Tokhtamysh's bloody campaign against Moscow took place in 1382. It took place shortly after the Battle of Kulikovo, in which Russian troops defeated the Tatars. The success of Dmitry Donskoy gave hope to the inhabitants of the Moscow principality that now the khan's dependence was over. However, the war weakened the state, and when Tokhtamysh found himself under the walls of Moscow two years later, the inhabitants of the Slavic lands failed to organize worthy resistance.
Travel background
In the second half of the XIV century, the Golden Horde ceased to be a centralized state. Khan's power became nominal. Numerous temniki and commanders owned their own troops, with the help of which they periodically tried to subjugate the entire Horde. On the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, two political centers formed in the Tatar steppe. On the one hand, there was Khan Tokhtamysh, who shortly before this took possession of the capital of the entire Horde. His opponent was Mamai - the gray cardinal, who had great influence among the troops. It was he who led the Tatar army during the famous battle with Dmitry Donskoy.
Having been defeated, Mamai first fled to the Crimea, where he gathered the remnants of loyal nomads. With this small army, he tried to defend himself against the attack of Tokhtamysh,who wanted to finally get rid of his main enemy. The battle took place on the banks of the Kalka River, where Mamai was once again defeated. He again fled to the Crimea, where he was killed. Now Tokhtamysh has become the sole ruler of the Golden Horde.
Dmitry Donskoy's refusal to pay tribute
After his victory, the new khan sent an embassy to Moscow. He ordered to convey to the Moscow prince that now that power in the Horde has been restored, the Russian ruler should resume paying tribute. Tokhtamysh also thanked Donskoy for his victory over Mamai, a usurper and adventurer. Dmitry met the ambassadors with honors, but refused to pay tribute and recognize himself as a vassal of the Khan.
This news made Tokhtamysh furious. He did not want to abandon the old order, which was established after the campaign of Batu in the XIII century. For more than a century, the Russian princes not only paid tribute to the steppes, but also received labels from them for reigning, that is, they recognized themselves as subjects of the khan. When the Mongol yoke was just established, numerous Slavic political centers were at enmity with each other and could not offer organized resistance. Now most of the Russian lands were united around Moscow. It was her prince who stood at the head of the resistance to the steppes. Therefore, the campaign against Moscow by Tokhtamysh became the measure that was necessary to restore the dominion of the khan. Nevertheless, he waited for some time, while at the same time gathering troops and all the necessary resources.
Secret hike
Before Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow began, all Russian merchants and travelers were killed in Kazan. This was done in order to prevent the Slavs from learning about the approaching army. In addition, merchant ships came in handy for the Khan's army. On these ships, the soldiers quickly and without unnecessary interference crossed the Volga and ended up on the right bank. In the future, the route of the army constantly changed and avoided busy roads. Everything was done to make the invasion overwhelming and unexpected.
The Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan principalities were located on the eastern borders of Russia and could be the first to be under attack. They were independent from Moscow. When at the last moment it became known that the khan was approaching at the head of a huge army, the rulers of these cities sent their embassies to meet the aggressor. Nizhny Novgorod parliamentarians missed Tokhtamysh, who was constantly changing his route.
The betrayal of the Ryazan prince
Ryazan prince Oleg Ivanovich decided to personally meet the khan. He found the Tatar army not far from his own lands. The prince expressed his humility and recognized himself as a subject of the khan. In addition, the people of Ryazan suggested safe and convenient fords across the Oka to the steppes. The Tatars took advantage of these clues and bypassed the principality of Oleg Ivanovich from the east.
Only these days, Dmitry Donskoy found out that Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow was already in full swing, and the enemy army was approaching the borders of the state. These terrible news caught the entire Kremlin by surprise. It became clear that in order to put up serious resistance, the Tatars would have to gather under the same banner all the soldiers, including those who lived in the northern cities. Therefore, Dmitry Donskoy went to organize a militia (first in Pereyaslavl, and then in Kostroma). His cousin and closest associate Prince Vladimir Andreevich hurried to Volok Lamsky for the same purpose.
