When he assumed the crown at the age of 18 Yesevolod V found himself to be in control of a moderate empire with strong armies and a modest trade fleet. He avowed himself to continue his fathers policies as these seemed to have been good for the empire. The western fleet would be strengthened a bit more and the eastern fleet expanded upon. The research into what many might consider a court curiosity as far as armaments was leading to the development of new troops which showed promise for the empire.



Perhaps it is because he was such a young man in a position of power he made some decisions which could be considered a bit reckless. His main one was his on going affair with the wife of his uncle Mikhail (L3 P5 D5 C5 A1), Anna of Poland. He was always circumspect in his dalliances with the fair lady and such was not common knowledge. His uncle was aware of this state of affairs and began blackmailing officials close to the Grand Prince. He was most bitter about this state of affairs and showed no loyalty to him what so ever. He had to maintain a close watch on Mikhail and this also perhaps kept Anna close as well.

After two decades in office and with a tenuous string of trade fleets in the east he made another rash decision as well. The sole trading partner of the eastern fleet was the Turks, no longer an ally after their aggression to other Christian nations had been confirmed. The decision was made to launch a war against them in the hopes of capturing the lands his grandfather had dreamed of Crimea and Khazar. Finding them weakened from a civil war he dispatched his uncle Mikhail south to Khazar and a second uncle Sviatopolk (L4 P3 D6 C3 A3) to Crimea. The truks were found to be quite weak and smashed quickly without any attempt at retribution from them. The Turks were also quite willing to agree to a quick cease fire leading to no prolonged loss of trade income. The public view on this is that he did this to remove his uncle from Moscow and to grant him a title to his loyalty. Members of the family wonder if it was done in light of Anna's advancing years and his interest in his younger bride herself the daughter of a prominent shipbuilder.

In his latter years he proved himself to be a capable emperor as well. His program of magnificent building programs was well know throughout the land. He also devoted quite a bit of the treasuries resources to farm improvements in the hopes of staving off a repeat of the troubled times the Danish war brought. The English and the Italians were quite grateful in his help with rebellions in their lands. By the time of his death the eastern fleet stretched as far as Italy and covered the eastern mediterranean sea. Here we see Yesevolod V in the final year of his life surrounded by his sons and retainers holding court outside of Moscow.