The Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 is the most important event in the history of 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. The growing power of the Moscow principality, the strengthening of its authority among the Russian principalities, Moscow’s refusal to pay tribute to the Horde, defeat in the battle on the river. Vozhe became the main reasons for the plan of the temnik of the Golden Horde Mamai to organize a large campaign against Rus'.

BATTLE OF KULIKOVO - the battle of Russian regiments led by the Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir Dmitry Ivanovich and the Horde army under the command of Khan Mamai on September 8, 1380 on the Kulikovo field (on the right bank of the Don, in the area where the Nepryadva River flows into it), a turning point in the struggle of the Russian people with the yoke of the Golden Horde.

After the defeat of the Golden Horde troops on the Vozha River in 1378, the Horde temnik (the military leader who commanded the “darkness”, that is, 10,000 troops), chosen by the khan, named Mamai, decided to break the Russian princes and increase their dependence on the Horde. In the summer of 1380 he gathered an army numbering approx. 100-150 thousand warriors. In addition to the Tatars and Mongols, there were detachments of Ossetians, Armenians, Genoese living in the Crimea, Circassians, and a number of other peoples. The Grand Duke of Lithuania Jagiello agreed to be an ally of Mamai, whose army was supposed to support the Horde, moving along the Oka. Another ally of Mamai - according to a number of chronicles - was the Ryazan prince Oleg Ivanovich. According to other chronicles, Oleg Ivanovich only verbally expressed his readiness to ally, promising Mamai to fight on the side of the Tatars, but he himself immediately warned the Russian army about the threatening union of Mamai and Jagiello.

At the end of July 1380, having learned about the intentions of the Horde and Lithuanians to fight with Russia, Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich made an appeal for the gathering of Russian military forces in the capital and Kolomna, and soon gathered an army slightly smaller than Mamai’s army. Mostly it consisted of Muscovites and warriors from lands that recognized the power of the Moscow prince, although a number of lands loyal to Moscow - Novogorod, Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod - did not express their readiness to support Dmitry. The main rival of the Prince of Moscow, the Prince of Tver, did not give his “wars”. The military reform carried out by Dmitry, having strengthened the core of the Russian army at the expense of the princely cavalry, gave access to the number of warriors to numerous artisans and townspeople who made up the “heavy infantry”. The foot warriors, by order of the commander, were armed with spears with narrow-leaved triangular tips, tightly mounted on long strong shafts, or with metal spears with dagger-shaped tips. Against the foot soldiers of the Horde (of which there were few), Russian warriors had sabers, and for long-range combat they were provided with bows, knobby helmets, metal ears and chain mail aventails (shoulder collars), the warrior’s chest was covered with scaly, plate or stacked armor, combined with chain mail . The old almond-shaped shields were replaced by round, triangular, rectangular and heart-shaped shields.

Dmitry's campaign plan was to prevent Khan Mamai from connecting with an ally or allies, force him to cross the Oka, or do it themselves, unexpectedly going out to meet the enemy. Dmitry received a blessing to fulfill his plan from Abbot Sergius of the Radonezh Monastery. Sergius predicted victory for the prince and, according to legend, sent with him “to battle” two monks of his monastery - Peresvet and Oslyabya.

From Kolomna, where Dmitry’s army of thousands had gathered, at the end of August he gave the order to move south. The rapid march of Russian troops (about 200 km in 11 days) did not allow the enemy forces to unite.

