As a result of the Northern War, Russia took a strong position as a great European power. Now, in the words of the French envoy Camperdon, "at the slightest demonstration of his (Peter - D.A.) fleet, at the first movement of his troops, neither the Swedish, nor the Danish, nor the Prussian, nor the Polish crown will dare to make a movement hostile to him, nor move with places his troops ... He is one of the northern sovereigns in a position to force respect for his flag. After the death of Peter, his successors faced the most difficult task - to preserve and consolidate the position of a great power. This task consisted of two components:
1. maintaining access to the Baltic Sea;
2. strengthening its influence in Poland;
3. solutions to the Black Sea problem, i.e. control of the shores of the Black Sea.
The main enemy in this period is France.
1734 - 1735 - the war for the "Polish inheritance". (After the death of August II the Strong, his son Augustus claimed the Polish throne (in whose favor Russia and Austria spoke out, interested in maintaining a weak Poland, torn apart by gentry contradictions)) and Stanislav Leshchinsky, a former ally of Charles XII, now supported by France. As a result of Russian military intervention, Augustus (who became King Augustus III) took the throne and Russian influence in Poland became predominant.
1735 - 1739 Russian-Turkish war. Russia and Austria opposed Turkey, which had sharply strengthened with the support of France. Russian troops under the command of Munnich and Lassi broke through into the Crimea three times, but each time they were forced to retreat, fearing encirclement. Under the conditions of the likely performance of Sweden, incited by France, and the weakening of Austria, Russia was forced in 1739 to conclude the Belgrade peace, according to which Russia returned Azov, but disrupted its fortifications. Almost all the gains of this war had to be given away.
1741 - 1743 Russian-Swedish war. France and Prussia pushed Sweden to war and, at the same time, tried to persuade Elizabeth to give up her father's conquests in the Baltic. The Swedish troops started the war under the pretext of protecting the rights of Elizabeth, but the war continued after the coup in her favor. Russian troops under the command of Lassi won victory after victory in Finland, and in 1742 the Swedish army capitulated near Helsingfors. Peace was concluded in 1743 in Abo. Russia received a number of Swedish fortresses in Finland.
1757 - 1763 Seven Years' War. Reasons: sharp Austro-Prussian and Anglo-French contradictions. Two opposing alliances are formed - Austria and Prussia - on the one hand, and Austria, Russia, France and Saxony - on the other.
1725, January. The problem of a successor after the death of Peter the Great. His grandson Peter, the son of Tsarevich Alexei and the only possible male heir, was only nine years old. Supporters of the reforms call Catherine the successor, their opponents - the former queen Evdokia. Finally, under pressure from the guards, the old nobility compromises with the "thin" nobles from the late emperor's entourage and proclaims Catherine the Empress.
June. Marriage between the eldest daughter of the Empress Anna Petrovna and Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.
1726, February. Establishment of the Supreme Privy Council, which takes away a number of powers from the Senate. The Empress herself is considered the chairman of the Council, and among its seven members there are two favorites: Alexander Menshikov and Pyotr Tolstoy.
1727, May. The death of Catherine I. The throne was left to the twelve-year-old Peter II Alekseevich. Through the efforts of the almighty Alexander Menshikov, Pyotr Tolstoy was exiled. The right to appoint to the highest military positions passes to the Supreme Privy Council.
September. The fall of Menshikov, who. in turn, exiled to Siberia. The Dolgorukys, who have regained power, are striving to regain the former rights of the old nobility. The yard moves to Moscow.
1728 Supreme Privy Council continues to expand its power; collegiums are subordinated to him. The abolition of the Little Russian Collegium and the restoration of the hetmanship. The Council decides to convene deputies to Moscow to complete work on legislation.
