Daniil Kholmsky

Daniil Dmitrievich Kholmsky (Russian: Даниил Дмитриевич Холмский; c.15th century – 1493) was a Russian knyaz (prince), boyar, and voivode who served under Ivan the Great. One of the most prominent generals of his era, Kholmsky played key roles in Muscovy's military campaigns against Kazan, Novgorod, and Lithuania, and helped lay the foundations of a centralized Russian state. He belonged to the princely House of Kholmsky and was the father of fellow voivode and boyar Vasily Kholmsky, who married Ivan III’s daughter Feodosiya Ivanovna.^[1]: 115

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Dmitrievich.

Daniil Kholmsky
Knyaz
Daniil Kholmsky as depicted on the Millennium of Russia monument
Prince of Kholm
Predecessor	Dmitri Kholmsky
Successor	Vasily Kholmsky
Other titles	Voyevoda, boyar
Born	15th century Kholm
Died	1493
Wars and battles	Russo-Kazan Wars, Battle of Shelon
Offices	Boyar duma (c.1473/1479–c.1493)[1]: 111
Noble family	Kholmsky
Issue	Vasily Danilovich Semyon Danilovich
Father	Dmitri Yurievich

Early life and rise to prominence

Daniil was the son of Dmitri Yurievich Kholmsky and related to Mikhail III of Tver, the Grand Prince of Tver. His brother, Prince Mikhail Dmitrievich, was chief adviser to the Tverian ruler.^{[1]: 90,105} Daniil entered the service of Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow as early as 1467,^[1]: 91 becoming the first of several high-profile defectors from Tver to Moscow prior to Tver’s eventual annexation in 1485. He quickly rose through the ranks, participating in the Kazan campaign of 1469, and by the early 1470s, was a prominent military leader and member of the boyar duma.^[1]: 106

Military career

Campaigns against Kazan

Kholmsky first gained renown in 1468 when he led a surprise counterattack against the besieging forces of the Khanate of Kazan at Murom, lifting the siege.^{[citation needed]} During the 1469 campaign, he commanded the vanguard regiment and secured victory over Khan Ibrahim, resulting in a treaty favorable to Moscow that included the return of Russian prisoners and improved diplomatic ties.

In 1487, Kholmsky once again led Muscovite forces against Kazan. On 9 July, his army captured the city, deposing a ruler opposed to Moscow and installing the pro-Russian Möxämmädämin.^{[citation needed]}

Novgorod and the Battle of Shelon

In 1471, Kholmsky led the Muscovite vanguard alongside Boyar Fedor Davidovich in Ivan III’s campaign against Novgorod.^{[1]: 105 [2]: 211-215} After minor victories at Korostyn and Staraya Russa,^{[citation needed]} he decisively defeated the Novgorodian army at the Battle of Shelon, a pivotal engagement that severely weakened Novgorod's independence and set the stage for its annexation.

Kholmsky returned in 1477 during Ivan’s second Novgorod campaign. Leading the main army across the ice of Lake Ilmen, he encircled the city overnight, forcing its surrender.^{[citation needed]}

Other campaigns

In 1472, he confronted the forces of Akhmat Khan of the Great Horde, who had destroyed Alexin. The Khan withdrew without engaging Kholmsky.^{[citation needed]}

In 1473–74, Kholmsky led a Muscovite force to relieve the allied city of Pskov from a siege by the Livonian Order.^[1]: 105 He negotiated a peace treaty that secured trade rights for Russian merchants in the Baltic and expelled the Livonian forces. Chroniclers dubbed the agreement "Daniil’s Peace."^{[who?][citation needed]} In recognition, Ivan III elevated Kholmsky to the rank of boyar but required an oath of loyalty that barred him from serving other Muscovite princes.^[1]: 91

In 1480, Kholmsky played a key role in the Great Standing on the Ugra River, helping organize Russian fortifications in the standoff that ended Mongol rule over Moscow.^{[citation needed]}

In 1489, he co-led a campaign against the rebellious region of Vyatka with several other voevody, successfully reasserting Muscovite control.^[1]: 88-89

In 1492, he took part in the war against Lithuania, defending the Upper Oka Principalities from attempts by Alexander Jagiellon to bring them into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.^{[citation needed]}

Later life and death

At the height of his influence, Kholmsky faced accusations of treason, allegedly stemming from courtly rivalries. He was restored to favor with the support of church leaders and a bail paid by eight nobles.^{[citation needed]} He continued to serve Ivan III until his death in 1493.^{[citation needed]}

Family

Daniil married the eldest daughter of Ivan Ivanovich Vsevolozhkii.^{[1]: 41, 82} They had at least three children:

• Semyon Danilovich
• Vasily Danilovich (1460s–1524)
• A daughter who married Ivan Vladimirovich Golova Khovrin^[1]: 116