Field of Russian Glory: why we remember the Battle of Kulikovo
On September 21, Russia celebrates Military Glory Day, the Day of the victory of the Russian regiments led by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy over the Mongol—Tatar troops in the Battle of Kulikovo. This battle will never be erased from the national memory, because it became the starting point in the formation of a renewed Russian state — free from the Horde yoke. The courage of Prince Dmitry Ivanovich and his soldiers determined the movement of Russian history towards unity and independence. "Izvestia" recalled the details.
Moscow and the Horde
By that time, Russia had established an attitude towards the rulers of the Golden Horde, the descendants of Genghis Khan, as legitimate kings, whose power was from God, despite their non-Christian religion. But in the late 1350s, a long internecine war began in the Horde - the "Great Jamming." Beklarbek and temnik Mamaia became the most influential politician in this troubled time. Not being a Genghisid, he could not take the throne and ruled on behalf of the khans, who depended on his political will. But this state of affairs in the Horde did not suit everyone.
And Russia was ruled by Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich of Vladimir and Moscow, who years later would be called Donskoy. He became a prince at the age of nine. Metropolitan Alexy, a large—scale personality, was his regent and mentor at that time. The prince supported the church as much as he could and sought to strengthen the role of Moscow as the spiritual center of Russia. The construction of a white-stone Kremlin with powerful towers in Moscow made a strong impression on contemporaries. This fortress could withstand a long siege. And even in our time, Moscow is often called white stone for old times' sake.
Reproduction of an icon depicting Dmitry Donskoy, who was canonized in 1988
Dmitry's other endeavor is the minting of a silver coin. They retained the Horde elements, but Moscow took a step towards financial independence. The warrior prince paid serious attention to equipping his squad. Suffice it to recall that in his time the first artillery guns appeared in Russia. Dmitry's warriors spent their whole lives in campaigns and exercises, they knew the military business thoroughly, including the Tatar equestrian system. The Moscow "forged army" has become a formidable force.
In 1374, Dmitry Ivanovich stopped paying tribute to Mamai. In response, the usurper launched a campaign against Russia. Prince Dmitry Ivanovich had already managed to smash the Mongol army — in August 1378, in the Ryazan Principality, on the banks of the Vozha River. This was the first major victory of the troops of Northeastern Russia over the significant forces of the Golden Horde. Then Dmitry managed to stop the predatory campaign of Murza Begich, one of Mamai's henchmen. The memory of this victory helped Dmitry form a coalition of princes who were ready to resist the invasion of Mamai. It was not easy to forget about the strife, to rally to fight back against the enemy. But the Horde usurper also held successful negotiations with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jagiello and the Ryazan Prince Oleg. They promised to support him in the fight against Moscow.
Collection "The Tale of the Mamaev massacre"
Dmitry Ivanovich managed to get ahead of Mamai. There is reason to believe that Temnik was awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from the Crimea, but by September they did not have time to gather on the banks of the Don. Dmitry did not expect the invasion of invaders into the borders of the Russian principalities. Like Vladimir Monomakh, who acted against the Polovtsians at the beginning of the XI century, the prince undertook a campaign on the Don to stop the enemy in his lair. Dmitry was more determined than his predecessors, who considered caution to be the main political virtue.
It is difficult for us today to even imagine how extraordinary and responsible this decision was. ""The banks of the Don and Nepryadva, where the Russian regiments moved, were located outside the border of the Ryazan principality, in the "Wild Field." In case of defeat, retreat most likely meant death and enslavement. It's a foreign land all around.
Great Sich Day
There is no exact estimate of the number of soldiers who fought on Kulikovo Field that day. The chroniclers, speaking about the composition of Dmitry Donskoy's army, called 150 thousand, 200 thousand, and a fantastic 400 thousand. Modern historians give data on this subject from 30 thousand to 170 thousand. This also applies to Mamayeva's army. It is important that Dmitry managed to gather squads from Kostroma, Serpukhov, Bryansk, and Pskov under his banners... Despite the ambiguous position of Prince Oleg of Ryazan, the Ryazan boyars brought their troops to Kulikovo Field. Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich of Tver, a long—time rival of Moscow, declined to participate in the campaign. But detachments from the Tver Principality also fought against the Horde. It has been a long time since Russia has seen such unity. In the struggle for independence, a sketch of the future united state was born.
