Kulikovo 1380: Dmitry Donskoy's March to the Don

Before the march, Dmitry had a powerful ally in the monastery that Sergius of Radonezh founded in 1337. Sergius supported the prince against the Tatars and sent two of his monks, Peresvet and Oslyabya, to fight at Kulikovo. At Kulikovo, Peresvet died in single combat against a Tatar bogatyr. The lavra still stands at Sergiyev Posad, the monastery Sergius founded.

Visitor guidance: The lavra is at Sergiyev Posad; check opening hours before visiting.

In August 1380 Dmitry learned that Mamai was coming and quickly assembled an army in Kolomna, a city Moscow had seized from Ryazan back in 1300. Mamai's ambassadors arrived there demanding increased tribute, "as under the Khan Jani Beg". Dmitry offered only what his earlier agreement with Mamai required. After reviewing his troops he marched west along the Oka on 20 August and crossed at Lopasnya on 24-25 August. Of today's Kolomna Kremlin only 7 towers and two stretches of wall survive.

Location precision: The gathering point is named only as the town; the pin marks the Kolomna Kremlin, a later fortress.

Visitor guidance: The Kremlin towers and walls can be walked around in the town centre.

On 6 September the army reached the Don. At a council it was decided to cross before the enemies could combine their forces, though this cut off any path to retreat. On the morning of 8 September, in thick fog, the soldiers crossed. The date was the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, a day of special meaning. The army then took battle formation on the clear field near the mouth of the Nepryadva.

Location precision: Sources give no exact crossing; the pin marks the Kulikovo Field area as a whole.

Dmitry's army stood in six regiments. The main forces clashed around the sixth hour of the day, roughly 10:35 am. Then the cavalry of the ambush regiment struck the Horde's flank and its line collapsed; the Russians chased the Tatars for over 50 kilometres. Dmitry survived, although wounded and fainting from exhaustion. Visitors today find a 28-metre column on the Red Hill and a memorial church to Sergius of Radonezh.

Location precision: Archaeologists localised the battle only in 2005, in that area; the pin marks Kulikovo Field generally.

Visitor guidance: The Kulikovo Field museum complex includes the column and the memorial church.

After the victory, bodies of warriors killed at Kulikovo, among them Alexander Peresvet, were buried at the original site of the Simonov Monastery in Moscow. The monastery itself had moved a quarter mile north-east in 1379; its original site is still commemorated by the old Simonov church.

Location precision: The sources name the old monastery site, not a precise grave; the pin marks the Simonov Monastery area.

Dmitry, who became known as Donskoy, "of the Don", did not win full independence. In 1382 Khan Tokhtamysh captured and burned Moscow and forced Dmitry to accept him as sovereign. Yet the white limestone citadel Dmitry had built in 1366-1368 withstood a siege, and the victory at Kulikovo was an early sign of the decline of Mongol power. The Kremlin can still be visited in Moscow.

Visitor guidance: The Kremlin's grounds and cathedrals are open to visitors with a ticket; check opening days.