1730 Repeal of the law on primacy in the inheritance of estates.
January. Death of Peter II. Ignoring the will of Catherine I, who indicated Anna and Elizabeth, daughters of Peter the Great, as possible successors to Peter II, the Council gives the throne to Anna Ioannovna, widow of the Duke of Courland, who accepts the conditions drawn up by Prince Dmitry Golitsyn, limiting her and leaving all control in the hands of the Supreme Secret council ("Mitavian conditions"). The dissatisfaction of wide circles of the nobility, demanding the limitation of the supreme power in their favor.
February. Using the split in the nobility, Anna Ioannovna refuses the Mitav conditions and accepts "autocracy"
March 4 (15). Anna Ioannovna abolishes the Supreme Privy Council and restores the powers of the Senate.
April. Dolgoruky removed from power.
July. A cadet corps was established to allow the children of the nobility to avoid the soldier's "strap".
18 (29) October. The Cabinet of Ministers was established, to which the functions of the Supreme Privy Council were transferred.
1731 Manifesto of Anna Ioannovna, in which her niece Anna Leopoldovna, the future Duchess of Brunswick, is called the heir to the throne.
1732 The court and the higher authorities are transferred back to St. Petersburg. Creation of a commission to control the activities of governors. Changes to the recruiting system: one recruit per 350 peasants with the possibility of redemption.
1734 The hetmanship in Little Russia is again abolished, and its administration is entrusted to the Provisional Commission, which means a return to centralization.
1735 Approval of the supreme authority of the Cabinet of Ministers: in the absence of the Empress, its decrees acquire the force of law.
1736 Law restricting the service of the nobility and allowing one of the sons to remain on the estate.
17 (28) October. Death of Anna Ioannovna. Biron was appointed regent for the two-month-old Ivan Antonovich, whom it was prescribed to address as "Your Highness."
8 (19) November. Field Marshal Minich orders Biron to be arrested and imprisoned in the Shlisselburg fortress, Anna Leopoldovna is proclaimed regent, and Minich himself becomes the first minister.
1741, January. Another redistribution of powers between ministers; Minikh was left only in command of the troops, and foreign policy was transferred to the jurisdiction of A. I. Osterman.
November 25 (December 6). Palace coup by Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great. In the manifesto she released, she substantiates her right to the throne with the will of Catherine I. The emperor and his family are taken into custody.
1742, January. Osterman and Munnich, originally sentenced to death, were exiled with Biron to Siberia. The management of foreign policy was entrusted to A.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin.
April. Coronation of Elizabeth in Moscow.
November. In her manifesto, Elizabeth appoints her nephew, the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, as heir to the throne.
December. The abolition of the Cabinet of Ministers and the restoration of the rights of the Senate, which was expanded to 14 members. Dolgoruky is again among the close associates of the Empress.
1743 Creation of the Conference of Ministers, to which the functions of the abolished Cabinet are transferred, the Senate continues to play an important role.
1750, February. Kirill Razumovsky, brother of the morganatic husband of Elizabeth Petrovna Alexei, was elected hetman of Ukraine.
1757 Recruitment changes; previously limited to ten Russian provinces, it is now extended to Little Russia and the Baltic provinces.
Foreign policy
1725, March 31 (April 11). Catherine I gives an audience to the French envoy Campredon, offering to conclude an alliance between Russia and France, which would be sealed by the marriage of Elizabeth Petrovna and Louis XV.
1726, July. The expulsion from Mitava of Moritz of Saxony, whom the Diet of Courland repeatedly elected Duke.
July 26 (August 6). Accession of Russia to the Treaty of Vienna, concluded by 1725 between Emperor Charles VI of Habsburg and Spain. Russia puts a 30,000-strong army at the disposal of the allies in exchange for support in the event of a war with the Ottoman Empire.
1727, February. The Sejm of Courland confirms the election of Moritz of Saxony and again rejects A. Menshikov, Catherine's candidate.
August. Treaty of eternal peace with China on the basis of the territorial status quo, the establishment of regular trade relations.
