Events in 1380. Battle of Kulikovo - Day of Military Glory of Russia. Reference

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.

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 North Caucasus, his army also included heavily armed infantrymen from the Genoese colonies in 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 had important not only in strategy (hitting the enemy piece by piece), but also in tactics (choosing the location of the battle and the surprise of a strike on the enemy 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 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 the 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. 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 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. They also suffered merciless destruction Largest cities Moscow land - Dmitrov, Mozhaisk and Pereyaslavl, 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 broad concept this 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 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 Ancient Rus'. L., 1986. P. 167.
See: The Legend of Mamaev's massacre//Military stories 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 total number 253 thousand deaths of Russian combatants 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.

September 21 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 (1380).

The Battle of Kulikovo is the most important event in history medieval Rus', which largely determined the future fate of the Russian state. The Battle of the Kulikovo Field served as the beginning of the liberation of Rus' from the yoke of the Golden Horde.

In the second half of the 14th century, the collapse of the Golden Horde began, where one of the senior emirs, Mamai, became the de facto ruler. At the same time, in Rus' there was a process of formation of a centralized state through the unification of Russian lands under the rule of the Moscow principality.

The strengthening of the Moscow principality alarmed Mamai. In 1378, he sent an army to Rus' under the command of Murza Begich. The army of Prince Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow met the Horde on the Vozha River and defeated them. Mamai, having learned about Begich’s defeat, began to prepare for a big campaign against Rus'. He entered into an alliance with the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jagiello and the Ryazan Prince Oleg. In the summer of 1380, Mamai began his campaign.

Prince of Moscow Dmitry Ivanovich, having learned at the end of July about the Mongol-Tatar movement, made an appeal for the gathering of Russian military forces in Moscow and Kolomna. Squads from 27 Russian cities and principalities gathered under the banners of the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Ivanovich. The total number of troops exceeded 100 thousand people.

The plan of the campaign was to, without waiting for the connection between Mamai and his allies on the Oka, to cross the Oka and move towards the enemy to the upper reaches of the Don. The army march took place in August - early September.

On September 19 (September 6, old style) along the Old Dankovskaya Road, Russian regiments reached the Don River. At the military council, it was decided to cross the river and meet the enemy beyond the Don and Nepryadva. On the night of September 20 (7) to September 21 (8), the troops crossed the Don and in the early morning of September 21 began to deploy into battle formation between the Rybiy Verkh gully and the Smolka River on a front of about 1 km facing southeast, to the watershed from which they moved Mamai's strength.

At the forefront of the Russian army were detachments of the Watch Regiment. In the front line was the Advanced Regiment. The main line of Russian combat formation had a three-part division. In the center was the Big Regiment, its flanks were covered by the regiments of the Right and Left Hands, whose edges rested on the forested spurs of the ravine and river. Behind the large regiment there was a reserve.

Anticipating the course of the battle, the Russian commanders placed the Ambush Regiment, consisting of selected cavalry squads, to the east of the Left Hand regiment in the large forest tract "Green Dubrava". Mamai also arranged his cavalry and mercenaries in a linear order.

The battle began with a duel between the Russian warrior monk Peresvet and the Mongol hero Chelubey. In this duel both warriors died. Then the Tatar cavalry, having crushed the leading regiment, began to press back the large regiment; Russian regiments suffered significant losses; Boyar Mikhail Brenok, who fought in a large regiment in the armor of the Grand Duke and under his banner, was killed. Grand Duke Dmitry, wearing the armor of an ordinary warrior, fought among the soldiers of the same regiment.

However, the Russians held out, and then, creating a numerical superiority, Mamai threw the last fresh forces into the Left Hand regiment. Having suffered significant losses, the Left Hand regiment began to retreat. The reserve put forward to help did not save the situation either. Rounding the flank of the Great Regiment, the Golden Horde cavalry began to go to the rear of the Moscow army. There was a real threat of encirclement and destruction of Russian forces. The climax of the battle has arrived. At that moment, the Ambush Regiment struck the back of the Horde who had broken through.

