1380 Battle of Kulikovo historical figure. Was there a Battle of Kulikovo?

Battle of Kulikovo (Mamaevo Massacre), a battle between the united Russian army led by the Moscow Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich and the army of the Temnik of the Golden Horde Mamai, which took place on September 8, 1380 on the Kulikovo field (historical area between the rivers Don, Nepryadva and Beautiful Mecha in the southeast of the Tula region.

Strengthening the Moscow Principality in the 60s of the 14th century. and the unification around him of the remaining lands of North-Eastern Rus' occurred almost simultaneously with the strengthening of the power of the temnik Mamai in the Golden Horde. Married to the daughter of the Golden Horde Khan Berdibek, he received the title of emir and became the arbiter of the destinies of that part of the Horde, which was located west of the Volga to the Dnieper and in the steppe expanses of the Crimea and Ciscaucasia.

Militia of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich in 1380 Lubok, 17th century.

However, the ambitious Mamai continued to consider the defeat of the Moscow principality, which had escaped subordination, as the main factor in strengthening his own positions in the Horde. In 1376, the Khan of the Blue Horde, Arab Shah Muzzaffar (Arapsha of Russian chronicles), who went over to the service of Mamai, ravaged the Novosilsk principality, but returned back, avoiding a battle with the Moscow army that had gone beyond the Oka border. In 1377 he was on the river. It was not the Moscow-Suzdal army that defeated Pian. The governors sent against the Horde showed carelessness, for which they paid: “And their princes, and boyars, and nobles, and governors, consoling and having fun, drinking and fishing, imagining the existence of the house,” and then ruined the Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan principalities.

In 1378, Mamai, trying to force him to pay tribute again, sent an army led by Murza Begich to Rus'. The Russian regiments that came out to meet were led by Dmitry Ivanovich himself. The battle took place on August 11, 1378 in Ryazan land, on a tributary of the Oka river. Vozhe. The Horde were completely defeated and fled. The Battle of Vozha showed the increased power of the Russian state emerging around Moscow.

Mamai attracted armed detachments from the conquered peoples of the Volga region and the North Caucasus to participate in the new campaign; his army also included heavily armed infantrymen from the Genoese colonies in the Crimea. The Horde's allies were the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jagiello and the Ryazan Prince Oleg Ivanovich. However, these allies were on their own: Jagiello did not want to strengthen either the Horde or the Russian side, and as a result, his troops never appeared on the battlefield; Oleg Ryazansky entered into an alliance with Mamai, fearing for the fate of his border principality, but he was the first to inform Dmitry about the advance of the Horde troops and did not participate in the battle.

In the summer of 1380 Mamai began his campaign. Not far from the place where the Voronezh River flows into the Don, the Horde set up their camps and, wandering, awaited news from Jagiello and Oleg.

In the terrible hour of danger hanging over the Russian land, Prince Dmitry showed exceptional energy in organizing resistance to the Golden Horde. At his call, military detachments and militias of peasants and townspeople began to gather. All of Rus' rose up to fight the enemy. The gathering of Russian troops was appointed in Kolomna, where the core of the Russian army set out from Moscow. The court of Dmitry himself, the regiments of his cousin Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky and the regiments of the Belozersk, Yaroslavl and Rostov princes walked separately along different roads. The regiments of the Olgerdovich brothers (Andrei Polotsky and Dmitry Bryansky, the Jagiello brothers) also moved to join the troops of Dmitry Ivanovich. The brothers' army included Lithuanians, Belarusians and Ukrainians; citizens of Polotsk, Drutsk, Bryansk and Pskov.

After the troops arrived in Kolomna, a review was held. The assembled army on the Maiden Field was striking in its numbers. The gathering of troops in Kolomna had not only military, but also political significance. The Ryazan prince Oleg finally got rid of his hesitations and abandoned the idea of ​​​​joining the troops of Mamai and Jagiello. A marching battle formation was formed in Kolomna: Prince Dmitry led the Big Regiment; Serpukhov Prince Vladimir Andreevich with the Yaroslavl - regiment Right hand; Gleb Bryansky was appointed commander of the Left Hand regiment; The leading regiment was made up of Kolomna residents.

Saint Sergius of Radonezh blesses Saint Prince Demetrius Donskoy.
Artist S.B. Simakov. 1988

The entire campaign of the Russian army to the Oka was carried out in relatively short term. The distance from Moscow to Kolomna is about 100 km; the troops covered it in 4 days. They arrived at the mouth of Lopasnya on August 26. Ahead there was a guard guard, which had the task of protecting the main forces from a surprise attack by the enemy.

On August 30, Russian troops began crossing the Oka River near the village of Priluki. Okolnichy Timofey Velyaminov and his detachment monitored the crossing, awaiting the approach of the foot army. On September 4, 30 km from the Don River in the Berezuy tract, the allied regiments of Andrei and Dmitry Olgerdovich joined the Russian army. Once again, the location of the Horde army was clarified, which, awaiting the approach of the allies, was wandering around the Kuzmina Gati.

The movement of the Russian army from the mouth of Lopasnya to the west was intended to prevent the Lithuanian army of Jagiello from uniting with the forces of Mamai. In turn, Jagiello, having learned about the route and number of Russian troops, was in no hurry to unite with the Mongol-Tatars, hovering around Odoev. The Russian command, having received this information, decisively sent troops to the Don, trying to forestall the formation of enemy units and strike at the Mongol-Tatar horde. On September 5, the Russian cavalry reached the mouth of the Nepryadva, which Mamai learned about only the next day.

To come up with a plan further actions On September 6, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich convened a military council. The votes of the council members were divided. Some suggested going beyond the Don and fighting the enemy on the southern bank of the river. Others advised staying on the northern bank of the Don and waiting for the enemy to attack. The final decision depended on the Grand Duke. Dmitry Ivanovich uttered the following significant words: “Brothers! An honest death is better than an evil life. It was better not to go out against the enemy than to come and do nothing and return back. Let's all cross the Don today and lay our heads there Orthodox faith and our brothers." The Grand Duke of Vladimir preferred offensive actions that made it possible to maintain the initiative, which was important not only in strategy (hitting the enemy in parts), but also in tactics (choosing the location of the battle and the surprise of a strike on the enemy’s army). After the council in the evening, Prince Dmitry and voivode Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky moved beyond the Don and examined the area.

The area chosen by Prince Dmitry for the battle was called Kulikovo Field. On three sides - west, north and east, it was limited by the Don and Nepryadva rivers, cut by ravines and small rivers. The right wing of the Russian army forming into battle formation was covered by the rivers flowing into the Nepryadva (Upper, Middle and Lower Dubiki); on the left is the rather shallow Smolka River, which flows into the Don, and dried up stream beds (beams with gentle slopes). But this lack of terrain was compensated for - behind Smolka there was a forest in which a general reserve could be placed, guarding the fords across the Don and strengthening the wing’s battle formation. Along the front, the Russian position had a length of over eight kilometers (some authors significantly reduce it and then question the number of troops). However, the terrain convenient for enemy cavalry action was limited to four kilometers and was located in the center of the position - near the converging upper reaches of Nizhny Dubik and Smolka. Mamai's army, having an advantage in deployment along a front of more than 12 kilometers, could attack Russian battle formations with cavalry only in this limited area, which excluded maneuver by cavalry masses.

On the night of September 7, 1380, the crossing of the main forces began. Foot troops and convoys crossed the Don along built bridges, and cavalry forded. The crossing was carried out under the cover of strong guard detachments.

Morning on the Kulikovo field. Artist A.P. Bubnov. 1943–1947.

Battle of Kulikovo. Artist A. Yvon. 1850

Mamai’s army, which arrived on the morning of September 8 and stopped 7-8 kilometers from the Russians, numbered about 90-100 thousand people. It consisted of a vanguard (light cavalry), the main forces (mercenary Genoese infantry were in the center, and heavy cavalry deployed in two lines on the flanks) and a reserve. Light reconnaissance and security detachments scattered in front of the Horde camp. The enemy's plan was to cover the Russian. army from both flanks, and then surround it and destroy it. The main role in solving this problem was assigned to powerful cavalry groups concentrated on the flanks of the Horde army. However, Mamai was in no hurry to join the battle, still hoping for Jagiello’s approach.

But Dmitry Ivanovich decided to draw Mamai’s army into the battle and ordered his regiments to march. The Grand Duke took off his armor, handed it over to boyar Mikhail Brenk, and he himself put on simple armor, but not inferior in its protective properties to the prince’s. The Grand Duke's dark red (black) banner was raised in the Big Regiment - a symbol of honor and glory of the united Russian army. It was handed to Brenk.

Duel between Peresvet and Chelubey. Artist. V.M. Vasnetsov. 1914

For three hours, Mamai’s army unsuccessfully tried to break through the center and right wing of the Russian army. Here the onslaught of the Horde troops was repulsed. Andrei Olgerdovich’s detachment was active. He repeatedly launched a counterattack, helping the center regiments hold back the enemy onslaught.

Then Mamai concentrated his main efforts against the Left Hand regiment. In a fierce battle with a superior enemy, the regiment suffered heavy losses and began to retreat. Dmitry Olgerdovich's reserve detachment was brought into the battle. The warriors took the place of the fallen, trying to hold back the onslaught of the enemy, and only their death allowed the Mongol cavalry to move forward. The soldiers of the Ambush Regiment, seeing the difficult situation of their military brothers-in-arms, were eager to fight. Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovskoy, who commanded the regiment, decided to join the battle, but his adviser, the experienced governor Bobrok, held the prince back. Mamaev's cavalry, pressing the left wing and breaking through the battle formation of the Russian army, began to go to the rear of the Big Regiment. The Horde, reinforced by fresh forces from the Mamaia reserve, bypassing Green Dubrava, attacked the soldiers of the Big Regiment.

The decisive moment of the battle had arrived. The Ambush Regiment, the existence of which Mamai did not know, rushed into the flank and rear of the Golden Horde cavalry that had broken through. The attack by the Ambush Regiment came as a complete surprise to the Tatars. “I fell into great fear and horror of wickedness... and cried out, saying: “Alas for us!” ... the Christians have become wise over us, the daring and daring princes and governors have left us in hiding and have prepared plans for us that are not tired; Our arms are weakened, and the shoulders of the Ustasha, and our knees are numb, and our horses are very tired, and our weapons are worn out; and who can go against them?...” Taking advantage of the emerging success, other regiments also went on the offensive. The enemy fled. Russian squads pursued him for 30–40 kilometers - to the Beautiful Sword River, where the convoy and rich trophies were captured. Mamai's army was completely defeated. It practically ceased to exist.

Returning from the chase, Vladimir Andreevich began to gather an army. Myself Grand Duke was shell-shocked and knocked off his horse, but was able to get to the forest, where he was found after the battle under a felled birch tree in an unconscious state. But the Russian army also suffered heavy losses, amounting to about 20 thousand people.

For eight days the Russian army collected and buried the dead soldiers, and then moved to Kolomna. On September 28, the winners entered Moscow, where the entire population of the city was waiting for them. The Battle of Kulikovo Field was great value in the struggle of the Russian people for liberation from foreign yoke. It seriously undermined the military power of the Golden Horde and accelerated its subsequent collapse. The news that “Great Rus' defeated Mamai on the Kulikovo field” quickly spread throughout the country and far beyond its borders. For his outstanding victory, the people nicknamed Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich “Donskoy”, and he cousin, Serpukhov Prince Vladimir Andreevich – nickname “Brave”.

Jagiello's troops, having not reached the Kulikovo field 30-40 kilometers and having learned about the Russian victory, quickly returned to Lithuania. Mamai’s ally did not want to take risks, since there were many Slavic troops in his army. In the army of Dmitry Ivanovich there were prominent representatives of Lithuanian soldiers who had supporters in Jagiello’s army, and they could go over to the side of the Russian troops. All this forced Jagiello to be as careful as possible in making decisions.