1731 Transition under the protection of Russia of the Lesser Kazakh Zhuz.
1732, June. During the Russian-French negotiations, Osterman opposes Biron and insists on remaining loyal to the alliance with Austria.
1733, August. Russia supports the candidacy of August III for the Polish throne against the French-backed Stanisław Leshchinsky.
1734, June. Fulfilling his obligations against France during the war for the "Polish Succession". Anna Ioannovna sends her fleet to the Baltic Sea, which at Danzig defeats the French squadron that was going to help Stanislav Leshchinsky.
1736, May. Minich's campaign against the Crimean Tatars. October. Russia, in alliance with Austria, starts a war against Turkey.
1737, March. The Diet of Courland elects Biron Duke. In July this election was ratified by Augustus III.
1738 Resumption of Russian-French diplomatic relations. The Russian envoy Prince Cantemir arrives in Paris.
1739, September. Belgrade treaty to end the war between Russia and Austria with Turkey. Thanks to the victories won by Minikh (Azov, Ochakov, Yasy), Russia regains Azov and Zaporozhye, lost under Peter I.
1741-1742 Russian-Swedish war.
18 August. The signing of an agreement in Abo between Russia and Sweden, which ceded the southeastern corner of Finland (the provinces of Kymengard, Vilmanstrand and Nislot).
December. The resumption of Russian-French diplomatic relations, interrupted during the war with Sweden; the return of the French ambassador, the Marquis de la Chétardie.
1744, January 24 (February 4). On the initiative of Bestuzhev-Ryumin, an agreement was concluded between Russia and Saxony, drawing Russia into the Anglo-Austrian coalition. New break with France.
December 28 (January 8, 1745). Elizabeth joins the Warsaw Pact between Austria, Saxony, England and Holland.
1746, May 22 (June 2). Austro-Russian defensive alliance: the parties undertake to provide each other with a 30,000-strong contingent of troops. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, the main organizer of this treaty, receives 6,000 ducats from the emperor.
1747, June 1 (12). Anglo-Russian subsidy treaty: Russia receives £100,000 to equip its army.
1748, April. For the first time in its history, Russia is directly involved in a conflict in Western Europe by sending its troops to the Rhine.
December 31 (January 11, 1757). Russia joins the Treaty of Versailles (on the union of France and Austria).
1757 January 11 (22). Austro-Russian convention: each side undertakes to field an army of 80,000 in the event of a joint war with Prussia.
August 19 (30). The Russian army under the command of S.F. Apraksin and Rumyantsev defeats the Prussian troops at Gross-Egersdorf. Instead of developing success and occupy Pomerania, Apraksin retreats to Tilsit.
14 (25) August. The Russian army, surrounded by Prussian troops, manages to break out of the ring after a bloody battle near Zorndorf.
1759 February 25 (March 8). Russo-Swedish convention, joined by France and Denmark. Its goal is to close access to the Baltic for all foreign warships.
July. The Russian army under the command of Saltykov defeats the troops of the Don at Palzig and opens its way to the Oder, Frankfurt and Berlin.
July 30 (August 10). Saltykov, together with the Austrian troops of Lauden, utterly defeats the Prussian army of Frederick II near Kunersdorf. Disagreements among the allies prevent them from developing success.
September 28 (October 9). Saltykov enters Berlin. After capitulation, the city is given over to plunder and undertakes to pay 1.5 million thalers.
1760, 12 (23) March. Choiseul is negotiating with Austria, seeking to get Russia from Poland the right bank of the Dnieper and, as compensation from Frederick II, East Prussia.
wiki.304.ru / History of Russia. Dmitry Alkhazashvili.
In today's lesson, we will look at foreign policy in 1725-1762.
Topic: Russia in the XVII-XVIII centuries.
