Lithuanian Alliance**

It is one of the strongest and permanent alliance in history of Europe. Both countries were helping each other many times. There were minor disputes over border, but still, for that long border (Lithuania shares the longest border with the Empire) they are quite peacful to eachother (not counting vassals on both sites)

### **Byzantine rivalry**

Rus had was always friend-rival relations with Byzantine Empire. They never had a direct war with one another, thus there was some wars where they participated on both sites (Byzantine-Bulgarian War)

### **Eastern border**

On the east of the Empire was Arabian Empire (First Abbasid Empire, Qutamish Empire and Second Abbasid Empire) They were very agressive to one another, there were many wars between them, most won by the Rus.