The legendary founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgorukiy, has lived so long that there are not so many facts about his life that have come down to us. Something could be established from the chronicles, but entire periods of the prince’s life are still a mystery to historians. One thing is known – he was a very outstanding personality. Thanks to which, in fact, he entered his name in history.
Moscow, as you know, was founded at his command. However, there is not a single document indicating that the prince visited her at least once. Why Prince Yuri was nicknamed Dolgorukiy is still unknown. Historians believe that he received this nickname because of his political ambitions. Yuri Dolgorukiy made a great contribution to the spread of the Christian religion in Russian lands.
One of the Russian nuclear submarines, commissioned in 2007, was named in honor of the prince – “Yuri Dolgorukiy”. Also, the name “Yuri Dolgorukiy” was one of the models of cars of the Moskvich plant. Also, the asteroid “Dolgorukij” discovered in 1982 was named after him. Monuments to Yuri Dolgorukiy are available in five cities of Russia. In total, Yuri Dolgorukiy had fourteen children. One of them was the subsequently famous Vladimir Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. During his life, Yuri Dolgorukiy managed to stay the Rostov-Suzdal and Kiev princes.
Moscow at first was called “Kuchkov”, since, by order of the prince, the new settlement was controlled by a boyar named Kuchka. However, the Moscow River already flowed there, and soon the city was renamed. The causes of the death of Yuri Dolgorukiy are unknown. According to the most common version, he was poisoned by the Kiev boyars, who did not want to see him on the throne of their principality. The prince’s mother was one of the wives of Vladimir Monomakh, but which one is unknown. Yuri Dolgorukiy was married twice.
