In the 13th and 14th century the country was broken up into feudal states. This was a dreadful time in Russia’s history. The once-flourishing culture of our ancestors was brought to a standstill by the Tatar-Mongol invasion. The young Moscow Principality was destined to play a crucial role in the struggle with the enemy. One of the Mongol khanates that enslaved Russia was known as the Golden Horde. The Russian Princes would ride to the Mongol capital to pay tribute for credentials confirming their right to their lands. The sly Mongols would set the Princes against one another. Unfortunately, this was easily achieved, since in their struggle for a dominant role over the other Princes, the latter would often overlook State interests, and this rivalry prevented them from putting up a united resistance to the enemy.
“They are alien, not only to the Russian land, but for all peoples, living off the fruits of their labors: ploughing, sowing, harvesting, building, with a trust in good-neighborly relations and never impinging on another’s wealth. Thus, the enmity between settled Russ and the predacious nomadic Horde was inevitable, while the latter thrived on the misfortune and tragedy of their neighbors. To attempt reconciliation between Russ and the Horde is as impossible as it would be to reconcile labor and robbery, love and fear, mercy towards woodland creatures and a hunter’s fervor. The Horde shall always be the attacker, for Russ needs nothing from the Horde, while the latter needs everything that Russ has, for it is its only sustenance! However, this does not occur simply because the Horde is so much worse than all other peoples, no! Even judging by the prejudiced narratives of those captives who succeeded in escaping, there is much one can learn from the Horde! They say that within the Horde itself, there is no mutual enmity, quarrels or arguments. The wagons, yurts are never locked, even when packed with treasures, for there is no thieving among the nomads. Likewise, there is no mutual jealousy or envy among the common folk of the Horde, where each is content with what he possesses, and lays no claim to his fellowmen’s goods. One cannot state that food is plentiful there, particularly during the winter months, but they readily share what scanty supplies they have with their relatives. To lie is to demean oneself as man and warrior. When retreating in battle, they never turn their backs on their wounded comrades, and risk their lives to recover them. Any member of the Horde is welcomed in any Nomadic tribe as a guest, to be fed and protected… However, all these worthy features, that any people would be proud of, are displayed by members of the Horde exclusively towards ones own. While, when it comes to others, a quite different side of their nature emerges. With all foreigners they are irritable and short-tempered, since they despise all who differ from them in color of skin, way of life, Faith and appearance. With alien folk they are treacherous and sly, regarding falsity as a virtue, and cunning – a merit. Their words can be deceitfully flattering, when they hope to gain something by this, yet they sting like a scorpion after claiming their reward. Even nobility and ambassadors of foreign countries cannot hope to be paid due honour there. Any member of the Horde, no matter what his station, considers himself of higher standing than any of the grandest of foreign nobles. After claiming the tributes and gifts, he immediately showers the giver with abuse and scorn. To kill a foreigner is no crime in the Horde. They slaughter innocent victims like sheep. Teenagers, even children, are taught archery, with helpless elderly or weak slaves to use for target practice. The common rule is: do the worse you can to a foreigner, simply because he isn’t one of YOU! A haughty and scornful attitude displayed by the Horde towards other peoples miraculously co-existed with a servile obeyance to one’s Khans and those of higher station. There was, indeed, some higher justice in this: for a subjugator cannot himself be free!” The Russian people groaned under the merciless rule of the Horde. Powerful revolts broke out in the second half of the 13th century against the Mongol tax collectors. They compelled the Khans to change their system of tax collection. Henceforth the Russian Princes were themselves to perform the function and bring the tributes to the Golden Horde. The Khans tried to squeeze the maximum out of Russia. At the same time they did their utmost to keep the Russian principalities from uniting - something the Moscow Principality was increasingly more often attempting to achieve. From the second half of the 14th century Moscow gradually became the center of the struggle against the Tatar-Mongol yoke in the northeastern Russian lands. We learn from the chronicles that in 1147 the ruler of the Suzdal lands, Prince Yuri Dolgoruki, invited his ally - Prince Svyatoslav Seversky - with the words: “Come hither, Brother, come to Moscow!” Our historians refer to this first mention of Moscow in the chronicles as the starting point in its history. Thanks to its position between the Upper Volga and Oka rivers, at the intersection of important trade routes, Russian people fleeing from the external enemy had been concentrating there long before Moscow began to play a noticeable role in Russia’s destiny. Its