Great standing on the Ugra - as it was

Standing on the Ugra led to the liberation of Rus from the Mongol yoke. The country not only freed itself from the heavy tribute, but in the European arena a new player appeared, the Moscow kingdom. Russia became free in its actions.

In the second half of the 15th century, the position of the Golden Horde was significantly weakened by internecine strife. The treasury of the state, which was replenished with only a Moscow tribute and raids on neighboring states, was practically empty. The weakness of the Horde is evidenced by the raid of Vyatka ushkuynyk on the capital - Sarai, which was completely looted and burnt. In response to the insolent foray of the Khan, Akhmat began to prepare a military campaign to punish the Russians. And at the same time and replenish the empty coffers. The result of this campaign was a Great Stand on the River Ugra in 1480.

In 1471, at the head of a huge army, Ahmat invaded Russia. But all the transits across the Oka River were blocked by Moscow troops. Then the Mongols besieged the border town of Aleksin. The storming of the city was repulsed by his defenders. Then the Tatars surrounded wooden walls with brushwood and straw, and then set fire to them. Russian troops, standing on the other side of the river, never came to the aid of the burning city. After the fire, the Mongols immediately went to the steppes. In response to the campaign of Ahmat, Moscow refused to pay tribute to the Horde.

Ivan III led an active foreign policy. A military alliance was concluded with the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey, with whom the Horde conducted a protracted struggle. The internecine wars inside the Golden Horde allowed Rus to prepare for a general battle.

The moment for the trip to Rus Ahmat picked up very well. At this time, Ivan III waged a battle with his brothers Boris Volotsky and Andrey the Great, who were against increasing the power of the Moscow prince. Part of the force was distracted in the Pskov land, where the struggle against the Livonian Order was conducted. Also, the Golden Horde concluded a military alliance with Polish King Casimir IV.

In the autumn of 1480, Khan Akhmat with a large army entered the Russian land. In response to the invasion of the Tatars, Ivan III began to concentrate troops near the banks of the Oka River. At the end of September, the tsar's brothers stopped fighting with Moscow and, having received forgiveness, joined the army of the prince of Moscow. The Mongol army moved through the vassal Lithuanian lands, intending to join forces with Casimir IV. But he was attacked by Crimean Tatars, and could not come to the rescue. Tatars began to prepare for crossing. The site was chosen on a 5-kilometer stretch near the confluence of the rivers Ugra and Rossynka. The battle for the crossing began on October 8 and lasted four days. At this time, Russian troops used artillery for the first time. The Mongolian attacks were repulsed, they were forced to retreat a few versts from the river, and the Great Stand on the Ugra began.

The negotiations did not lead to any results. Neither side wanted to concede. Ivan III tried to take the time. Standing on the river Ugra continued, no one dared to engage in active hostilities. The Mongols, keen on the march, left their capital without cover, and a large group of Russians was moving toward it. The frosts that began at the end of October forced the Tatars to experience a great shortage of food. Frosts led to the formation of ice on the river. As a result, Ivan III decided to withdraw troops a little further to Borovsk, where there was a convenient place for the battle.

Standing on the Ugra for an outside observer would seem like the indecisiveness of rulers. But the Russian Tsar simply did not need to transfer his troops across the river and shed the blood of his subjects. The actions of Khan Akhmat showed his insecurity in his own strength. In addition, the backwardness of the Mongols in armament was clearly manifested. Russian troops already had firearms, and also used artillery to protect the crossing.

The great standing on the Ugra led to the official liberation of Rus from Mongol rule. Khan Akhmat was soon killed in his own tent messengers of the Siberian Khan Ibaka.