Mamai, abandoning his defeated army, fled with a handful of comrades to Kafa (Feodosia), where he was killed. Khan Tokhtamysh seized power in the Horde. He demanded that Rus' resume payment of tribute, claiming that it was not Golden Horde, and the usurper of power is Temnik Mamai. Dmitry refused. Then, in 1382, Tokhtamysh undertook a punitive campaign against Rus', captured and burned Moscow by cunning. The largest cities of the Moscow land - Dmitrov, Mozhaisk and Pereyaslavl - were also subjected to merciless destruction, and then the Horde marched through the Ryazan lands with fire and sword. As a result of this raid, Horde rule over Russia was restored.

Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo field. Artist V.K. Sazonov. 1824.

Burial of fallen soldiers after the Battle of Kulikovo.
1380. Front chronicle of the 16th century.

Assessing the results of the Battle of Kulikovo and the activities of Dmitry Donskoy preceding it, a number of modern scientists who have most fully studied this question, do not believe that the Moscow prince set himself the goal of leading the anti-Horde struggle in the broad concept of the word, but only spoke out against Mamai as a usurper of power in the Golden Horde. So, A.A. Gorsky writes: “Open disobedience to the Horde, which developed into an armed struggle against it, occurred during a period when power there fell into the hands of an illegitimate ruler (Mamai). With the restoration of “legitimate” power, an attempt was made to limit ourselves to a purely nominal, without payment of tribute, recognition of the supremacy of the “king,” but the military defeat of 1382 thwarted this. Nevertheless, the attitude towards foreign power has changed: it has become obvious that, under certain conditions, its non-recognition and successful military opposition to the Horde are possible.” Therefore, as other researchers note, despite the fact that protests against the Horde occur within the framework of previous ideas about the relationship between the Russian princes - “ulusniks” and the Horde “kings”, “The Battle of Kulikovo undoubtedly became a turning point in the formation of a new self-awareness of the Russians people,” and “the victory on the Kulikovo field secured Moscow’s role as the organizer and ideological center of the reunification of the East Slavic lands, showing that the path to their state-political unity was the only path to their liberation from foreign domination.”

Monument-column, made according to the design of A.P. Bryullov at the Ch. Berd plant.
Installed on the Kulikovo field in 1852 on the initiative of the first explorer
chief prosecutor's battle Holy Synod S. D. Nechaeva.

September 21 (September 8 to Julian calendar) in accordance with Federal law dated March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the days of military glory and memorable dates Russia" is the Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the victory of Russian regiments led by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy over the Mongol-Tatar troops in the Battle of Kulikovo.
A chronicle collection called the Patriarchal or Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. St. Petersburg, 1897. P. 27.
Quote by: Borisov N.S. And the candle would not go out... Historical portrait of Sergius of Radonezh. M., 1990. P.222.
Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 56.
Kirpichnikov A.N. Battle of Kulikovo. L., 1980. P. 105.
This number was calculated by the Soviet military historian E.A. Razin based on the total population of Russian lands, taking into account the principles of recruiting troops for all-Russian campaigns. See: Razin E.A. History of military art. T. 2. St. Petersburg, 1994. P. 272. The same number of Russian troops is determined by A.N. Kirpichnikov. See: Kirpichnikov A.N. Decree. op. P. 65. In the works of historians of the 19th century. this number varies from 100 thousand to 200 thousand people. See: Karamzin N.M. History of Russian Goverment. T.V.M., 1993.S. 40; Ilovaisky D.I. Collectors of Rus'. M., 1996. P. 110.; Soloviev S.M. History of Russia from ancient times. Book 2. M., 1993. P. 323. Russian chronicles provide extremely exaggerated data on the number of Russian troops: Resurrection Chronicle - about 200 thousand. See: Resurrection Chronicle. PSRL. T. VIII. St. Petersburg, 1859. P. 35; Nikon Chronicle - 400 thousand. See: Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 56.
See: Skrynnikov R.G. Battle of Kulikovo // Battle of Kulikovo in the cultural history of our Motherland. M., 1983. S. 53-54.
Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 60.
Right there. P. 61.
“Zadonshchina” talks about the flight of Mamai himself-nine to the Crimea, that is, about the death of 8/9 of the entire army in the battle. See: Zadonshchina // Military stories of Ancient Rus'. L., 1986. P. 167.
See: The Legend of Mamaev’s Massacre // Military Tales of Ancient Rus'. L., 1986. P. 232.
Kirpichnikov A.N. Decree. op. P. 67, 106. According to E.A. Razin’s Horde lost about 150 thousand, the Russians killed and died from wounds - about 45 thousand people (See: Razin E.A. Op. cit. T. 2. pp. 287–288). B. Urlanis speaks of 10 thousand killed (See: Urlanis B.Ts. History of military losses. St. Petersburg, 1998. P. 39). The “Tale of the Massacre of Mamaev” says that 653 boyars were killed. See: Military stories of Ancient Rus'. P. 234. The figure given there for the total number of dead Russian combatants of 253 thousand is clearly overestimated.
Gorsky A.A. Moscow and Horde. M. 2000. P. 188.
Danilevsky I.N. Russian lands through the eyes of contemporaries and descendants (XII-XIV centuries). M. 2000. P. 312.
Shabuldo F.M. The lands of Southwestern Rus' as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Kyiv, 1987. P. 131.

Battle of Kulikovo, 1380

Battle of Kulikovo Field- battle between united Russian troops under the command of the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich and the troops of the Golden Horde, subordinate to the beklyarbek Mama. This battle was very important to history in many ways and was probably the largest battle of the fourteenth century and the first major Russian victory over the Mongols.

Mongol invasion of Rus'

In 1237, the Mongol troops led by Batu invaded the territory of the Ryazan principality. Three years later, most of Rus', with the exception of the Novgorod principality, lay in ruins. The Mongol invasion, according to historians, delayed the full development of Rus' for more than 2 centuries.

Unlike the Mongol campaigns in Europe, after the end of hostilities the Mongols took possession of most of Rus' and forced the local inhabitants to pay tribute. Novgorod, despite the fact that it managed to avoid the fate of Kyiv and Vladimir, was also forced to pay a large tribute to the Mongol khans. Novgorod was also subjected to numerous Mongol-Tatar raids over the course of 50 years.

The direction is starting to change

Opposition to the Mongols took a different direction in 1252, when Prince Andrey Yaroslavovich led his troops against the Tatars near Pereslavl-Zalessky. But the real result was achieved in 1285, when the prince Dmitry Aleksandrovich was able to drive the Tatars out of the Novgorod lands.

From 1269, Russian princes actually began to be recruited by the Mongols into their armies, and Russians fought on the side of some of the khans of the Golden Horde. The direction of the Russian struggle was still clearly defined, and as of 1270 the number of Russian troops had increased significantly. European influences became increasingly evident, and the combination of fighting styles contributed to the gradual success of the Russian army.

For example, horse archers were still a headache for many Western armies, and obvious examples were the unsuccessful attempts of the Germans and Scandinavians to expand their possessions into the Novgorod territories. European armor, weapons and artillery also became an important component in subsequent clashes between the Russians and the Mongols.

At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the weapons and armor of the Mongols became significantly outdated, while Russian military power increased. The importance of Moscow as a city has increased significantly, while Kyiv has decreased. It was the Muscovites, under the leadership of several inspiring leaders, who liberated Rus' from the Mongol yoke.

In the Battle of Kulikovo, the united Russian troops under the command Dmitry Ivanovich Moskovsky faced a much larger Tatar force, led by Mamai. Allies of Mamaia, Grand Duke Oleg Ryazansky and the Grand Duke Jagiello of Lithuania, were late for the battle.

Kulikovo, 1380

The Battle of Kulikovo took place on September 8 on the Kulikovo Field near the Don River. The Russian troops formed the traditional three lines, with reserves remaining in the rear, and the elite cavalry of Vladimir Andreevich, Prince of Serpukhov (Dmitry's cousin), hidden in ambush. Mamai also lined up his troops. In the middle was the infantry, consisting of Genoese mercenaries. On the flanks and behind the infantry were the Horde cavalry and other mercenaries. Behind them was a reserve.

The number of warriors who took part in the battle is the subject of much debate. For example, according to some estimates, the Mongol forces numbered about 250,000 soldiers. A number of 100-120 thousand Mongols and 70 thousand Russians is considered acceptable, but a more reasonable figure is about 70 thousand Mongols and 36 thousand Russians. Be that as it may, these numbers are still huge for the armies of that time.

A.P. Bubnov “Morning on the Kulikovo Field”

Thick fog covered the Kulikovo field on the morning of September 8, 1380. The fog cleared only at 11 o'clock in the morning, after which both armies moved forward towards each other.

The battle began with a duel between a Russian monk Alexander Peresvet and a Tatar knight named Chelubey. Both killed each other with spears on the first pass, although Russian legend says that Peresvet did not fall from his horse, unlike Chelubey. After the duel, the battle began and both sides suffered heavy losses. Peresvet subsequently became a hero and often his image became an example of courage.

M. A. Avilov “Duel of Peresvet with Chelubey on the Kulikovo Field”

Genoese infantry, supported by Tatar cavalry, attacked the leading Russian regiment, but the onslaught was contained. After the first attack was repulsed, the remnants of the regiment returned to the main Russian army. The Horde cavalry launched a powerful frontal attack along the entire Russian front line. Dmitry himself fought in the front ranks and received several blows to the body and head and was thrown off his horse twice. Only European-style armor saved his life.

Despite the ferocity of the attacks, the Russians stood firm in their positions and forced Mamai to send his reserves against the Russian left flank, hoping to break them apart. Despite the fierce resistance of Russian soldiers, the Horde managed to break through the Russian lines. Having lost most of their soldiers, the left wing began to retreat. Reserves did not save the situation. At about 2 o'clock the Horde entered the Russian rear, bypassing the main forces of the Russian army. Russian troops found themselves in real danger defeats.

At this moment, from an ambush, the cavalry of Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky, led by Dmitry Bobrok- Prince Volynsky - attacked the Horde cavalry from the rear. This unexpected addition of fresh Russian troops radically changed the situation. From that moment on, Russian troops went on the offensive. Mamai's army fled, and its pursuit continued until late at night. The difficult battle lasted about four hours and ended in an absolute victory for the Russians. The troops of the Golden Horde were completely destroyed. Mamai fled to Crimea, where he was subsequently killed by his enemies. The reigns of the Horde passed to Tokhtamysh.

A high price was paid for the victory. Twelve princes and 483 boyars (the flower of the Russian army) were killed - this is 60% of all military leaders of the Russian army - plus a significant part of their armies. It took 7 days to honorably bury all the soldiers who fell in this battle.

After the battle, Dmitry Ivanovich received the nickname Donskoy, and then was canonized. The Battle of Kulikovo became one of the largest, if not biggest battle in the Middle Ages. More than one hundred thousand soldiers took part in it.

Aftermath of the battle

This victory marked the beginning of the end of Mongol rule in Rus', which officially ended in 1480 with a great Standing on the Ugra River. The Battle of Kulikovo was more important for the unification of Russian lands. According to one of the historians, the Russians went to the Kulikovo Field as citizens of various principalities, and returned as a united Russian people.

However, the fall of the Golden Horde was still far away. Just two years later, in 1382, Tokhtamysh attacked Rus' and Moscow was plundered and burned almost to the ground. Tokhtamysh had big success since the Russians simply could not recruit enough men to fight him. This suggests that the Russians have not yet been able to fully compensate for the losses suffered on the Kulikovo Field. However, already in 1386 Dmitry Donskoy was able to lead a solid army against Novgorod. The fatal conflict with Tamerlane prevented Tokhtamysh from achieving further success in Russia. In 1399, the Russians suffered a serious defeat from the emir's troops Edigeya in the battle on the Vorskla River.

Ultimately, infighting among the Mongols and the unification of the Russians led to the final defeat of the Golden Horde and the fall of its capital Kazan. One of the most powerful states that were part of the former Golden Horde - Crimean Tatars- Subsequently, in many wars they even took the side of the Russians.