distance from the borderlands saved it from the pogroms by the Mongol khans and Lithuanian feudal lords. Thus, thanks to its geographical position, Moscow acquired the status of a prominent economic area, densely populated by Russians, who conducted a brisk trade. Outstanding Russian historian, Ivan Zabelin, ruminating as to why Moscow was destined to become the center of Russia, wrote: “The principal motivating force behind the creation of such towns is always the folk crafts and trade, seeking for their purposes convenient and reliable routes and a safe haven. The crafts and trades select and establish such a site, where they arrange their main activity, and thus a town is born. Such a center continues to thrive as long as the crafts and trades that gave birth to it have a need for it. The moment these latter disappear or alter their routes, the town goes into decline or disappears altogether. However, if the need for it is constantly confirmed, then whatever the historical realities, the town is bound to survive. Even should enemies turn it to rubble or burn it – it will rise up to its former glory and flourish again, even more beautiful and powerful…” Moscow Princes were wise and shrewd. Instead of wasting their money on warfare, they broadened their territories by purchasing land and sometimes by downright seizure. To further this end, they made clever use of the Mongol khan, who handed out credentials entitling them to large trades of land.
Clever and far-sighted, he showered gifts on the Mongol khan. No one went more often to the Golden Horde than he did, ‘though it was certainly dangerous. Uncannily, the Prince became a welcome guest there. Won by this shrewd policy, the khan bestowed on him the title and throne of Grand Prince. A real master of his principality, a man able to ensure the safety of his lands, Ivan Kalita made the other princes realize the advantages of his policy. He became very popular. When he became Grand Prince, he began to unite the Northern Russian lands politically. A union of principalities eventually took form around Moscow, with himself at its head. Under his rule Moscow gradually turned into the religious capital, where the Metropolitan Pyotr, later to be canonized as a Saint by the Russian Orthodox Church, moved his residence. After the khan made Kalita a Grand Prince, the continual Tatar raids into Northern Russia grew less frequent, the area grew stronger as a result. Two entire generations grew up in those peaceful years, unburdened by the fear of the Mongols, as their fathers and grandfathers had been. Representative of this new generation was Ivan Kalita’s grandson, Moscow Prince Dmitry, known as Dmitry Donskoi or Dmitry of the Don.
Dmitry summoned his troops; the Princes and warriors of the allied principalities foregathered in Moscow. Practically all of northeastern Russia rose against the Mongols. While the troops were assembling, Dmitry and Mamai conducted negotiations through their envoys. Mamai demanded tributes in the previous amounts, while the prince sent ‘large amounts of gold and silver’, but refused to pay tributes. Just before leaving for the battle, Prince Dmitry set off for the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, which was then the spiritual center of Russia. Its founder, Holy Father Sergius, exercised great influence in Russian society. For his pious life the Lord endowed him with the gifts of foresight and miracle-making. The Orthodox Russian people honored him greatly, and regarded him as a Saint already in his lifetime. After his death, Sergius of Radonezh was canonized as a Saint by the Russian Orthodox church. Prince Dmitry came to Father Sergius at this grave time for advice and blessing. Not only did Father Sergius provide him with the latter, but dispatched two of his monks-warriors – Peresvet and Oslyabya – to join the Prince’s troops. The monks were driven by a desire to shed blood for their Orthodox Faith and their long-suffering Homeland. When giving Prince Dmitry his blessing, Father Sergius said: “Fear not, my Lord. Be firm and courageous. Go forth, fearless and resolved! The hour of conflict is near; it is inevitable. There is nothing to wait for. The enemy will be relentless, for if the Horde returns to its quarters without victory it will fall. This will be a decisive battle for them, but it will be decisive for us, too. The earth will be soaked in blood, but our entire life will be over if the enemy prevails. There will be no towns or monasteries left. Where will our books, our wisdom, our knowledge, and our faith find shelter? Centuries of slavery will predominate once more. Russia will never stand on its feet again. Fear neither losses nor bloodshed. On your shoulders lies the responsibility for our land. It is a black and heavy burden. Bear up, my son Dmitry, be brave! Go. Be resolute. God will not consent to our ruin.” Prince Dmitry led his men to the Don River. On September 8th 1380 they drew up on the northern part of Kulikovo field. A thick fog, which covered the earth at sunrise, lifted only at 11 a.m. The sound of trumpets and lutes rent the air, drums beat out a tattoo, as the Prince prepared to lead his men into battle. First, however, two men of gigantic proportions, the Russian monk Peresvet, and the Tatar, Chelubei, rode forward to the strip of land dividing the two forces.
