Under these princes were the petty lords or nobles.

The spirit of all evil could not have devised a system better calculated to keep a nation incessantly embroiled in war.

The princes of Novgorod claimed the right of choosing their grand prince.

In all the other provinces the scepter was nominally hereditary.

In point of fact, it was only hereditary when the one who ascended the throne had sufficient vigor of arm to beat back his assailing foes.