Standing on the Ugra led to the liberation of Russia from the Mongol yoke. The country not only freed itself from heavy tribute, but a new player appeared on the European arena - the Moscow kingdom. Russia became free in its actions.
In the second half of the 15th century, the position of the Golden Horde was significantly weakened by internecine strife. The treasury of the state, which was replenished only by Moscow tribute and raids on neighboring states, was practically empty. The weakness of the Horde is evidenced by the raid of the Vyatka ushkuyns on the capital - Saray, which was completely looted and burned. In response to the daring raid, Khan Akhmat began to prepare a military campaign to punish the Russians. And at the same time replenish the empty treasury. The result of this campaign was the Great Stand on the Ugra River in 1480.
In 1471, at the head of a huge army, Akhmat invaded Russia. But all crossings across the Oka River were blocked by Moscow troops. Then the Mongols laid siege to the border town of Aleksin. The assault on the city was repulsed by its defenders. Then the Tatars overlaid the wooden walls with brushwood and straw, and then set them on fire. Russian troops stationed on the other side of the river never came to the aid of the burning city. After the fire, the Mongols immediately went to the steppes. In response to Akhmat's campaignMoscow refused to pay tribute to the Horde.
Ivan III led an active foreign policy. A military alliance was concluded with the Crimean Khan Mengli Giray, with whom the Horde waged a protracted struggle. Internecine wars within the Golden Horde allowed Russia to prepare for a general battle.
Akhmat chose the moment for the trip to Russia very well. At this time, Ivan III fought with his brothers Boris Volotsky and Andrei Bolshoi, who were against increasing the power of the Moscow prince. Part of the forces was diverted to the Pskov land, where a struggle was fought with the Livonian Order. Also, the Golden Horde entered into a military alliance with the Polish king Casimir IV.
In the autumn of 1480, Khan Akhmat entered the Russian land with a large army. In response to the invasion of the Tatars, Ivan III began to concentrate troops near the banks of the Oka River. At the end of September, the royal brothers stopped fighting with Moscow and, having received forgiveness, joined the army of the prince of Moscow. The Mongol army was moving through the vassal Lithuanian lands, intending to join forces with Casimir IV. But he was attacked by the Crimean Tatars, and could not come to the rescue. The Tatars began to prepare for the crossing. The site was chosen on a 5-kilometer section at the confluence of the Ugra and Rosvyanka rivers. The battle for the crossing began on October 8 and lasted four days. At this time, artillery was used for the first time by Russian troops. The Mongol attacks were repulsed, they were forced to retreat a few miles from the river, and the Great Stand on the Ugra began.
Negotiations have not led to any results. Neither side wantedyield. Ivan III tried to play for time. Standing on the Ugra River continued, no one dared to take active hostilities. The Mongols, carried away by the campaign, left their capital without cover, and a large detachment of Russians was moving towards it. The frosts that began at the end of October forced the Tatars to experience a great lack of food. Frosts led to the formation of ice on the river. As a result, Ivan III decided to withdraw the troops a little further to Borovsk, where there was a convenient place for the battle.
Standing on the Ugra for an outside observer would seem like the indecision of the rulers. But the Russian tsar simply did not need to move his troops across the river and shed the blood of his subjects. The actions of Khan Akhmat showed his lack of self-confidence. In addition, the backwardness of the Mongols in armament was clearly manifested. Russian troops already had firearms, and also used artillery to protect the crossings.
The great standing on the Ugra led to the official liberation of Russia from Mongol rule. Khan Akhmat was soon killed in his own tent by the envoys of the Siberian Khan Ibak.