The sudden introduction of fresh Russian forces into the battle radically changed the situation. The entry into battle of the Ambush Regiment served as a signal for the general offensive of the Moscow army. A mass exodus of Mamai's troops began. The pursuit was carried out by Russian cavalry until nightfall.

The victory was complete, the entire camp and convoy of the Horde were captured. However, the Russian army suffered heavy losses during the battle. For seven days the fallen soldiers were collected and buried in mass graves.

The Battle of Kulikovo was of great historical significance in the struggle of the Russian and other peoples against Mongol-Tatar oppression. An important consequence of the Battle of Kulikovo was the strengthening of Moscow’s role in the formation of the Russian state.

In 1848, a monument was erected on Red Hill, where Mamai’s headquarters was located.

In 1996, by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the State Military-Historical and Natural Museum-Reserve “Kulikovo Field” was created on the site of the legendary battle.

The territory of the museum-reserve occupies the southeast of the Tula region, geographically it is a section of the landscape of the northern forest-steppe of the Russian Plain in the basin of the upper reaches of the Don and Nepryadva. It includes the historical site of the battle with adjacent areas, as well as a complex of unique archaeological, memorial, architectural, natural and landscape monuments.

Since 1996, on the initiative of the museum, the international military-historical festival “Kulikovo Field” has been held annually on the banks of the Don River near the village of Tatinki. Military-historical reconstruction clubs from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic States take part in it. Winners competitive program of the festival take part in a large theatrical performance during the festive events dedicated to the anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo.

In 2002, in the village of Monastyrshchina, where, according to legend, Russian soldiers who died in the Battle of Kulikovo were buried, a Memory Alley was founded. Here are memorial signs from various lands of Russia.

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 for the most part Rus and forced local residents 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 reins 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 the largest 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.

History of Russia from Rurik to Putin. People. Events. Dates Anisimov Evgeniy Viktorovich

Battle of Kulikovo 1380

Battle of Kulikovo 1380

In the 1370s. The Mongol-Tatars constantly visited Rus'. In 1377, the horde of Prince Arab Shah attacked the Russian army on the Piana River under Nizhny Novgorod. The Russian regiments did not expect an attack; the princes did not even know where the horde was. Without setting up patrols, some half-naked warriors rested carelessly, others hunted, and others drank honey and mash. Many had their armor lying in the wagon train, hidden in bags, the spears were not mounted on the shafts, and the shields were not assembled. The Mordovian guides showed the Mongol-Tatars the approaches to the camp - and they suddenly hit the Russians, “hitting, piercing and cutting.” “In a daze” (confusion), the Russian troops, pursued by the Horde, fled, covering the road to Nizhny Novgorod with the bodies of the dead. The unfortunate military leader Prince Ivan Dmitrievich (brother of Dmitry Donskoy’s wife) threw himself into the river and drowned while crossing. On the shoulders of the Russians, the Horde burst into Nizhny Novgorod. Residents of the city hastily moved across the river in boats to neighboring Gorodets and watched as the enemies robbed and burned them hometown. The Mongol-Tatars took a huge load, and the shame of Piana was remembered forever.

Meanwhile, the Golden Horde itself was restless - the nomadic society was torn apart by the squabbles of clans and noble families of the Murzas. In the mid-1350s. The horde split. In 1357, Khan Janibek was killed by his son Berdibek, who immediately massacred 12 of his half-brothers. After this, according to the Russian chronicler, “a great racket in the Horde” began. In 25 years (until 1381), 25 khans replaced the throne in the Horde!

By 1380, the situation in the Horde remained confused: part of it stood for Emir Mamai, and part for Khan Tokhtamysh from the Juchid clan. The Russian princes had to appease both... or, taking advantage of their feuds, not pay tribute (“exit”) to anyone. This is what Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich did. He refused to answer Mamai’s “request” and did not go to the Horde at his call. Formally, he acted according to the law: Mamai did not come from the Genghisids, that is, he did not belong to the royal family, but was, like Dmitry, only an emir. Moreover, in 1378, in the Ryazan land, on the Vozhzhe River, Prince Dmitry defeated the “Begichev Army” sent by Mamai. This battle would have been one of the most brilliant victories of Russian weapons if it had not been overshadowed by the even more grandiose victory on the Kulikovo Field.

