Mongol invasion of Russia 1223-1480| How Russia finally CRUSHED the Mongols FULL PARTS

For over two centuries, Russia lived under the harsh rule of the Mongol Empire, enduring brutal raids and heavy tributes. However, this very period forced Russia to learn and adapt, transforming itself from a collection of weak principalities into a military force capable of standing its ground and pushing back its enemies. After the disaster at Khalkha, where disorganization was clear, Russia's leaders realized they needed to come together and rethink their military approach. By the time of Kulikovo, they had set up a unified command, used the terrain to their advantage, and adapted their cavalry tactics, showing real growth in their military skills. Then came Ugra, where the Russ showcased their development into a cohesive fighting force. They used psychological tactics and smart positioning, focusing on strategy rather than brute strength. This shift helped them win through clever maneuvers instead of direct fighting, marking a new chapter in their history and solidifying their resilience. And now, let's dive into this incredible journey together as we explore these legendary battles. First one, it's the Battle of Khalkha, marked the first major confrontation between the Russes and the Mongols. The commanders, particularly Prince Mstislav of Galicia, were eager to press on. He assumed that their enemy was no more dangerous than the Cumans they had dealt with before. However, other leaders, like Mstislav Romanovich of Kiev, urged caution, warning against chasing an enemy they didn't fully understand into the vast, unknown steppes. Despite this, the majority favored continuing the pursuit, following the Mongols' tracks without sending out an advance reconnaissance unit, believing they had the Mongols on the run. The Mongols, led by Subutai and Jebe, continued to retreat. Their goal was to exhaust the coalition army, separate them from their supply lines, and lure them far from familiar terrain. For about nine days, the Mongols lured the Rus and Cuman forces deeper into the steppe, leading them towards the eventual site of the banks of the Khalkha River on May 31st, 1223. Here, the Mongols had prepared an ambush. Subutai and Jebe had strategically placed their forces. Part of the Mongol army was lying in wait, hidden in the forests on the far side of the river. Another group was positioned further downstream, ready to spring their trap when the time came. Behind them, they had their reserve forces ready to back up the ambush. The Cumans, who were the most eager to chase after those supposedly retreating Mongols, were the first to cross the Khalkha. They were followed by Mstislav of Galicia and his forces, and close behind them was Mstislav Sviatslavich of Chernigov with his men. The allied army marched in four divisions. The Cumans, acting as the vanguard and flank guard, led the way, while the main body of the army consisted of the Galicians and troops from Chernigov. Meanwhile, Mstislav Romanovich of Kiev, more cautious and concerned about the rapid advance, kept his army on the opposite bank, reluctant to push forward until the situation was clearer. Once across the river, the Cumans quickly overwhelmed the Mongol outposts, forcing them to scatter in multiple directions. This small victory fired up the Cumans, and they, being as impulsive as ever, rushed forward in pursuit. The men, from Kiev and Chernigov, started making their way across, but by that point, half of the Russian-Cuman army was already on the far side. Subutai just waited patiently. He knew the time to strike was near, and he let the gaps between the divisions of the allied army widen. When just about half of the allied army had crossed the river, Subutai sprang the trap. He ordered his men to attack from all sides. Jebe led a charge from the north, while the Mongol left wing attacked from the south. Them, Mongol horse, archers, and cavalry, hiding in the forests and along the river, poured out, closing the encirclement of the Cumans and the forward Russian forces. Unlike their usual hit-and-run tactics, this time the Mongols launched a direct assault, cutting into the lightly armored Cumans with devastating efficiency. In the first engagement, the Cuman vanguard, eager to chase down the retreating Mongols, was easily repulsed. The Mongols, renowned for their tactical discipline, quickly turned their attention to the advancing Russian columns. Fierce and bloody fighting broke out as the Mongols launched a sudden counterattack, catching the Russians off guard. Romanovich and other princes were all wounded in the chaos as the Mongols pressed their advantage with brutal efficiency. Taken by surprise, the allied forces were struck with heavy