Yuri III was the son of
Prince Daniel of
Moscow and grandson of Grand Prince
Alexander Nevsky of
Russia. He became prince of Moscow himself on his father's death in
1304, and claimed the office of Grand Prince; however the
Mongols who ruled Russia at the time gave the office to his cousin
Mikhail because of Mikhail's lavish
gifts. Yuri did not stop seeking to be Grand Prince; he actually battled Mikhail and was defeated in
1317. Mikhail, however, captured Yuri's
wife, the Mongol Khan's
sister, and when she died while a
hostage, the Mongols wanted
revenge and switched their support to Yuri. Mikhail was captured, executed, and Yuri became Grand Prince.
However, he did not last long in the position, probably because of Mikhail's son, the later Dmitry II making complaints to the Khan. Dmitry was made Grand Prince in 1322. Yuri then went to complain to the Khan, and Dmitry was summoned to appear at the Khan's court. Angry, Dmitry murdered Yuri in 1325.