Ivan I Kalita

Ivan I Danilovich, nicknamed Kalita (Moneybag) (c. 1288–1340), was the fourth son of Daniel of Moscow and a grandson of Alexander Nevsky. He became Prince of Moscow in 1325, after his brother Yury was murdered by Dmitry of Tver, and won the khan's favour over its rival Tver. Metropolitan Peter made Moscow his residence, and in 1326 Ivan laid the foundation of the first stone church.

When Tver rose against the Mongols in 1327, Özbeg Khan sent him with a Tatar army to crush it. The khan divided the grand principality between him and Alexander of Suzdal in 1328; after Alexander's death in 1331, Ivan became sole Grand Prince of Vladimir.

He collected the khan's tribute and spent it on Moscow. In 1339 his rival Alexander of Tver was executed at the Horde, ending a struggle of thirty-five years. Ivan died in 1340, and his son Simeon succeeded him.