In 1721 the Russian Empire was proclaimed. Peter also fought with Persia and brought the Caucuses under Russian control during his reign. Russia defeated Sweden during the Great Northern War and annexed the Baltic coast from Sweden. Boyars were forced to wear European clothing and shave their beards, military academies were set up around the countries, and arranged marriages among the nobility banned, and the Orthodox church brought under state control. Russia became a major European power in the 1700s after Peter the Great toured Europe and decided to bring massive reforms to Russia. Over the next several hundred years Russian aristocrats like the Stroganoffs slowly conquered and expanded the territory of Russia into Siberia, driven by the lure of profits from the fur trade. They continued to expand in the 1600s, conquering territories in Ukraine. Russia made peace with Sweden and Poland. The Time of Troubles was ended in 1613 when Mikhail Romanov was proclaimed Tsar. In addition to domestic trouble, Russia also fought with Poland-Lithuania and Sweden in separate wars. Several pretenders rose up around the country, supported by discontented peasants, leading to chaos. After the death of Ivan, Russia entered into a period known as the Time of Troubles. Trade diminished and taxes were raised, leading many of the peasants to leave the country. The best provinces were chosen for his personal domain, and he made war on the boyars, merchants and peasants, leading to mass executions and confiscations. In the late 1550s, Ivan split the country between his personal domain and the public domain. This line was made of trees that were felled and placed crisscross in order to prevent the passage of cavalry. To respond to Crimean aggression, Russia created the Great Abatis line along the Oka river. Russia southern borders up to Moscow were constantly devastated by the Crimean Khanate until Crimea was devastated at the battle of Molodi.
Ivan attacked the Livonian Order in 1558, starting a 25 year war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden, and Denmark.
In 1552 Ivan conquered the Khanate of Kazan and the Astrakhan Khanate, giving Russia control of the entire Volga river and access to central Asia. Between 15, Russia was able to expand from 2.8 to 5.4 million square kilometers. The Tsardom of Russia was proclaimed in 1547 by Ivan the Terrible. The next three rulers after Ivan were able to expand the territory of the Duchy and reduce the influence of the various hordes to the east. Ivan I became Grand Duke in 1325 and cooperated with the Golden Horde, and was able to collect taxes from the other Rus principalities on behalf of the Golden Horde. Daniel and the next subsequent rulers expanded their domains and ruled under the authority of the Golden Horde. Daniel I, the first ruler of the principality of Moscow, was able to expand his domains through inheritances and conquests. The Mongols burnt it down in 1238 and pillaged it in 1293, but the remoteness of the location of the city and its relative cover from surrounding forests offered it protection. By the time the Mongols had invaded eastern Europe in the 1200s, Moscow was little more than a trading post on the Volga river. The Duchy of Muscovy or Duchy of Moscow was the precursor to Russia. If you liked the video, please leave a like and subscribe! It helps the channel grow. Then I will look to expand in every direction as I create the vast borders of the Soviet Union.
First I will need to form Russia by conquering the various Russian principalities that were left in the wake of the Mongol Empire. The 62nd episode of my Lets Play as Muscovy in EU4 Meiou and Taxes 2.5 where I aim to form Russia and then the borders of the Soviet Union as they were at its height, which includes Eastern Europe, Russia the Caucuses, Eurasian Steppe. Rise of Russia - EU4 Meiou and Taxes Let's Play - Part 62