Date of: 14th century, 1380, September 08
Description:
The battle of Russian troops led by the Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow Dmitry Ivanovich with the Mongol-Tatars, led by the de facto ruler of the Golden Horde Temnik Mamai.
In the summer of 1380, Dmitry Ivanovich, having learned about the movement of the Horde army to Moscow, appealed to collect the Russian militia to repulse the enemy. Up to 200,000 soldiers gathered in Kolomna (the headquarters of Dmitry Ivanovich), the main core of which were Muscovites, as well as Ukrainian and Belarusian detachments. The plan of the campaign was that instead of defending on the Oka River, where Mamai could connect with his ally, the Lithuanian prince Jagiello, cross the Oka and move towards the enemy to the upper reaches of the Don. Russian army St. Sergius of Radonezh, the founder and abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, blessed the battle with Mamai.
On the morning of September 8, 1380, the Russian regiments crossed from the left to the right bank of the Don at the confluence of the Nepryadva River and settled on the Kulikovo field. In front stood the Advanced Regiment, behind it - the Big Regiment, next to it on the flanks of the regiments of the Right and Left Hands, behind them - the reserve (cavalry). In the nearby forest (“in the oak forest”), the Ambush Regiment was stationed, led by Prince Vladimir Andreevich the Brave and boyar Dmitry Bobrok-Volynsky. Crossing the Don meant Dmitry Ivanovich's determination to fight to the end, since the possibility of retreat was greatly complicated by the fact that the Don and Nepryadva rivers, as well as deep ravines, were in the rear of the Russian army. At the same time, such a position made it difficult for the Tatar-Mongolian cavalry to move around. Mamai's army stood in a deployed formation without reserves, the cavalry was located in the first line, and the infantry was in the second.
The battle began with a duel between two heroes Peresvet and Chelubey. Both of them died in this fight. Immediately after the death of the combatants, the Tatar cavalry, having crushed the Advanced Regiment, began to push the Big Regiment. The Russian army suffered heavy losses. In the first minutes of the battle, boyar Mikhail Brenok, who fought in the Great Regiment in the armor of the Grand Duke and under his banner, was killed. Dmitry Ivanovich in the clothes of an ordinary soldier fought in the ranks of the same regiment. The onslaught of the Mongol-Tatars in the center was delayed by the commissioning of the reserve. Mamai endured main blow on the left flank and began to push the Russian regiments. The unexpected powerful blow of the fresh forces of the Ambush Regiment to the rear and flank of the Tatar-Mongolian army and the offensive of other Russian regiments led to the crushing defeat of the Mamaeva army, the remnants of which the Russian regiments pursued and destroyed for 50 miles from the Kulikovo field.
The Battle of Kulikovo had historical meaning in the struggle of the Russian and other peoples with Tatar-Mongol yoke. Although it did not lead to the elimination of the Mongol-Tatar yoke in Rus', however, on the Kulikovo field a severe blow was dealt to the domination of the Golden Horde, which accelerated its subsequent collapse.
Communication with the famous painting by Mikhail Avilov "Battle on the Kulikovo Field" provides an amazing opportunity to make an exciting journey into Ancient Rus' and feel involved in the tragic and great events.
A brief description of the painting by Avilov "Duel on the Kulikovo field"
On the bank of the river there is a wide field, part of which is still covered with grass, part is burnt or scorched. Along the blue ribbon of the river on the shore, in full combat attire, the Russian army lined up, ready for battle. On the other side of the picture, as an antithesis - just as numerous and ready to rush into battle at any moment - the Horde army is located. In the center in the foreground, two equestrian riders met in a duel: a Russian knight on a black horse and a Tatar-Mongolian warrior on a bay horse. They are depicted at the moment when they knock each other off their heated horses with spears. Above the warriors fighting and frozen in combat readiness, the sky swirls with clouds: from the Horde side it is bright blue, from the Russian side, as a threat to enemies, it is yellow-gray, restless.
Rus' and the Horde after Genghis Khan and Batu
In the middle of the 14th century, after the death of Khan Batu, about 25 rulers changed on the throne of the Horde, and the Horde was torn apart by strife, as a result of which the state split into two parts: western and eastern. The eastern part of the Golden Horde was headed by a descendant of Genghis Khan, Khan Tokhtamysh. And in the western part, the power was seized by the insidious commander Mamai, who seized the throne by cunning and deceit. Having pacified for a while the power of strife, he decided to return the former power over Russia. The Arab Shah, sent by him to the Nizhny Novgorod principality, inflicted a severe defeat on the united Russian army, which was led by the Moscow prince Dmitry Bobrok Volynsky. This was followed by a battle between Russian and Horde troops on the Vozha River. The Russian army in this battle was commanded by the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. And the Horde army is Mamai himself. This time, luck accompanied the Russians, and the defeated Mamai harbored the idea of revenge in his soul. The possibility and outcome of such a revenge - in the description of the painting "Duel on the Kulikovo field", presented in the article.
Great Confrontation
IN short description The painting "Duel on the Kulikovo Field" presents a composition that repeats the formation of troops before the Battle of Kulikovo. On the eve of September 8, 1380, at the place where the Nepryadva River flows into the Don, two huge armies led by Dmitry Ivanovich and Mamai gathered in opposition.Muscovites formed the basis of the Russian army. Under the leadership of the Moscow prince, warriors from almost all Russian principalities united.Under the command of the Horde, the peoples of the Volga and Caucasus, subordinated to the Horde, as well as the Lithuanian and Ryazan principalities, gathered.