The troops stopped near the Nepryadva and Don arrows. Behind the left flank in the Green Oak Grove, it was decided to leave a combat reserve — an Ambush regiment commanded by Prince Vladimir Andreevich the Brave and Voivode Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky. This risky decision proved to be the key to victory, and the contribution of these generals and their vassals to the victory cannot be overestimated.
Early in the morning, when the fog had not yet cleared, the battle began. The story of the duel between two heroes, the Russian monk Peresvet and the Tatar Chelubey, is most likely still a legend. Then, under the blow of Mamaev's vanguard, the advanced regiment almost completely fell. The determination to fight to the last breath distinguished many soldiers who came to Kulikovo field. The ambush regiment waited. Prince Vladimir the Brave was about to rush into battle, but the experienced Dmitry Bobrok restrained him. Endurance is sometimes more important than courage for a commander. When the Horde brought all their forces into battle and the offensive lost its order, the ambush regiment struck from the rear. The appearance of fresh forces, powerful heavy cavalry, which confidently cut through the path to victory, inspired all Russian regiments. They felt the enemy falter.
By that time, Mamai had already thrown all his forces into the battle. Watching the defeat of his cavalry, he chose to flee with a small detachment of his close associates. Several thousand of the Horde chose to retreat after him. The Russian cavalry pursued them. By the end of the day, it became clear that Mamai's campaign against Russia had turned into a disaster for the Horde of Beklyarbek.
The painting "Khan Mamai" by artist Viktor Motorin, presented at the Museum of the Battle of Kulikovo in the village of Mokhovoye in the Tula region
Prince Dmitry took part in the sich as an ordinary man-at-arms and was among those who took the blow of the Horde with his chest. After the battle, he was presumed dead. The author of "The Tale of the Mamayev Massacre" tells how the warriors found the prince: "Two warriors turned to the right side in the oak grove, one named Fedor Sabur, and the other Grigory Kholopishchev, both from Kostroma. We walked a little away from the battlefield and came across the Grand Duke, beaten and wounded and exhausted, lying in the shade of a felled birch tree. And they saw him, and dismounted from their horses, and worshiped him. Sabur immediately returned to tell Prince Vladimir about it and said: "Prince Dmitry Ivanovich the Great is alive and reigns forever!"
Moscow has finally established itself as a collector of Russian lands. The rumor of victory spread throughout Eastern Europe. Dmitry Ivanovich did not receive final freedom from the Horde yoke. The legitimate Khan Tokhtamysh has become stronger. Two years later, he marched on Russian soil and burned Moscow. The Principality of Moscow remained a tributary of the Horde. But the idea of liberation was no longer perceived as something illegal and fantastic.
A monument through the ages
Over the years, the importance of the Battle of Kulikovo in the perception of the descendants of those who took the battle with Mamaev's army has only increased. In the 16th century, the Moscow Principality turned into a powerful state that had reason to be called "all Russia." And it became clear that the Kulikovo victory was a key milestone on the way to liberation at the historic crossing from Rus to Russia.
Memorial on Red Hill in "Kulikovo Field" Museum-Reserve. Monument-column to Dmitry Donskoy is the oldest monument to the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo
"The Battle of Kulikovo belongs to symbolic events... Such events are destined to return. Their solution is still ahead," Alexander Blok wrote. A lot has changed since that time. It's not just about the technical inventions that have transformed our lives. Modern Russia is a major power with many years of victorious traditions and a powerful army. At that time, the Moscow state was just embarking on the path of independent development. Today, Kulikovo Field is a quiet Russian outback. But thousands of people come there to worship the memory of their distant ancestors, who knew how to fight without sparing their bellies, defending the Fatherland.
On September 8, 1850, on the day of the 470th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, a column monument in honor of Prince Dmitry Donskoy was unveiled on the field on Red Hill. Money for this monument was collected all over the world. The column, which towers over the field of military glory, is crowned by a gilded head with a cross. For us, the Battle of Kulikovo is an important part of the great past that cannot be betrayed. When we swear allegiance to Russia, we hear the clash of swords on the banks of the Nepryadva River and remember the long-ago victory.
The author is the deputy editor—in-chief of the magazine "Historian"
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
