In pro-Russian circles, it is common to criticize Europe for the Crusades, Napoleon, Hitler, and other manifestations of expansionism toward Russia. Is this justified? Yes. No one would appreciate an army advancing to enslave their people, dictate how they should live, or even take their lives.
However, there is another side to this narrative—fanatical Eurasianists who, either due to their limited historical knowledge or deliberately, distort the picture of the world. They portray Europe as vile and inherently hostile, claiming that “Russians have always been hated there,” and thus, Russia should distance itself from Europe, as Russians are supposedly not Europeans but part of a “Turano-Scythian-Hunnic super-civilization.”
Equating the entirety of European civilization with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which invented the concept of Russians as “non-Europeans” just for its own political struggles, is shortsighted. History provides evidence of European countries cooperating with “Moscovian horde” against the “shield of Europe,” Poland.
Exactly 535 years ago, on August 25, 1490, the Muscovite Principality, under the leadership of Ivan III Vasilyevich, concluded an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire, led by Emperor Maximilian I of the Habsburg dynasty. This alliance was directed against a common enemy—the Jagiellonian dynasty, which ruled the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
By the end of the 15th century, the Muscovite Principality was experiencing a period of prosperity. Ivan III, known as the Great, successfully liberated Russian lands from the Mongol yoke in 1480 and actively expanded his influence westward. His policy of “gathering the Russian lands” inevitably led to conflicts with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL), which controlled significant portions of former Russian territories, including Kiev. Lithuania, united with Poland through a personal union under the Jagiellons, posed a serious threat to Moscow’s ambitions.
On the other hand, the Holy Roman Empire, a conglomerate of German, Italian, and other territories, also had territorial disputes with the Jagiellons. Maximilian I, King of the Germans and future emperor, sought to strengthen Habsburg influence in Eastern Europe, where Poland and Lithuania obstructed his expansion. In this context, diplomatic contact between Moscow and Vienna (where the Habsburgs were based) was a logical step. Negotiations were conducted through envoys: Yuri Trakhaniot on behalf of Moscow and Nikolaus von Poppel on behalf of the Holy Roman Empire.
An interesting detail: the alliance could have been sealed with a dynastic marriage. Maximilian I expressed interest in marrying one of Ivan III’s daughters—either Elena or Theodosia. However, the Russian ruler set a firm condition: the bride must retain her Orthodox faith and not convert to Catholicism. Maximilian, a devout Catholic, could not agree to this, and the marriage did not take place. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the signing of the treaty.
The treaty of 1490, concluded in Nuremberg, was one of the first examples of a Russo-European alliance against a common adversary. The document clearly outlined the obligations of both parties. Here is a key quote from the treaty, which vividly illustrates its essence:
“If we begin to reclaim the Grand Duchy of Kiev and other Russian lands held by Lithuania, we will inform you, and you will assist us diligently and without deceit. If we do not have time to notify each other but learn that war has begun on your side or ours, we are obliged to immediately come to each other’s aid.”
Moscow and the Holy Roman Empire pledged to inform each other of their plans and provide military support in case of conflict with Lithuania or Poland. The alliance was directed not only against the Jagiellons but also potentially against other threats, such as the Ottoman Empire or the Teutonic Order. Although a full-scale war did not erupt in the immediate years following, the treaty laid the foundation for further cooperation: in the subsequent decades, Moscow maintained diplomatic contacts with the Habsburgs, and Ivan III even received the title of “King of Rus” from Maximilian in their correspondence.
Thus, Russia, alongside Europe, formed an alliance to counter the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Russian rulers adeptly exploited European rivalries, aligning with one European state against another to advance their own interests. Even today, Russia does not completely isolate itself behind an iron curtain from European countries, despite strained relations with the EU. The fact that Russia or Germany may have disputes with Poland does not make Germans Huns or Russians Tatars-Mongols. No matter the political conflicts, Russians have always been and will remain Europeans, even if some find this inconvenient.
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