It is not so much the Battle of Kulikovo itself that is of great importance, since the Mongols quickly restored what they had lost. Rather, it became a symbol of the fight against the Mongols and was a source of inspiration for all subsequent campaigns against them. This was the first large-scale battle with the Mongols in which the Russians won a complete victory. The Battle of Kulikovo destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the Mongols in Rus', just like the Battle of Ain Jalut in the Middle East.

The site of the battle is marked by a temple-monument built according to the design of Alexei Shchusev. Warrior-monk Alexander Peresvet, who killed the Tatar knight Chelubey (also known as Temir-Mirza), but who himself died in this duel, became a hero after the battle.

In the summer of 1380, terrible news came to Prince Dmitry Ivanovich in Moscow: the Tatar ruler, Temnik Mamai, with the entire Golden Horde was going to Rus'. Not content with the Tatar and Polovtsian strength, the khan hired more detachments of Besermen (Trans-Caspian Muslims), Alans, Circassians and Crimean Fryags (Genoese). Moreover, he entered into an alliance with the enemy of Moscow, the Lithuanian prince Jagiel, who promised to unite with him. The news added that Mamai wants to completely exterminate the Russian princes, and plant his own Baskaks in their place; even threatens to eradicate the Orthodox faith and introduce the Muslim faith in its place. The messenger of Prince Oleg of Ryazan informed that Mamai had already crossed to the right side of the Don and had migrated to the mouth of the Voronezh River, to the borders of the Ryazan land.

Mamai. Artist V. Matorin

Dmitry Ivanovich first of all resorted to prayer and repentance. And then he sent messengers to all ends of his land with the command that the governors and governors should hurry with their military men to Moscow. He also sent letters to the neighboring Russian princes, asking them to come to the rescue with their squads as soon as possible. First of all, Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovskoy came to the call. From all sides, military men and henchmen of the princes began to gather in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Mamai's ambassadors arrived and demanded the same tribute that Rus' paid under Khan Uzbek, and the same humility that was under the old khans. Dmitry gathered the boyars, henchmen of the princes and clergy. The clergy said that it was appropriate to quench Mamaev’s rage with great tribute and gifts, so that Christian blood would not be shed. This advice was respected. The Grand Duke gifted the Tatar embassy and sent Ambassador Zakhary Tyutchev to the khan with many gifts and peace proposals. However, there was little hope of appeasing the evil Tatar, and military preparations continued. As the Russian militia gathering in Moscow increased, warlike inspiration grew among the Russian people. The recent victory at Vozha was in everyone’s memory. The consciousness of Russian national unity and Russian strength grew.

Soon a messenger from Zakhary Tyutchev arrived with new bad news. Tyutchev, having reached the Ryazan borders, learned that Mamai was going to Moscow land and that not only Jagiello of Lithuania, but also Oleg Ryazansky had accosted him. Oleg invited Jogaila to divide the Moscow volosts and assured Mamai that Dmitry would not dare to go against the Tatars and would run away to the north. Khan agreed with Jagiel and Oleg to meet on the banks of the Oka on September 1st.

The news of Oleg Ryazansky's betrayal did not shake Prince Dmitry's resolve. At the general council, they decided to go to meet Mamai in the steppe, and, if possible, to prevent his connection with Jagiel and Oleg. To the princes and governors who had not yet arrived in Moscow, Dmitry sent messengers with letters to go to Kolomna, which had been appointed as the meeting place for all the militias. The Grand Duke equipped a cavalry reconnaissance detachment under the command of Rodion Rzhevsky, Andrei Volosaty and Vasily Tupik. They had to go to the Don steppe right under Mamaev’s Horde in order to “get language,” i.e. prisoners from whom one could learn exactly the enemy's intentions.

Without waiting for news from these scouts, Dmitry equipped a second watchman. On the way she met Vasily Tupik, who was detached from the first one. Scouts arrived in Moscow and reported to the prince that Mamai was going to Rus' with the entire Horde, that the great princes of Lithuania and Ryazan were really in alliance with him, but that the khan was in no hurry: he was waiting for Jagiello to help and was waiting for the fall, when the fields in Rus' would be harvested and the Horde can take advantage of ready supplies. When preparing to go to Rus', the khan sent out an order to his uluses: “do not plow the land and do not worry about bread; be ready for Russian bread.”

Dmitry Ivanovich ordered the regional regiments to rush to Kolomna by August 15, on Assumption Day. Before the campaign, he went to take a blessing from St. Sergius of Radonezh, to the monastery of the Trinity. It was not yet distinguished by either majestic stone buildings, or the heads of rich temples, or numerous brethren; but was already famous for the exploits of Sergius of Radonezh. The glory of his spiritual insight was so great that the princes and boyars asked for his prayers and blessings; Metropolitans Alexei and Cyprian turned to him for advice and help.

On August 15, 1380, Dmitry Ivanovich arrived in Trinity, accompanied by some princes, boyars and many nobles. He hoped to hear some prophetic word from the holy man. Having celebrated mass and accepted the abbot’s blessing, the Grand Duke shared a modest monastic meal with the monk.

After the meal, Abbot Sergius said to him:

“Almost give gifts and honor the wicked Mamai; May the Lord God, seeing your humility, exalt you, and bring down his indomitable rage and pride.”

“I have already done this, father,” answered Dmitry. “But most of all he ascends with great pride.”

“If so,” said the Reverend, “then of course destruction and desolation await him; and you will receive help, mercy, and glory from the Lord God and the Most Pure Mother of God and His saints.”

Blessing of Sergius of Radonezh for the Battle of Kulikovo. Artist P. Ryzhenko

From among the monastic brethren, two monks stood out as their tall and strong build. Their names were Peresvet and Oslyabya; Before entering the monastery, they were known as heroes and were distinguished by their feats of arms. Peresvet, who bore the name of Alexander in the world, was from a family of Bryansk boyars.

“Give me these two warriors,” said the Grand Duke Sergius.

The monk ordered both brothers to prepare for military action. The monks immediately put on weapons. Sergius gave each of them a schema with a cross sewn on it.

Dismissing the guests, Sergius of Radonezh made the sign of the cross over the Grand Duke and his companions and again said in a prophetic voice:

“The Lord God will be your helper and protector; He will defeat and overthrow your adversaries and glorify you.”

The Monk Sergius was an ardent Russian patriot. He passionately loved his homeland and was second to no one in his jealousy for its liberation from the shameful yoke. The prophetic words of the saint filled the heart of the Grand Duke with joy and hope. Returning to Moscow, he did not hesitate any longer to perform.

Performance of the Russian army on the Kulikovo field

If we remember the preparations of the southern Russian princes for the campaign against Kalka against the then unknown Tatars, we will see a great difference. Princes, Mstislav Udaloy Galitsky, Mstislav of Kiev, accustomed to victories over the steppe barbarians, went to the steppe noisily and cheerfully; competed with each other; and some thought about how to attack the enemy before others, so as not to share victory and spoils with them. Not so now. Taught by bitter experience and humbled by the heavy yoke, the Northern Russian princes, gathered around Dmitry, obediently and unanimously follow their leader. The Grand Duke himself prepares for the task thoughtfully and carefully; and most importantly, he does everything with prayer and with the blessing of the church.

On August 20, the army set out on a campaign. Dmitry Ivanovich with the princes and governors prayed fervently in the cathedral Assumption Church; falling at the tomb of St. Peter the Metropolitan. The bishop interceding for the metropolitan served a farewell prayer service. From the Assumption Cathedral, Dmitry went to the Church of the Archangel Michael and there he bowed to the tombs of his father and grandfather. Then he said goodbye to his wife and children and went to the army. It blocked all the streets and squares adjacent to the Kremlin. A selected part of it lined up on Red Square with its rear to Bolshoy Posad (Kitai-Gorod), and facing the three Kremlin gates. Priests and deacons crossed and sprinkled the warriors.

Farewell to the militia on the Kulikovo Field. Artist Y. Raksha

The shelves presented a majestic spectacle. Banners on high staffs fluttered over the army in large numbers; the spears raised up looked like an entire forest. Among the governors, Dmitry Ivanovich himself especially stood out both for his grand-ducal attire and his dignified appearance. He was a tall, stocky man, dark-haired, with a thick beard and large, intelligent eyes. He was no more than thirty years old. His beloved cousin Vladimir Andreevich, even younger than Dmitry, left the Kremlin with him. Around them rode a retinue of the henchmen of the princes who had gathered in Moscow, such as: Belozersky Fedor Romanovich and Semyon Mikhailovich, Andrei Kemsky, Gleb Kargopolsky and Kubensky, the princes of Rostov, Yaroslavl, Ustyug, Andrei and Roman Prozorovsky, Lev Kurbsky, Andrei Muromsky, Yuri Meshchersky, Fedor Yeletsky.

The entire Moscow population poured out to see off the militia. Women cried out as they parted with their husbands and relatives. Stopping in front of the army, the Grand Duke said loudly to those around him:

“My dear brothers, we will not spare our lives for the Christian faith, for the holy churches and for the Russian land!”

“We are ready to lay down our heads for the faith of Christ and for you, Sovereign Grand Duke!” - answered from the crowd.

They struck the tambourines, blew the trumpets, and the army set out on the march. To avoid overcrowding, the army divided and went to Kolomna along three roads: Grand Duke Dmitry sent one, with Vladimir Andreevich, to Bronnitsy, the other with the Belozersky princes he sent along the Bolvanskaya road, and the third he himself led to Kotel. The army was followed by a long convoy. The warriors placed the heavier parts of their weapons on carts. Princes and boyars had special convoys and numerous servants with them.

E. Danilevsky. To the field of Kulikov

During his absence, the Grand Duke entrusted his family and Moscow to the governor Fyodor Kobylin (son of Andrei Kobyla, the founder of the royal Romanov dynasty). He took ten Surozhans with him on a campaign, that is, Russian merchants who traveled on trade business to Kafa (Feodosia), Surozh (Sudak) and other Crimean cities. They knew the southern routes, border cities and nomadic Tatars well and could serve the army as reliable guides and experienced people for purchasing and finding food.

On August 24, Dmitry Ivanovich reached the city of Kolomna. Here the Grand Duke was met by the governors of the already assembled regiments, as well as Kolomna Bishop Gerasim and the priests. The next day there was a grand ducal review of the entire army in a wide meadow. Dmitry then divided the entire militia into the usual four regiments and assigned leaders to each. He left the main or great regiment under his command; He also placed the daring princes of Belozersky in his regiment. In addition to their own Moscow squad, in this main regiment there were governors who commanded the following squads: Kolomenskaya - thousand Nikolai Vasilyevich Velyaminov, Vladimirskaya - Prince Roman Prozorovsky, Yuryevskaya - boyar Timofey Valuevich, Kostromskaya Ivan Rodionovich Kvashnya, Pereyaslavskaya - Andrey Serkizovich. Grand Duke Dmitry entrusted the regiment of his right hand to his cousin Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky and gave him the princes of Yaroslavl; under Vladimir the governors were: boyars Danilo Belous and Konstantin Kononovich, Prince Fyodor Yeletsky, Yuri Meshchersky and Andrei Muromsky. The left hand is entrusted to Prince Gleb Bryansky, and the advanced regiment is entrusted to princes Dmitry and Vladimir (Drutsky?).

Here Dmitry Ivanovich was finally convinced of the betrayal of Oleg Ryazansky, who until that moment had been cunning and continued to have friendly relations with Dmitry. Probably, this circumstance prompted the latter, instead of crossing the Oka near Kolomna and entering the borders of the Ryazan land, to deviate somewhat to the west in order to bypass them. Perhaps he was giving time for the Moscow detachments that had not yet arrived to join him.

The next morning, the princes set out on a further campaign along the left bank of the Oka. Near the mouths of Lopasna, Timofey Vasilievich Velyaminov joined the army; with the warriors who gathered in Moscow after the speech of the Grand Duke. Dmitry ordered the army to be transported across the Oka in this place. After the crossing, he ordered the entire militia to be counted. Our chroniclers obviously exaggerate when they say that they counted more than 200,000 warriors. We will be closer to the truth if we assume that there were only a small number of them. one hundred thousand. But in any case, it is clear that the Russian land has never fielded such a great army. And, meanwhile, this army was assembled only in the domains of the Moscow prince and the small appanage princes under his command.