After the battle on Vozha, Mamai decided to punish the disobedient Moscow tributary with his own hands and marched against him. Dmitry Ivanovich understood what a desperate thing he had started - to challenge the mighty and invincible Horde for 150 years! According to legend, he was inspired to this feat by Sergius of Radonezh. But it was not only the approval of the church that Prince Dmitry secured. Having completely ruined his relationship with Mamai, he actively and skillfully put together a princely coalition.

For the first time since pre-Mongol times, Prince Dmitry convened a large princely congress. At the call of the Grand Duke, in November 1374, no less than 150 appanage princes gathered in Pereslavl-Zalessky! They agreed on joint actions against, as they would now say, a “probable enemy.” But at first they were not Horde people at all, but... Tverians. In 1375, squads “from all over the Russian land” were already standing under the walls of the Russian city. Tver Prince Mikhail quickly recognized the supremacy of Grand Duke Dmitry, as already mentioned above.

Soon this experience of joint actions of allied and Moscow-subordinate appanage princes came in handy in the fight against the Horde. In the summer of 1380, at the call of Dmitry, a huge 100,000-strong army gathered in Moscow. It moved out of the capital along three roads. The streets of Moscow then saw an extraordinary sight: to the ringing of bells, priests with banners, icons and crosses, in golden vestments, sprinkled holy water on thousands of soldiers passing by. “Then... it is not knocking that knocks, it is not thunder that thunders,” the chronicler wrote, “then the mighty army of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich is knocking, the Russian daredevils are thundering with gilded armor and scarlet shields.” Holding back tears, Dmitry Ivanovich said goodbye to Princess Evdokia: “Wife, if God is for us, then who can be against us?”

On August 26, 1380, the news spread throughout Moscow that the Russian army had crossed the Oka River, and “there was great sadness in the city of Moscow, and bitter crying and cries and sobs arose in all parts of the city.” Everyone knew that if the army crossed the river, then the command had made the final choice: there was no turning back, the battle and the death of many relatives and friends were inevitable. On September 8, 1380, as soon as the morning fog cleared, the battle on the Kulikovo Field began in a duel between the monk Peresvet and the Tatar hero Chelubey. Both fighters fell to the ground dead - according to a long-standing belief, such an outcome of the duel foreshadowed a difficult battle. And indeed, the cup of success wavered for a long time. At first, the Mongol-Tatars managed to break through the Russian ranks and even cut down the staff of the regimental banner in the Big Regiment. It was a terrible moment - after all, every warrior in the cramped conditions and chaos of battle is guided by the banner of the regiment, and its disappearance means defeat, death. But the Russian soldiers did not lose heart, launched a counterattack and won. Their losses were horrific - after the battle, the soldiers spent six days burying their dead comrades.

But still, on that day God really was on the side of Rus'! Prince Dmitry was found under fallen tree shell-shocked, but alive. It is known that he, supporting the courage of the “unprecedents” (recruits), led the first attack on the enemy. Huge role His cousin Vladimir Andreevich, who commanded a reserve regiment, which suddenly ambushed the Tatars and thereby decided the fate of the battle, played a role in the victory. Like Prince Dmitry, Vladimir Andreevich received the nickname Donskoy.

Battle of Kulikovo 1380 In the 1370s. The Mongol-Tatars constantly visited Rus'. In 1377, the horde of Tsarevich Arab Shah attacked the Russian army on the Piana River near Nizhny Novgorod. The Russian regiments did not expect an attack; the princes did not even know where the horde was. Without setting up patrols, alone

The Battle of the Don, or the Battle of Kulikovo 1362–1380 Many worries, labors, anxieties and sorrows awaited Dimitri Ioannovich on the grand-ducal throne. First, he had to pacify Dimitri Konstantinovich several times, who still strived to be great