casualties. With the river at their backs and their own ranks in disarray, the Russians and Cumans found themselves surrounded, unable to maneuver or retreat. The predator had stepped into the prey's trap. The front lines had nowhere to retreat, and in their desperation, many were trampled by their own men as the Mongols pressed their advantage. The Cumans now had nowhere to flee. In their panic, they crashed into the second division of the Russian army, sowing even more confusion. The Cumans were the first to break and flee the battlefield. Their flight caused widespread confusion among the allied ranks. Panic spread quickly, and soon the entire coalition army had descended into chaos. The cohesion and discipline that once held them together evaporated, and in a matter of hours, thousands of men were killed. Although some sources claim that Prince Mstislav Romanovich of Kiev and a portion of his troops crossed the river to support the forward units, forcing the Mongols to flee, the reality is that they stayed back. Witnessing the collapse, they ordered his men to form a defensive circle, surrounding themselves with a line of wagons in an attempt to stave off the Mongol assault. Meanwhile, Mstislav of Galicia, seeing other princely forces in full retreat, chose to abandon the battlefield, leaving the remaining forces to fend for themselves. After crushing the three allied divisions, Subutai and Jebe turned their attention to the remaining forces. His army, encircled and surrounded by Mongol forces, attempted to resist the relentless assault. The forces of Kiev, under Mstislav Mstislavich of Galicia, sought to hold their ground behind a makeshift wagon fortification, hoping to retreat westward towards the Dnieper. However, the situation was dire, as the Mongols showered the encampment with arrows, whistling through the air and striking down the defenders. The battle dragged on, each day blending into the next as the Mongols tightened their grip with relentless precision. The Kievans, having never faced such a relentless and mobile foe, began to lose heart. After three long days of resistance, Prince Mstislav had no choice but to negotiate surrender when the Mongol commanders promised that no blood would be spilled if they laid down their arms. Desperate and out of options, Mstislav agreed. Yet, as soon as the Kievans left their fortifications, the Mongols betrayed their word, slaughtering many of the surrendered soldiers and taking the rest captive. Meanwhile, other Mongol detachments continued to pursue the fleeing Kievans and Russian forces, many of whom drowned while attempting to cross the Dnieper River. And then came one of the most horrifying displays of Mongol cruelty. The captured Russian nobles, including some of the prominent princes, were executed in a particularly gruesome manner. The Mongols bound them and placed heavy wooden boards over them, then celebrated their victory by feasting on top of the boards, slowly suffocating the nobles to death beneath them. This horrifying act marked the final chapter in a devastating campaign that left a lasting scar on the history of the region. From the disarray at Kalka River, the Rus evolved into a unified force by Kulikovo, mastering terrain utilization and innovative tactics, ultimately transforming their military strategy against the Mongols. All of them were revealed now. On the night of September 7th, under a thick morning fog, the Russian army crossed the Don River. By the early hours of the next day, as the fog began to lift, the troops started to form their battle lines. Dmitry Donskoy's army was set up in a really clever way. He organized his troops into three main lines, each with a clear job to do. Alright, imagine this. You and I are standing with Dmitry's army, watching everything unfold. Up front, there's a patrol regiment of scouts. These guys are the eyes and ears of the whole operation. Their job is simple, but crucial. Spot the Mongols before they get too close, and maybe even throw them off with a few small skirmishes. Nothing heavy. Just enough to slow them down and give the rest of the army some time to get into position. Behind them, you've got the second advance regiment, mostly infantry. These guys are armed to the teeth with short spears called sulitsi, perfect for throwing about 30 meters, axes for close combat, and shields to keep them safe. They're shields, made from solid wooden boards covered in fabric or leather, and reinforced with metal strips. These were no ordinary shields. They were built to hold off the fast and furious Mongol cavalry. The infantry would lock shields, creating a defensive wall, while their spears, up to 2.5 meters long, were ready to stop any flanking attack. And it wasn't just the shields