Principality of Tver

Principality of Tver
Тверское княжество
1246–1485
Seal of Principality of Tver
Seal
  Principality of Tver in the 14th century, during the Great Troubles
StatusPrincipality
CapitalTver
57°00′N 36°00′E / 57.000°N 36.000°E / 57.000; 36.000
Common languagesRussian
Religion
Russian Orthodoxy
GovernmentFeudal monarchy
Prince 
• 1247–1271
Yaroslav
• 1461–1485
Mikhail III
History 
• Established
1246
• Annexation
1485
Area
• Total
28,450 km2 (10,980 sq mi)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Vladimir-Suzdal
Grand Principality of Moscow

The Principality of Tver (Russian: Тверское княжество, romanized: Tverskoye knyazhestvo) was a Russian principality which existed between the 13th and the 15th centuries with its capital in Tver. The principality was located approximately in the area currently occupied by Tver Oblast and the eastern part of Smolensk Oblast.

It was one of the states established after the fall of Kievan Rus'. Originally part of the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky principality, Tver became an independent principality when Yaroslav Yaroslavich was given the western slice of his father's patrimony. During the 14th century, Tver rivaled the Principality of Moscow with the aim to become the center of the unified Russian state. Eventually it lost, decayed, and in 1485, it was annexed by Moscow.