Lesson: Russia's foreign policy in 1725-1762
After the death of Peter I, Russia's foreign policy as a whole retained its direction. The continued weakening of the Ottoman Empire contributed to the intensification of Russia's struggle for access to the Black Sea. The political struggle that engulfed Poland prompted Russia to actively interfere in its internal affairs in order to ensure the reunification of Ukrainian and Belarusian lands with Russia. Sweden's unwillingness to put up with the results of the Northern War made one of the important tasks of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire the preservation of Peter's conquests in the Baltic states. They demanded their solution to the problem of securing Russia in the Caucasus, which remained unresolved after the Persian campaign.
In 1735, Anna Ioannovna, in order to strengthen relations with Persia, returned to her the Caspian coast, occupied under Peter I. Having learned about this, the Crimean Khanate sent a 40,000-strong army through the southern territories of Russia to capture these territories. Russia declared war on Turkey. In the spring of 1736, a new Crimean campaign began. The President of the Military Collegium, General Field Marshal B.K. Minikh, was placed at the head of the army. In the summer of 1736, Russian troops occupied Azov, Bakhchisaray, the Ochakov fortress and the Khotyn fortress. Austria violated allied obligations and made peace with Turkey. Russia did not have the strength to fight the enemy one on one. Under the Belgrade Peace Treaty, concluded in 1739, Russia ceded the captured fortresses, Azov remained in the neutral zone between Russian and Turkish possessions, and its fortifications were destroyed. Russia annexed minor territories of the Right-Bank Ukraine. However, Russia never received either access to the Black Sea or the right to have fortresses and a fleet in the Sea of Azov.
In June 1741 Sweden declared war on Russia. Already in 1742, the Russian army won a victory near Helsingfors. In August 1743, the Abo peace treaty was concluded. Sweden transferred to Russia part of the territory of Finland, confirmed the previous acquisitions of Russia.
Second quarter of the 18th century became the time of joining the Kazakh lands to Russia. In 1731, the lands of the Kazakh state formation, the Younger Zhuz, voluntarily became part of Russia, and in 1740-1743. - Middle zhuz. Orenburg and a number of other fortresses in the south-east of the country were built to ensure security from the raids of neighbors.
In the mid 1750s. changed the balance of power in Europe. The strengthening of Prussia and the aggressive plans of its king, Frederick II, caused concern to the monarchs of Europe. In 1756-1757. Two coalitions of European states were formed: on the one hand, Prussia, England, and on the other, France, Austria, Russia and Saxony, later Sweden joined them.
The army of Frederick II was considered invincible and posed a serious threat to the neighbors. In July 1757, Russia also entered the war with Prussia. The Russian army was commanded by Field Marshal S. F. Apraksin. On August 19, 1757, one of the largest battles of the Seven Years' War took place near the small village of Gross-Egersdorf. In the course of his Prussian army was defeated, Apraksin not only did not pursue the defeated enemy, but also ordered to retreat. As a result, the Germans managed to gather their forces and direct them against the Russians. Apraksin was removed from command and put on trial. General-in-Chief VV Fermor was appointed the new commander-in-chief. In 1757 Koenigsberg was occupied. In August 1758, Fermor fled from the battlefield, but the Russian troops not only withstood the onslaught of the Prussian army, but also forced it to retreat, led by Frederick II, near the village of Zorndorf. Already in 1759, P.S. Saltykov was appointed commander of the Russian army. The Russian army won a victory near Kunersdorf. In September 1760, the corps under the command of Z. G. Chernyshev occupied Berlin. In 1761, the fortress of Kolberg was taken by the Russians. Frederick II, in desperation, even tried to poison himself. However, in the midst of the final stage of the Seven Years' War, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died. Emperor Peter III, who ascended the throne, ceased hostilities and entered into an alliance with Frederick II.
The main result of Russia's foreign policy in 1725-1762. it can be considered that it firmly established itself in the Baltic and, in the course of numerous wars, again proved itself to be one of the militarily strongest powers in Europe. At the same time, the problem of access to the southern seas remained unresolved.