On the night of August 7–8, having crossed the Don River from the left to the right bank along floating bridges made of logs and having destroyed the crossing, the Russians reached the Kulikovo Field. The Russian rear was covered by the river - a tactical maneuver that opened a new page in Russian military tactics. Prince Dmitry rather riskily cut off his possible retreat routes, but at the same time he covered his army from the flanks with rivers and deep ravines, making it difficult for the Horde cavalry to carry out outflanking maneuvers. Dictating his terms of battle to Mamai, the prince positioned the Russian troops in echelon: in front stood the Advanced Regiment (under the command of the Vsevolzh princes Dmitry and Vladimir), behind him was the Greater Foot Army (commander Timofey Velyaminov), the right and left flanks were covered by the cavalry regiments of the “right hand” "(commander - Kolomna thousand Mikula Velyaminova, brother of Timofey) and "left hand" (commander - Lithuanian prince Andrei Olgerdovich). Behind this main army stood a reserve - light cavalry (commander - Andrei's brother, Dmitry Olgerdovich). She was supposed to meet the Horde with arrows. In a dense oak grove, Dmitry ordered the reserve Zasadny floor to be located under the command of Dmitry’s cousin, Serpukhov prince Vladimir Andreevich, who after the battle received the nickname Brave, as well as an experienced military commander, boyar Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky. The Moscow prince tried to force the Horde, whose first line was always cavalry, and the second - infantry, to a frontal attack.

The battle began on the morning of September 8 with a duel of heroes. On the Russian side, Alexander Peresvet, a monk of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, was put up for the duel, before he was tonsured - a Bryansk (according to another version, Lyubech) boyar. His opponent turned out to be the Tatar hero Temir-Murza (Chelubey). The warriors simultaneously thrust their spears into each other: this foreshadowed great bloodshed and a long battle. As soon as Chelubey fell from the saddle, the Horde cavalry moved into battle and quickly crushed the Advanced Regiment. Further onslaught of the Mongol-Tatars in the center was delayed by the deployment of the Russian reserve. Mamai transferred the main blow to the left flank and began to press back the Russian regiments there. The situation was saved by the Ambush Regiment of Serpukhov Prince Vladimir Andeevich, who emerged from the oak grove, struck the rear and flank of the Horde cavalry and decided the outcome of the battle.

It is believed that Mamaev’s army was defeated in four hours (if the battle lasted from eleven to two o’clock in the afternoon). Russian soldiers pursued its remnants to the Krasivaya Mecha River (50 km above the Kulikovo Field); The Horde Headquarters was also captured there. Mamai managed to escape; Jagiello, having learned of his defeat, also hastily turned back.

The losses of both sides in the Battle of Kulikovo were enormous. The dead (both Russians and Horde) were buried for 8 days. 12 Russian princes and 483 boyars (60% of the command staff of the Russian army) fell in the battle. Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, who participated in the battle on the front line as part of the Big Regiment, was wounded during the battle, but survived and later received the nickname “Donskoy”.

The Battle of Kulikovo instilled confidence in the possibility of victory over the Horde. The defeat on the Kulikovo Field accelerated the process of political fragmentation of the Golden Horde into uluses. For two years after the victory on the Kulikovo field, Rus' did not pay tribute to the Horde, which marked the beginning of the liberation of the Russian people from the Horde yoke, the growth of their self-awareness and the self-awareness of other peoples who were under the yoke of the Horde, and strengthened the role of Moscow as the center of the unification of Russian lands into a single state.

The memory of the Battle of Kulikovo has been preserved in historical songs, epics, stories Zadonshchina, The Legend of the Massacre of Mamayev, etc.). Created in the 90s - 14th - first half of the 15th centuries. following the chronicle stories, the Legend of the Massacre of Mamayev is the most complete coverage of the events of September 1380. More than 100 copies of the Legend are known, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, which have survived in 4 main editions (Basic, Distributed, Chronicle and Cyprian). The widespread one contains a detailed account of the events of the Battle of Kulikovo, which are not found in other monuments, starting with the prehistory (the embassy of Zakhary Tyutchev to the Horde with gifts in order to prevent bloody events) and about the battle itself (participation in it of the Novgorod regiments, etc.). Only the Legend preserved information about the number of Mamai’s troops, descriptions of preparations for the campaign (“harnessing”) of Russian regiments, details of their route to the Kulikovo Field, features of the deployment of Russian troops, a list of princes and governors who took part in the battle.

