THE FIRST MUSCOVITE PRINCES – GATHERERS OF THE RUSSIAN LAND

The historic events in Crimea in 2014 spring, the peninsula's reintegration into Russia brings out the same emotions, the same interpretations of historical significance of that event now and then, three years ago: putting the historical record straight, recovery of the Russian world, revival of love for the country, zero tolerance to the pressure of the western countries. There is an interpretation of special significance and sense in the Russian history among the others that are also correct: Moscow gathers its lands. In this article the author considers how and when Moscow's historical mission to gather the Russian lands formed and developed, what role of the first Moscow princes was. In the process of scientific analysis of incidents of long-ago and giving answers to the questions stated, the new ones occurred: why did Moscow have to solve this difficult task of gathering land again and again; why did land gathered previously go out of control of Moscow government repeatedly; and what should we do to not repeat mistakes and lose lands gathered by our fathers, grandfathers and more remote ancestors.