The invasion of Tokhtamysh against Moscow in 1382 and its consequences

Only two years have passed since the day of the glorious victory of Prince Dmitry Donskoi over the hordes of Mamai, and the Russian land again shuddered from the trampling of the hooves of the Tartar cavalry. The terrible invasion of Tokhtamysh against Moscow in 1382 and its consequences became the subject of study of many generations of historians who tried to explain the causes of misfortune at different angles. But in one thing they agree in opinion - this time the specific princes failed to show unity, which became the guarantee of their victory on the Kulikovo field.

The nomination of the new Horde Khan

At the end of the 14th century, the struggle for power was especially aggravated among the rulers of the Golden Horde. Tokhtamysh-khan, the influence of which had previously extended only to the so-called White Horde, or, as the Tatars called it, Ak-Orda, came to the forefront. With the support of his ally Tamerlane, in 1379 he captured the main capital of the Tatar state, Sarai al-Jedid, and soon became the ruler of all lands located in the lower reaches of the Don.

Tokhtamysh was promoted in many respects by the failures that befell his main rival, the shadow ruler of the Horde Mamaia, defeated in 1380 by Dmitry Donskoy. Having ingloriously escaped after a crushing defeat, he fled to the Crimea, where he tried to collect the remains of loyal forces for a new campaign against Moscow. But this was not destined to happen. Tokhtamysh advanced his army against him for the decisive battle on the Kalka River.

Mamai was preparing to take the battle, but at the last moment was betrayed by his approximate, who threw him and flipped to the side of the enemy. He had to flee again. This time, Mamai rushed to Cafu - a fortified city in the Crimea, but there he was waiting for another betrayal. Former allies and masters of the city Genoese treacherously killed him and robbed him. Thus, the once formidable ruler of the Golden Horde ended his own inglorious end.

Bloody invasion of Tokhtamysh in Moscow

No matter whoever raided the Tatar cavalry on the Russian lands, they always carried blood and fire, but under the Tokhtamish Khan these invasions were especially destructive. An example of this is the events that took place in August 1382. They began with the fact that the new ruler of the Golden Horde sent his ambassadors to the Moscow prince. Through them, he thanked Dmitri Donskoy for the victory he had won over Mamai, according to him, "a heinous usurper of power," and reported that now he was in the Golden Horde, her legitimate ruler from the genus Chingizid.

But this was only an introduction, the main thing was that the Khan demanded further payment of the tribute. After listening to the ambassadors and, according to custom, generously endowing them, Prince Dmitry ordered to convey his best wishes to the khan, but categorically refused to pay tribute. The immediate invasion of Tokhtamysh against Moscow was the result of this statement.

Historical documents show that from the side of the Tatar khan in 1381 another attempt was made to put diplomatic pressure on Prince Dmitry. To this end, he sent to Moscow another embassy led by the young prince Ak-Khozem, accompanied by a powerful detachment of soldiers. But for unknown reasons they never arrived in the capital, and thus the invasion of Tokhtamysh Khan to Moscow was predetermined.

The campaign started in an atmosphere of strict secrecy

Starting the campaign in 1382, the Tatar leader showed outstanding organizational abilities. First of all, he took measures to keep the movement of his troops in secret from the enemy. To avoid the slightest leakage of information, the khan ordered all Moscow merchants who were in the subordinate Kazan to kill or hide in a prison, and use their vessels to transport troops to the right bank of the Volga.

From the written records of the time that survived to us, it is known that his hordes moved quickly, but with the utmost caution - "not letting the news outrun themselves." Thanks to this, Tokhtamysh's invasion of Moscow was a surprise for her residents and deprived them of the opportunity to carefully prepare for reflection. At all times, the surprise of the attack greatly contributed to the success of the whole affair.

Betrayal of the Ryazan prince

He played into the hands of the khan and such a sad factor for the Russians as the inclination of some princes to betray their own interests in the interests of their own security and benefits. This was manifested during the entire period of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, and one example of this was the unexpected transfer to the side of Tokhtamysh Prince Oleg Ryazan. He not only showed obedience to the invaders, but also voluntarily showed convenient fords across the Oka. Subsequently, he severely suffered because of this at the hands of the Tatars themselves.

It is known that the invasion of Tokhtamysh by Moscow was attempted to prevent the Prince of Nizhny Novgorod Dmitry Konstantinovich by diplomatic methods. To this end, he sent his sons for talks with the khan, but they did not fulfill the instructions simply because they could not catch up with the Tatar cavalry moving with unusual speed.

However, no matter how hard the invaders tried, the news of their approach nevertheless reached the Grand Duke. Dmitry Donskoi, remembering the unanimity with which the princes of the nobility arose two years ago to fight the hordes of Mamai, laid this time hopes for their help, but miscalculated. When the invasion of Tokhtamysh against Moscow became evident, the prince did not receive any support from them and was forced to go to form the troops in Kostroma, and his closest associate, Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovskaya, to the Wolves of Lamsky.

On the outskirts of Moscow

Taking advantage of the fords indicated to him by the Ryazan prince Oleg, Tokhtamish crossed the Oka and, after pillaging Serpukhov, sent his cavalry to Moscow. The whole territory where the invaders passed was a scorched earth, on which then for a long time the ashes of the villages blackened, and the bones of the remaining people without burial were white in the grass.

