Battle of Kulikovo
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The Battle of Kulikovo (Куликовская битва in Russian language), also called Battle on the Snipes' Field, was fought between the Tartars and Mongols (the Golden Horde), against the Russians. The battle took place on September 8, 1380 at the Kulikovo field near the Don River (now Tula Oblast) and resulted in a Russian victory.
Combined Russian armies under the command of Moscow Dmitri Ivanovich (later called Dmitri Donskoi) faced much larger Horde forces under the command of Mamai, the strong military leader of the Golden Horde. His allies, prince Oleg of Ryazan (a rival prince) and King Vladislaus II Jogaila from Lithuania were late to the battle. Old Russian poem Zadonshchina states of 150,000 Russians and 300,000 Tataro-Mongols, but the physical size of the Kulikovo Field does not allow such quantity of troops. Most probable would be 80,000 Russians and 125,000 Tataro-Mongols.
The battle was opened by a single combat of two champions. The Russian champion was a monk Alexander Peresvet. The Horde champion was Temir-murza (also Chelubey or Cheli-bey). The champions killed each other in the first run. The legend states that Peresvet did not fall from the saddle, while Temir-murza fell.
After a whole day's battle the Russian forces were successful, although taking great casualties, in holding off the Horde's attack. They launched a flanking counter strike and achieved victory over the Horde forces. Mamai escaped to Crimea, where he was assassinated by his enemies, leaving the Horde under the command of Tokhtamysh. This victory was the beginning of the end of Mongol rule in Russia, which officially ended with the Great standing on the Ugra river.
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