The Cyprian edition highlights the role of Metropolitan Cyprian, in it the Lithuanian prince Jagiello is named as Mamai’s ally (as it actually was). The Legend contains a lot of didactic church literature: both in the story about the trip of Dmitry and his brother Vladimir to St. Sergei of Rodonezh for a blessing, and about the prayers of Dmitry’s wife Evdokia, by which the prince himself and their children were “saved,” and what was said in the mouth of the governor Dmitry Bobrok - Volynets included the words that “the cross is the main weapon”, and that the Moscow prince “carries out a good deed”, which is guided by God, and Mamai - darkness and evil, behind which stands the devil. This motif runs through all the lists of the Legend, in which Prince Dmitry is endowed with many positive characteristics (wisdom, courage, courage, military talent, courage, etc.).

The folklore basis of the Legend enhances the impression of the description of the battle, presenting an episode of single combat before the start of the battle between Peresvet and Chelubey, a picture of Dmitry dressing up in the clothes of a simple warrior and handing over his armor to the governor Mikhail Brenk, as well as the exploits of the governor, boyars, ordinary warriors (Yurka the shoemaker, etc. ). The Legend also contains poetics: a comparison of Russian warriors with falcons and gyrfalcons, a description of pictures of nature, episodes of farewells to soldiers leaving Moscow for the battle site with their wives.

In 1807, the Legend was used by the Russian playwright V.A. Ozerov when writing the tragedy Dmitry Donskoy.

The first monument to the heroes of the Kulikovo battle was the church on the Kulikovo field, assembled shortly after the battle from the oak trees of the Green Oak Forest, where the regiment of Prince Vladimir Andreevich was hidden in ambush. In Moscow, in honor of the events of 1380, the Church of All Saints on Kulichiki (now located next to the modern Kitay-Gorod metro station), as well as the Mother of God Nativity Monastery, which in those days gave shelter to widows and orphans of warriors who died in the Battle of Kulikovo, were built. On the Red Hill of the Kulikovo Field in 1848, a 28-meter cast-iron column was built - a monument in honor of the victory of Dmitry Donskoy over the Golden Horde (architect A.P. Bryullov, brother of the painter). In 1913-1918, a temple was built on the Kulikovo field in the name of St. Sergei Radonezhsky.

The Battle of Kulikovo was also reflected in the paintings of O. Kiprensky - Prince Donskoy after the Battle of Kulikovo, Morning on the Kulikovo Field, M. Avilov - The Duel of Peresvet and Chelubey, etc. The theme of the glory of Russian weapons in the 14th century. represented by Yu. Shaporin's cantata On the Kulikovo field. The 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo was widely celebrated. In 2002, the Order “For Service to the Fatherland” was established in memory of St. V. book Dmitry Donskoy and Venerable Abbot Sergius of Radonezh. Attempts to prevent the declaration of the day of the Battle of Kulikovo as the day of glory of Russian weapons, which came in the 1990s from a group of Tatar historians who motivated their actions with the desire to prevent the formation of an “enemy image,” were categorically rejected by the President of Tatarstan M. Shaimiev, who emphasized that Russians and Tatars have long “gathered in a single Fatherland and they must mutually respect the pages of the history of the military glory of peoples.”

In Russian church history, the victory on the Kulikovo Field began to be celebrated over time simultaneously with the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on September 21 (September 8, old style).

Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva

The Russian army of the 14th century was a feudal army, where the territorial principle was the basis of the organization. That is, in case of military necessity, the overlord called all his vassals under his banner, according to principalities, cities, fiefs and fiefdoms. The Russian army of the late 14th century consisted of such detachments, recruited on a territorial basis, it included nobles, boyar children, close feudal lords, free servants, and city militias. The detachments were commanded by large and medium-sized feudal lords. Class restrictions on participation in military service have not yet been as strict as they later became, but, obviously, in different Russian lands the attitude towards militias was different, despite the fact that the combat effectiveness of militias recruited from people who were not trained in the art of war was reduced , raises serious doubts.

