Prince Dovmont (Timofey) - ruler of Pskov 1266-1299. He went down in history as a talented military leader. The exploits of Dovmont are described in ancient chronicles. Especially successful were the battles with the Germans and Lithuanians. Under his rule, Pskov in the 13th century actually got rid of its dependence on Novgorod.
Biography
Dovmont (Prince of Pskov) was the son of Mindovg and brother of Voyshelok, according to some sources, and according to others, a relative of Troiden. He himself was from Lithuania and owned the Nalsha land. According to one version, Dovmont was married to the sister of his wife Mindovga. The Chronicle of Bykhovets says that he was married to the sister of Narimont's wife. According to chronicle evidence, Dovmont was directly involved in the murder of Mindovg in 1263. He later fell out of favor with Voyshelka. The latter in 1264 began to be considered the most powerful prince in Lithuania.
Appearance on Russian soil
In 1265 Dovmont left Lithuania and went to Pskov. At that time, the city was going through quite difficult times. Recently died Alexander Nevsky. New ruler, princeYaroslav did not possess either the strength or the talents that his older brother had. His power had not yet been finally established - the Novgorodians did not want to recognize him as master. The Grand Duke appointed Svyatoslav, his son, as viceroy. He thought more not about strengthening the borders, but about strengthening the power of the ruler over the city. So Prince Yaroslav bequeathed to him.
However, the city needed a warrior capable of protecting people from the Order, Lithuania and not bound by any obligations with the great ruler. The choice of the people fell on Dovmont. Nothing connected him with Lithuania, and here he was not a stranger. Many Lithuanian rulers then came from the Slavs, and their native language was Russian.
The chronicle contains a rather short entry about the appearance of Dovmont. The scripture says that Voyshelk captured Lithuania, and his brother fled with his retinue. In the church, he was baptized and received the name Timothy. Dovmont became the new ruler of the city. Until his death, he was bequeathed to protect people and borders. Dovmont's sword became famous. Later, all the warriors were blessed with them for feats. After 200 years, he was solemnly handed over to the son of Vasily II the Dark - Yuri.
Capture of Polotsk
Dovmont (Prince of Pskov) led a squad and "three ninety" military men. David Yakunovych was with them, Luka Litvin was with the Lithuanians. The army made its way imperceptibly through dense forests stretching from the river. Great to the Dvina. For a sudden capture of a large and strong Polotsk, Dovmont would not have had enough strength. However, he managed to capture Gerdenya's wife and children. Capturing rich booty along the way,he left Polotsk. All the carts managed to be transported across the Dvina, while Gerdenya was gathering allies. Across the river, Dovmont stopped and released the prey and prisoners to Pskov with part of his warriors. Soon the Lithuanians showed up. The guards notified Dovmont in time. He gathered his cavalry and unexpectedly hit the Lithuanians. The enemies did not even have time to accept the order. So with little blood (only one Pskov was killed) Dovmont won his first victory.
New trip
In 1267, Russian commanders moved to Lithuania. The border regions of the state were devastated. The Lithuanians not only failed to defend their lands, but also did not gather in pursuit. As chronicle records testify, Novgorodians and Pskovians fought a lot that year, and arrived with booty and without losses. There have not been such bloodless and successful campaigns at the border for a long time. The Lithuanians stopped their raids for a long time.
"Peace" with the Germans
Frightening Lithuania, Dovmont (prince of Pskov) decided to join the great army in the fight against the crusaders. The reason for the battles was the actions of the Danish knights, who settled in the coastal cities of Rakovor and Kolyvan. They greatly hindered the trade of Novgorod.
In the winter of 1268, Russian commanders with their troops gathered at the walls of the city. The militia also gathered. They were commanded by Mikhail Fedorovich (posadnik) and Kondrat (thousand). According to the chronicles, the army numbered about 30 thousand people. The Germans sent envoys to conclude peace. By agreement, they pledged not to help the Rakovor and Kolyvan people - the king's people. This suited the Novgorodians, since the main target was the Danish knights. It was important for the Russian army to break off the Germans. In January, on the 23rd (1268), the warriors moved to Rakovor. Before Narva went slowly - three weeks. The governors gave people a rest while they were on their land. Without fighting, the army crossed the border. The knights themselves did not dare to go out into the field, but hid behind the tower walls.
Battle with the German army
February 17, the army stopped at the river. Skittles. In the morning, the German army suddenly appeared nearby. She lined up in an ominous "pig". The signed peace was thus violated by the Germans themselves.
Russian regiments adopted the usual order - "brow". In the center stood the militia, and on the right and left sides - cavalry squads. In the same order, Nevsky lined up the army before the Battle of the Ice. However, this formation was also known to the Germans.
Dmitry Pereyaslavsky, who was the leader of the Russian army, placed a relatively small Tver squad on the left, and led the remaining horse regiments to the right wing so that the blow from this side would be unexpected and strong. This is where he stood up. Dovmont (Prince of Pskov) was also in the right wing.
