Editing Ivan I of Moscow (section)

===Relations with Novgorod===
Due to Metropolitan Theognostus restoring ecclesiastical control over Lithuania, Gediminas began to actively interfere in the affairs of Moscow.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=134}} The surviving brothers of the exiled Tverite prince Alexander, [[Konstantin of Tver|Konstantin]] and [[Vasily of Tver|Vasily]], were loyal servants of Ivan, while the republic of [[Pskov Republic|Pskov]] had retained close links with Lithuania during the 1320s; however, Novgorod had shown sympathy for Moscow and antipathy for Tver throughout most of the early 14th century.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=135–136}} Novgorod's pro-Moscow orientation during the first 30 years of the century may be explained by the political leanings of the [[Diocese of Novgorod|archbishops of Novgorod]], David ({{reign|1309|1325}}) and his successor Moisey ({{reign|1325|1330}}).{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=136–137}} The archbishops of Novgorod were considered the representative of the people of Novgorod, and his position among Russian clergy was undisputed as the head of the largest diocese and the senior prelate after the metropolitan.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=136–137}} Following Moisey's retirement in 1330, Novgorod's attitude towards Moscow changed for the worse following the election of Vasily as archbishop.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=138}}

Ivan placed pressure on Novgorod as the sole grand prince, collecting not only regular tribute payments but also additional payments, possibly due to the [[Golden Horde]] requiring increased revenue during its wars against the [[Ilkhanate]].{{sfn|Martin|2006|page=146}} According to Fennell, the conflict between Moscow and Novgorod was not due to Novgorod refusing to make payments, as some scholars have suggested, but because Ivan did not tolerate Novgorod's change in policy, and he was likely aware of an agreement between the archbishop-elect and Gediminas.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=141}} The archbishop and his advisers had agreed to hand over districts in the northern border region to [[Narimantas]] (Narimunt), son of Gediminas, and they had virtually agreed to a defensive alliance.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=139}} As a result, Ivan entered the Novgorodian border town of [[Torzhok]] on 6 January 1333 with an army made up of troops from Ryazan and detachments sent by "all the princes of the Lower lands".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=141}} After he ordered the removal of his governors from Novgorod, he proceeded to "ravage the district of Novgorod... until the first Sunday in Lent".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=141}} The city of Novgorod itself was not attacked, nor were the Novgorodian armies likely challenged, which, according to Fennell, showed "a certain hesitancy in his behaviour, perhaps a lack of confidence both in himself and in the support he could count on from the Horde".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=144}}
[[File:Печать Иван Калита.JPG|thumb|left|Seal of Ivan Kalita]]

As the agreement between Archbishop Vasily and Gediminas had not yet been implemented and Novgorod was left without any military protection, two embassies were sent to Ivan to request a temporary peace and to withdraw his troops.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=142}} The first was led by Lavrenty, the archimandrite of the [[Yuryev Monastery]], and the second was led by Vasily, who offered Ivan 500 [[ruble]]s.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=142}} Ivan refused, leading to Vasily to seek support from Lithuania.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=142}} Vasily arrived in Pskov, where he was received "with great honour", and he christened the son of Alexander of Tver, despite Alexander's excommunication by the metropolitan.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=142}} In October 1333, Narimantas arrived in Novgorod, where he was received "with honour" and given the districts in the northern border region.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=142}} He also signed a treaty, pledging complete support to Novgorod.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=143}} Although Novgorod did not become an integral part of the Lithuanian grand duke's domains, it paved the way for a pro-Lithuanian faction in Novgorod's [[boyar]] and merchant classes.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=144}}

The first steps at reconciliation between Moscow and Novgorod were taken by Metropolitan Theognostus in 1334, who had summoned Vasily to his residence in Vladimir, leading to a Novgorodian delegation to be sent to Ivan and for an agreement to be reached: "Grand Prince Ivan bestowed his favour upon his patrimony Novgorod the Great [and] forgave them their hostility".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=147–148}} Ivan entered Novgorod in February 1335 and was recognized as their prince again.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=148}} The former archbishop Moisey also returned in 1335 and was allowed to lay the foundation stones of two new churches.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=148}} Ivan's first recorded act was to organize an attack on Pskov with "the Novgorodians and all the Lower land" in an attempt to force out Alexander of Tver from his stronghold; however, Ivan was forced to cancel his plans after the Novgorodians refused to join him in his campaign.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=149–150}} The Lithuanians also responded to Novgorod breaking the treaty between them by launching a raid on the district of Torzhok in the summer of 1335.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=150}} Ivan retaliated by burning the towns of Osechen and Ryasna in the semi-autonomous principality of [[Rzhev]], which was under Lithuanian control, "and many other fortresses as well";{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=150}}{{sfn|Rowell|1994|p=250}} however, there is no mention in sources of any Novgorodian participation, suggesting that Novgorod intended to maintain neutrality.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=150}} Ivan requested for a Novgorodian delegation to visit him, after which the archbishop, ''[[posadnik]]'' and ''[[tysyatsky]]'' met him in Moscow, but the chronicler does not mention that any agreement was reached.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=150}}

Despite mutual hostility between the factions in Novgorod, Ivan's governors were able to maintain peace throughout the following year; however, another popular uprising emerged at the start of 1337 and was directed against the pro-Moscow archimandrite of the Yuryev monastery.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=152}} According to the official account, "the common people (''prostaya chad{{'}}'') rose up against Archimandrite Esif; and they held a ''veche'' and locked up Esif in the church of St. Nicholas; and the disturbers of the peace (''koromolnitsi'') sat around the church for a night and a day watching over him".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=152}} Ivan and his governors perceived the uprising as a hostile act and launched a failed expedition to the Northern Dvina, a possession of Novgorod.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=153}} According to Fennell, "the primary cause of action, whether this action was dictated by Uzbeg or was spontaneous, must surely be sought in Novgorod's intractability, in the strength of her pro-Lithuanian faction–amply demonstrated by the disturbances of 1335 and early 1337–and her refusal to co-operate against Aleksandr of Tver'".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=153–154}} The pro-Moscow archimandrite was replaced with Lavrenty, which was an indication of the strength of the pro-Lithuanian faction in the city.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=154}}

The Novgorodians eventually sought reconciliation with Moscow as Gediminas chose to not get involved in Novgorod's affairs, despite Swedish attacks in the north and Novgorod's request for assistance.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=154–155}} According to Fennell, "we can only assume that... Narimunt had been helping his uncle Voin to defend Lithuania's easternmost dependent principality, Polotsk. As well as conducting a war with the Germans, the Lithuanians were also obliged to defend themselves against the Tatars in 1338".{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=155–156}} In 1339, Ivan sent his youngest son, Andrey, to Novgorod as a symbolic expression of his continued authority.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=156}} Motivated by either greed or simply acting on the khan's orders, Ivan demanded another payment from the Novgorodians after accepting the tribute brought by Novgorod's ambassadors, which was refused by Novgorod.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|pages=156–157}} At the end of 1339 or the start of 1340, Ivan removed his governors from Novgorod one last time;{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=157}} however, he died before he could take his next steps to apply pressure on Novgorod.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=157}} As a result, the influence of the pro-Lithuanian faction was not diminished and Ivan was unable to provide an attractive alternative to Lithuanian protection.{{sfn|Fennell|2023|page=157}}