Russian nationalism

Russian nationalism is a form of nationalism that asserts that Russians are a nation and promotes their cultural unity. Russian nationalism first arose in the 18th century and is closely related to Pan-Slavism, from its origin during the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union.

History

Early nationalism

According to nationalists, Russian greatness originated in the 15th century when the Grand Duchy of Moscow subordinated the northern Rus principalities. In 1469, Grand Prince Ivan III the Great of Moscow married Sophia Palaiologina, a niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI. Upon this marriage, Ivan adopted the concept of Moscow as the Third Rome; the heir to Rome and Constantinople—the 'Second Rome'—as capitals of Christianity. This idea originated in a letter concerning a matter of religion and heresy written in 1510 by the Russian monk Philoteus (Filofey) of Pskov to Ivan's son Grand Duke Vasili III; the letter said, "Two Romes have fallen. The third stands. And there will be no fourth. No one shall replace your Christian Tsardom!"