Russian Knight with Mace
Battle of Kulikovo 1380
(St. Petersburg Collection PB605)
During the 14th Century the Mongol Golden Horde ruled the Rus peoples through a group of appointed Russian princes. In September 1380 a Mongol force sent to punish Prince Dimitri of Moscow for insubordination was confronted by the combined armies of Prince Dimitri and his cousin Prince Vladimir at Kulikovo Field on the Don. Referred to as a Russian equivalent of Agincourt, Kulikovo led to lifting the Mongol yoke from the Rus. Despite considerable Russian losses, the victory was a great feat for the Rus as it demonstrated that the Golden Horde warriors could be beaten. Dimitri became known as Donskoy ("of the Don") after the battle.
The church was able to dampen the internecine warfare between the Rus princes and focus them on the collective Mongol enemy. In the next century the Rus would cease to pay tribute to the Khan and Russia would emerge.
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