Strudeler’s Civilizations: Muscovy (2023 New Year’s Celebration)
Play as the cruel Tsar of all the Russias, Ivan the Terrible; in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.
The Muscovites were the Rus’ peoples that migrated into Finno-Ugric territory some time around 12th century at the latest. Moscow began as a fishing village on the Moskva River, gradually the power base of the Rurikovich princes would transfer north due to the Mongol invasions that brought the southern Kievan Rus’ to its knees. With the power center of Kiev diminished, Catholic realms such as Lithuanian and Red Ruthenia (Galicia-Volhynia) would lay claim to the Orthodox lands of Rus’. Cultural and economic capital of the Eastern Slavs was then found in the Republic of Novgorod, and due to the succession of Alexander Nevsky and his son Daniil, Muscovy would replace the great Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal. Gradually Muscovy’s safe succession allowed for princely sons to accumulate a centralized authority. With the Mongols and Tatars acting as overlords, the Muscovite princes gained affluence by collecting the regional tribute for the Khans. The Tatar Yoke was dismantled by Prince Dmitri Donskoi, and later monarchs would claim to be the Tsars of all the Russias. The state of Russia was officially founded by Ivan the Terrible in 1547 AD.
FEATURES
- Requires: RISE AND FALL and GATHERING STORM
LEADER: IVAN THE TERRIBLE (Muscovy and Russia)
- Trait – Tsar of All the Russias: Building a fortification improvement or Encampment triggers a Culture Bomb, claiming surrounding tiles. Taking territory from a foreign city with a Culture Bomb converts it to the majority Religion. Units gain +3 Combat Strength when within 2 tiles of home territory. Gain the Oprichinik unique unit.
- Agenda – Grozny: Aggressive. Minor diplomatic malus towards other civilizations.
LEADER UNIT: Oprichnik
- Muscovite and Russian unique Medieval era Light Cavalry class unit that replaces the Courser when Ivan the Terrible is the leader. Does not cost resources or maintenance. +1 Movement in home territory. Every active Oprichinik grants +1 Loyalty, up to +10.
CIVILIZATION: MUSCOVY
- Trait – Tatar Yoke: +5% Gold and Faith per city-state suzerainty.
- Spawn Bias – None.
CIVILIZATION UNIT: STRELTSY
- Muscovite unique Medieval era Anti-Cavalry class unit that replaces the Pike and Shot. 1 Range. Can melee attack. +5 Combat Strength when occupying a defensible improvement or district.
CIVILIZATION IMPROVEMENT: KREPOST
- Unlocks the Builder and Military Engineer ability to construct a Krepost, unique to Muscovy. Building a Krepost grants an Envoy. Occupying unit receives +4 Defense Strength and automatically gains 2 turns of fortification. +1 Housing and Gold. +2 Gold with Divine Right. Major Gold adjacency from other Kreposts. +1 Amenity, doubled if the city was not founded. Must be built on a city’s frontier. A city can only have one Krepost. A tile with a Krepost cannot be swapped. A Krepost cannot be removed.
Tags: Civilization, Muscovy, Moscow, Russia, Europe, Eastern Europe, Carpathia, Karelia, Estonia, Livonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Teutons, Teutonia, Prussia, Poland, Kievan Rus’, Urals, Caucasus, Ruthenia, Baltic, Black Sea, Crimea, Astrakhan, Kazan, Bashkir, Nogai, Tatar, Golden Horde, Blue Horde, White Horde, Leader, Ivan the Terrible, Ivan IV Vasilyevich Rurikovich, Rurikid, Russians, Rus, Rus’, Rus’ians, Unit, Oprichnik, Streltsy, Medieval, Renaissance, Improvement, Krepost, Religion, Orthodox, Eastern Christianity, Russian Orthodoxy, War, City-States, Domination Victory, Strudeler, Tart Society