protecting them. They had armor on their arms and legs, bezu band for the arms, greaves for the shins, and knee guards. These guys were prepared for anything the Mongols threw at them. Now, right behind that is the heart of the army, Dimitri's personal guard. This regiment was a mix of infantry and heavy cavalry. You should have seen these heavy cavalry, fully armored, with chain mail made from over 20,000 rings, and weighing about 9 to 10 kilograms. They had brigandines, which gave them solid protection but also kept them flexible in battle. Dimitri and his elite guard carried sabers, sharp and perfect for fighting on horseback, and maces, ready for those close, intense encounters. Just having Dimitri and his personal guard in the center boosted the army's morale. But Dimitri wasn't dumb. He knew the Mongols would try to outflank him. So, on either side of the main force, he placed smaller detachments. These guys were like living walls, ready to block any surprise attacks from the Mongols. Shields and spears at the ready. And here's the twist. Dimitri had a secret weapon. Just hidden in an oak grove to the east was an elite cavalry unit, commanded by none other than Prince Vladimir of Serpukhov. These guys were Dimitri's ace in the hole. Armed with sabers and maces, they were held back until the Mongols were tired or overcommitted. When the moment was right, they'd burst out of the trees and hit the Mongols hard, right where they least expected it. That morning, the Mongol army wasn't great at scouting and was still tired from their long march. It quickly became clear to them that the Russians were getting ready for battle. Mamai soon gave the command, and his troops started moving to face the enemy. Mamai also had his army perfectly set up with three lines. The first line was light Mongol-Tatar cavalry, fast and agile, ready to harass the enemy and keep them in check. These guys weren't meant to fight head-on, but to scout and skirmish, keeping things moving. Behind them, in the second line, was the real punch. Heavy cavalry and Genoese infantry, including crossbowmen. These Genoese were no joke. They could defend while the crossbowmen rained down bolts from a distance. But wait, there's more. The third line was a mix of Mongol-Tatar cavalry and infantry. Mamai wasn't going to leave his flanks exposed, either. He placed small auxiliary regiments on each side to guard against any sneaky moves from the enemy. As for Mamai himself, he wasn't in the thick of it. He was up on a hill, watching everything unfold and giving orders. He made sure to have a small group of Genoese infantry stationed near him for protection. In case things got too close for comfort. Now, let's dive into the world of Mongol warriors. These guys didn't just pick up a bow one day. No, from a young age, both boys and girls were thrown into competitions. Horse racing, wrestling, archery. By the time they grew up, they were masters of all sorts of weapons. Battle axes, spears, lances, daggers, even short swords. And speed? That was their game. Their armies moved with an agility that left enemies stunned. The key to this? Their composite bows. These bows could shoot arrows twice as far as most others. And Mongol archers could fire them accurately while galloping at full speed, even shooting backward. Their arrows weren't just sticks with pointy ends, either. They crafted them with precision. Bone or metal tips. Wood or reed shafts. Bird feather fletchings. And they had an arrow for every situation. Piercing armor. Signals. You name it. Each archer carried two or three bows, and about sixty arrows. They were loaded with other gear, too. Lassos, axes, tools to fix arrows, food, and leather bottles for drinks. They even slept in lightweight yurts. One tent for every ten riders. The Mongol horses? Tough as nails. These little horses could go 75 miles a day, no problem. And each rider had up to 16 spare horses, so they could keep moving without wearing any of them out. If they were running low on food, they'd even drink the blood of their horses. Talk about resourcefulness. For armor, Mongols didn't want anything too heavy. It would slow them down. They stuck to thick felt or leather, sometimes reinforced with metal or bone. And their helmets? Iron or hardened leather, sometimes with neck guards or plumes. Even their horses had padded armor. So there you have it. A mix of smart tactics, speed, and skill that made the Mongol army a force to be reckoned with. Dimitri's army was estimated to be around 30,000 men, but the Mongol force was much larger, likely numbering between 40,000 to 50,000 warriors. That's a big difference. And it gave the Mongols a clear advantage in terms of sheer numbers. The battle kicked off when Mamai's advanced troops