Dmitri Donskoi
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Saint Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy (Russian: Дми́трий Донско́й) or Dimitri of the Don (October 12, 1350, Moscow – May 19, 1389, Moscow), son of Ivan II Krasnyi, reigned as the Prince of Moscow from 1359 and Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1363 to his death. He was the first prince of Moscow to openly challenge Tatar authority in Russia. His moniker Donskoy (i.e., "of the Don") alludes to his great victory against the Tatars in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) which took place on the Don River.[1]
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[edit] Early reign
Dmitry ascended the throne of Principality of Moscow at the age of 9. During his minority, the government was actually run by Metropolitan Alexis of Russia. In 1360 the highest dignity among Russian princes, that of Grand Prince of Vladimir, was transferred by a Khan of the Golden Horde upon Dmitri Konstantinovich of Nizhny Novgorod. In 1363, when that prince had been deposed, Dmitri Ivanovich was finally crowned at Vladimir. Three years later, he made peace with Dmitri Konstantinovich and married his daughter Eudoxia. In 1376, their joined armies ravaged Volga Bulgaria.
The most important event during the early years of Dmitri's reign was construction of the first stone Moscow Kremlin, completed in 1367. The new fortress allowed the city to withstand two sieges by Algirdas of Lithuania, in 1368 and 1370. Attempt for the third siege in 1372 ended in Treaty of Lyubutsk. In 1375, Dmitri managed to settle his conflict with Mikhail II of Tver over Vladimir in his favour. Other princes of Northern Russia also acknowledged his authority and contributed their troops to his impending struggle against the Horde. By the end of his reign, Dmitri more than doubled territory of Moscow principality.
[edit] Struggle against the Horde
Dmitri's thirty-year reign saw the beginning of the end for Mongol domination of parts of what is now Russia. The Golden Horde was severely weakened by civil war and dynastic rivalries. Dmitri took advantage of this lapse in Mongol authority to openly challenge the Tatars.
While he kept the Khan's patent to collect taxes for all of Russia, Dmitri is also famous for leading the first Russian military victory over the Mongols. Mamai, a Mongol general and claimant to the throne, tried to punish Dmitri for attempting to increase his power. In 1378 Mamai sent a Mongol army, but it was defeated by Dmitri's forces in the Battle of Vozha River Two years later Mamai personally led a large force against Moscow. Dmitri met and defeated it at the Battle of Kulikovo.
The defeated Mamai was presently dethroned by a rival Mongol general, Tokhtamysh. That khan reasserted Mongol rule over parts of what now is Russia and overran Moscow for Dmitri's resistance to Mamai. Dmitri, however, pledged his loyalty to Tokhtamysh and to the Golden Horde and was reinstated as Mongol principal tax collector and Grand Duke of Vladimir. Upon his death in 1389, Dmitri was the first Grand Duke to bequeath his titles to his son Vasili without consulting the Khan.
[edit] Marriage and children
He was married to Eudoxia of Nizhny Novgorod. She was a daughter of Dmitry of Suzdal and Vasilisa of Rostov. They had at least twelve children:
- Daniil Dmitrievich (c. 1370 - 15 September 1379).
- Vasily I of Moscow (30 September 1371 - 27 February 1425).
- Sofia Dmitrievna. Married Fyodor Olegovich, Prince of Ryazan (reigned 1402-1427).
- Yury Dmitrievich, Duke of Zvenigorod and Galich (26 November 1374 - 5 June 1434). Claimed the throne of Moscow against his nephew Vasily II of Moscow.
- Maria Dmitrievna (d. 15 May 1399). Married Lengvenis.
- Anastasia Dmitrievna. Married Ivan Vsevolodich, Prince of Kholm.
- Simeon Dmitrievich (d. 11 September 1379).
- Ivan Dmitrievich (d. 1393).
- Andrei Dmitrievich, Prince of Mozhaysk (14 August 1382 - 9 July 1432).
- Piotr Dmitrievich, Prince of Dmitrov (29 July 1385 - 10 August 1428).
- Anna Dmitrievna (born 8 January 1387). Married Yuri Patrikievich. Her husband was a son of Patrikej, Prince of Starodub and his wife Helena. His paternal grandfather was Narimantas. The marriage solidified his role as a Boyar attached to Moscow.
- Konstantin Dmitrievich, Prince of Pskov (14 May/15 May 1389 - 1433).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Asimov, Isaac. Asimov's Chronology of the World. New York: HarperCollins, 1989; p. 186.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Ivan II |
Grand Prince of Moscow 1359–1389 |
Succeeded by Vasili I |
| Preceded by Ivan II |
Heir to the Russian Throne 1350–1353 |
Succeeded by Daniil Dmitrievich |
