Dmitry of Pereslavl (1232-1294) was Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1276 to 1293, succeeding Vasily of Kostroma and preceding Andrey of Gorodets.
Biography[]
Dmitry of Pereslavl was born in 1232, the second son of Prince Alexander Nevski of Novgorod and Vladimir. In 1259, his father left him in charge of Novgorod, but, on his father's death in 1264, the Novgorodians expelled him to his native Pereslavl-Zalessky. Four years later, he was welcomed back to Novgorod and defeated the Livonian Order at Rakvere, and, after years of struggling against his uncles Yaroslav of Tver and Vasily of Kostroma, Dmitry became Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1276. In 1278, he founded the fortress of Koporye, but the Novgorodians revolted and forced Dmitry out of both Novgorod and Koporye. His younger brother Andrey of Gorodets went to the Mongols of the Golden Horde and convinced them to back him in claiming the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir, and, in 1281, Andrey seized Pereslavl from Dmitry. Dmitry fled north to Scandinavia, as he failed to win the support of the Novgorodians. In 1283, he returned to a devastated Russia and allied with Nogai Khan, and Andrey decided to abdicate rather than face his brother's wrath. In 1285, Andrey again brought Mongol hordes to Russia, but they were expelled by Dmitry and his allies. In 1293, Andrey forged an alliance of Mongols and Russian princes to challenge Dmitry, who, tired of fratricidal hostilities, took monastic vows and died a year later.