In the absence of the Grand Duke, a panic arose in the capital, which was provoked by the invasion of Tokhtamysh against Moscow. In addition, a large number of residents of the surrounding villages, hoping to hide from the enemy behind the Kremlin walls, together with all their property, arrived there in a short time. As a result, riots and looting began, exacerbating an already tense situation.

Organization of defense

Some order managed to bring the Lithuanian prince Osteuu, who was in the Russian service, who arrived in the city. When he assembled a people's veche, which decided not to let anyone out of Moscow and send all the forces to prepare for the defense. The prince himself, as a military man, directed the works connected with the installation of protective structures on the walls, the preparation of tar, tar and stones, which, in case of an assault, were to fall upon the heads of besiegers. By his order, all the villages were burnt around the city. This measure deprived the enemies of material for siege and shelter.

The appearance of the enemy under the walls of the city

Irreversible, like fate, Tokhtamysh invaded Moscow. The date of August 23, 1382 was a black day in the history of Russia. This morning the advance detachment of the Tatars came to the Kremlin walls. The Horde did not take any active action, and when they found out that Prince Dmitry Donskoi was not in the city, they drove off for some distance in anticipation of the main forces. But their very appearance caused a certain psychological breakdown among Muscovites.

As evidenced by contemporaries, in order to relieve tension, the inhabitants resorted to the tried and tested means - general drunkenness. To do this, opened the cellars of rich houses, rolled out kegs with honey and braga, and then drank from small to large. In a drunken state, they rose to the Kremlin walls and from there threatened the Tatars, showering them with desperate abuse.

Attempts assault, repulsed Muscovites

The invasion of Tokhtamysh into Moscow can be briefly described, setting out the events that took place during the four days - from August 23 to 26. If on the first day the townspeople saw the Tatar avant-garde, then on the next morning the main forces of the enemy led by the Khan came to the walls of the capital. The Horde made an assault, but were repulsed by the defenders of the city and retreated with great losses. Did not bring them success and the assault on August 25. Under a hail of arrows, watered from the walls by showers of boiling water and burning tar, uninvited guests again had to withdraw.

Treachery of Asians and betrayal of fellow tribesmen

So they would go with nothing, if not for their Asian cunning and treacherous betrayal of the Suzdal young princes. Realizing that the strength of Muscovites can not be overcome, Tokhtamish sent to the walls of the city a delegation of noble Horde and included in it the two sons of Suzdal prince - Vasily and Semyon, the very same ones who were sent to him by the father on a diplomatic mission at the beginning of the campaign, but delayed, and Then they joined the khan's entourage. They enjoyed the special trust of the Muscovites, since they were the brothers of the family of Prince Dmitry Donskoy - Evdokia.

Tokhtamysh played on this trust. On his behalf, the brothers assured the townspeople that the Horde did not have enmity towards them, but they came to kill only one prince Dmitry. Since there is no one in the city, they are ready to leave, provided that the residents open the gates and meet the khan with honors and gifts. The Khan will not do any harm to anyone, but when he sees a city that he has heard a lot about, he will take his army away. They confirmed their words with an oath.

Invasion of the Horde in Moscow

If this townspeople heard from the lips of strangers, they would probably doubt it. But at that moment they were speaking with their compatriots, and besides, the relatives of the Grand Duke himself, and they believed in deception. The Kremlin gates opened, and from there appeared a procession of residents of the capital, headed by Prince Osteem and the clergy. In the blink of an eye all of them were cut down by Tatars who were attacked from all sides.

Bursting into an unprotected city, the Horde began to rob and burn anything that came in their way. The hell they arranged inside the Kremlin walls can not be described. Historians have established that on that day 24,000 people became victims of this bloody feast. Since at that time the population of Moscow was 40,000 people, it turns out that on August 26 more than half of the capital's residents died. In addition, the Khan's prey became a huge number of prisoners captured in slavery.

The invasion of Tokhtamysh by Moscow in 1382 and its consequences were an example of what the fragmentation of the state leads to, the lack of unity in repelling the danger, and the vulnerability to internal betrayal. In those days, when the Muscovites fought on the Kremlin walls and died, becoming a victim of the treachery of their compatriots, the Grand Duke and his wife Evdokia were in Kostroma. They tried in vain to persuade the princes again, as two years ago, to join forces and prevent Tokhtamysh's invasion of Moscow.

The Year of the Great Russian Tribulation

The next day, bled with the blood of innocent victims and aggravated by rich prey, the Tatars left the city limits. But before returning to the Horde, they divided into several independent groups and, simultaneously capturing, ruined Vladimir, Zvenigorod, Mozhaysk and Yuryev. It is not for nothing that 1382 entered the history of Russia as one of the most mournful episodes of its history. Tens of thousands killed and stolen into slavery - this is its result.

The only time the Tatars received a serious rebuff, trying to attack the Wolves Lamsky. Here, their cavalry was stopped by Prince Serpukhovsky, who hastily managed to gather the militia. The main forces of the Tatars, headed by the khan on the way back, despite the promise, plundered the lands of the traitor Oleg Ryazansky, who escaped from the battlefield.

Thus ended the invasion of Tokhtamysh in Moscow. His results are very sad. Having suffered huge economic losses and giving up human lives, Russia still remained in political dependence on the Horde khans. To avoid further bloodshed, Prince Dmitry was forced to continue paying tribute and pay Tokhtamysh for two years after his victory in Kulikovo Field. He himself and the subsequent princes ruled in their patrimonies only on the basis of labels received in the Golden Horde. Before the overthrow of the Tatar-Mongol yoke there was still a whole century.