“Moscow Sovereigns” is a monumental cycle of novels created by the writer, philologist-Russianist, folklorist, and historian Dmitry Balashov. This epic chronicle, a kind of grand novel-epic, is housed in a multi-volume publication and covers the period of Russian history from 1263 to 1425. For many decades, it has continued to amaze readers with its depth, scale, vivid imagery, and masterful stylization of language. Together, the novels of the cycle form a chronologically structured narrative, where events from the history of major principalities unfold year by year, reflecting the everyday life and customs of various social classes, and presenting the fates, appearance, and character of hundreds of historical figures. This volume includes the last completed novel of the cycle “Will and Power” (2000) and the unfinished novel “Yuri,” first published after the author's death in 2003. The eighth and ninth novels of the cycle narrate the years of rule of Vasily I Dmitrievich, prince of Moscow and Vladimir, son of Dmitry Donskoy, and the ensuing dramatic civil strife following his death. Contrary to the will of Dmitry Donskoy, who wished for Vasily to be succeeded by his younger brother Yuri, the prince assigned the family under the guardianship of his father-in-law — Lithuanian prince Vytautas. When Vytautas also died, the overlooked heir Yuri Dmitrievich entered into a struggle for the Moscow throne, asserting his rights to the grand duchy in accordance with Dmitry Donskoy’s will...