St. Princes Boris and Gleb. Icon of the end of the 14th century 15th centuries Pskov. (TG)

St. Princes Boris and Gleb with their lives (fragment). Icon of the beginning 14th century Moscow. (TG)

Before the Mongol invasion, vassal relations in Rus' were fairly conditional; they were built on “vassalage without fiefs,” reminiscent of the institution of the Anglo-Saxon housecarls. In the 14th century, junior and mid-level commanders often complained about land “for feeding,” which was carried out both on conditional local and patrimonial rights. This practice is mentioned in documents during the time of Ivan Kalita, who was interested in creating a class of service landowners dependent on him. However, the ancient right of free departure of boyars and free servants was not abolished, from which Moscow only benefited: more favorable conditions of service attracted a variety of people to Moscow, including Horde warriors. Therefore, the core of the army still consisted of professional warriors.

St. Princes Boris and Gleb. Icon from the mid 14th century. Moscow. (GRM)

St. Princes Boris and Gleb. Icon of the 1st third of the 14th century. Novgorod. (GIM)

Since the 14th century, military service has become mandatory, discipline has become stronger, and, most importantly, there has been a clearer organization of the army itself and its management. Although the structure of the Russian army is not explained in detail in the sources, some of its features can be assumed. The smallest units were “spears”, that is, the commander was a noble warrior, and several fighters subordinate to him, no more than 10 people in total. Several dozen “copies” were united into a “flag,” that is, a larger unit under the command of boyars or petty princes. “Banner” had its own banner, unique to it, by which the unit could easily be found in the thick of the battle. The “flag” could carry out independent tasks and be part of larger units: during the Battle of Kulikovo, “flags” (from 3 to 9) consisted of regiments led by princes and governors. This division into small, medium and large units was quite typical for all medieval armies, recruited according to the feudal-territorial principle. Hence some heterogeneity of the “banners” and their different numbers. In “The Tale of the Massacre of Mamayev” we can find references to banners both as military units and as banners themselves. For example, when Russian troops set out on the morning of September 8, “each one must march under his own banner.” In the episode of the ambush regiment's performance, its units are directly called banners: “And their banners were directed by the strong commander Dmitry Volynets.” Of course, we are talking not just about battle flags, but about the military detachments that performed under these banners. In general, the banner played a huge role in the battle. It is known that during the Battle of Kulikovo, the fiercest battle broke out around the Grand Duke’s banner with the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The same was the case with smaller detachment and regimental banners, which every fighter had to focus on in the thick of battle: losing or cutting the banner meant the death of the detachment, the destruction of its formation and flight.

Certain elements of such an army organization can be traced in Rus' since the 12th century. A similar system existed in Europe. By analogy with Europe, it can be assumed that the number of Russian “banners” was from 500 to 1500 people. On the other hand, a similar organization was also characteristic of the post-Genghisid armies. The army here was traditionally divided into tens, hundreds and thousands with their commanders, who, in turn, made up tumen corps of 10-12 thousand fighters. It is known that Tamerlane, when creating his army, singled out 313 people for their special devotion and undoubted military talents, 100 of whom he appointed commanders of dozens, 100 of hundreds, 100 of thousands, and gave 13 even higher positions (millions:) -J) . Unlike Russian and European armies, these were units of constant strength that knew nothing but military service. The number of kul corps of Tamerlane's army, similar to the Russian regiments, was about 3,000 people, and in the case of the Russian regiments one can assume a similar number, perhaps, as in the case of the Battle of Kulikovo, and somewhat larger.

Complexes and elements of defensive weapons of Moscow Rus'

As for the total number of Russian troops on the Kulikovo Field, there are quite a lot of opinions on this issue. Figures over 100 thousand should be immediately discarded as clearly unrealistic. Such a number of people simply would not fit on the Kulikovo Field, and managing such large masses of people would be extremely difficult. Although some sources indicate precisely these figures, this should not be trusted: in all medieval sources the number of warring parties was always overestimated.

Complexes and elements of defensive weapons of the Golden Horde

V.N. Tatishchev suggests the size of the Russian army at 60 thousand people, and up to a third of them were non-combatants - a figure common for that time. The Russian side, according to Tatishchev, lost up to 20 thousand killed. This is quite consistent with the German chronicle of Johann Poschilge, where the total number of those killed in the Battle of Kulikovo is estimated at 40 thousand. According to the Nikon Chronicle, after the massacre there were up to 40 thousand Russians left. However, there the total number of the Russian army was 400 thousand soldiers, which, of course, is impossible.