None of the major princes took part in the glorious enterprise, although Dmitry sent messengers everywhere. The princes were either afraid of the Tatars, or envied Moscow and did not want to help its strengthening. Not to mention Oleg Ryazansky, the great Prince of Tver Mikhail Alexandrovich also did not come to the rescue. Even the father-in-law of the Moscow prince Dmitry Konstantinovich Nizhegorodsky did not send his squads to his son-in-law. Neither the Smolensk nor the Novgorodians showed up. Dmitry Ivanovich, however, only regretted that he had few foot troops, which could not always keep up with the cavalry. Therefore, he left Timofey Vasilyevich Velyaminov with Lopasna, so that he would gather all the lagging troops and bring them to the main army.

The army moved to the upper Don, heading along the western borders of Ryazan. The Grand Duke strictly punished that the warriors on the campaign should not offend the inhabitants, avoiding any reason to irritate the Ryazan people. The entire transition was completed quickly and safely. The weather itself was favorable to him: although autumn was beginning, the days were clear, warm, and the soil was dry.

During the campaign, two Olgerdovichs arrived with their squads to Dmitry Ivanovich, Andrei Polotsky, who was then reigning in Pskov, and Dmitry Koribut of Bryansk. This latter, like his brother Andrei, having quarreled with Jagiel, temporarily became one of the assistants of the Prince of Moscow. The Olgerdovichs were famous for their military experience and could be useful in case of war with their brother Jagiel.

The Grand Duke constantly collected news about the position and intentions of the enemies. He sent forward the efficient boyar Semyon Melik with selected cavalry. She was given instructions to go under the Tatar guards. Approaching the Don, Dmitry Ivanovich stopped the regiments and, at a place called Bereza, waited for the lagging foot army. Then the nobles came to him, sent by the boyar Melik with a captured Tatar from the retinue of Mamai himself. He said that the khan was already standing on the Kuzminskaya gati; moves forward slowly, because everything awaits Oleg Ryazansky and Jogaila; He does not yet know about Dmitry’s proximity, relying on Oleg, who assured that the Moscow prince would not dare to come out to meet him. However, one can think that in three days Mamai will move to the left side of the Don. At the same time, news came that Jagiello, who had set out to unite with Mamai, was already standing on the Upa near Odoev.

Dmitry Ivanovich began to confer with the princes and governors.

“Where to fight? - he asked. “Should we wait for the Tatars on this side or be transported to the other side?”

Opinions were divided. Some were inclined to not cross the river and not leave Lithuania and Ryazan in their rear. But others were of a contrary opinion, including the Olgerdovich brothers, who convincingly insisted on crossing the Don.

“If we stay here,” they reasoned, “we will give way to cowardice. And if we are transported to the other side of the Don, then a strong spirit will be in the army. Knowing that there is nowhere to run, the warriors will fight courageously. And that tongues frighten us with countless Tatar strength, it is not in God’s power, but in truth.” They also gave Dmitry examples of his glorious ancestors: So, Yaroslav, having crossed the Dnieper, defeated the accursed Svyatopolok; Alexander Nevsky, crossing the river, struck the Swedes.

The Grand Duke accepted the opinion of the Olgerdovichs, saying to the cautious governors:

“Know that I came here not to look at Oleg or to guard the Don River, but to save the Russian land from captivity and ruin or to lay down my life for everyone. It would be better to go against the godless Tatars than to come back and do nothing and turn back. Now let’s go beyond the Don and there we will either win, or lay down our lives for our Christian brothers.”

Dmitry's determination was greatly influenced by the letter received from Abbot Sergius. He again blessed the prince for his feat, encouraged him to fight the Tatars and promised victory.

On September 7, 1380, on the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Russian army approached the Don itself. The Grand Duke ordered to build bridges for the infantry, and to look for fords for the cavalry - the Don in those places does not differ in either the width or depth of the current.

Indeed, there was not a single minute to lose. Semyon Melik galloped up to the Grand Duke with his guard and reported that he had already fought with the advanced Tatar riders; that Mamai is already at Goose Ford; he now knows about Dmitry’s arrival and hurries to the Don in order to block the Russian crossing before the arrival of Jagiel, who has already moved from Odoev towards Mamai.

Omens on the night before the Battle of Kulikovo

By nightfall, the Russian army managed to cross the Don and settled on the wooded hills at the confluence of the Nepryadva River. Behind the hills lay a wide ten-verst field called Kulikov; The Smolka River flowed through it. Behind her, the horde of Mamai set up their camp, which arrived here by nightfall and did not have time to interfere with the Russian crossing. On the highest point of the field, Red Hill, the khan's tent was erected. The surrounding area of ​​the Kulikovo Field was a gully area, covered with bushes and partly with forest thickets in damp places.

Among Dmitry Ivanovich’s main governors was Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok, a Volyn boyar. In those days, many boyars and nobles from Western and Southern Rus' came to Moscow. One of the unruled princes of Volyn, Dmitry Bobrok, who was married to the sister of the Moscow prince, Anna, also belonged to such immigrants. Bobrok has already managed to distinguish himself with several victories. He was known as a very skilled man in military affairs, even a healer. He knew how to tell fortunes using various signs, and volunteered to show the Grand Duke signs by which one could find out the fate of the upcoming battle.

The chronicle tells that at night the Grand Duke and Bobrok went to the Kulikovo field, stood between both armies and began to listen. They heard a great cry and knocking, as if a noisy market was taking place or a city was being built. Behind the Tatar camp the howls of wolves were heard; on the left side eagles clucked and crows crowed; and on right side, over the Nepryadva River, flocks of geese and ducks hovered and flapped their wings, as if before a terrible storm.

“What did you hear, Mr. Prince?” – Volynets asked.

“I heard, brother, fear and a great thunderstorm,” answered Dmitry.

“Turn, prince, to the Russian shelves.”

Dmitry turned his horse. On the Russian side of the Kulikovo field there was great silence.

“What, sir, do you hear?” – Beaver asked.

“I don’t hear anything,” remarked the Grand Duke; “I just saw a glow coming from many lights.”

“Mr. Prince, thank God and all the saints,” said Bobrok: “the lights are a good sign.”

“I have another sign,” he said, got off his horse and pressed his ear to the ground. He listened for a long time, then stood up and hung his head.

“What then, brother?” – Dmitry asked.

The voivode did not answer, he was sad, he even cried, but finally he spoke:

“Mr. Prince, there are two signs: one for your great joy, and the other for your great sorrow. I heard the land crying bitterly and terribly in two: on one side it was as if a woman was screaming in a Tatar voice about her children; and on the other side it looks like a girl is crying and in great sadness. Trust in the mercy of God: you will overcome the filthy Tatars; but many multitudes of your Christian army will fall.”

If you believe the legend, that night wolves howled terribly on the Kulikovo field, and there were so many of them, as if they had come running from the whole universe. All night long the crowing of ravens and the chirping of eagles could also be heard. Predatory animals and birds seemed to sense the smell of numerous corpses.

Description of the Battle of Kulikovo

The morning of September 8 was very foggy: the thick darkness made it difficult to see the movement of the regiments; only on both sides of the Kulikovo field were the sounds of military trumpets heard. But at about 9 o'clock the fog began to clear, and the sun illuminated the Russian regiments. They took such a position that their right side rested against the ravines and wilds of the Nizhny Dubik River, which flows into the Nepryadva, and their left side against the steep Smolka River, where it makes a northern turn. Dmitry placed the Olgerdovich brothers on the right wing of the battle, and placed the Belozersky princes on the left. The infantry was mostly assigned to the forward regiment. This regiment was still commanded by the Vsevolodovich brothers; Boyar Nikolai Vasilievich Velyaminov and Kolomentsi also joined him. In the large or medium regiment, under the Grand Duke himself, Gleb Bryansky and Timofey Vasilyevich Velyaminov were in command. In addition, Dmitry dispatched another ambush regiment, which he entrusted to his brother Vladimir Andreevich and the mentioned boyar Dmitry Bobrok. This cavalry regiment was ambushed behind the left wing in a dense oak grove above the Smolka River. The regiment was placed so that it could easily reinforce the fighting, and in addition covered the convoys and communication with bridges on the Don, the only route of retreat in case of failure.

Morning on the Kulikovo field. Artist A. Bubnov

The Grand Duke rode around the ranks of soldiers on horseback before the battle and said to them: “Beloved fathers and brethren, for the sake of the Lord and the Most Pure Mother of God and for your own salvation, strive for the Orthodox faith and for our brethren.”

On the forehead of the great or main regiment stood the Grand Duke’s own squad and fluttered his large black banner with the face of the Savior embroidered on it. Dmitry Ivanovich took off his gold-woven grand-ducal drag; He placed it on the favorite of his boyar, Mikhail Brenk, put him on his horse and ordered him to carry a large black banner in front of him. And he covered himself with a simple cloak and mounted another horse. He rode in a guard regiment in order to attack the enemies with his own hands.

In vain did the princes and governors hold him back. “My dear brother,” answered Dmitry. - If I am your leader, then I want to start the battle ahead of you. I’ll die or I’ll live – together with you.”

At about eleven o'clock in the morning the Tatar army moved to battle in the middle of the Kulikovo field. It was scary to look at two formidable forces heading towards each other. The Russian army was distinguished by scarlet shields and light armor that shone in the sun; and the Tatars, with their dark shields and gray caftans, looked from a distance like a black cloud. The front Tatar regiment, like the Russian one, consisted of infantry (maybe hired Genoese condottieri). She moved in a thick column, the rear ranks placing their spears on the shoulders of the front ones. At some distance from each other, the armies suddenly stopped. From the Tatar side, a huge warrior, like Goliath, rode out to the Kulikovo field to begin the battle with single combat, according to the custom of those times. He was from noble people and was called Chelubey.

The monk Peresvet saw him and said to the governors: “This man is looking for someone like himself; I want to see him." “Reverend Father Abbot Sergius,” he exclaimed, “help me with your prayer.” And with a spear he galloped towards the enemy. The Tatar rushed towards him. The opponents struck each other with such force that their horses fell to their knees, and they themselves fell to the ground dead.

Victory of Peresvet. Artist P. Ryzhenko

Then both armies moved. Dmitry showed an example of military courage. He changed several horses while fighting in the leading regiment; when both advanced armies mixed up, he rode off to the great regiment. But the turn came to this last one, and he again took a personal part in the battle. And Khan Mamai watched the battle from the top of the Red Hill.

Soon the site of the Battle of Kulikovo became so cramped that the warriors were suffocating in the dense rubble. There was nowhere to move aside; The terrain was obstructive on both sides. None of the Russians remembered such a terrible battle. “Spears broke like straw, arrows fell like rain, and people fell like grass under a scythe, blood flowed in streams.” The Battle of Kulikovo was predominantly hand-to-hand. Many died under horse hooves. But the horses could hardly move from the many corpses that covered the battlefield. In one place the Tatars prevailed, in another the Russians. The commanders of the front army, for the most part, soon died a heroic death.

The Russian army on foot had already been killed in battle. Taking advantage of their superiority in numbers, the Tatars upset our front regiments and began to press on the main army, the Moscow, Vladimir and Suzdal regiments. A crowd of Tatars broke through to the large banner, cut off its shaft and killed the boyar Brenka, mistaking him for the Grand Duke. But Gleb Bryansky and Timofey Vasilyevich managed to restore order and again close the large regiment. On his right hand, Andrei Olgerdovich defeated the Tatars; but did not dare to chase the enemy, so as not to move away from the large regiment, which was not moving forward. A strong Tatar horde attacked the latter and tried to break through it; and here many commanders had already been killed.

Dmitry and his assistants placed regiments in the Battle of Kulikovo in such a way that the Tatars could not cover them from any side. All they had to do was break through the Russian system somewhere and then hit him in the rear. Seeing failure in the center, they furiously rushed to our left wing. Here the fiercest battle raged for some time. When the Belozersky princes who commanded the left regiment all died the death of heroes, this regiment became confused and began to move back. The large regiment was in danger of being outflanked; the entire Russian army would have been confined to Nepryadva and would have been subjected to extermination. The frantic whooping and victorious cries of the Tatars were already heard on the Kulikovo field.

