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Dmitry of the Don
Grand Prince of Moscow
Reign13 November 1359 – 19 May 1389
PredecessorIvan II
SuccessorVasiliy I
Born12 October 1350
Moscow, Grand Duchy of Moscow
Died19 May 1389(1389-05-19) (aged 38)
Moscow, Grand Duchy of Moscow
Burial
Cathedral of the Archangel, Moscow Kremlin
ConsortEudoxia Dmitriyevna
IssueDaniil Dmitriyevich
Yury Vasiliyevich
Vasily Dmitriyevich
Sofiya Dmitriyevna
Yury Dmitriyevich
Maria Dmitriyevna
Anastasia Dmitriyevna
Simeon Dmitriyevich
Ivan Dmitriyevich
Andrey Dmitriyevich
Pyotr Dmitriyevich
Anna Dmitriyevna
Konstantin Dmitriyevich
Names
Dmitry Ivanovich
DynastyRurik
FatherIvan II
MotherAlexandra Vasilyevna Velyaminova

Saint Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy (Russian: Дми́трий Ива́нович Донско́й, also known as Dimitrii or Demetrius), or Dmitry of the Don, sometimes referred to simply as Dmitry (12 October 1350 in Moscow – 19 May 1389 in Moscow), son of Ivan II the Fair of Moscow (1326–1359), 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 Mongol authority in Russia. His nickname, 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] He is venerated as a Saint in the Orthodox Church with his feast day on 19 May(O.S.),[2][3] or June 1.[4]

Early reign

Dmitry Donskoy, illustration in Tsarsky Titulyarnik, 17th century

Dmitry was born in 1350, the son of Ivan the Fair, Grand Prince of Moscow, and his second wife, Alexandra Vassilievna Velyaminova, the daughter of the mayor of Moscow. Dmitry was orphaned at the age of nine and ascended the throne of the Principality of Moscow.[5] Per the terms of Ivan's will, during Dmitry's minority, Metropolitan Aleksey served as regent.

In 1360 Khizr-khan  [ ru ], Khan of the Golden Horde, transferred the title most prized among Russian princes, that of Grand Prince of Vladimir, to Dmitry Konstantinovich of Nizhniy Novgorod. In 1363, after that prince was deposed, Dmitry Ivanovich was crowned at Vladimir. Three years later, he made peace with Dmitry Konstantinovich and married his daughter Eudoxia.

The most important event during Dmitry's early reign was to start building the Moscow Kremlin; it was completed in 1367. Thanks to the new fortress, the city withstood two sieges by Algirdas of Lithuania during the Lithuanian–Muscovite War (1368–72).[6] The war ended with the Treaty of Lyubutsk. In 1375, Dmitry settled, in his own favor, a conflict with Mikhail II of Tver over Vladimir. Other princes of Northern Russia acknowledged his authority and contributed troops to the impending struggle against the Horde. By the end of his reign, Dmitry had more than doubled the territory of the Principality of Moscow.

Struggle against Mamai

Monument to Dmitry Donskoy in front of Marinkina tower (Kolomna Kremlin)

Mongol domination of Rus began to crumble during Dmitry's thirty-year reign. The Golden Horde was severely weakened by civil war and dynastic rivalries. Dmitry 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, Dmitry 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 Dmitry for attempting to increase his power. In 1378 Mamai sent a Mongol army, but it was defeated by Dmitry's forces in the Battle of Vozha River.[6]

Two years later Mamai personally led a large force against Moscow. Sergius of Radonezh blessed Dmitry Donskoy when he went to fight the Tatars in the signal Battle of Kulikovo field, but only after he was certain Dmitry had pursued all peaceful means of resolving the conflict. Sergius sent the two warrior monks Alexander Peresvet and his friend Rodion Oslyabya to join the Russian troops. The battle of Kulikovo was opened by single combat between two champions. The Russian champion was Alexander Peresvet. The Horde champion was Temir-murza. The champions killed each other in the first run. Dmitry then met defeated the Horde.[5] In gratitude for the victory, Dimitry established the Dormition monastery on the Dubenka River and built a church in honor of the Nativity of the Holy Theotokos over the graves of the fallen warriors.[4]

The defeated Mamai was presently dethroned by a rival Mongol general, Tokhtamysh. That khan reasserted Mongol rule of Rus and overran Moscow in 1382 for Dmitry's resistance to Mamai. Dimitry, 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, Dimitry was the first Grand Duke to bequeath his titles to his son Vasili I of Russia without consulting the Khan.[5]

Marriage and children

Dmitriy Donskoy in a World War I patriotic poster by Konstantin Korovin

He was married to Eudoxia of Nizhniy Novgorod. She was a daughter of Dmitry of Suzdal and Vasilisa of Rostov. They had at least twelve children:

See also

References

  1. ^ Asimov, Isaac. Asimov's Chronology of the World. New York: HarperCollins, 1989; p. 186.
  2. ^ Template:Gr icon Ὁ Ἅγιος Δημήτριος ὁ μεγάλος Πρίγκιπας. 19 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  3. ^ 1 June / 19 May. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
  4. ^ a b "Holy Great Prince Dimitry Donskoy", Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore, Maryland
  5. ^ a b c "Prince Dmitry Donskoy", Presidential Library (Russian)
  6. ^ a b c "Heroes of the Kulikovo battle", The State Museum of Military History, Moscow
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Regnal titles Preceded byDmitry of Suzdal Grand Prince of Vladimir 1362–1389 Succeeded byVasily I Preceded byIvan II Prince of Moscow 1359–1389 Succeeded byVasily I Russian royalty Preceded byIvan II Heir to the Russian Throne 1350–1353 Succeeded byDaniil Dmitriyevich
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