Dmitry Donskoy

January 12, 1350 (age 39)

Moscow, Russia

Dmitry Donskoy was placed on the grand-ducal throne of Vladimir by the Tatar khan in 1362. It was now that Moscow was first fortified by a strong wall, or kreml (citadel), and the grand duke began “to bring all the other princes under his will. ” Michael, prince of Tver, appealed however for help to Olgierd, grand duke of Lithuania, who appeared before Moscow with his army and compelled Dmitry to make restitution to the prince of Tver (1369). The war between Tver and Vladimir continued intermittently for some years, and both the Tatars and the Lithuanians took an active part in it. Dmitry was generally successful in what was really a contention for the supremacy. In 1371 he won over the khan by a personal visit to the Horde, add in 1372 he defeated the Lithuanians at Lyubutsk. Dmitry then formed a league of all the Russian princes against the Tatars and in 1380 encountered them on the plain of Kulikovo, between the rivers Nepryadvaya and Don, where he completely routed them, the grand khan Mamai perishing in his fiight from the field. But now Toktamish, the deputy of Tamerlane, suddenly appeared in the Horde and organized a punitive expedition against Dmitry. Moscow was taken by treachery, and the Russian lands were again subdued by the Tatars (1381). Nevertheless, while compelled to submit to the Horde, Demetrius maintained his hegemony over Tver, Novgorod and the other recalcitrant Russian principalities, and even held his own against the Lithuanian grand dukes, so that by his last testament he was able to leave not only his ancestral possessions but his grand-dukedom also to his son Vasiliy. Dmitry Donskoy was one of the greatest of the north Russian grand dukes. He was not merely a cautious and tactful statesman, but also a valiant and capable captain, in striking contrast to most of the princes of his house.

Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy

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Background

Dmitry Donskoy was born on the 12th of October in Moscow. He was the son of Ivan II the Fair of Moscow.

Career

Dmitry Donskoy was placed on the grand-ducal throne of Vladimir by the Tatar khan in 1362. It was now that Moscow was first fortified by a strong wall, or kreml (citadel), and the grand duke began “to bring all the other princes under his will. ” Michael, prince of Tver, appealed however for help to Olgierd, grand duke of Lithuania, who appeared before Moscow with his army and compelled Dmitry to make restitution to the prince of Tver (1369). The war between Tver and Vladimir continued intermittently for some years, and both the Tatars and the Lithuanians took an active part in it.

Dmitry was generally successful in what was really a contention for the supremacy. In 1371 he won over the khan by a personal visit to the Horde, add in 1372 he defeated the Lithuanians at Lyubutsk. Dmitry then formed a league of all the Russian princes against the Tatars and in 1380 encountered them on the plain of Kulikovo, between the rivers Nepryadvaya and Don, where he completely routed them, the grand khan Mamai perishing in his fiight from the field. But now Toktamish, the deputy of Tamerlane, suddenly appeared in the Horde and organized a punitive expedition against Dmitry. Moscow was taken by treachery, and the Russian lands were again subdued by the Tatars (1381).

Nevertheless, while compelled to submit to the Horde, Demetrius maintained his hegemony over Tver, Novgorod and the other recalcitrant Russian principalities, and even held his own against the Lithuanian grand dukes, so that by his last testament he was able to leave not only his ancestral possessions but his grand-dukedom also to his son Vasiliy. Dmitry Donskoy was one of the greatest of the north Russian grand dukes. He was not merely a cautious and tactful statesman, but also a valiant and capable captain, in striking contrast to most of the princes of his house.

Achievements

Dmitry Donskoy 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.

The most important event during Dmitry's early reign was to start the building the Moscow Kremlin; it was completed in 1367.

Connections

Dmitry married the princess Eudoxia in 1364. They had at least twelve children.

Father:: Ivan II the Fair of Moscow
Mother:: Alexandra Vasilyevna Velyaminova
Spouse:: Eudoxia
Daughter:: Anastasia Dmitriyevna
Daughter:: Sofia Dmitriyevna
Daughter:: Maria Dmitriyevna
Daughter:: Anna Dmitriyevna
Son:: Daniil Dmitriyevich
Son:: Konstantin Dmitriyevich
Son:: Simeon Dmitrievich
Son:: Yuriy Dmitriyevich
Son:: Ivan Dmitriyevich
Son:: Vasily I Dmitriyevich
Son:: Pyotr Dmitriyevich
Son:: Andrey Dmitriyevich

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Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy

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