Weaver,
There is not much I dispute with what you say. But in the period where this mod is set (c.1350), Tver had been the dominant power in the east for the past half-century. It had, since 1304, held both the Grand Prince of Vladimir yarlik and the princely title of Novgorod for much of that time period. It was the big bully of the block and clearly "first among equals".
Now, Muscovy was a rising power, yes. And this mod hits at exactly the moment when Muscovy was in the process of displacing Tver (or rather, Tver was self-destructing, Muscovy took the opportunity
). But it would be misleading to call that entire eastern complex "Muscovites". I am not suggesting that it be called Tverians, or Suzdalites or what not. But a neutral term should be sought.
What I think is the right & proper compromise is to call them "Vladimirians", since, up until 1364, that whole complex of states was known as the Grand Principality of Vladimir, that was the formal title of the khan's yarlik, etc.
To clarify the point, by Vladimir I mean the Grand Principality of pre-1364 which included Muscovy, Tver, Suzdal, Nizhnigorod, etc. within it, not the later state of "Vladimir-Suzdal".
On other points:
-- I agree with keeping Novgorodians separate. Indeed, the Republic of Novgorod was not formally part of the GH's domains, but they cooperated with the system by granting their own princely title to one of the Russian vassal princes, frequently (but not always) the same as the recipient of the GH's Grand Prince yarlik.
-- Galicians was suggested for simplicity's sake. And you're right about Ruthenians being under direct GH rule, so perhaps they can be extinguished as a faction. (Although, IIRC, that region was a power base for many an "anti-khan" and so could be kept for that sake.)
There is not much I dispute with what you say. But in the period where this mod is set (c.1350), Tver had been the dominant power in the east for the past half-century. It had, since 1304, held both the Grand Prince of Vladimir yarlik and the princely title of Novgorod for much of that time period. It was the big bully of the block and clearly "first among equals".
Now, Muscovy was a rising power, yes. And this mod hits at exactly the moment when Muscovy was in the process of displacing Tver (or rather, Tver was self-destructing, Muscovy took the opportunity
). But it would be misleading to call that entire eastern complex "Muscovites". I am not suggesting that it be called Tverians, or Suzdalites or what not. But a neutral term should be sought.What I think is the right & proper compromise is to call them "Vladimirians", since, up until 1364, that whole complex of states was known as the Grand Principality of Vladimir, that was the formal title of the khan's yarlik, etc.
To clarify the point, by Vladimir I mean the Grand Principality of pre-1364 which included Muscovy, Tver, Suzdal, Nizhnigorod, etc. within it, not the later state of "Vladimir-Suzdal".
On other points:
-- I agree with keeping Novgorodians separate. Indeed, the Republic of Novgorod was not formally part of the GH's domains, but they cooperated with the system by granting their own princely title to one of the Russian vassal princes, frequently (but not always) the same as the recipient of the GH's Grand Prince yarlik.
-- Galicians was suggested for simplicity's sake. And you're right about Ruthenians being under direct GH rule, so perhaps they can be extinguished as a faction. (Although, IIRC, that region was a power base for many an "anti-khan" and so could be kept for that sake.)
