Everything about Zalesye totally explained
Zalesye (literally: "over the woods") or
Opolye (literally: "in the fields") is a historical region of
Russia, comprising the north and west parts of
Vladimir Oblast, the north-east of
Moscow Oblast and the south of
Yaroslavl Oblast. As a kernel of the medieval state of
Vladimir-Suzdal, this area played a vital part in the development of Russian statehood.
The name alludes to the deep woods that used to separate the medieval Principality of
Rostov from the
Republic of Novgorod and the
Dnieper principalities. Before the coming of
Slavs in the 9th century, the area was inhabited by
Merians,
Muroma, and other
Finnic tribes. As the time went by, the Slavs and Finns mixed ethnically and culturally, thus giving birth to the modern
Russian nation.
In the
12th century, this fertile area, being well protected from Turkic incursions by the forests, provided a favourable
oasis for Slavic people migrating from the southern borders of
Kievan Rus. The population of the area rapidly increased and by
1124 reached the point when
George the Long-Armed found it expedient to move his princely seat from
Rostov in the
Upper Volga region to
Suzdal in Zalesye.
Suzdal was the oldest and most senior town of Opolye. Other important urban centres were established by George in
Pereslavl-Zalessky (founded 1152),
Yuriev-Polsky (1152),
Dmitrov (1154),
Starodub-on-the-Klyazma (1152),
Vladimir-Zalessky (1108),
Ksnyatin (1136), and
Yaropolch-Zalessky (1136). The monikers
Zalessky ("over the woods") and
Polsky ("in the fields") were used to distinguish new cities from the eponymous towns in the modern-day
Ukraine.
Being perpetually at odds with the powerful Suzdalian
boyardom, George contemplated moving his capital from Suzdal to the new town of
Pereslavl-Zalessky. His unexpected death led to the idea being dropped, but George's son
Andrew the Pious finally moved the princely seat to another young town, Vladimir. The old nobility of Rostov and Suzdal, however, arranged Andrew's assassination and a brief civil war for supremacy in Zalesye followed.
During the
Mongol invasion of Russia, when the woods were gradually being cleared and the new centres developed in
Moscow,
Tver, and elsewhere, the strategic importance of Zalesye declined. New urban centres were developed around famous monasteries (for example,
Sergiev Posad,
Kirzhach) or royal residences (for example,
Alexandrov,
Radonezh).
Sometimes, the term Zalesye is taken to include the whole Upper Volga and
Lower Klyazma region. In this sense, Zalesye is equipollent with the territory inscribed within the
Golden Ring of Russia.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Zalesye'.
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