charged straight into the first line of Russian sentries, with support from crossbow fire coming from the Genoese mercenaries behind them. It was quick, fierce, and brutal. The Mongols had the numbers, though. And eventually, Dimitri's first line had to fall back. But they did so slowly and in good order, retreating to regroup with the advanced regiment stationed right behind them. Seeing this unfold, Mamai sent his second wave forward, which included the Genoese heavy infantry in the center. That's when the real brutal hand-to-hand combat began. Thousands of soldiers were clashing, swinging all kinds of weapons, trying desperately to avoid getting hit from every direction. It was chaos. As the fight raged on, the Russian left flank, which was weaker, started to bend and give way little by little. Mamai noticed this right away and seized the moment, ordering his Mongol light cavalry to charge and hit the eastern side of the Russian line. In response, the Russian commander on the left flank pushed forward a bit, trying to threaten the Mongol cavalry without fully committing, knowing that if he stretched too far, the whole left side could expose too much. But despite the Russian's best efforts, the pressure from both the Mongol infantry and that cavalry charge was just too much. The second Russian line couldn't hold on and had to retreat, this time merging with the main regiment where Dimitri himself was holding position. At this point, Mamai probably thought this was the moment the battle would be decided. Spotting Dimitri's personal banner on the field, Mamai sent in his heavy cavalry, aiming straight for Dimitri's position. His plan was clear, take out the leader and the battle would be over. What followed was an enormous, brutal brawl, with both sides fully locked in ferocious medieval combat, each trying to get the upper hand. It was a life or death struggle across the battlefield. The battle was so fierce that it transformed the ground into a bloody swamp, with countless men from both sides falling in the chaos. Even amidst the turmoil, the Mongol commander kept a strong reserve force ready for this crucial moment. Believing the entire Russian line was engaged, he ordered his last reserve to charge the exposed left flank of the Russians. The Mongol cavalry thundered across the battlefield, crashing into the vulnerable side of Dimitri's army. At this point, his troops were already weary and this brutal flanking attack pushed them to their breaking point. Just when it looked like the battle was about to turn into a Mongol triumph, a cavalry trumpet sounded from the eastern edge of the field. Out of the woods came the ambush regiment led by Prince Vladimir, charging in at the perfect moment. Their timing was impeccable, catching the Mongols completely by surprise. The fresh, elite cavalrymen slammed into the unprotected flanks of the Mongol forces, igniting panic among their ranks. The Russians, filled with newfound courage, pursued the retreating horde for nearly 50 kilometers, while Mamai barely escaped with his life. Casualties were heavy on both sides, though exact numbers remain a mystery. Dimitri's army likely lost about a third of their strength, while the Mongol forces faced a devastating defeat. Following their victory at Kulikovo, the Rus further refined their tactics at Ugra River, focusing on strategic positioning and psychological warfare. The Battle of the Ugra River kicked off on October 8th, 1480. The two sides were face to face, separated only by the calm Ugra River, which in some spots was about 120 to 140 meters wide. On the left bank, the Russian archers took their positions at the crossings and fords, backed by gunners with cannons and firearms. The battle stretched across the whole defensive line for nearly four days. The Russian commanders made great use of their guns firing at the horde as they tried to cross the river. Despite Akhmat's repeated attempts to break through, the Russians held strong. Artillery, especially cannons firing iron and stone projectiles, caused real trouble for the horde. The Tatar cavalry, who were usually skilled with bows, found it tough in the water. They couldn't use their favorite tactic of mass archery and became easy targets for the Russian riflemen. Even though Akhmat's forces were taking heavy losses, he kept ordering his cavalry to push forward. But every time they tried to cross the river, they were blocked. The Vologda Perm Chronicle even mentions that the horde couldn't gain a foothold on the shore. A new attempt was made by the horde to make settlements in the Opakova area. Here, the terrain conditions made it possible to secretly concentrate the cavalry on the Lithuanian coast and then it was relatively easy to force the shallow