Bibliography
1. History of the state and peoples of Russia. XVI-XVIII centuries - M .: Bustard, 2003
2. Anisimov E. V. Russia in the middle of the XVIII century. The struggle for the legacy of Peter. - M., 1986
3. Anisimov E. V. Women on the Russian throne. - M., 1997
4. Valishevsky K. Successors of Peter. - M., 1992
5. In the struggle for power: Pages of the political history of Russia in the XVIII century. - M., 1998
Homework
1. What were the main directions and objectives of Russia's foreign policy in 1725-1762?
2. What territories were annexed to Russia in 1725-1762?
3. Why was Russia unable to gain a foothold on the shores of the Black and Azov Seas?
4. Where did the main battles of the Seven Years' War take place?
5. What are the results of the Seven Years' War for Russia?
The rise of the country's economy, the creation of a regular army and navy, the victory in the Northern War strengthened Russia's international position.
In the first quarter of the XVIII century. one of the main foreign policy tasks was solved - access to the Baltic Sea was won. The following two foreign policy tasks remained unresolved.
The first of them was associated with the need to master the exit to the Azov and Black Seas, the accession and development of vast expanses of land lying between the serif lines and the Azov-Black Sea coast. These lands remained undeveloped and were under the rule of Turkey and its vassal of the Crimean Khanate, which continued its aggressive policy towards Russia.
The second foreign policy task was the reunification of the Right-Bank Ukraine with the Left-Bank Ukraine and the inclusion of Belarus into Russia, which was supposed to unite Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians in one state.
The solution of foreign policy problems, on the one hand, had a progressive meaning, corresponding to the national interests of Russia and the peoples inhabiting it. On the other hand, foreign policy was carried out by the autocracy in the interests of strengthening this system and the dominant position of the nobility. The struggle for the preservation of the autocratic system and the suppression of speeches against it were also the most important features of Russian foreign policy.
Seven Years' War (1756-1763)
The greatest importance in the foreign policy events of the middle of the XVIII century. had the Seven Years' War. In Europe, the aggressive policy of Prussia intensified, posing a threat to the interests of Russia, Chancellor A.P. Bestuzhev, who led Russian foreign policy in the 40-50s, made a lot of efforts to create an anti-Prussian coalition, which included Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, Saxony . The war began in 1756 with the Prussian attack on Saxony and the defeat of the Austrian army. In the summer of 1757, Russia entered the war. On August 19, 1757, Russian troops defeated the Prussians near Gross-Egersdorf. East Prussia was soon occupied by Russian troops.
The Prussians suffered a new defeat on August 14, 1758 at Zorndrrf. On August 1, 1759, the Russian army reached the Oder and defeated the Prussian king Frederick II at Kunersdorf. In 1760, Russian troops occupied Berlin. Prussia was on the brink of disaster. On December 25, 1761, the death of Empress Elizabeth saved her from this. Peter III, who idolized Frederick II, in May 1762 made peace with him, returning to Prussia all the territories conquered by Russia. After the accession of Catherine II, Russia annulled the alliance concluded by Peter III with Prussia. As a result of the Seven Years' War, the Prussian threat was ended for many decades.
Russian-Turkish wars (1768-1774; 1787-1791)
In 1768, incited and subsidized by France, Turkey decided to resume aggression in the Ukraine and the Caucasus. Turkey's attack was unexpected for Russia, and the hostilities of 1768-1769. were unsuccessful for the Russian army. The situation changed in 1770, when P. A. Rumyantsev won major victories on the tributaries of the Prut and Larga and Kagul rivers. The Russian squadron of G. A. Spiridonov, leaving the Baltic, defeated the Turkish fleet on June 25-26, 1770 in the Chesme Bay. In 1771, Russian troops occupied all the main centers of the Crimea. After some lull, hostilities in 1773 intensified again. In 1773, the troops of A. V. Suvorov took the Tartukai fortress, and in 1774 they won a victory at Kozludzha.
