In 1995, Federal Law No. 32-FZ "On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia", among the days of military glory of several eras, the day on which the Russian regiments defeated the Mongol-Tatar troops on the Kulikovo field in 1380 stands out. Officially, in the calendar of national memorable dates, the holiday is called “The Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the Victory of the Russian Regiments in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380).
Despite the fact that the history of the Mongol-Tatar yoke and the struggle against it (in particular, the history of the Kulikovo battle) is an integral attribute of most Russian history textbooks of all recent decades, it is difficult to find a period in the history of our country that would be so ambiguously assessed by various experts in the field history and amateur historians. Even if we try to abstract from the full history of the Mongol-Tatar yoke in this topic, which itself is disputed by some scientists and pseudoscientists, then even in relation to the Battle of Kulikovo in our country, we can single out several versions that are truly distant from each other.
The first circle of versions is based on the fact that for more than two centuries Russia was under the Asian yoke, which, as the official interpretation says, did not allow our country "to develop on a par with the European powers." How the European powers themselves "developed" at that time is a separate question …
In this circle, there are enough both patriotic and liberal versions. And the first argue with the second, the second with the first - very zealously. Sometimes it is not entirely clear where liberalism is and where patriotism is.
One version is that the Russian princes began to think about the consolidation of lands and efforts to fight the khan, overcoming internecine differences, and then gave battle to the Mongols on the Kulikovo field, which dispelled, as they say in certain circles, the myth of the invincibility of the Mongol army. Supporters of this version, as an argument for their innocence, cite the facts that after the battle for a certain time Russia did not pay tribute to Sarai (the center of the Horde).
According to another version, the Battle of Kulikovo is not the battle of Dmitry Donskoy against Mamai as a battle of the Russians against the Horde, but quite the opposite - open support for the “legitimate” (dynastic) power of the Horde during the so-called “Big Hush”. Supporters of this particular point of view argue that Dmitry Donskoy gathered regiments to fight the Horde temnik Mamai in the final period of the inner Horde turmoil in order to support Tokhtamysh from the Chingizid dynasty on the throne in Sarai. As a kind of "proof" of their innocence, the supporters of the version with "Dmitry Donskoy's support of Khan Tokhtamysh" cite the fact that less than two years later Tokhtamysh came to Moscow and restored the payment of tribute to the Horde. The facts are also cited of how, on the way of the Khan's troops to Moscow, ambassadors from a number of princes advanced to Tokhtamysh and declared their obedience to that. Some chronicles claim that the Muscovites themselves opened the doors to Tokhtamysh, believing the words of the sons of the Nizhny Novgorod prince, who said that in a conversation with the khan they found out his "loyal" attitude to Moscow. What happened next and what was the loyalty? - Chronicles agree that Tokhtamysh plundered and burned Moscow, executing "without number" of its inhabitants. Loyal?..
The second circle of versions proceeds from the fact that the Battle of Kulikovo is a historical fiction, which first appeared in the works of Western and pro-Western historians with the supposed purpose of creating a myth about the existence of the Mongol-Tatar yoke itself. According to this version, there was no centuries-old yoke at all, the Mongol khans are partly Russian princes who ruled vast territories.
The followers of this version claim that the version of the Mongol-Tatar yoke began to be actively cultivated in Russia after Peter I cut the window to Europe. was to "appoint" the Mongol-Tatars. At the same time, the fact of the existence of such an ethnic conglomerate as the Mongol-Tatars is also disputed in the same version.
It is clear that this circle of versions looks more than sensational, because there are textbooks … moreover, Soviet ones … They, as it were, speak traditionally about the complete heresy of these statements. But how true are the "Mongolian" chapters in those textbooks and who do they rely on as a source? In general, for all the "heretical" nature, such a circle of versions finds a considerable number of followers. And, as they say in Ukraine, it is getting harder and harder to determine, is this zrada a win?..
The increase in the number of supporters of this version can be explained by many factors, one of which is the modern desire to “hammer with boards” Peter's “window to Europe” in connection with the way Europeans regard the very concept of Russian interests. This, so to speak, is a kind of anti-sanction reaction, according to which there appears the thesis that Russians in the broadest sense of the word are actually Russians, and the same Tatars with Mongols, but not Europeans, who have repaired and continue to repair to all of us. intrigues…
But if there are such statements, then their authors need to provide their arguments. The following was chosen as the main argument: until now, experts cannot determine where the real Kulikovo field is located. Previously it was believed that it was somewhere near Ryazan, then the place was somehow "moved". And the supporters of the version that there was neither the yoke, nor the Battle of Kulikovo, all the last time the thesis is as follows: if the Kulikovo field is where it is indicated in the current tourist booklets, then why have archaeologists not found any significant amount for many years archaeological finds, confirming why military graves, fragments of weapons, etc. were not found.
The fact that the case was still not even in 1780, but in 1380, and that the real field may really not be quite where it is indicated today, the authors of this version do not consider as worthy of attention and discussion. There was no - and that's it …
Considering that diametrically opposite programs, "documentary" films, publications on the one hand about the obvious historical authenticity of the Kulikovo battle, on the other hand, about the complete impossibility of such an event appear on the screens more and more often, it can be stated that we seem to be, we will never know. Although, as the truth, one can state the obvious fact: when taking into account all the current spear-cracking of the historiographic and pseudo-historical sense, Russia survived in the Middle Ages, and eventually moved on to its new path - the consolidation of lands around a single center, which eventually resulted in the formation of a state, territorial, the military and spiritual dimensions of which to this day cause hysteria among the "partners". And therefore, September 21, 1380 is a full-fledged day of military glory, which contributed to the development of a huge Russian (in the broadest sense of the word) power, passed on to us by the ancestors for preservation and creation for the good.