river. However, the Russian armies closely followed the movement of the Tatars and skillfully maneuvered the regiments. As a result, at the crossing of the horde, they were met not by a small guard post, but by large forces that repelled Akhmat's last desperate attempt. The Russian army managed to stop the horde at the border and kept them from advancing towards Moscow. But the final turning point in the fight against Akhmat's invasion hadn't happened yet. The horde was still camped on the banks of the Ugra River and they still had the strength to continue the battle. In this situation, Ivan III started diplomatic talks with Akhmat. While Akhmat was determined to keep the horde's control over Russia, Ivan III found this demand unacceptable. In the end, the negotiations didn't lead to anything. Maybe Akhmat was just trying to buy time, still hoping for help from his ally, Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Casimir IV. The horde cavalry couldn't attack Russian fortresses and cities on their own without Lithuanian infantry and artillery, just like any cavalry from other nations. With the talks failing, both sides spent the next month watching each other from across the river. It was late in the season and both knew that once the river froze solid, it would become a weak spot for Moscow's defenses. Akhmat could gather his forces and break through the thin Russian defensive line at any moment. Because of this, Ivan made new tactical and operational decisions. His best plan was to pull back and regroup his forces. On October 26th, Ivan started moving his troops northeast from Ugra to Kremenets and then further east to Borovsk. The area near Borovsk was ideal for a decisive battle if Akhmat tried to cross the Ugra. The city was located on the right bank of the Protva river, on hills with a good view of the surroundings. The forested terrain near Borovsk would make it hard for Akhmat to use his main strength, his large cavalry. Ivan had a strong defensive position to protect Moscow and could attack in any direction if Akhmat decided to advance. However, not only did Akhmat not try to cross the Ugra for a battle, but he also began retreating from the Russian border on November 6th. By November 11th, this news had reached Ivan III's camp. Akhmat's retreat route passed through cities like Mtsensk, Serensk and then further on to the Horde. During his retreat, Akhmat raided 12 Lithuanian towns. His son Murtaza also raided two villages in the Aleksin area, but Ivan III ordered his men to march quickly and meet the enemy. When Murtaza learned that the prince's army was approaching, he also retreated. It was a strange sight, two armies running away from each other, but no one chasing the other. Now, it's clear that these two retreats happened independently. Ivan's reasons were clear, but Akhmat's motives can only be guessed. Maybe it was because Kazimir didn't show up, or because Ivan settled his argument with his brothers and added more troops. The approaching Russian winter was also a factor. If the standoff dragged on, Ivan could strengthen his army, while Akhmat had few reinforcements and they were far away. The Tatar horses and sheep they were herding were gradually exhausting the local food supply. There were also reports of disease in Akhmat's army, or another reason that he might have thought that Ivan's retreat was just a trap to lure him into an ambush, a common tactic on the steppe. This marked the humiliating end of the Great Horde's final campaign against Russia. On December 28, 1480, Grand Duke Ivan III returned to Moscow, where he was joyfully welcomed by the townspeople. On the banks of the Oka and Ugra rivers, a decisive political victory had been won. The Horde's dominance, which had lasted for more than two centuries, was finally overthrown. Russia's struggle to free itself from the Horde's rule had been a brilliant success. The remnants of Akhmat's army fled back to the steppe. His rivals immediately seized the opportunity to move against the defeated Khan. This struggle ended with his death. In January 1481, in the Don steppes, Akhmat's forces, tired from their long and unsuccessful campaign, let their guard down and were overtaken by Nogai Khan Ivak. If the victory at the Battle of Kulikovo marked the beginning of a breakthrough in Russian-Horde relations, shifting from passive defense to active resistance against the Horde's rule, then the victory at the Ugra river symbolized the end of that rule and the full restoration of Russia's national sovereignty. This was the greatest event of the 15th century for Russia, and November 12, 1480, can be considered one of the most important days in the country's medieval history. 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