Ivan II (Russia)
Ivan II Ivanovich (* March 30, 1326 - November 13, 1359 ) from the Rurikids dynasty was Grand Duke of Vladimir Moscow from 1353 . He was a son of Ivan Kalita . His contemporaries gave him the nickname "the gentle one".
After his brother and predecessor Simeon Ivanovich and his sons died of the plague , Ivan II took control of Moscow. The Great Khan in Sarai awarded him the title of Grand Duke. In doing so, he prevailed against his domestic Russian rival Konstantin von Suzdal, who had been supported in particular by the Novgorod Republic .
Oleg Ivanovich (1340–1402) of Ryazan led a campaign against Ivan, who was still in the Horde. He defeated the troops of Moscow and took the Grand Duke prisoner. Oleg physically abused Ivan II and only released him after paying a ransom. His government remained weak. Inner-Russian unrest increased and Lithuania expanded far east during his reign and took Kiev itself. After a brief reign of six years, Moscow's rule fell to Ivan's underage son, Dmitri Donskoy . However, the title of Grand Duke went to Moscow's rival, Dmitri von Suzdal, for a short time due to Dmitri Donskoy's minority.
He was married twice and had two sons, Dmitri and Johann, and two daughters by his last wife. His tomb is in the Archangel Michael Cathedral .
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Simeon Ivanovich |
Grand Duke of Vladimir Moscow 1353-1359 |
Dmitri I. Donskoy |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ivan II |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ivan II Ivanovich (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of Vladimir |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 30, 1326 |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 13, 1359 |