Turkey was forced to sign a peace treaty on July 10, 1774 in the village of Kyuchuk-Kaynardzhi. In this world, the dependence of the Crimea on Turkey was eliminated. Russia received lands between the Dnieper and the Southern Bug, Kerch and the right of unhindered navigation of Russian merchant ships on the Black Sea. In the spring of 1783, the Crimean Khanate ceased to exist, Russian troops entered the Crimea, and it was included in Russia. In 1783, the Georgian king Erekle II signed a treaty with Russia in the city of Georgievsk, according to which Georgia came under the protection of Russia, which guaranteed its territorial integrity and border security.
Not wanting to put up with the loss of undivided dominance in the Black Sea, Turkey began in 1787 a new war with Russia. In 1787, A.V. Suvorov defeated the Turkish landing in the Kinburn area, after which the Russian army besieged Ochakov and at the end of 1788 took it. In 1789 Suvorov won victories over the Turks at Focsani and at Rymnik. On December 11, 1790, the troops of A.V. Suvorov stormed the fortress of Izmail - the Russian troops opened the way to Istanbul. The actions of the young Black Sea Fleet, commanded by F.F. Ushakov, were successful. In 1790, he defeated the Turkish fleet in the Kerch Strait and near the Gadzhibey fort. In 1791, Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet at Cape Kaliakria. In 1791 peace was signed between Turkey and Russia in Iasi. The border between Turkey and Russia was established along the Dniester. Vast lands of the Azov-Black Sea coast (Novorossia and Crimea-Tavrida) were annexed to Russia.
Russia and the West
In the 70s of the XVIII century. During the war for the independence of the North American states with England, Russia issued a Declaration of Armed Neutrality.
Taking advantage of the deep crisis and anarchy in the Commonwealth, Austria, Prussia and Russia in the 70-90s. 18th century carried out three partitions of Poland, eliminating its statehood. According to the first section of 1772, the eastern part of Belarus along the Western Dvina and the Upper Dnieper went to Russia. According to the second section of 1793, Russia received the Right-Bank Ukraine and the central part of Belarus with Minsk. In 1794, Polish patriots led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko launched an uprising, seeking to defend the independence of Poland. It was suppressed by Russian tsarism. In 1795, the third partition of Poland took place, according to which Lithuania, Western Belarus, Volhynia ceded to Russia and Courland was legally fixed.
After the beginning of the revolution in France in 1789, Russia waged an active struggle against the revolutionary country. Under Catherine II, the opponents of the revolution in France received assistance through the Russian embassy. In Russia, the works of French enlighteners were banned, censorship was tightened. In 1792, diplomatic relations with France were severed, and the import of French goods into Russia was annulled. In 1793, Russia concluded an agreement with England, Prussia and Austria, obliging them to help them with troops and money in the fight against France. The war with Sweden (1788-1790) and the events in Poland prevented Russia from taking part in the intervention against France.
The struggle against revolutionary France became the core of the foreign policy of Paul I. Against France, a coalition was created consisting of England, Russia, Austria, Turkey and the Kingdom of Naples, which launched its operations in Italy, the Mediterranean Sea and Switzerland. In the summer of 1789 F.F.Ushakov's fleet entered the Adriatic Sea and captured the Ionian Islands. After the assault, the powerful French fortress of Corfu was taken. In 1799, Russian sailors captured the port of Brindisi, and a landing force landed on the Apennine Peninsula, driving the French out of Naples and Rome.
The center of allied action on land was the French-occupied Northern Italy and Switzerland. A.V. Suvorov, who made his brilliant Italian campaign, stood at the head of the allied troops. A.V. Suvorov, with an army many times inferior to the enemy, inflicted lightning strikes on him, preventing him from joining forces.