Refugees in Moscow
Meanwhile, Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow continued. Khan finally crossed the Oka and captured Serpukhov. However, Moscow was his main target. Christians who came across the Tatars along the way were mercilessly killed. Residents of villages, villages and small towns fled en masse to Moscow, hoping to find shelter inside the Kremlin walls.
In 1367, when Dmitry Donskoy was still a young man, on his initiative, the replacement of old wooden fortifications began, which could no longer save the capital in case of war. The builders used a new material - white stone, which was delivered to the city both in summer and in winter from the surrounding quarries. A new Kremlin was built from it. Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow could have ended in failure precisely because of the wide walls of the new fortress.
Muscovites gather Veche
A large influx of newcomers to the capital has led to unrest. The inhabitants were divided into two parts. One wanted to lock herself in the city and defend herself to the last. Others panicked and decided to leave the fortress. Khan Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow frightened many. In addition, life in the city wasparalyzed due to the lack of legitimate power. Dmitry Donskoy and Vladimir Andreevich were still in the northern regions, gathering troops.
Khan Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow forced the residents to convene a veche. Finally, at the vote, it was decided to close all exits from the city and wait for the enemy with weapons in their hands. At the same time, many boyars still left the capital. Rumors spread among the aristocracy that the prince simply fled the city, leaving it to be plundered by the enemy.
Against this background, an open popular uprising began, which was directed against the remaining boyars. Since power finally passed to the veche, the population actually began to rule in the city. When Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow happened (1382), many in the capital were not prepared for an emergency. However, during the days of the siege, there was still a man who declared himself as a leader. It was the Lithuanian prince Ostey, who was the grandson of the famous Olgerd. By his decision, all nearby villages were burned. This was done in order to deprive the Tatars of shelter and food during the siege.
Start of the siege
Such measures turned out to be a necessary sacrifice, which led to the campaign of Khan Tokhtamysh against Moscow. The year of the Tatar attack remained a mournful date in Russian history. Finally, on August 23, the khan with an army approached Moscow. By this time, the inhabitants of the city had prepared stones, boiling water and resin to repel the attacks of the enemy. In addition, the annals of the siege contain a mention of the first use of a cannon by Russian artillerymen. All this was done forin order to stop Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow. The year of the invasion was remembered for a variety of tricks of the Russian inhabitants, with the help of which they fought against unexpected opponents.
Deception of the Tatars
The assault on the city lasted three days. During this time, the Tatars lost many people due to shelling from the walls. However, the Khan's army remained a formidable force. On August 26, parliamentarians went to Moscow, among whom were the children of the Nizhny Novgorod prince. They invited the residents of the city to open the gates. At the same time, the ambassadors promised not to shed the blood of Muscovites. The besieged, not seeing support from their own prince, who was far away, believed these persuasions.
The gates were open. A delegation led by Ostey came out to meet the Tatars. The entire embassy was immediately hacked to death. The Tatars broke into the open gates and carried out a merciless massacre of the inhabitants. Thus ended Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow. The date of this event was described in chronicles as one of the most mournful in the history of Russia.
Consequences of the campaign
After Moscow was captured and burned, the Tatar army was divided into several detachments. They headed for the undefended neighboring towns. So Vladimir, Mozhaisk, Zvenigorod and Yuryev were ruined. One of the Tatar armies was defeated by Vladimir Andreevich after she was next to Volok Lamsky. Then Tokhtamysh learned about the approach of Dmitry Donskoy, who led fresh regiments from Kostroma. Khan decided not to give a pitched battle. Hesafely left the borders of Russia, plundering Kolomna along the way, taking with him huge booty and many captives.
In the future, Dmitry had to temporarily admit that he was a tributary of the Horde. The struggle for independence was still ahead. Burnt Moscow was quickly rebuilt, but the memory of the Tatar massacre lived in the memory of the townspeople for a long time. In total, the Horde killed 24 thousand inhabitants.