I. Glazunov. Temporary superiority of the Tatars

But for a long time Prince Vladimir Andreevich and Dmitry Volynets were watching the battle from ambush. The young prince was eager to fight. His impatience was shared by many other ardent young men. But the experienced commander held them back.

The fierce Battle of Kulikovo had already lasted two hours. Until now, the Tatars were also helped by the fact that the sunlight hit the Russians right in the eyes, and the wind blew in their faces. But little by little the sun set to one side, and the wind pulled in the other direction. The left wing, leaving in disorder, and the Tatar army chasing it, reached the oak grove where the ambush regiment was stationed.

“Now our time has come! - Beaver exclaimed. - Be brave, brothers and friends. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

V. Matorin, P. Popov. Impact of the Ambush Regiment

“Like falcons to a flock of cranes,” the Russian ambush squad rushed towards the Tatars. This unexpected attack by a fresh army confused the enemies, tired of the long battle on the Kulikovo field and having lost their military formation. They were soon completely defeated.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Olgerdovich, placed with his detachment behind a large regiment (in reserve), closed its side, which opened with the retreat of the left wing, and the main Tatar force, which continued to press on the large Russian regiment, did not have time to upset it. Now, when a significant part of the enemy army was scattered and the ambush squad arrived in time for the Russian army to come to the Kulikovo field to the aid of the main army, the latter went forward. The Tatars, who attacked hotly at the beginning of the battle, were already tired. Their main army trembled and began to retreat back. On the descent of Red Hill, reinforced by the last khan's forces, the Tatars stopped near their camps and again entered into battle. But not for long. The Russians surrounded the enemies from all sides. The entire Tatar horde began a wild flight from the Kulikovo field. Mamai himself and his closest Murzas rode into the steppe on fresh horses, leaving the camp with a lot of all sorts of goods to the victors. Russian cavalry detachments drove and beat the Tatars all the way to the Mechi River, at a distance of about forty miles; Moreover, they captured many camels loaded with various property, as well as entire herds of cattle and small livestock.

“But where is the Grand Duke?” - the surviving princes and governors asked each other at the end of the Battle of Kulikovo.

Vladimir Andreevich “stood on the bones” and ordered the collection to be sounded. When the army converged, Vladimir began to ask who had seen the Grand Duke. He sent warriors to all sides of the Kulikov field to look for Dmitry and promised a big reward to the one who found him.

Finally, two Kostroma residents, Fyodor Sabur and Grigory Khlopishchev, saw the Grand Duke lying under the branches of a felled tree; he was alive. The princes and boyars hurried to the indicated place and bowed to the ground to the Grand Duke.

Dmitry hardly opened his eyes and stood up. His helmet and armor were cut off; but they protected him from the edge of swords and spears. However, the body was covered with sores and bruises. Bearing in mind Dmitry's significant obesity, we will understand to what extent he was exhausted by the long battle and how he was stunned by blows, most of which hit the head, shoulders and stomach, especially when he lost his horse and fought off the enemies on foot. It was already night. Dmitry was put on a horse and taken to the tent.

The next day was Sunday. Dmitry first of all prayed to God and thanked Him for the victory; then he went to the army. With the princes and boyars, he began to travel around the Kulikovo field. It was a sad and terrible sight of a field covered with heaps of corpses and pools of dried blood. Christians and Tatars lay mingled with each other. The Belozersky princes Fyodor Romanovich, his son Ivan and nephew Semyon Mikhailovich, lay together with some of their relatives and many warriors. Counting the Belozerskys, up to fifteen Russian princes and princelings fell in the Battle of Kulikovo, including the two Tarussky brothers and Dmitry Monastyrev.

Kulikovo field. Standing on bones. Artist P. Ryzhenko

The Grand Duke shed tears over the corpses of his favorite Mikhail Andreevich Brenok and the great boyar Nikolai Vasilyevich Velyaminov. Among those killed were also: Semyon Melik, Valuy Okatievich, Ivan and Mikhail Akinfovich, Andrei Serkizov and many other boyars and nobles. Monk Oslyabya was also among the fallen.

The Grand Duke remained for eight days near the site of the Battle of Kulikovo, giving the army time to bury their brothers and rest. He ordered the number of the remaining army to be counted. Only forty thousand were found; Consequently, much more than half fell to the share of the killed, wounded and cowardly who abandoned their banners.

Meanwhile, on September 8, Jagiello of Lithuania was only one day’s journey from the site of the Battle of Kulikovo. Having received the news of the victory of Dmitry Ivanovich Moskovsky, he hastily went back.

The return journey of Dmitry Donskoy's troops from the Kulikovo field

Finally, the Russian army set out on a return campaign from the Kulikovo field. Her convoy increased with many wagons captured from the Tatars, loaded with clothes, weapons and all sorts of goods. The Russians transported many seriously wounded soldiers to their homeland in logs made from a piece of wood cut lengthwise and hollowed out in the middle. Walking along the western borders of Ryazan, the Grand Duke again forbade the army to offend and rob the inhabitants. But it seems that this time things did not happen without some hostile clashes with the Ryazan people. When Dmitry, leaving behind the main army, arrived in Kolomna with light cavalry (September 21), he was met at the city gates by the same Bishop Gerasim, who performed a thanksgiving prayer. After staying in Kolomna for four days, the Grand Duke hurried to Moscow.

The messengers had long ago notified the residents of the glorious victory in the Battle of Kulikovo, and popular rejoicing began. On September 28, Dmitry solemnly entered Moscow. He was greeted by his joyful wife, many people, and clergy with crosses. The liturgy and thanksgiving prayer were performed in the Assumption Church. Dmitry gave charity to the poor and poor, and especially to widows and orphans left after killed soldiers.

From Moscow, the Grand Duke and the boyars went to the Trinity Monastery. “Father, with your holy prayers I defeated the infidels,” Dmitry said to Abbot Sergius.” The Grand Duke generously endowed the monastery and the brethren. The bodies of the monks Peresvet and Oslyabya were buried near Moscow in the Nativity Church of the Simonov Monastery, the founder of which was the nephew of Sergius of Radonezh, Fedor, at that time the confessor of Grand Duke Dmitry. At the same time, many churches were founded in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, since the victory took place on the day of this holiday. The Russian Church established an annual celebration of the memory of those killed on the Kulikovo field on Dmitrovskaya Saturday, for September 8, 1380 fell on Saturday.

The significance of the Battle of Kulikovo

The Moscow people rejoiced at the great victory and glorified Dmitry and his brother Vladimir, giving the first the nickname Donskoy, and the second Brave. The Russians hoped that the Horde would be thrown into the dust, and the Tatar yoke would be thrown off forever. But this hope was not destined to come true so soon. Two years later, Moscow was to be burned during the campaign of Khan Tokhtamysh!

But the closer we get to know the feat accomplished by Dmitry Donskoy in 1380, the more convinced we become of its greatness. At present, it is not easy for us to imagine what kind of work it cost the Moscow Grand Duke five hundred years ago to gather and bring one hundred or one hundred and fifty thousand people to the battlefield of Kulikovo! And not only to collect them, but also to unite the rather diverse parts of this militia into a single army. The glory of the Kulikovo victory strengthened popular sympathy for the Moscow collectors of Rus' and greatly contributed to the cause of state unification.

Based on the works of the greatest Russian historian D. Ilovaisky

Battle of Kulikovo (Mamaevo Massacre), a battle between the united Russian army led by the Moscow Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich and the army of the temnik of the Golden Horde Mamai, which took place on September 8, 1380 on the Kulikovo field (a historical area between the Don, Nepryadva and Krasivaya Mecha rivers in the south- east of the Tula region.

Strengthening the Moscow Principality in the 60s of the 14th century. and the unification around him of the remaining lands of North-Eastern Rus' occurred almost simultaneously with the strengthening of the power of the temnik Mamai in the Golden Horde. Married to the daughter of the Golden Horde Khan Berdibek, he received the title of emir and became the arbiter of the destinies of that part of the Horde, which was located west of the Volga to the Dnieper and in the steppe expanses of the Crimea and Ciscaucasia.

Militia of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich in 1380 Lubok, 17th century.

In 1374, Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, who also had a label for the Grand Duchy of Vladimir, refused to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Then the khan in 1375 transferred the label to the great reign of Tver. But virtually the entire North-Eastern Rus' opposed Mikhail Tverskoy. The Moscow prince organized a military campaign against the Tver principality, which was joined by the Yaroslavl, Rostov, Suzdal and regiments of other principalities. Novgorod the Great also supported Dmitry. Tver capitulated. According to the concluded agreement, the Vladimir table was recognized as the “fatherland” of the Moscow princes, and Mikhail Tverskoy became Dmitry’s vassal.

However, the ambitious Mamai continued to consider the defeat of the Moscow principality, which had escaped subordination, as the main factor in strengthening his own positions in the Horde. In 1376, the Khan of the Blue Horde, Arab Shah Muzzaffar (Arapsha of Russian chronicles), who went over to the service of Mamai, ravaged the Novosilsk principality, but returned back, avoiding a battle with the Moscow army that had gone beyond the Oka border. In 1377 he was on the river. It was not the Moscow-Suzdal army that defeated Pian. The governors sent against the Horde showed carelessness, for which they paid: “And their princes, and boyars, and nobles, and governors, consoling and having fun, drinking and fishing, imagining the existence of the house,” and then ruined the Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan principalities.

In 1378, Mamai, trying to force him to pay tribute again, sent an army led by Murza Begich to Rus'. The Russian regiments that came out to meet were led by Dmitry Ivanovich himself. The battle took place on August 11, 1378 in Ryazan land, on a tributary of the Oka river. Vozhe. The Horde were completely defeated and fled. The Battle of Vozha showed the increased power of the Russian state emerging around Moscow.

Mamai attracted armed detachments from the conquered peoples of the Volga region and the North Caucasus to participate in the new campaign; his army also included heavily armed infantrymen from the Genoese colonies in the Crimea. The Horde's allies were the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jagiello and the Ryazan Prince Oleg Ivanovich. However, these allies were on their own: Jagiello did not want to strengthen either the Horde or the Russian side, and as a result, his troops never appeared on the battlefield; Oleg Ryazansky entered into an alliance with Mamai, fearing for the fate of his border principality, but he was the first to inform Dmitry about the advance of the Horde troops and did not participate in the battle.

In the summer of 1380 Mamai began his campaign. Not far from the place where the Voronezh River flows into the Don, the Horde set up their camps and, wandering, awaited news from Jagiello and Oleg.

In the terrible hour of danger hanging over the Russian land, Prince Dmitry showed exceptional energy in organizing resistance to the Golden Horde. At his call, military detachments and militias of peasants and townspeople began to gather. All of Rus' rose up to fight the enemy. The gathering of Russian troops was appointed in Kolomna, where the core of the Russian army set out from Moscow. The court of Dmitry himself, the regiments of his cousin Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky and the regiments of the Belozersk, Yaroslavl and Rostov princes walked separately along different roads. The regiments of the Olgerdovich brothers (Andrei Polotsky and Dmitry Bryansky, the Jagiello brothers) also moved to join the troops of Dmitry Ivanovich. The brothers' army included Lithuanians, Belarusians and Ukrainians; citizens of Polotsk, Drutsk, Bryansk and Pskov.

After the troops arrived in Kolomna, a review was held. The assembled army on the Maiden Field was striking in its numbers. The gathering of troops in Kolomna had not only military, but also political significance. The Ryazan prince Oleg finally got rid of his hesitations and abandoned the idea of ​​​​joining the troops of Mamai and Jagiello. A marching battle formation was formed in Kolomna: Prince Dmitry led the Big Regiment; Serpukhov Prince Vladimir Andreevich with the Yaroslavl people - the regiment of the Right Hand; Gleb Bryansky was appointed commander of the Left Hand regiment; The leading regiment was made up of Kolomna residents.

