Muscovy vs Rus

 Historical Context

1. Kyivan Rus as the Cradle of the Name "Rus": The historical "Rus" emerged in the 9th century in the territory of modern-day Ukraine, with Kyiv as its capital. The name "Rus" referred to a state encompassing the lands around Kyiv, Chernihiv, and other Ukrainian cities. Following the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and the subsequent weakening of Kyivan Rus, the political center shifted to the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia (in the west) and Muscovy (in the northeast).
2. Muscovy Prior to the 15th Century: Muscovy emerged as a separate political center in the 13th century, initially a small principality under the rule of the Golden Horde. It had no direct connection to Kyivan Rus beyond shared Orthodox faith and cultural ties, which had been transmitted through Ukrainian and Belarusian lands.
3. Muscovy’s Appropriation of the Name "Rus": In the 15th century, as Muscovy expanded its territories, it began to use the term "Rus" to refer to itself. Ivan III (1462–1505), the Grand Prince of Moscow, married Sophia Palaiologina, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, and declared himself the heir of Byzantium. He used the concept of the "Third Rome" to position Muscovy as the center of the Orthodox world. Muscovy began to portray itself as the "successor" of Kyivan Rus, despite a historical and political disconnect.
4. Official Renaming: In 1547, Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) proclaimed himself "Tsar of All Rus’." This was the first step in systematically using the name "Rus" to refer to Muscovy. In 1721, Peter I (Peter the Great) officially renamed the Tsardom of Muscovy to the "Russian Empire" (Российская империя), solidifying the term "Russia" as its imperial name.
5. The Theft of Ukraine’s Historical Identity: By appropriating the name "Rus," Muscovy sought to justify its claims over Ukrainian and Belarusian lands. This was also an attempt to sever the connection between Kyiv, historical Rus, and the Ukrainian people. In the 18th century, the Russian Empire systematically eradicated Ukrainian identity, banned the Ukrainian language, dismantled autonomy (such as the Hetmanate), and propagated the idea of a "single Russian people."

Conclusion

Muscovy’s appropriation of the name "Russia" was an ideological and political move to bolster its imperial ambitions. This allowed Moscow to claim the legacy of Kyivan Rus while erasing the historical ties of this name to Ukraine.