Battle of Kulikovo - Background

Background

Upon the Mongol-Tatar conquest the territories of the disintegrating Kievan Rus, which became part of the western region of the Mongol Empire, the Golden Horde, the center of which was established in the lower Volga region. The numerous Russian (or Ruthenian) principalities were not, however, fully integrated into the Empire, but were required to pay a tax. During that time the small regional principality of Moscow had grown into a well-respected political entity and often challenged its neighbors for territorial claims, particularly the Grand Duchy of Ryazan. The Moscow-Ryazan stand-off took place long before the Mongol-Tatar conquest, during the rise of regional powers within the Kievan Rus.

A civil war had arisen on the territory of the falling Golden Horde and new political powers were appearing, such as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Grand Duchy of Ryazan and others. In 1370, after the mysterious death of Khan Abdulla the Tatar, warlord (temnik) Mamai took control of the Golden Horde as a regent appointed to oversee the immature Khan Muhammad Bolak. The growing Grand Duchy of Lithuania was gaining momentum, taking over former territories of the Golden Horde and, after the Battle of Blue Waters, securing power not only over Kiev but also parts of the northern Black Sea coast. As Mamai was not a Genghisid (descendant of Genghis Khan), his position remained vulnerable, since there were legal descendants of Genghis Khan who were in a position to lay claim to the throne. During that time the Prince of Moscow was denied the passing of a jarliq (law pronouncement) for the Grand Duchy of Vladimir, which he had possessed since 1362. In 1371, Mamai passed it to the Prince of Tver. The prince of Moscow, Dmitri Donskoi, refused to accept subordination to the new leadership. In 1377, a friend of Mamai Arpash raided Nizhniy Novgorod and Ryazan, after defeating the Suzdal-Moscow united army of Dmitri at the Battle of Pyana River. Mamai sought to affirm his sovereignty over the tributary lands of the Golden Horde. In 1378, he sent forces led by the warlord Murza Begich to ensure the Moscow prince's obedience. The Horde army was defeated at the Battle of the Vozha River, however, and Begich was killed. Simultaneously another khan Tokhtamysh (in Middle Asia) challenged the throne of the Golden Horde. Although unsuccessful at first, he managed to find more solid support to establish himself as the new khan of the Golden Horde.

Two years later Mamai himself led his armies to Rus. Prior to invading, he conducted negotiations with Prince Jogaila of Lithuania and the Russian prince Oleg of Ryazan, a fierce enemy of Dmitry. The armies of Lithuania and Ryazan were sent to join the Tatars. Mamai established his camp on the bank of the Don river, waiting for allies.

Dmitry mobilised his troops and allies in Kolomna to resist the invasion. In Troitse-Sergieva Lavra he met St. Sergius of Radonezh, who blessed the Russian armies before the battle. Dmitri knew about the approaching armies of Lithuania and Ryazan and decided not to wait but to attack Mamai immediately, before he could be reinforced. On September 7 1380, the Russians crossed the Don.