In principle, the figures indicated by Tatishchev can be taken as a basis, and we can assume approximately the same for Mamai’s army.

According to the calculations of modern researchers, the population of the Moscow State in the 16th century was approximately one and a half million inhabitants. Accordingly, in the last years of the 14th century, the population in the territory where the mobilization of Russian troops took place was significantly smaller, and the highest population density was in the Novgorod lands, while Novgorod fielded no more than a thousand fighters. If we assume that about 10 percent of the total population was called to war, which is extremely high, then again we will get no more than 40 thousand fighters.

Another way to clarify the number of troops is to try to position them on the ground. If we discard the endless discussions about the location of the battle and take as a basis the field indicated by A.N. Kirpichnikov, then we have a rather narrow space between the Don and Nepryadva, with dense vegetation in the lowlands, with oak groves along the edges - an uneven rectangle 2.5-3 wide km and up to 4 km long. A horse and rider occupy about two meters in a row, a little more if the formation is uneven. Infantryman - approximately 75-80 centimeters. Even if we assume that the battle front is equal to the entire width of the field, it turns out that no more than two to three thousand fighters could be in the first line at the same time. In this case, it would be absolutely impossible to carry out any maneuver.

In the Battle of Grunwald, with such a wide battlefield, only about 60 thousand horse and foot soldiers took part. At the same time, if we take into account some features of the course of the Battle of Kulikovo, the total number of warring parties can be estimated as somewhat large, but not more than 70-75 thousand.

Moscow's previous diplomatic efforts played an important role in organizing the army that marched on the Kulikovo Field. According to the treaties of the 14th century, first the appanages, and then the principalities independent of Moscow, were obliged to act together with the Moscow principality against a common enemy. “And whoever is an enemy to our oldest brother is also an enemy to us, and whoever is a friend to our oldest brother is also a friend to us,” was the usual formula for such “finishings.” And, from here - “I will send you, mount your horse without disobeying.”

Shields of Western Europe

The war of 1375 with Tver ended with just such a treaty, and both grand dukes were obliged to participate in joint campaigns. During the same campaign, Moscow carried out the following mobilization: the troops of the Serpukhov-Borovsky, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Suzdal, Bryansk, Kashinsky, Smolensky, Obolensky, Molozhsky, Tarussky, Novosilsky, Gordetsky and Starodubovsky princes acted as part of a joint army. According to the agreement, Novgorod also sent its army. In total, according to the chronicle, 22 detachments marched to Tver, which were probably united into several regiments. The army was assembled at Volok between July 14 and August 21, 1375, which was quite fast at that time.

Shields of the Golden Horde

It is obvious that already during the campaign against Tver, the army assembled by the Moscow Prince had a unified command. The Grand Duke of Moscow became such a commander-in-chief, at whose command the united army of the Russian principalities was assembled. It is possible that during the same period, military lists were created - “ranks”, which regulated the number of units, their weapons, formation, and commanders. Only in this way, by creating a disciplined, well-armed army with a unified command, was it possible to achieve victory on the Kulikovo Field, and not repeat the defeats of the princes of Kievan Rus.

Army of Dmitry Donskoy

Infantry

1. Dismounted commander of a foot detachment.

A noble warrior, the unit commander is equipped much better than ordinary infantrymen. The complex of his protective weapons includes long-sleeved chain mail with chain mail gloves, on top of which is worn a lamellar armor made of copper plates with mantles, with a hem made of large scales. There are small round plates on the elbows. The head is protected by a low helmet riveted from two parts with a brim, decorated with a crest and a chased plate on the front, worn over a chain mail hood. A large triangular shield is thrown behind the back on a shoulder strap. The knees are protected by ring-plate knee pads. Weapons - sword and Western European dagger.

