Thread by @Arby_K

The uneasy backstory of the Rus' separated by nations - Russia, Ukraine, Belarus & others.🧵

Rus' tribes were once the connection from Constantinople to Scandinavia. They got organized in 10th century, though earlier Rus' nations could have existed. 1/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1410928280216035328?s=20

By the end of the 10th century, a Rus' state had formed around Kiev. But after every generation, it got divided amongst the Princes, who frequently fought each other. But in 980, Vladimir consolidated the Principalities and expanded his rule. 2/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1410928486676504578?s=20

In 988, he formed an alliance with Constantinople accepting Christianity in Greek Crimea. Though this was before the split of the Roman Church, this ushered in the presence of the Orthodox Church among Russians. 3/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1410929584879538181?s=20

Vladimir's Kiev got divided amongst his many sons, after his death. For centuries, the different Principalities fought amongst themselves, often dividing and regrouping, while the most powerful claimed to be the overlord at Kiev. 4/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1410930146723389445?s=20

But by 12th century the primacy of Kiev had declined. Another city rose in prominence - Vladimir, founded in 1108. Andrei Iureievich made Vladimir the capital of Rostov-Suzdal. In 1169, he plundered Kiev and put his brother in charge of Kiev. 5/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1374322882218618880?s=20

But neither Vladimir nor Kiev were immune when the Mongols came knocking. The Rus' staved off the Mongols with tribute, accepting their suzerainty. The invasion destroyed many cities as old Principalities were replaced by new, under Mongol control. 6/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1374327076245807106?s=20

Mongol rule brought stability to the Rus'. Vladimir also lost out after cities like Moscow and Tver rose in prominence. This also saw Rus' power centre shift northwards from Kiev. Kiev, however, had to contend with another power in the region. 7/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1375412907010191362?s=20

In 1363, Lithuanians, a Baltic tribe, captured Kiev. They had gotten organized after Livonian Order gained ground in the Baltics in early 13th century. But their power grew in the east as they assimilated the Rus' principalities one after the other. 8/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1409839369989459973?s=20

In 1378, Moscow defeated the Mongols and gained freedom briefly, before accepting their suzerainty again. The Mongol Empire was cracking, and Rus' stood to gain from it. In the east though, Lithuania was also growing strong. 9/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1327275043290693638?s=20

By the end of the 14th century, Lithuania and Poland had the same ruler - Jogaila. Along with his cousin, Vytautus, Jogaila created a Kingdom that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In 1410, they broke the Livonian Order as well. 10/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1326954256654479360?s=20

Moscow continued to grow, getting rid off the Mongols after 1480. In 1547, Ivan Vasilievich became Tsar of all the Rus', creating Russia. He conquered Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates, but a surge into the Baltics failed after a long protracted war. 11/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1404763536237027330?s=20

But many of the older Rus' cities like Kiev and Minsk remained under Lithuanian rule. Poland and Lithuania stayed together under Jogaila's descendants, at times in union, at times shared between brothers, till 1569 when the Commonwealth was formed. 12/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1326954735484641280?s=20

Russia was not yet stable. In 1610, the last Rurikid ruler of Russia was deposed. In his place, a Prince from Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was nominated. But, the foreign Prince never became Tsar. Instead, a Russian, Mikhail Romanov, was crowned. 13/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1377949086544883719?s=20

But the Commonwealth still held the cards as it held the new Tsar's father captive, while they negotiated a truce. In 1619, the Commonwealth reached its greatest area and seemed unstoppable. But it was Russia that grew instead.14/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1320066966925627392?s=20

By 1629, the Commonwealth had lost Riga and Livonia to the Swedes. In 1648, they faced a Cossack rebellion in Ukraine, who then turned to Russia for help. This brought the Russians into the neighbourhood of Kiev. 15/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1412375715329150976?s=20

In 1655, the Swedes joined the party. The Commonwealth again lost territories as Prussia broke free and Russia captured Smolensk, Chernigov and Kiev. Meanwhile, the Ottomans got involved and the Commonwealth were forced to pay tribute. 16/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1412376627418329093?s=20

Meanwhile, the Russian star was on the rise. After conquering Siberia, Russia captured Azov gaining access to the Black Sea. Next they pressed onto Baltic, bringing them in conflict with Sweden. Sweden got ready allies among the Cossacks of Ukraine. 17/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1405916481427177481?s=20

But Russia prevailed and ended up capturing Swedish Livonia, Estonia and Ingria. Within a century, Russia had broken both the Commonwealth and Sweden to become the powerful nation of the region. 18/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1405917762380173312?s=20

Towards the end of the 18th century, Russia, Austria and Prussia partitioned the Commonwealth amongst themselves. Finally, the former Rus' lands were reunited under Russia, though both Poland and Lithuania were wiped off the map. 19/20

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1351498339775246338?s=20

Though the character of Russian Empire and USSR were considerably different, its border were similar for a large part. But just like elsewhere, centuries of political separation had divided the once Rus' people into many national identities, which they continue to retain. 20/20

The more recent incidents in the battle for national identity of the various Rus' people, after Cossscks sought Russian assistance against the Commonwealth.

https://twitter.com/HistoryExtra/status/1486419892865835010?t=bVf7asRksfPbBofDsp92HA&s=19