Saint Sergius of Radonezh blesses Saint Prince Demetrius Donskoy.
Artist S.B. Simakov. 1988

On August 20, the Russian army set out from Kolomna on a campaign: it was important to block the path of Mamai’s hordes as soon as possible. On the eve of the campaign, Dmitry Ivanovich visited Sergius of Radonezh at the Trinity Monastery. After the conversation, the prince and the abbot went out to the people. Having made the sign of the cross over the prince, Sergius exclaimed: “Go, sir, against the filthy Polovtsians, calling on God, and the Lord God will be your helper and intercessor.” Blessing the prince, Sergius predicted victory for him, albeit at a high price, and sent two of his monks, Peresvet and Oslyabya, on the campaign.

The entire campaign of the Russian army to the Oka was carried out in a relatively short time. The distance from Moscow to Kolomna is about 100 km; the troops covered it in 4 days. They arrived at the mouth of Lopasnya on August 26. Ahead there was a guard guard, which had the task of protecting the main forces from a surprise attack by the enemy.

On August 30, Russian troops began crossing the Oka River near the village of Priluki. Okolnichy Timofey Velyaminov and his detachment monitored the crossing, awaiting the approach of the foot army. On September 4, 30 km from the Don River in the Berezuy tract, the allied regiments of Andrei and Dmitry Olgerdovich joined the Russian army. Once again, the location of the Horde army was clarified, which, awaiting the approach of the allies, was wandering around the Kuzmina Gati.

The movement of the Russian army from the mouth of Lopasnya to the west was intended to prevent the Lithuanian army of Jagiello from uniting with the forces of Mamai. In turn, Jagiello, having learned about the route and number of Russian troops, was in no hurry to unite with the Mongol-Tatars, hovering around Odoev. The Russian command, having received this information, decisively sent troops to the Don, trying to forestall the formation of enemy units and strike at the Mongol-Tatar horde. On September 5, the Russian cavalry reached the mouth of the Nepryadva, which Mamai learned about only the next day.

To develop a plan for further action, on September 6, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich convened a military council. The votes of the council members were divided. Some suggested going beyond the Don and fighting the enemy on the southern bank of the river. Others advised staying on the northern bank of the Don and waiting for the enemy to attack. The final decision depended on the Grand Duke. Dmitry Ivanovich uttered the following significant words: “Brothers! An honest death is better than an evil life. It was better not to go out against the enemy than to come and do nothing and return back. Today we will all cross the Don and there we will lay our heads for the Orthodox faith and our brothers.” The Grand Duke of Vladimir preferred offensive actions that made it possible to maintain the initiative, which was important not only in strategy (hitting the enemy in parts), but also in tactics (choosing the location of the battle and the surprise of a strike on the enemy’s army). After the council in the evening, Prince Dmitry and voivode Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky moved beyond the Don and examined the area.

The area chosen by Prince Dmitry for the battle was called Kulikovo Field. On three sides - west, north and east, it was limited by the Don and Nepryadva rivers, cut by ravines and small rivers. The right wing of the Russian army forming into battle formation was covered by the rivers flowing into the Nepryadva (Upper, Middle and Lower Dubiki); on the left is the rather shallow Smolka River, which flows into the Don, and dried up stream beds (gums with gentle slopes). But this lack of terrain was compensated for - behind Smolka there was a forest in which a general reserve could be placed to guard the fords across the Don and strengthen the wing’s battle formation. Along the front, the Russian position had a length of over eight kilometers (some authors significantly reduce it and then question the number of troops). However, the terrain convenient for enemy cavalry action was limited to four kilometers and was located in the center of the position - near the converging upper reaches of Nizhny Dubik and Smolka. Mamai's army, having an advantage in deployment along a front of more than 12 kilometers, could attack Russian battle formations with cavalry only in this limited area, which excluded maneuver by cavalry masses.

On the night of September 7, 1380, the crossing of the main forces began. Foot troops and convoys crossed the Don along built bridges, and cavalry forded. The crossing was carried out under the cover of strong guard detachments.

Morning on the Kulikovo field. Artist A.P. Bubnov. 1943-1947.

According to the guards Semyon Melik and Pyotr Gorsky, who had a battle with enemy reconnaissance on September 7, it became known that the main forces of Mamai were at a distance of one crossing and should be expected at the Don by the morning of the next day. Therefore, so that Mamai would not forestall the Russian army, already on the morning of September 8, the army of Rus', under the cover of the Sentinel Regiment, took up battle formation. On the right flank, adjacent to the steep banks of Nizhny Dubik, stood the Right Hand regiment, which included Andrei Olgerdovich’s squad. The squads of the Big Regiment were located in the center. They were commanded by the Moscow okolnichy Timofey Velyaminov. On the left flank, covered from the east by the Smolka River, the Left Hand regiment of Prince Vasily Yaroslavsky formed. Ahead of the Big Regiment was the Advanced Regiment. Behind the left flank of the Big Regiment, a reserve detachment was secretly located, commanded by Dmitry Olgerdovich. Behind the Left Hand regiment in the Green Dubrava forest, Dmitry Ivanovich placed a selected cavalry detachment of 10-16 thousand people - the Ambush Regiment, led by Prince Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky and the experienced governor Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky.

Battle of Kulikovo. Artist A. Yvon. 1850

This formation was chosen taking into account the terrain and the method of fighting used by the Golden Horde. Their favorite technique was to envelop one or both flanks of the enemy with cavalry detachments and then move to his rear. The Russian army took up a position reliably covered on the flanks by natural obstacles. Due to the terrain conditions, the enemy could attack the Russians only from the front, which deprived him of the opportunity to use his numerical superiority and use the usual tactics. The number of Russian troops, formed in battle order, reached 50-60 thousand people.

Mamai’s army, which arrived on the morning of September 8 and stopped 7-8 kilometers from the Russians, numbered about 90-100 thousand people. It consisted of a vanguard (light cavalry), main forces (mercenary Genoese infantry were in the center, and heavy cavalry deployed in two lines on the flanks) and a reserve. Light reconnaissance and security detachments scattered in front of the Horde camp. The enemy's plan was to cover the Russian. army from both flanks, and then surround it and destroy it. The main role in solving this problem was assigned to powerful cavalry groups concentrated on the flanks of the Horde army. However, Mamai was in no hurry to join the battle, still hoping for Jagiello’s approach.

But Dmitry Ivanovich decided to draw Mamai’s army into the battle and ordered his regiments to march. The Grand Duke took off his armor, handed it over to boyar Mikhail Brenk, and he himself put on simple armor, but not inferior in its protective properties to the prince’s. The Grand Duke's dark red (black) banner was placed in the Big Regiment - a symbol of honor and glory of the united Russian army. It was handed to Brenk.

Duel between Peresvet and Chelubey. Artist. V.M. Vasnetsov. 1914

The battle began around 12 o'clock. As the main forces of the parties converged, a duel between the Russian warrior monk Alexander Peresvet and the Mongolian hero Chelubey (Temir-Murza) took place. As folk legend says, Peresvet rode out without protective armor, with only one spear. Chelubey was fully armed. The warriors dispersed their horses and struck their spears. A powerful simultaneous blow - Chelubey fell dead with his head towards the Horde army, which was a bad omen. Pere-light stayed in the saddle for several moments and also fell to the ground, but with his head towards the enemy. This is how the folk legend predetermined the outcome of the battle for a just cause. After the fight, a fierce battle broke out. As the chronicle writes: “The strength of the Tatar greyhound from Sholomyani is great, coming and then again, not moving, stasha, for there is no place for them to make way; and so stasha, a copy of the pawn, wall against wall, each of them has on the shoulders of his predecessors, the ones in front are more beautiful, and the ones in the back are longer. And the great prince, also with his great Russian strength, went against another Sholomyan against them.”

For three hours, Mamai’s army unsuccessfully tried to break through the center and right wing of the Russian army. Here the onslaught of the Horde troops was repulsed. Andrei Olgerdovich’s detachment was active. He repeatedly launched a counterattack, helping the center regiments hold back the enemy onslaught.

Then Mamai concentrated his main efforts against the Left Hand regiment. In a fierce battle with a superior enemy, the regiment suffered heavy losses and began to retreat. Dmitry Olgerdovich's reserve detachment was brought into the battle. The warriors took the place of the fallen, trying to hold back the onslaught of the enemy, and only their death allowed the Mongol cavalry to move forward. The soldiers of the Ambush Regiment, seeing the difficult situation of their military brothers-in-arms, were eager to fight. Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovskoy, who commanded the regiment, decided to join the battle, but his adviser, the experienced governor Bobrok, held the prince back. Mamaev's cavalry, pressing the left wing and breaking through the battle formation of the Russian army, began to go to the rear of the Big Regiment. The Horde, reinforced by fresh forces from the Mamaia reserve, bypassing Green Dubrava, attacked the soldiers of the Big Regiment.

The decisive moment of the battle had arrived. The Ambush Regiment, the existence of which Mamai did not know, rushed into the flank and rear of the Golden Horde cavalry that had broken through. The attack by the Ambush Regiment came as a complete surprise to the Tatars. “I fell into great fear and horror of wickedness... and cried out, saying: “Alas for us!” ... the Christians have become wise over us, the daring and daring princes and governors have left us in hiding and have prepared plans for us that are not tired; Our arms are weakened, and the shoulders of the Ustasha, and our knees are numb, and our horses are very tired, and our weapons are worn out; and who can go against them?..." Taking advantage of the emerging success, other regiments also went on the offensive. The enemy fled. Russian squads pursued him for 30-40 kilometers - to the Beautiful Sword River, where the convoy and rich trophies were captured. Mamai's army was completely defeated. It practically ceased to exist.

Returning from the chase, Vladimir Andreevich began to gather an army. The Grand Duke himself was shell-shocked and knocked off his horse, but was able to get to the forest, where he was found unconscious after the battle under a felled birch tree. But the Russian army also suffered heavy losses, amounting to about 20 thousand people.

For eight days the Russian army collected and buried the dead soldiers, and then moved to Kolomna. On September 28, the winners entered Moscow, where the entire population of the city was waiting for them. The Battle of Kulikovo Field was of great importance in the struggle of the Russian people for liberation from the foreign yoke. It seriously undermined the military power of the Golden Horde and accelerated its subsequent collapse. The news that “Great Rus' defeated Mamai on the Kulikovo field” quickly spread throughout the country and far beyond its borders. For his outstanding victory, the people nicknamed Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich “Donskoy”, and his cousin, Prince Vladimir Andreevich of Serpukhov, nicknamed him “Brave”.

Jagiello's troops, having not reached the Kulikovo field 30-40 kilometers and having learned about the Russian victory, quickly returned to Lithuania. Mamai’s ally did not want to take risks, since there were many Slavic troops in his army. In the army of Dmitry Ivanovich there were prominent representatives of Lithuanian soldiers who had supporters in Jagiello’s army, and they could go over to the side of the Russian troops. All this forced Jagiello to be as careful as possible in making decisions.

Mamai, abandoning his defeated army, fled with a handful of comrades to Kafa (Feodosia), where he was killed. Khan Tokhtamysh seized power in the Horde. He demanded that Rus' resume the payment of tribute, arguing that in the Battle of Kulikovo it was not the Golden Horde that was defeated, but the usurper of power, Temnik Mamai. Dmitry refused. Then, in 1382, Tokhtamysh undertook a punitive campaign against Rus', captured and burned Moscow by cunning. The largest cities of the Moscow land - Dmitrov, Mozhaisk and Pereyaslavl - were also subjected to merciless destruction, and then the Horde marched through the Ryazan lands with fire and sword. As a result of this raid, Horde rule over Russia was restored.

Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo field. Artist V.K. Sazonov. 1824.

In terms of its scale, the Battle of Kulikovo has no equal in the Middle Ages and occupies a prominent place in the history of military art. The strategy and tactics used in the Battle of Kulikovo by Dmitry Donskoy were superior to the strategy and tactics of the enemy and were distinguished by their offensive nature, activity and purposefulness of action. Deep, well-organized reconnaissance allowed us to make the right decisions and make an exemplary march-maneuver to the Don. Dmitry Donskoy managed to correctly assess and use the terrain conditions. He took into account the enemy’s tactics and revealed his plan.