2. Heavily armed foot spearman(1-2 construction lines).

Throughout the 14th century in Rus' there was a kind of revival of the infantry, whose role had almost disappeared in the 12th century, and this was quite clearly manifested during the Battle of Kulikovo. Dense infantry formations, bristling with a hedgehog of spears, supported by archers and crossbowmen in the rear ranks, became a formidable force. The spear infantryman depicted here from the first two lines of formation is well protected and well armed. The complex of his defensive weapons reflects both purely Russian traditions and Horde influence, and includes scale armor with mantles and legguards, as well as a high-quality helmet, with a movable arrow and a chain mail aventail covering the entire face, quite typical for the equipment of the soldiers of the Golden Horde. Below the elbows, the arms are protected by folding bracers with plate fingers. The shield is small, round, “fist” type. Weapons are a long spear with a long leaf-shaped tip, a sword and a dagger.

3. Medium-armed infantryman.(3-4 construction lines).

Many miniatures from the period of the Battle of Kulikovo or slightly later depict warriors in anatomical cuirasses. It is this leather anatomical cuirass with shoulder pads and scalloped hem that serves as the basis for the entire complex of protective weapons of this warrior. Among other protective weapons, it is worth noting a chapelle helmet mounted on a chainmail hood, riveted in four parts, with a narrow brim along the rim and a leather aventail, as well as chainmail gloves. The shield is not too large, painted almond-shaped. Almost always, Christian motifs were present in the decoration of the shields of Russian soldiers, most often crosses or protective prayers. Weapons - a sword, a combat knife and a war hammer close to the knuckle.

4. Medium-armed foot crossbowman.(1 or, when attacking the enemy, 5-6 lines of formation).

Ranged weapons played an increasingly important role in warfare throughout the 14th century. Crossbowmen played a fairly significant role in Russian regiments during the Battle of Kulikovo. This warrior is armed with a simple crossbow, loaded with a stirrup and a belt hook. His other weapons include a cleaver and a long combat knife. Crossbow bolts are stored in a leather quiver suspended from the belt. The warrior's head is protected by a spheroconic helmet without any facial protection, with a chainmail aventail. The body is covered with scale armor with a hem and shoulders, over which is worn a short jacket with short sleeves reaching to the elbows. There are protective plates on the knees. A huge paveza - a shield with a vertical groove - plays a great role in the crossbowman's defensive armament. Behind such a shield, the crossbowman could not only completely hide, but also use it as a shooting rest.

5. Lightly armed foot archer.(1 or 5-6 construction lines).

The bow has always been an extremely popular weapon in the Russian lands, and in the 14th century the role of archers in the army only increased. As the main protection of the body, this warrior uses linen quilted armor with mantles. The head is protected by a quilted leather hat with sewn metal scales, which fits the head quite tightly, with a chainmail aventail. The shield is round, strongly curved. Besides the bow, the warrior's only weapons are a combat knife and an axe.

6. Trumpeter.

As already mentioned, musicians began to play a significant role in the organization of the army of the late 14th century. This warrior's defensive armament is relatively anachronistic: short scale armor with shoulder pads, worn over short-sleeved padded underarmor. The head is protected by a painted helmet, shaped like a Phrygian cap, with a quilted aventail. The shield is small triangular. A battle ax with a wedge-shaped blade is suspended from the belt.

7. Drummer.

The protective weapons of this warrior are even lighter - printed armor made of thick, dyed linen and a helmet with a brim, worn on a quilted balaclava. The shield is also triangular. Weapons - combat knife and axe.

Prince of Moscow (from 1359), Grand Duke of Vladimir (from 1362), from 1363 Prince of Novgorod. Born October 12, 1350. Son of Ivan the Red and Princess Alexandra, his second wife. The Prince received the nickname Donskoy after his victory in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

The reason for the Battle of Kulikovo was the worsening of relations with the Golden Horde and the growing influence of the Moscow Principality. However, the formal reason for the outbreak of the conflict was the refusal of the Moscow prince to increase the amount of tribute paid. Mamai planned an armed conflict with the Moscow squad back in 1378. But the army of Murza Begich suffered a serious defeat on the Vozha River. Despite the serious strengthening of Moscow, Dmitry needed the support of other appanage princes. In many ways, for this, the prince sought and received the blessing of Sergius of Radonezh, whose icons can be seen today in many churches. But, despite this, neither Ryazan nor Tver responded to his call. And the princes of Suzdal generally took the side of Mamai.

