The city of Moscow is the Russian city that flourished under the rule of the Mongols. The Mongol Empire, led by Batu Khan, invaded Russia in the 13th century and established the Golden Horde, a Mongol state that controlled much of Russia for over two centuries.
Under Mongol rule, Moscow grew in importance as a trade center and political hub. The Mongols recognized Moscow's strategic location as a transportation hub, situated at the crossroads of several important trade routes, and the city became a major center for the collection of tribute from other Russian cities.
Over time, the rulers of Moscow gradually gained more autonomy from the Mongols and expanded their control over other Russian territories. Moscow eventually emerged as the dominant power in Russia, and in 1547, Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned the first tsar of Russia in Moscow.
So, it was under the Mongol rule that Moscow began to grow in importance and laid the foundation for its later emergence as the capital and cultural center of Russia.