Novgoard what could have been

Historically Novgoard was a major trading power in the baltic eventually Novgoard became a major cultural and economic site for traders and travelers coming from the baltic to byzantium. Eventually due to the city states inability to feed it's population the the city state was eventually taken control over by moscow and ryazan.

My question is how can Novgoard shake of it's dependance on grain from the other city states and how can it eventually become the city state that unites all Russians and not Moscow?:)
 
After the Mongols burn it, no one resettles Moscow.

Alternatively, have the Rurik dynasty not practice primogeniture. Divide their possessions evenly among all the sons. And make them more virile. Moscow is therefore weakened. Then have the Mongols keep it weak somehow. The best way is to not have a Lithuanian threat to the west. Perhaps having the Lithuanians destroyed by the Teutonic Knights would work.

Of course, this just weakens Moscow. Strengthening Novgorod is another question entirely. I'd say the best way is to have a single strong ruler emerge, like a classical Dictator of Rome, and have him choose successors based on how competent they are, like the Five Good Emperors. This could ensure a few decades of stability, strength, and expansion.
 
After the Mongols burn it, no one resettles Moscow.

Alternatively, have the Rurik dynasty not practice primogeniture. Divide their possessions evenly among all the sons. And make them more virile. Moscow is therefore weakened. Then have the Mongols keep it weak somehow. The best way is to not have a Lithuanian threat to the west. Perhaps having the Lithuanians destroyed by the Teutonic Knights would work.

Of course, this just weakens Moscow. Strengthening Novgorod is another question entirely. I'd say the best way is to have a single strong ruler emerge, like a classical Dictator of Rome, and have him choose successors based on how competent they are, like the Five Good Emperors. This could ensure a few decades of stability, strength, and expansion.

But if the Lithuanians are completely destroyed wouldn't the Teutons look towards the heathens (in their oppinion)to the east (Greek orthodox, muslims etc) and in the mongol invasion will the states divided in the rurik kingdoms be gobbled up by the mongols. And because novgoard has a strong ruler eventually seeing the problem with the city states republic create a strong centralized republic. Also about moscow could I make it were their is a succesion war and Ivan the III is killed and this will put the state in civil war and eventually being annexed by the kingdom of Novgoard.
 
Could the Rus' capital remain at Novgorod rather than Kiev? Much, much earlier than what you were thinking of to improve Novgorod's position, sorry if it's too off topic.

Incidentally, did Novgorod have a different name prior to the Rus'? If Novgorod comes from Novgarðr it stands to reason there would be a pre-Rurik Slavonic name, unless Novgorod was insignificant prior to the Varangians and no such name was recorded.
 
Could the Rus' capital remain at Novgorod rather than Kiev? Much, much earlier than what you were thinking of to improve Novgorod's position, sorry if it's too off topic.

Incidentally, did Novgorod have a different name prior to the Rus'? If Novgorod comes from Novgarðr it stands to reason there would be a pre-Rurik Slavonic name, unless Novgorod was insignificant prior to the Varangians and no such name was recorded.
I'm sorry I don't know that much about russian history but I think it should remain at Novgoard because it's a huge trade center in the baltic. But if we move it we might change the politics from trade to military at least in my opinion if we create a huge military center.
 
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