Burial of fallen soldiers after the Battle of Kulikovo.
1380. Front chronicle of the 16th century.

Based on the terrain conditions and the tactical techniques used by Mamai, Dmitry Ivanovich rationally positioned the forces at his disposal on the Kulikovo field, created a general and private reserve, and thought through the issues of interaction between the regiments. The tactics of the Russian army received further development. The presence of a general reserve (Ambush Regiment) in the battle formation and its skillful use, expressed in the successful choice of the moment of entry into action, predetermined the outcome of the battle in favor of the Russians.

Assessing the results of the Battle of Kulikovo and the activities of Dmitry Donskoy preceding it, a number of modern scientists who have most fully studied this issue do not believe that the Moscow prince set himself the goal of leading the anti-Horde struggle in the broad concept of the word, but only spoke out against Mamai as a usurper of power in Zolotaya Horde. So, A.A. Gorsky writes: “Open disobedience to the Horde, which developed into an armed struggle against it, occurred during a period when power there fell into the hands of an illegitimate ruler (Mamai). With the restoration of “legitimate” power, an attempt was made to limit ourselves to a purely nominal, without payment of tribute, recognition of the supremacy of the “king,” but the military defeat of 1382 thwarted this. Nevertheless, the attitude towards foreign power changed: it became obvious that, under certain conditions, its non-recognition and successful military opposition to the Horde were possible.” Therefore, as other researchers note, despite the fact that the uprisings against the Horde still occur within the framework of previous ideas about the relationship between the Russian princes - “ulusniks” and the Horde “kings”, “The Battle of Kulikovo undoubtedly became a turning point in the formation of a new self-awareness of the Russian people,” and “the victory on the Kulikovo Field secured Moscow’s role as the organizer and ideological center of the reunification of the East Slavic lands, showing that the path to their state-political unity was the only path to their liberation from foreign domination.”

Monument-column, made according to the design of A.P. Bryullov at the Ch. Berd plant.
Installed on the Kulikovo field in 1852 on the initiative of the first explorer
battles of the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod S. D. Nechaev.

The times of the Horde invasions were becoming a thing of the past. It became clear that in Rus' there were forces capable of resisting the Horde. The victory contributed to the further growth and strengthening of the Russian centralized state and raised the role of Moscow as a center of unification.

_____________________________________

September 21 (September 8 according to the Julian calendar) in accordance with the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia” is the Day of Military Glory of Russia - Victory Day of the Russian regiments led by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy over the Mongol-Tatar troops in the Battle of Kulikovo.

A chronicle collection called the Patriarchal or Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. St. Petersburg, 1897. P. 27.

Quote by: Borisov N.S. And the candle would not go out... Historical portrait of Sergius of Radonezh. M., 1990. P.222.

Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 56.

Kirpichnikov A.N. Battle of Kulikovo. L., 1980. P. 105.

This number was calculated by the Soviet military historian E.A. Razin based on the total population of Russian lands, taking into account the principles of recruiting troops for all-Russian campaigns. See: Razin E.A. History of military art. T. 2. St. Petersburg, 1994. P. 272. The same number of Russian troops is determined by A.N. Kirpichnikov. See: Kirpichnikov A.N. Decree. op. P. 65. In the works of historians of the 19th century. this number varies from 100 thousand to 200 thousand people. See: Karamzin N.M. History of Russian Goverment. T.V.M., 1993.S. 40; Ilovaisky D.I. Collectors of Rus'. M., 1996. P. 110.; Soloviev S.M. History of Russia from ancient times. Book 2. M., 1993. P. 323. Russian chronicles provide extremely exaggerated data on the number of Russian troops: Resurrection Chronicle - about 200 thousand. See: Resurrection Chronicle. PSRL. T. VIII. St. Petersburg, 1859. P. 35; Nikon Chronicle - 400 thousand. See: Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 56.

See: Skrynnikov R.G. Battle of Kulikovo // Battle of Kulikovo in the cultural history of our Motherland. M., 1983. S. 53-54.

Nikon Chronicle. PSRL. T. XI. P. 60.

Right there. P. 61.

“Zadonshchina” talks about the flight of Mamai himself-nine to the Crimea, that is, about the death of 8/9 of the entire army in the battle. See: Zadonshchina // Military stories of Ancient Rus'. L., 1986. P. 167.

See: The Legend of Mamaev’s Massacre // Military Tales of Ancient Rus'. L., 1986. P. 232.

Kirpichnikov A.N. Decree. op. P. 67, 106. According to E.A. Razin’s Horde lost about 150 thousand, the Russians killed and died from wounds - about 45 thousand people (See: Razin E.A. Decree. Op. T. 2. P. 287-288). B. Urlanis speaks of 10 thousand killed (See: Urlanis B.Ts. History of military losses. St. Petersburg, 1998. P. 39). The “Tale of the Massacre of Mamaev” says that 653 boyars were killed. See: Military stories of Ancient Rus'. P. 234. The figure given there for the total number of dead Russian combatants of 253 thousand is clearly overestimated.

Gorsky A.A. Moscow and Horde. M. 2000. P. 188.

Danilevsky I.N. Russian lands through the eyes of contemporaries and descendants (XII-XIV centuries). M. 2000. P. 312.

Shabuldo F.M. The lands of Southwestern Rus' as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Kyiv, 1987. P. 131.

Yuri Alekseev, senior researcher
Research Institute of Military History
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

COURSE OF EVENTS

The result of the reign of Ivan Kalita (1325-1340) was a significant strengthening of Moscow’s position in northeastern Russia. Attempts to transfer the collection of tribute to the Grand Duke of Vladimir were made earlier, but this order was established only with the reign of Ivan Kalita. The Tver uprising of 1327 drew a line under the activities of the Baskaks in Rus'. The collection of tribute by the Russian prince was not accompanied by such violence as was done by the Horde. The population breathed a calmer breath. The Khan, regularly receiving the Horde's exit, was also pleased and did not send punitive detachments to Rus'. Forty years (1328-1367), as the chronicler noted, “the Tatars stopped fighting the Russian land.” During this time, a generation of new Russian people grew up: they did not see the horror of the Horde pogrom and were not afraid of the Tatars. These people could already take up the sword to defend their right to freedom.

In 1359, during the plague epidemic, the throne of Moscow, by the will of fate, went to a nine-year-old boy, Dmitry Ivanovich. Never before in Horde-ruled Rus' has a child been given a golden label for the great reign of Vladimir. Therefore, the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod prince Dmitry Konstantinovich went to the Horde and begged for a gold label. However, in this matter, Dmitry Konstantinovich was not even supported by his own relatives, and the Moscow boyars and Metropolitan Alexei in 1362 achieved the return of the golden label to Moscow. Obviously, at the same time the young Moscow prince Dmitry visited the Golden Horde.

The rivalry between the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod rulers ended in 1367 with peace and even union. Moscow Prince Dmitry promised to help Dmitry of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod suppress the rebellion of his rebellious brother. The Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod prince married his daughter to Dmitry of Moscow and recognized him as his “eldest brother.” The alliance with the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod principality was very important, because Moscow was preparing for war with Tver.

On the eve of the war, a stone Kremlin was erected in Moscow in 2 years (1367). It was built after the “All Saints” fire (it occurred on the day of remembrance of All Saints, hence its name) from white limestone stone and large bricks. Limestone was transported in winter on sleighs, and in summer along the river from quarries located near the village of Myachkova, 30 km from the capital. Some researchers believe that the new Kremlin was not all stone; it partially retained wooden structures. However, in Lower Rus' it was the first stone fortress. She spoke about the power and wealth of Moscow rulers.

In turn, from the late 1350s. There was great civil strife in the Golden Horde. Sources call it the “great trouble.” The horde split. In the Volga region, the khans changed almost every year. The shadow ruler Mamai strengthened himself in the southern Black Sea Horde. He was a temnik and ruled on behalf of the young Genghisid khans. During the years of the “great turmoil” the Horde became very weak. In 1362, in the Battle of Blue Waters, Olgerd defeated it and took away Southern Rus'. But worse than external defeats were internal conspiracies and unrest. They tormented the country, depriving it of its former strength. Over two decades, more than 20 Chingizids visited the throne of the Volga Horde. Central power has weakened. Many princes and murzas were accustomed to living by robbery. Taking advantage of the “stirring” in the Horde, the Tver prince Mikhail Alexandrovich decided to ask for a golden label. Mikhail also counted on the military assistance of his relative, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and Russia Olgerd (Olgerd was married to a Tver princess.)

During the struggle for the golden label, Prince Mikhail of Tver ended up in a Moscow dungeon for a while. Mikhail came to Moscow in 1368 for negotiations under the “guarantees” of his safety given by Metropolitan Alexei, but was arrested. Of course, Mikhail had to be released soon, and the fight continued with Lithuania participating in it. Various Horde khans also turned out to be participants in the Russian strife. Some of them supported Tver, while others supported Moscow.

Olgerd made two trips to Moscow. Moscow chronicles called Olgerd's invasions the first and second Lithuania. In both cases, Olgerd burned the outskirts of Moscow and besieged the city. But he failed to take the new Kremlin. Meanwhile, Mikhail Tverskoy received a gold label (1371), but the residents of Vladimir did not allow him into their city. And Moscow Prince Dmitry said: “I’m not going to the label, and I’m not letting you go into the land to reign on a great scale.”

In 1371, Prince Dmitry of Moscow traveled to the south of the Horde to the temnik Mamai. Mamai abandoned Mikhail Tverskoy. And already in 1375, Moscow regiments, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexei, besieged Tver. The Yaroslavl, Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov principalities and a number of other fiefs acted in alliance with Moscow. Dmitry of Moscow was also supported by one of the appanage princes of Tver, Kashinsky. As a result, according to the agreement of 1375, the golden label remained with the Moscow prince. The Great Reign of Vladimir was recognized as the “patrimony” of the Moscow princes. Prince Mikhail of Tver called himself a vassal - the “young brother” of Dmitry of Moscow.

There was another significant point in the Moscow-Tver Treaty of 1375. “If God changes the Horde” and the Moscow prince begins to fight with it, then the Tver monarch should also oppose the Horde. Thus, Moscow took the first step not only towards gathering Russian lands around itself, but also in preparing the struggle for their liberation from the Horde. In general, during the competition for the gold label with Tver, Moscow strengthened its position. The authority and strength of Prince Dmitry Ivanovich grew.

However, the main event of Russian history of the 14th century. became the Battle of Kulikovo. It was preceded by two clashes with the Horde. In 1377, Prince Arapsha (Khan Arab Shah) was preparing for a raid on the Nizhny Novgorod lands. Information about this leaked to Rus'. A united army of Nizhny Novgorod residents, Vladimir residents, Muscovites, Murom residents, and Yaroslavl residents came out to meet Arapsha. Arapsha did not appear. The warriors took off their armor. They began to hunt in the surrounding forests, had fun and feasted in a camp near the Piana River. Prince Dmitry of Moscow decided that Arapsha's raid would not take place, and left for his capital. As a result, the unexpected attack of the Tatars led the Russians to defeat. Nizhny Novgorod, left unprotected, was plundered. Other cities were also affected.

The next year, 1378, Mamai sent a new army to Rus' under the command of Murza Begich. A battle broke out on the Vozha River. This time, Moscow troops, led by Dmitry, acted coherently and decisively. The Horde were defeated and fled. The defeat of the Tatars on Vozha did not help strengthen the authority of Mamai. Temnik was going to take revenge. He was accustomed to power and did not want to lose it, but meanwhile Khan Tokhtamysh, the protege of the mighty Central Asian Emir Timur, had already begun to gather the Horde uluses into his fist. Only a resounding victory gave Mamai a chance to survive in the fight with Tokhtamysh for the Horde.