The beginning of the battle was like the Battle of the Ice. The Germans crashed into the Russian "brow". Novgorodians fought under the heavy onslaught of the enemy. The losses were heavy, but the Germans did not manage to break through the "brow". As a result, the knightly ranks scattered, and each fought one by one. Foot Novgorodians plucked them from their saddles. Here, on the left, Tverskaya entered the battleMichael's team. For the Germans, however, this was not a surprise. Reserve detachments left to meet Mikhail. Then, from the other side, the cavalry entered the battle: Pskov, Vladimir, Pereyaslav. This blow was so unexpected and strong that the knights began to retreat in panic. They managed to escape from complete defeat, as another German army began to approach. The Russian squads had to stop the pursuit in order to regroup. However, the Germans did not dare to attack. The battlefield, covered with corpses and drenched in blood, frightened them so much that they stopped at the other side of the field and stood there until dark. At night, the knights left. The sent Pereyaslav patrols did not find them in 2, 4, or even 6 hours of travel.
Civil strife
Dovmont did not participate in internal conflicts, although many rulers tried to lure him to their side. Russia is going through a difficult time. The rulers began to fight for the reign in Vladimir and throughout the world. The eldest son of Alexander Nevsky Dmitry became the great ruler. However, the middle brother, Andrei, went to him. He bought a label for reigning in Vladimir from Khan Tudamengu.
The cavalry Tatar troops of Alchedai and Kavgady went to Russia to put Andrei on the throne. The annals say how the soldiers scattered across the Russian land in search of Dmitry. However, they failed to capture him, because with his close boyars and family, he took refuge in Koporye, where his treasury was kept. Here Dmitry wanted to sit out the invasion and accumulate strength. He counted on the supportNovgorodians, with whom he fought against the knights. However, they betrayed him and intercepted him on the way. Having demanded that Koporye be handed over to the governors, they captured the daughters of Dmitry and the boyars close to him with their children and wives.
Participation of the Pskov prince in internecine wars
The Novgorod garrison was stationed in the fortress of Koporye, Dmitry's people were detained in Ladoga. He was abandoned and exhausted by everyone. And at that moment, Dovmont joined the strife for the first and only time. At the same time, he stood on the side of the weakest. Why this was done is not entirely clear. Perhaps the former military fraternity played a role, perhaps kinship (Dovmont was Dmitry's son-in-law), or perhaps the Pskov prince saw in the exile the only warrior capable of protecting the land from numerous enemies. In any case, he swiftly entered Ladoga, freed all the people.
After a while, Dmitry again sat down in Vladimir. And four years later, for the first time in the history of Russia, he defeated the Horde army. It is believed that the first "correct battle" with the Mongol-Tatars took place only in 1378 on the river. Vozhe. But it happened much earlier. In 1285, an entry was made in the annals that Prince Andrei Gorodetsky brought a prince from the Horde to his elder brother Dmitry. However, the latter gathered an army and drove the Tatar-Mongols out of the Russian land.
The last year of Dovmont's life
In 1299, at night, the German knights quietly crept up to the city. They crossed the palisade and dispersed through the sleeping streets. The watchmen were killed with thin knives. First noticedGermans Kromsky dogs. Immediately the trumpet blared, the bell rang. The Pskovites fled, armed, to the walls of the city. The ruler with the governors appeared on the tower. He watched his people die in the suburb. The defense of cities at that time was carried out according to certain laws. If the enemies were under the walls, then the gate cannot be opened.
The city was considered the main one, not the settlement, so it was better to sacrifice the latter than to give the first. However, Dovmont went against the rules. The gates were opened, and the cavalry flew out of them. In the dark it was difficult to make out who was where. The people of Pskov recognized their underwear by white shirts, by the cries of women and children. Aliens were distinguished by the reflections on their helmets, the ringing of armor. The combatants shot down the Germans, letting the fugitives pass, backing away slowly, waiting for them to enter the gate. As a result, many managed to be saved, but a large number of people died. In the morning, Dovmont saw how the enemies were slowly surrounding the city. They did not think that the ruler would dare to fight them. However, this is exactly what Dovmont did. The infantry ran out of the gate first, followed by the cavalry. From the mouth of the Pskov ship hastened the army. The German knights could not resist, rushed to run from spears and swords, jumped into the water, ran to Usokha, climbed the hills.
Pskovites celebrated a new victory, not yet knowing that it would be the last for Dovmont.
Death
Surrounded by the love and gratitude of the townspeople, Dovmont was slowly fading away. It seemed that he gave all his strength in the last battle. The chronicle, however, says that, perhaps, he was overtaken by an illness - in that year there were manypeople died. On May 20, Dovmont's body was laid in the Trinity Church. Soon he was called a saint for his valor. The sword, with which Dovmont did not part all his life, was placed over the coffin.
