Battle of Kulikovo

Battle of Kulikovo
Part of the Great Troubles

"The Battle of Kulikovo" (1849). Painting by Adolphe Yvon.
Date8 September 1380
Location
Result Russian victory
Belligerents

Moscow

Mamai, controlling the western part of the Golden Horde


  • Lithuania (arrived too late to aid Mamai; retreated at the news of Mamai's defeat)
Commanders and leaders
Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow
Vladimir Andreyevich the Bold
Mamai
Muhammad Bolak 
Władysław II Jagiełło
Strength
30,000–50/60,000 –150,000 men 30,000–100,000–200,000–300,000

The Battle of Kulikovo (Russian: Куликовская битва, romanized: Kulikovskaya bitva) was fought between the forces of Mamai, a powerful Mongol military commander of the Golden Horde, and Russian forces led by Grand Prince Dmitry of Moscow. The battle took place on 8 September 1380, at Kulikovo Field near the Don River (now Tula Oblast, Russia) and was won by Dmitry, who became known as Donskoy ("of the Don") after the battle.

Although the victory did not end Mongol domination over Russia, it is traditionally regarded as the turning point at which Mongol influence began to wane and Moscow's power began to rise. The battle would allow Moscow to strengthen its claims of ascendancy over the other Russian principalities, in which it would ultimately become the centre of a centralized Russian state.