Tokhtamysh was a descendant of Batu's brother - Horde Ichen. Expelled from the Zayaitskaya Horde, he regained its throne, and also seized the throne in the Volga ulus with the help of the powerful Central Asian ruler Timur Lang (Khromets), known in Europe as Tamerlane. Tamerlane's vassal Tokhtamysh hoped to restore the unity and strength of the Golden Horde.

The decisive clash was approaching. In the fall, Mamai led a 150,000-strong army to Rus'. In Cafe, a Genoese colony in Crimea (modern Feodosia), Mamai hired a detachment of armored Western European infantry. Temnik also secured an alliance with the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jagiello Olgerdovich and the Ryazan Prince Oleg. But the allies were in no hurry to connect with Mamai, they waited. Jogaila was not interested in either the strengthening of Moscow or the victory of the Horde. Oleg was forced to play the role of an ally in order to save his land from plunder. Ryazan was closest to the Horde. Oleg informed the Tatars about the fords on the Oka, and Dmitry of Moscow about the Tatars’ advance route.

A large Russian army, up to 150 thousand, came out to meet the Horde. (True, many historians believe that the numbers of both Tatars and Russians are overestimated by chroniclers). Never before has Rus' brought so many warriors to battle. Vigilantes and militias from many Russian lands came to the Don. There were no Tver, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novgorod regiments among them, although it is possible that individual residents of these lands took part in the Battle of Kulikovo Field. Two brothers of Yagaila came from Lithuania to support Dmitry with regiments - the eldest sons of Olgerd, Orthodox princes Dmitry and Andrey, who were sitting in Bryansk and Polotsk.

Dmitry of Moscow and his cousin Vladimir of Serpukhov were blessed to fight the Tatars by the Russian ascetic monk, founder of the Trinity Monastery Sergius of Radonezh . Through his lips, the Russian Church for the first time called for a fight against the Horde. This is probably why the memory of St. is so revered in Rus'. Sergius. Two monks of the Trinity Monastery, former boyars - Peresvet and Oslyabya - went together with the Russian army to meet the Horde. Sergius' blessing was very important for Prince Dmitry of Moscow. He had a conflict with the new Russian Metropolitan Cyprian. The prince expelled the metropolitan from Moscow, and he imposed an anathema (curse) on Dmitry.

The bloody battle took place on September 8, 1380 (By the way, some modern historians they doubt that the battle took place on the Kulikovo field near the Don. This needs to be mentioned, since so far, despite all the efforts of archaeologists, no material “evidence” of the battle has been found on the Kulikovo field: no burial grounds, no weapons - only one chain mail and a helmet. Some historians (for example, V.A. Kuchkin) suggest that perhaps the battle took place in Moscow on Kulishi). In addition to Dmitry, the battle was directly led by his cousin Vladimir Serpukhovskoy and the governor from the Galicia-Volyn land Dmitry Bobrok. The Russian regiments formed in their traditional eagle formation. But at the same time, about a third of the army was left in ambush and in reserve. The Russians burned the bridges across the Don at the suggestion of the Lithuanian princes, so that the weak in spirit would not be tempted to flee the battlefield.

The battle began with a duel of heroes: monk Alexander from the Trinity-Sergius Monastery (formerly a resident of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Russia, Bryansk boyar Peresvet) and the Horde hero Chelubey. The knights struck each other with spears, Chelubey fell to the ground, and the horse of the Russian hero brought the dead rider to his camp.

The Tatar horsemen went on the attack. They crushed the Russian Guard Regiment. Grand Duke Dmitry fought in the armor of a simple warrior in the Advanced Regiment. The soldiers of this regiment almost all fell. After the battle, Dmitry was found with difficulty: the prince lay unconscious, crushed by a tree cut down in the battle. The Horde initially managed to break through the Russian left flank. They rushed to the rear of the Big Regiment. However, here their path was blocked by the reorganized Big Regiment and reserve detachments.

Then, unexpectedly, a large Ambush Regiment, led by Vladimir Serpukhovsky and Dmitry Bobrok, fell upon the Tatars. Mamai's nukers ran, sweeping away their own reinforcements. Neither the eastern cavalry nor the Genoese mercenary infantrymen saved Mamaia. Mamai was defeated and fled.

The Russians stood, as they said then, “on the bones,” that is, the battlefield remained behind them. They won. Dmitry, from then on nicknamed Donskoy, did not pursue Mamai.

Near the Kalka River, the remnants of Mamaev's troops were defeated for the second time by Khan Tokhtamysh. Mamai tried to take refuge in the Genoese colony of Cafe, but the townspeople killed Temnik, wanting to take possession of his treasury.

The prince returned safely with his army to Rus'. True, the Russian regiments suffered considerable losses. The chronicler wrote: “The entire Russian land has become destitute since the Mamaev massacre beyond the Don.”

The victory on the Kulikovo Field did not bring liberation from the yoke to North-Eastern Rus'. Khan Tokhtamysh, who united the Golden Horde under his rule, demanded submission from Rus'. In 1382, he took Moscow by deception, burned it and killed the inhabitants.

Dmitry Donskoy, confident in the strength of the stone Kremlin, left the capital. Muscovites were going to fight, despite the fact that Metropolitan Cyprian, the grand ducal family and individual boyars fled from the city. The townspeople chose as their leader the 18-year-old Lithuanian prince Ostei, who happened to be in Moscow. Ostey organized the defense, placing “mattresses” on the walls (these were either stone-throwing machines or cannons). Tokhtamysh's attempt to storm Moscow was repulsed. Then the khan resorted to a trick. The Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod princes (brothers of the Moscow princess) who came with Tokhtamysh swore that the Tatars only wanted to punish the “disobedient” Prince Dmitry. And since he is not in the city, the Horde will not touch anyone if the Muscovites voluntarily allow the khan into the capital and bring gifts. Perhaps the Nizhny Novgorod princes themselves believed the words of Tokhtamysh. Muscovites believed and paid for it with their lives. The delegation with gifts led by Ostey was hacked to death, the Horde burst into the city through the open gates, killed people, and burned the city.

Other Russian lands also suffered from the invasion of Tokhtamysh. Dmitry Donskoy's cousin, Vladimir Serpukhovskoy, came out to meet the khan with an army. After the Battle of Kulikovo he was nicknamed Vladimir the Brave. Without waiting for a battle with him, Khan Tokhtamysh went to the steppe, but the Russian principalities were forced to admit again their dependence on the Horde.

However, over time (in the first half of the 15th century), the payment of tribute became irregular, and the khans had almost no control over the fate of the gold label: the label was in the hands of the Moscow princes. The Golden Horde itself was unable to restore its former unity and power. The horde weakened and split. She was consumed by internal internecine warfare. In the end, by the middle of the 15th century. The Golden Horde split into the Crimean Khanate, the Kazan Khanate, the Great Horde, the Nogai Horde and the Siberian Khanate. The Great Horde laid claim to the legacy of the Golden One and sought to unite the Tatar khanates again. The Great Horde demanded tribute from Rus', but the great princes of Moscow and Vladimir rarely paid it a real Horde exit. More often they were limited to the so-called “wake” (gifts). The question of the fall of the yoke has already become a matter of time.

Soon after the invasion of Tokhtamysh, Dmitry Ivanovich sent his son Vasily to the Horde to receive a label for him. After fulfilling the condition of resuming the payment of tribute, the label remained with Dmitry. Before his death, he bequeathed the great reign to his son Vasily as a “fatherland.” Vasily continued his policy aimed at expanding the Moscow principality. In 1390, he went to the Horde and bought a label for the Nizhny Novgorod principality there; in addition, Murom became part of Moscow. Ryazan was gradually drawn into the orbit of Moscow politics. Oleg Ryazansky's son Fedor was married to Vasily's sister.

However, with constant civil strife in the Horde, it was difficult for the Moscow prince to maintain a good relationship with the Tatars. After the invasion of Moscow in 1382, Tokhtamysh did not rule the Horde for long. He quarreled with his benefactor - the Samarkand ruler Timur (Timur Lang (lame) - Tamerlane). Having gained a foothold in the Horde, Tokhtamysh decided to no longer be a vassal of Timur. He moved his regiments to the Horde. The alliance with the powerful Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt did not help Tokhtamysh either. The decisive battle on the river. Vorskla (1399) Vitovt and Tokhtamysh lost. In that battle, by the way, many heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo fell, for example, the governor Dmitry Bobrok died.

During the struggle between Timur and Tokhtamysh, Rus' was exposed to terrible dangers. In 1395, Tamerlane invaded its borders and burned Yelets. Everyone was terrified... An army led by the Moscow prince came out to meet the enemy, but they hoped not so much for weapons as for prayer and a miracle. The battle did not happen: Tamerlane returned to the East, the Asian conqueror was attracted by the wealth of Asian countries. The Russians attributed the good fortune to the miracle created by the icon of the Mother of God. It was no coincidence that the forces of Rus' were depleted; the planned alliance between Moscow and the Lithuanian prince Vitovt did not take place. The misfortunes did not end there. Timur's protege, the Golden Horde Khan Edigei, ravaged Rus' in 1408. Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Dmitrov, Serpukhov were taken. The khan burned everything around Moscow and captured thousands of troops. But white stone Kremlin this time he resisted and, having received tribute, Edigei went to the Horde...

Foreign researchers for the most part assess the results of Dmitry's reign modestly: the attempt to liberate Rus' failed.

Most domestic scientists consider the time of Dmitry Donskoy to be a turning point in Russian history: the issue of a center uniting the North-Eastern Russian lands was resolved - Moscow finally became it. The nature of Rus''s dependence after the Battle of Kulikovo began to change - the yoke steadily weakened. However, even among Russian historians There are opponents to this view. Below are the arguments for both approaches.

N.I. Kostomarov about Prince Dmitry Donskoy and his time:

“The reign of Dmitry Donskoy belongs to the most unfortunate and sad eras in the history of the long-suffering Russian people. Incessant ruin and devastation, either from external enemies or from internal strife, followed one after another on an enormous scale. The Moscow land, apart from minor devastation, was devastated twice by the Lithuanians, and then suffered an invasion by the Horde of Tokhtamysh; Ryazan land - suffered twice from the Tatars, twice from the Muscovites and was brought to extreme ruin; Tverskaya - was ravaged several times by Muscovites; Smolenskaya suffered from both Muscovites and Lithuanians; The Novgorod land suffered ruin from the Tver and Muscovites. This was joined by physical disasters (plague, droughts of 1365, 1371, 1373 and famine, fires) ...

Dmitry himself was not a prince capable of facilitating the wisdom of his rule. hard fate people; whether he acted on his own or at the suggestion of his boyars, a number of blunders are visible in his actions. Following the task of subjugating the Russian lands to Moscow, he not only failed to achieve his goals, but even let go of what circumstances brought him; he did not destroy the strength and independence of Tver and Ryazan, and did not know how to get along with them...; Dmitry only irritated them and subjected the innocent inhabitants of these lands to needless destruction; irritated the Horde, but did not take advantage of its temporary ruin... did not take measures to defend against danger (in 1382); and the consequence of all his activities was that ruined Rus' again had to crawl and humiliate itself before the dying Horde.”

CM. Soloviev about Prince Dmitry and his time:

“In 1389, the Grand Duke of Moscow Dimitri died, still only 39 years old. Dimitri's grandfather, uncle and father, in silence, prepared rich means for an open, decisive struggle. Demetrius's merit was that he knew how to use these means, knew how to deploy the prepared forces and give them proper use in time. The best proof of the especially important importance attached to the activities of Demetrius by his contemporaries is the existence of a special legend about the exploits of this prince, a special, ornately written life of him...

Important consequences of Demetrius' activities are found in his spiritual testament; in it we meet a previously unheard-of order: the Moscow prince blesses his eldest son Vasily with the great reign of Vladimir, which he calls his fatherland. Donskoy is no longer afraid of rivals for his son either from Tver or Suzdal...

Speaking about the importance of Dimitriev’s reign in the history of North-Eastern Rus', we must not forget about the activities of the Moscow boyars: they, taking advantage of the circumstances, defended the rights of their young prince and their principality... The latter did not remain ungrateful to the people who so badly wanted him well ... "