Monument to Grand Prince Daniel of Moscow (1261-1303) in Moscow, Russia
Daniil Aleksandrovich (1261 - 4 March 1303) was the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky and forefather of all the Grand Princes' of Moscow. Prince Daniel of Moscow was the fourth and youngest son of Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky - famous in the history of the Russian State and the Russian Orthodox Church - and his second wife, Princess Vassa. Daniel was born in 1261 in Vladimir, the capital of the Great Vladimir-Suzdal principality. His father died when he was only two years old. Of his father's patrimonies, he received the least valuable, Moscow. When he was a child, the tiny principality was being governed by deputies, appointed by his paternal uncle, Grand Prince Yaroslav III. Daniel's participation in the struggle for Novgorod in 1296 indicated Moscow's increasing political influence. Constantine, the prince of Ryazan, tried to capture the Moscow lands with the help of a Mongol force. Prince Daniel defeated it near Pereslavl. This was a first victory over the Tatars. In 1300, he imprisoned the ruler of the Ryazan Principality. To secure his release, the prisoner ceded to Daniel his fortress of Kolomna. It was an important acquisition, as now Daniel controlled all the length of the Moskva River. In 1302 his childless nephew and ally, Ivan of Pereslavl, bequeathed to Daniel all his lands. During the Mongol occupation and internecine wars among the Rus' princes, Daniel created peace in Moscow without bloodshed. During 30 years of ruling Daniel participated in battles only once. According to legend, Daniel was popular and respected by his subjects for his meekness, humility and peacefulness. Daniel has been credited with founding the first Moscow monasteries, dedicated to the Lord's Epiphany and to Saint Daniel. Around 1282 he founded the first monastery with the wooden church of St. Daniel-Stylite. Now it is the Danilov Monastery. At the age of 42 St. Daniel died. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1652.
Size: 2912px × 4368px
Location: Statue of Prince Daniel of Moscow, Serpukhovskaya Zastava Square, Moscow, Russia, Eastern Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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