Vasily I has continued the process of unification of the Russian lands: in 1392, he had annexed the principalities of Nizhny Novgorod and Murom.

Nizhny Novgorod had been given to Vasily by the Khan of the Golden Horde in exchange for the help Moscow had given against one of his rivals.

Kaluga, Vologda, Veliki Ustyug and Komi peoples' lands had been annexed in 1397 and 1398.

To prevent Russia from being attacked by the Golden Horde, Vasily I had entered into alliance with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1392 and married Sophia of Lithuania, the only daughter of Vytautas the Great.

The alliance turns out to be fragile, since Vytautas invades in 1403, capturing Vyazma.

Mongol emir Timur had raided the Slavic lands in 1395, ruining the Volgan regions but not penetrating so far as Moscow.

Timur's raid had been of service to the Russian prince as it damaged the Golden Horde, which for the ensuing several years has been a state of anarchy.

During the whole of this time no tribute has been paid to the khan, Olug Moxammat, though vast sums of money continue to be collected in the Moscow treasury for military purposes.