Battle of Kulikovo
Kulikovo Field (now Tula Oblast)
What happened
Grand Prince Dmitry of Moscow led the Russian princes against Mamai, a powerful commander of the Golden Horde, whose ally Jogaila of Lithuania arrived too late to fight. Mamai wanted to restore the Golden Horde's control over the Russian lands, where Moscow was growing stronger. The two armies met on Kulikovo Field, near the mouth of the Nepryadva River. After a long, hard fight, Dmitry's ambush regiment, hidden in an oak grove, struck the Horde's flank, and the Horde's line collapsed.
Why it matters
Result: Russian victory. Leaders: Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow / Vladimir Andreyevich the Bold against Mamai / Muhammad Bolak. Why it matters: It was a famous Russian military victory over the Mongols, and it is traditionally seen as the turning point when Mongol influence began to wane and Moscow rose. The Great Stand on the Ugra River in 1480 was another turning point.
What came next
Dmitry became known as Dmitry Donskoy, meaning 'of the Don'. Only two years later, in 1382, Khan Tokhtamysh captured and burned Moscow and forced Dmitry to accept him as overlord.
Did you know?
In 1367, thirteen years before the battle, Dmitry had the Moscow Kremlin rebuilt in stone for the first time.
Timeline
- 1359 CEDmitry becomes Prince of Moscow.
- 1367 CEThe Moscow Kremlin is rebuilt in stone for the first time.
- 8 September 1380 CEDmitry defeats Mamai at Kulikovo Field.
- 1382 CEKhan Tokhtamysh captures and burns Moscow.
- 19 May 1389 CEDmitry Donskoy dies.