On April 16-17, 1799, the Russians won victories at the river. Adde, opening the way to Milan and Turin. In five weeks, all of Northern Italy was liberated. This success was reinforced by victories in June 1799 at Trebbia and in August of the same year at Novi.
Instead of moving to France and the Rhine, as suggested by Suvorov, he was forced to fulfill the order of Paul I on the transfer of troops across the Alps to Switzerland to join the corps of A.M. Rimsky-Korsakov. It was an unprecedented transition. On September 13, 1799, the Russians captured the Saint Gotthard Pass, and the next day they defeated the French at the Devil's Bridge and broke into Switzerland, but were surrounded by superior French forces. Having lost 7 thousand people in fierce battles, Suvorov nevertheless escaped from the encirclement.
The Swiss campaign further aggravated relations in the coalition and led to Russia's withdrawal from the war. Paul I made an alliance with Napoleon and severed relations with England.
Battle of Kulikovo (briefly)
The famous battle in 1380 of the troops of Moscow Prince Dmitry and his allies, on the one hand, against the hordes of the Tatar-Mongol Khan Mamai and his allies, on the other, was called the Battle of Kulikovo.
A brief prehistory of the Battle of Kulikovo is as follows: the relationship between Prince Dmitry Ivanovich and Mamai began to escalate back in 1371, when the latter gave a label for the great Vladimir reign to Mikhail Alexandrovich of Tverskoy, and the Moscow prince opposed this and did not let the Horde protege into Vladimir. And a few years later, on August 11, 1378, the troops of Dmitry Ivanovich inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mongol-Tatar army led by Murza Begich in the battle on the Vozha River. Then the prince refused to increase the tribute paid to the Golden Horde and Mamai gathered a new large army and moved it towards Moscow.
Before setting out on a campaign, Dmitry Ivanovich visited St. Sergius of Radonezh, who blessed the prince and the entire Russian army for the battle against foreigners. Mamai hoped to connect with his allies: Oleg Ryazansky and the Lithuanian prince Jagiello, but did not have time: the Moscow ruler, contrary to expectations, crossed the Oka on August 26, and later moved to the southern bank of the Don. The number of Russian troops before the Battle of Kulikovo is estimated at 40 to 70 thousand people, the Mongol-Tatar - 100-150 thousand people. Muscovites were greatly assisted by Pskov, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Novgorod, Bryansk, Smolensk and other Russian cities, whose rulers sent troops to Prince Dmitry.
The battle took place on the south bank of the Don, on the Kulikovo field on September 8, 1380. After several skirmishes, the forward detachments in front of the troops left the Tatar army - Chelubey, and from the Russian - the monk Peresvet, and a duel took place in which they both died. After that, the main battle began. Russian regiments went into battle under a red banner with a golden image of Jesus Christ.
In short, the Battle of Kulikovo ended with the victory of the Russian troops largely due to military cunning: an ambush regiment under the command of Prince Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky and Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynsky hid in the oak forest located near the battlefield. Mamai concentrated his main efforts on the left flank, the Russians suffered losses, retreated, and it seemed that victory was close. But at that very time, an ambush regiment entered the Battle of Kulikovo and hit the unsuspecting Mongol-Tatars in the rear. This maneuver turned out to be decisive: the troops of the Khan of the Golden Horde were defeated and fled.
The losses of Russian forces in the Battle of Kulikovo amounted to about 20 thousand people, Mamai's troops died almost completely. Prince Dmitry himself, later nicknamed Donskoy, exchanged horse and armor with the Moscow boyar Mikhail Andreevich Brenck and took an active part in the battle. The boyar died in the battle, and the prince, knocked down from his horse, was found unconscious under a felled birch.
This battle was of great importance for the further course of Russian history. In short, the Battle of Kulikovo, although it did not liberate Russia from the Mongol-Tatar yoke, created the prerequisites for this to happen in the future. In addition, the victory over Mamai significantly strengthened the Moscow principality.
