For seven centuries - from IX to XVII - Russia has passed the path from Kievan Rus through the Tatar-Mongol yoke and fragmentation, through the strengthening of the great Muscovite state and the raid of the Russian kingdom, and came close to the proclamation of the All-Russian Empire. During this time, many generations of rulers have changed, who had a decisive influence on the future of Russia. The book introduces us to different, sometimes contradictory, interpretations of the same facts of the history of our country, dwelling on unknown facts in the lives of people who played a crucial role in the formation of Russia as state, which spread its influence over a vast territory of Europe and Asia. The book is addressed to a wide reader interested in the history of Russia.