The battle then broke out with frightful force. Men were mown down on either side. Shields were split like egg-shells. The ground was soon thickly covered with corpses, leaving no foothold for the horses. Headless men stood side by side with those furiously fighting – there was no place for them to fall. Bumped on all sides and hemmed in by the horses, the foot soldiers were gasping for breath. Prince Dmitry himself was fighting valiantly in the midst of his men. Mamai’s troops were defeated, but the victor paid too big a price for that victory. The chroniclers tell of “great joy throughout Russia; but there was also great grief at the number of men killed on the Don. The country now experienced a great shortage of fighting men, and as a result, great fear.”
Despite the victory in the battle of Kulikovo, two years later the Golden Horde reestablished its power over Russia; it continued to rule for another century, although in weakened form. Moscow, on the other hand, persevered in its efforts to unite the Russian lands. Inspired by the battle of Kulikovo, the people were filled with hope of one day throwing off the Mongol yoke. It was only under Dmitry Donskoi’s grandson that this hope was realized. _______________ Illustrations: N.Gorelova, B.Pivovarov “Russian History”, 1995
12/09/2004
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And what exactly
do we know about this ‘common enemy’? In one of our historical chronicles
we come across a most credible portrait. The author of the narrative, Vadim
Kargalov, having dutifully studied documents relating to the 13th – 14th
centuries, gives the following description of the people from the Horde:
Prince Ivan,
dubbed Kalita, (‘kalita’ - an old Russian name for a purse or money bag
to give to the poor), was particularly successful at this game. He was
thus called because he always carried a purse full of money to give alms
to the poor. He was profoundly religious and assiduously built churches,
as well as demonstrated great charity towards the impoverished. Despite
certain negative traits of his character, the people of Moscow loved him,
for his obvious concern for their welfare. The people called him the ‘gatherer
of the Russian lands’. Ivan Kalita ruled Moscow for 12 years, leaving behind
the foretype of the modern-day Kremlin, a number of churches, and a warm
memory of himself in people’s hearts.
Prince Dmitry
was a wise and brave politician, who had not been compelled to obey the
khan. He took a different line from that of his father and grandfather.
Although it continued to indulge the Golden Horde with gifts, Muscovy reduced
the amount of tributes, sometimes even neglecting to send them altogether.
It even intervened in the internal conflicts of the Horde, finally adopting
a stance of open military confrontation. The Tatars could not accept such
an independent stand. Mamai, the emir of the Horde, resolved to ravage
Russia and force it to pay the former amount of tribute. The campaign against
Russia was designated to start at the beginning of the autumn of 1380.
The emir told his subjects not to sow grain, but to “be prepared to eat
Russian bread”.
The monk
galloped forward with tilted lance, his black cloak, embroidered with white
crosses, streaming behind him. Under that cloak he wore neither armor nor
chain mail. His breast was bare: on it hung a heavy iron cross. Riding
headlong between the ranks on either end of the field, the two warriors
drew near, then flung themselves at one another. The monk drove his lance
into the Tatar’s belly, while that of the Tatar smashed through the monk’s
chest. The Tatar’s steed fled, dragging its rider, his foot caught in the
stirrup. The monk still held his seat. His charger neighed, turned and
rode back to his side. The dead monk, arms clenched around the horse’s
neck, returned to his regiment.
According
to the chroniclers, never before had Russia known a battle like the one
fought at Kulikovo. Europe had long forgotten anything like it. Prince
Dmitry was dubbed “Donskoi” after that and was later canonized by the Russian
Orthodox Church.
