Dmitri Donskoi
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Image:Donskoy novgorod.jpg Saint Dmitriy Ivanovich Donskoy (Дмитрий Донской, in Russian) (October 12, 1350 – May 19, 1389) reigned as the Grand Duke of Muscovy since 1359 and Grand Duke of Vladimir since 1363. He was the first prince of Moscow to openly challenge the 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).
Early reign
Dmitry ascended the Muscovite throne at the age of 9. During his minority, the government was actually run by Metropolitan Alexis of Rus. In 1360 the highest dignity among Russian princes, that of Grand Duke of Vladimir, was transferred by a Khan of the Golden Horde upon Dmitry 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 Dmitry Konstantinovich and married his daughter Eudoxia. In 1376, their joined armies ravaged Volga Bulgaria.
The most important event during the early years of Dmitry's reign was construction of the first stone Moscow Kremlin, completed in 1367. The new fortress allowed the city to withstand two sieges by Olgierd of Lithuania, in 1368 and 1370. In 1375, Dmitry managed to settle his conflict with Tver 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, Dmitry more than doubled Muscovy's territory.
Struggle against the Horde
Image:Tokhtamysh moscow.jpg
Dmitry's thirty-year reign saw the beginning of the end for Mongol domination of the nation. 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 small Mongol army, but it was defeated by Dmitri's forces. Two years later Mamai personally lead 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 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.
Template:Start box Template:Succession box Template:End boxca:Dmitri I de Moscou de:Dmitri Donskoi fr:Dimitri IV it:Dimitri di Russia ja:ドミトリイ・ドンスコイ pl:Dymitr Doński ru:Дмитрий Иванович Донской fi:Dmitri Donskoi uk:Дмитро Донський zh:德米特里·顿斯科伊