Kulikov battle - this phrase is known to almost every citizen of our country over seven years.Let not all of them are aware of the true significance of this battle, but the fact that we know it is much more than what happened a hundred years later and marked the end of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, it says very much.
reasons for the Battle of Kulikov simple and unpretentious.Several years earlier, Russian soldiers defeated in a battle with the Horde.And one of temnikov hordes, namely Khan Mamai, decided to kill several birds with one stroke: to strengthen the influence of the Horde in the Russian principalities, and at the same time its credibility among tribesmen.With the support of the Lithuanian Prince Jagiello, Khan moved to march on Russian soil.On the Lithuanian army, he had to connect near Voronezh.Another ally of Mamaia was to be Oleg I., Prince of Ryazan.But according to one version, he confined himself to promises, moreover, there is information that he warned Rus that Khan Mamai awaiting reinforcements from Jagiello.
receiving this news, the Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich has decided not to join the allies and forcing Khan to join the battle, not waiting for the Lithuanian soldiers.It offers Russian princes to join forces against a common enemy.Responded, of course, not all, but Duke still managed to gather under its banner more than 100 thousand soldiers.What was only slightly less than the Horde army.At the same time due to military reform held Dmitry, Russian army was many times more organized, which gave a significant advantage in battle.
assembled troops, Dmitri Ivanovich moved to the river Ob.Overcoming 11 days, more than 200 km, the speed for that time simply unprecedented, Russian troops forced the Mamaia move them to a meeting, without waiting for Jagiello.
Approaching the Don, the Russian army for some time could not decide on a ferry, because the river begins the territory of the Golden Horde.However, to hear from Sergei of Radonezh with a wish to be firmer and more courageous, Dmitri Ivanovich decided on the crossing.Russian crossed the Don on the night of September 8, 1380 The ferry was on a floating wooden bridge, which is ordered to destroy the prince.
Thus, on the one hand, snapped his troops retreat, the other - to provide security to its rear, having placed his own people so that their back was broken on the shore Nepryadva, and on the sides of the Don and deep precipices.Thus, Dmitry Ivanovich made it difficult to approach the enemy flanks.Namely, it was a favorite method of Mamaia, he often possessed his cavalry on the flanks, and captured enemy forces in a pincer movement.It was a new word in military tactics.
Russian troops were located as follows: the greatest power were concentrated in the center, the so-called great regiment.Two regiments were located in the smaller left and right flanks.In addition, there was a small advance regiment ambush regiment, located to the east, for a small shady park.Mom's heart arranged heavy infantry, the cavalry on the flanks was which mum counted as if to embrace the enemy, but thanks to the skillful use of topography, Russian do not allow.
Kulikov battle began at dawn with a traditional match.From left to fight Russian Monk Peresvet, a former nobleman and a seasoned warrior, a horde of exposed Chelubey hero.While defeat ended the fight with spears, which, according to the signs, to talk about the long and bloody battle.The first fell Chelubey.At this point the cavalry hordes rushed into battle, trampled Peresvet.
First Cavalry Regiment was swept away by the advanced, and then focused their Horde forces in the central part of the Russian troops.However, crumple it as quickly failed, and Warriors Mamaia switched to a regiment of the left hand.They were able to break even and make a retreat to Nepryadva, but at this point in the rear of the cavalry regiment hit the ambush, the Horde outposts by surprise and caused confusion.This situation did not fail to take advantage of a great regiment.Rusichi went on the attack, drawing Horde's cavalry to flee.And those, in turn, horses hooves trampled own infantry.Russian army drove the enemy more than 50 km to the river Beautiful Sword.Most of the Horde was destroyed during the retreat.Khan's bid was taken, however, he managed to escape Mamai.He was killed later, in the Horde, and did it Tohtomysh Khan.
According to the chronicles, she Kulikov battle lasted 4 hours and by two o'clock it was all over.Losses on both sides were huge.Russian nobleman lost 483 and 12 princes, it was more than 60% of officers.Losses among ordinary soldiers are not assessable.But the army of Mamai were killed almost completely.
now and Kulikov battle and its historical significance became a part of the school program.And in those days it has become a symbol of the unification of the Russian people, because that's when many Russian principalities were made for the first time in a joint campaign.In addition, it is this battle inspired the Russian people in the belief that you can win the Golden Horde, and let to the complete liberation was still about a hundred years old, he was supposed to start it on the Kulikovo field.
Kulikov battle mentioned in numerous literary works, how it today and later.About her writing and wrote poets and prose writers, as a symbol of unity of Russia and its strength.