Participants in the Battle of Kulikovo sought to gather as many troops as possible. Dmitry Donskoy had at his disposal only the soldiers of the Moscow and Vladimir principalities, as well as the soldiers of Prince Andrei Olgerdovich. According to modern estimates by historians, their total number reached 50–100 thousand people. The Lithuanian prince Jagiello hurried to the Horde army, which, according to various experts, amounted to from 60 to 150 thousand soldiers. Dmitry tried to prevent the connection of Mamai’s troops and he succeeded. Also, in Mamai’s army there were about 4 thousand Genoese, Muslim mercenaries, Yasses and others.

From chronicle sources it is known that the Battle of Kulikovo took place near the mouth of the Nepryadva and Don. However, it is reliably known that at that time the left bank of the Nepryadva was covered with forest. And the small field that exists today is too small for such a large-scale battle to take place. No ancient weapons or remains were found in these places. Thus, the question of the location of the battle remains open for many researchers.

A brief description of the Battle of Kulikovo, which took place on September 8, 1380, will not take much time. From the life of Sergius of Radonezh it is known that the battle was preceded by a duel between two heroes Peresvet and Chelubey. However, early sources do not mention him. Before the start of the Battle of Kulikovo, on September 7, Russian troops were lined up in battle formations. The main regiment was located in the center and was under the command of the okolnichy Velyaminov. The regiment of the right hand was placed under the command of Andrei Olgerdovich, the Lithuanian prince, the regiment of the left hand was commanded by Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky. It is not known exactly where the ambush regiment was located. Probably behind the shelf of the left hand. It was he who decided the outcome of the battle.

The result of the Battle of Kulikovo was the flight of Mamai and his troops. Moreover, the ambush regiment pursued the enemies another 50 versts to the Krasnaya Mecha River. Dmitry Donskoy himself was knocked off his horse in this battle. He was found only after the end of the battle.

The consequences of the Battle of Kulikovo had a serious impact on the further history of Rus'. Although the Horde yoke did not end, as many had hoped, the amount of tribute collected decreased. The authority of Moscow and Prince Dmitry increased, which allowed the Moscow Principality to become the center of unification of the lands of Rus'. The significance of the Battle of Kulikovo is also that it showed the possibility of a final victory over the Horde and the closeness of the end of the yoke.

Does anyone know what the small river Vorksla, which flows near Kyiv, is famous for? Does any of our contemporaries remember the greatest battle that took place on its shores in 1399?

Of course, it cannot be compared with the Battle of Kulikovo in terms of fame, but it surpasses it in the number of our ancestors who died in battle. Almost everyone who fought to the death on the banks of Vorksla died. Maybe that's why we know so little about this battle?

How it all began

In 1399, Kyiv was not yet as huge and densely populated as we know it today. That era came at the very end of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, so the city was poor and plundered. He could not boast of any outstanding cultural achievements or scientific discoveries. The small population of the once mighty capital of Ancient Rus' was engaged in simple crafts and trade.
But at the same time, the victory on the Kulikovo Field raised the spirit of the Lithuanian-Russian warriors. Inspired by the unexpected success, they flocked to Kyiv, where Prince Vitovt, the ruler of Lithuania and Western Rus', was gathering an army. Everyone craved fame and rewards.

According to the few testimonies of historians, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt managed to gather up to one hundred thousand warriors. In the spirit of those times, these troops were variegated and motley. A considerable number of petty Lithuanian princes responded to the call of the Lithuanian sovereign. The Polish lords also did not disdain to take part in that military campaign. Even Tokhtamysh himself, the former Horde khan, who during his heyday managed to reach Moscow and burn it, joined the army. Having been overthrown by his follower Khan Edigei, the cunning Tokhtamysh hatched plans to regain his throne with the help of Vytautas.

The ancient Russian army awaited the decisive battle with great excitement and enthusiasm.

