What brought battle to Russia on Kulikovo field

The battle on the Kulikovo field was the final of a tough confrontation between Mamai's tempter and Prince Dmitry Ivanovich. Preparation of Russia for the general battle with the horde began with the accession of Prince Dmitri Ivanovich to Moscow's throne. The Golden Horde in the middle of the fourteenth century was significantly weakened by the twenty years of turmoil. The khan Berdibek laid it on the murder of his father and brothers, Berdibek himself was killed two years later in 1339 by his brother, over twenty years on the Horde throne more than 20 rulers were replaced. The trouble was over by the coming to power of Khan Tokhtamysh. During the distemper, Mamaia's ascension ascended, which, not being a legitimate heir, could not seize power in the Horde.

Then Mamai turned his view towards Russia, where he wanted to create his own state. Having collected a huge army, he suggested to Prince Dmitry Ivanovich to pay a tribute comparable to that which Rus had previously paid to the Golden Horde rulers. At first the prince did not want to pay Mamai, knowing his real status. However, comparing the strength of the Khan army and realizing that Mamai is currently stronger, he preferred to pay gold than the life of his people. However, the Horde Temnik was not satisfied with the tribute, and began to prepare a new campaign against Russia.

Dmitry also decided to prepare for a rebuff. The collection of troops began in August 1380, the detachments concentrated near the city of Kolomna. On August 26, the Russian army marched on a campaign. Initially, the route of travel was along the river. Oka, at the mouth of the river. Lopasnya troops crossed the Oka and moved south to the source of the Don. The need for such a route was interpreted by the desire to separate the troops of the Tatars and Lithuanians, as well as the reluctance to move through hostile Ryazan land. At that time Ryazan took the side of Mamaia.

Kulikovo field is located on the interfluve between Nepryadvy and Dona, its terrain is most suitable for battle. Wetlands and wooded flanks did not give room for active use of the Tatar cavalry. Russian troops turned into a battle formation, in the vanguard was a guard regiment, called only to start a fight, substituting Mongolian troops for shelling Russian shooters, and then quickly retreat. Behind the sentry was an advanced regiment, which was supposed to weaken the first blow before the entry of the main army. The third line was a large regiment, which was supposed to take over the entire main blow of the Mongol-Tatar army. On the flanks were the shelves of the left and right hands. In a small line, an ambush regiment hid, led by the experienced voevoda Dmitry Bobrok-Volynsky.

The battle on Kulikovo Field began on September 8, 1380. The battle was started by the duel of the monk Peresvet and the Mongolian hero Chelubey, as a result of which both died. The Tatar cavalry attacked the center, crushing the sentry and advanced regiments, for three hours it tried to break through the defense of a large regiment. Then Mamai struck a second blow to the left flank, forcing Dmitri Ivanovich to put into action the first reserve, but unable to withstand the onslaught of the Tatars, the left flank was broken and the Russian troops were on the verge of encirclement. At that moment, an unexpected blow was struck at a wrecking regiment, which decided the outcome of the battle, turning the Mongol army into a flight. Russian troops drove Tatar troops even more than fifty kilometers, so the battle on the Kulikovo field was victoriously completed.

The results of the Kulikovo battle can not be overestimated. It was the beginning of the end of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. After it for two years, before the campaign of Tokhtamysh to Moscow, which he took with the help of false promises of Novgorod merchants, Russia did not pay tribute to the Horde. But even after, the payments became more and more conditional. The invasion of Mamaia on Russian soil was to completely destroy Russia, turning it into the Horde Mamaia, who, not having achieved recognition on his land, decided to become a ruler in a stranger. The battle on the Kulikovo field and the decisive rebuff of Dmitry Ivanovich, nicknamed after the battle - Donskoy, showed the Horde the strength of Russian weapons.

The year of the Battle of Kulikovo became the starting point, after which the Mongols no longer ventured into open confrontation with Rus. The Kulikovo battle had a tremendous impact on the self-consciousness of the Russian people, who understood that the Tatars are not only possible, but they also need to be defeated.

Exactly hundred years ago, Russia was officially considered a vassal of the Golden Horde, whose authority was completed by a great confrontation on the Ugra River, although neither side decided to take active military action, the Mongols left with nothing.