Dmitry Donskoy

Dmitry Donskoy (1359-1389) is the Moscow prince whose name is associated with the rise of Moscow in the second half of the 14th century. He received his nickname – “Donskoy” – for his victory over Mamay Khan’s troops at Kulikovo Field in 1380. Kulikovo Field is located at the place where the river Nepryadva flows into the river Don. It was the site of one of the largest battles in medieval Russia. The unified forces of the Russian princes demolished the Mongols. Two years later, however, Khan Tokhtamysh burned Moscow and re-established Mongol control over Rus’. Yet the significance of the Kulikovo battle was still huge. After this battle, the authority of the Moscow principality rose sharply, strengthening the independence of its leaders from the Mongols.