Let's go hiking

Feeling that he was ready, Prince Vitovt set out with his impressive army from Kyiv on May 18, 1399. With him came the princes Dmitry Bryansky, Ivan Kyiv, Andrei Polotsky, Gleb Smolensky, Dmitry Ostrozhsky and several dozen other lesser-known local rulers.

Even the crusading knights joined the campaign, numbering up to a hundred. They had an army and artillery, an innovation unheard of at that time - crossbows and arquebuses. So the Battle of Worksla is also significant because artillery was used for the first time in Rus'.

Having reached the Worksla River, on August 8, 1399, the Lithuanian-Russian army met with an army of no less size, led by Khan Timur-Kultuk. Mongol-Tatar forces occupied the other side of the river.

Confident of his superiority, Prince Vitovt demanded that the Horde ruler immediately swear allegiance and agree to pay him tribute. He, in turn, assessed the enemy’s strength and resorted to cunning. He allegedly agreed to the demands put forward by Vytautas, but began to bargain over small details and asked to be given three days to think about it. Unsuspecting Vitovt agreed.

And at the appointed time, help arrived from among the Crimean Tatars to Timur-Kutluk, and he, in turn, issued a counter ultimatum to the proud prince. Unable to tolerate such treatment, Prince Vitovt announced the start of the battle.

The brave ancient Russian warriors led by him had less than a day to live.

Bloody slaughter

On August 12, 1399, military forces under the command of the Lithuanian prince crossed Vorksla and attacked the Tatars. It is difficult to judge how deliberate this decision was, because the Tatar army was twice as large as the Lithuanian-Russian forces. However, for reasons only known to him, Prince Vitovt decided to give battle.

And the great battle began. At first, with their onslaught, the Old Russian army gained the upper hand over the Tatars. But the triumph was short-lived - Timur-Kutluk bypassed the army of Vytautas and deprived the Slavs of any hope for a successful outcome. The heavy and clumsy guns did not live up to expectations, since they failed to cause noticeable harm to the light and maneuverable enemy cavalry.

The battlefield was soaked in blood. Many thousands of soldiers were killed, and no fewer were taken prisoner.

The Russian army was defeated. The defeat is bitter and offensive. Vitovt himself managed to flee to Kyiv, hot on the heels of Timur-Kutluk. The Tatars, without hesitation, plundered everything in their path.

Having reached Kyiv, the Tatars tried to take the city, but no matter how hard they tried, they failed. Then they imposed a huge tribute on him by the standards of that time, which Kyiv was forced to pay.

Thus, ingloriously and tragically, the great campaign of Prince Vitovt ended.

History lessons

This defeat broke the power of the great ruler of Lithuania. Soon he was forced to accept Polish vassalage, and the principality lost its independence. Following the results of the Battle of Grunwald (with the participation of up to thirteen Russian regiments), it slightly restored its former greatness, but was never able to return to its former heights.

After the death of Vytautas in 1430, the Polish Poles began a campaign against Rus'. With his death, the Grand Duke marked the end of the heyday of the Principality of Lithuania.

The tragic date of the Battle of Worksla interrupted the history of the reign of the Lithuanian princes and consigned their names to oblivion. There are no descendants left of the princes of Ostrog, nor of Galicia, nor of Kyiv, nor of Novgorod-Seversky. But they descended from Vladimir the Holy and Yaroslav the Wise...

Europeans do not forget the tragic pages of their history. The Swedes and British regularly visit monuments to their fallen on Russian territory. And they are not discouraged by the fact that their ancestors suffered a crushing defeat on Russian soil.

Why is not a single obelisk erected in memory of one of the bloodiest battles in the history of Ancient Rus'? Not a single memorial plaque has been installed at the site of the brutal battle, and yet tens of thousands of Russian warriors died there, along with the Lithuanians and Poles.

Not giving up an inch of our native land is, of course, correct. But for historical justice and in the name of conscience, we must also remember defeats, so that the death of our ancestors, who did not spare their lives for the sake of the Russian land, would not be in vain.