It was this moment that the author depicted on his canvas. On the Kulikovo field, on the left and right, the Horde and Russian troops lined up in combat readiness. Russian squads are deployed in accordance with historical information near the banks of the Don, through which they have just crossed. The soldiers standing in the forefront hold banners with the face of Jesus Christ in their hands as a sign of blessing and God's support.
To avoid the inevitable bloody rivers, according to legend, it was decided to determine the outcome of the battle by a duel of two mighty heroes. From the Horde, it was Chelubey, and from the Russians, the warrior-monk Peresvet, sent with the army of Dmitry Ivanovich by the founder of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, Sergius of Radonezh. It is Peresvet and Chelubey who are the main characters in the canvas. Let us return to the description of the painting "Duel on the Kulikovo Field". They occupy the center of the canvas and, according to the iconic hierarchy, seem to be much larger than other warriors, which does not correspond to the possible distance between the combatants and their army.
The truth about Peresvet and the image of the Russian hero
Peresvet is a figure equally real and legendary. Many people consider Peresvet a hero folk epics, fictional character, collectively ancient Russian hero. Actually sung in folk art the warrior was quite real person. Little is known about his fate. He came from a noble boyar family of the Bryansk principality. The adolescence and youth of Alexander Peresvet took place in labors and prayers, as well as in military training, so that he could defend the Fatherland at any moment. Further, his fate was connected with the protection native land- he gave a lot of strength to military labor, serving in the prince's army.
Later, together with his, probably, cousin Andrei, nicknamed Oslyabya, also from the Bryansk boyar family, he became a monk. According to legend, the tonsure was taken in the Rostov Borisoglebsky Monastery. Then they moved to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery near Moscow, but how exactly they got there is unknown.
By 1380, these were already elderly monks, known to many as brave and invincible knights, mighty Russian heroes. Before leaving for the battle, blessed by Sergius of Radonezh, Peresvet prayed in the chapel of St. Dmitry Solunsky - the patron of the Russian army.
According to the surviving descriptions from the Nikon chronicle, during the duel, Alexander Peresvet was dressed in a monastic robe given to him by Sergius of Radonezh. The robe was covered on all sides with images of the cross. A helmet was put on the hero’s head, and on top of it was a cockle (a headdress of monks covering the head, neck and even shoulders). Of the weapons, Peresvet had only a spear. Whether he had a horse is not mentioned anywhere.
According to various sources, the outcome of the duel was a serious injury or death of a monk. However, together with all the fallen, he was not buried on the field - he was transported and buried in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Simonovsky Monastery.
As for the artistic image of Peresvet created by Avilov, ideologically the hero is an example of courage and courage, an ideal guide for educating those contemplating the canvas of pride in their homeland and its defenders, patriotism and interest in history. But for those who are not just interested, but also compared the facts, it will become obvious that Peresvet Avilova is still quite young. His clothes are more like the clothes of a warrior: a helmet-shishak, chain mail, a shield. There is no question of any monastic vestments with crosses and a doll. So with all the plausibility of the image of Alexander Peresvet, historical truth in the picture is clearly broken.
The riddle of Chelubey and the artistic image of a warrior
As for the image of Chelubey, or, as history still knows him, Timir-Murza or Tavrul, the beloved warrior of Mamai, the chronicles retained a mention of him as a formidable and invincible warrior. In addition, he was considered immortal. Chelubey had three hundred fights and came out victorious in all. Such luck seems mythological. However, the riddle of resilience and invincibility of the Horde warrior was now able to be explained.
Chelubey was a Tibetan monk who mastered the practice of combat magic Bon-po. The art of this struggle lies in the possession of magic spells to summon demon spirits and the ability to use them during the battle, calling them to help oneself. At the same time, the dedicated "immortal" actually sells his soul dark forces and no one can defeat him. However, such a person voluntarily dooms his soul after death to stay in the realm of demons. Only a warrior clothed with power from God can defeat the "possessed" one. It was he who was the Russian knight-monk Peresvet.
The image of Chelubey in Avilov's picture is very plausible, but clearly inferior in power to the Russian hero. If you carefully consider the equipment of the Horde warrior and compare it with known facts, it turns out that usually the Horde wore a quilted padded caftan. Under it, they put on a shell reaching to the knees with iron shoulder pads and gloves. And under the shell - a leather jacket with iron hoops, fixed from the elbow to the wrist on narrow sleeves. On their feet they put on soft leather boots, upholstered with metal plates, one of which, apparently the heel, had a sharp spike. On the head - a round-shaped helmet with a nosepiece and a chain mail mesh that covered the shoulders and neck. The dome of the helmet was decorated with two tufts of hair. Of the weapons, curved sabers, bows, spears, and daggers were usually used.
In Avilov's painting, Chelubey ignores tradition: he is dressed in an ordinary robe made of thin fabric, too richly decorated for a monk. What is worn under the dressing gown is not visible. On the legs - trousers and boots to the middle of the calf, on the back of which a metal "patch" is visible. Neither the sheathing of iron plates, nor the spike on the "patch" is visible. Chelubey's head is covered with an expensive fur-trimmed hat that does not look like a helmet. She doesn't even have two tufts of hair on top of her head. In addition, the character has a shield for protection. While maintaining the obvious plausibility, this image in the canvas is historically unreliable. Even if we take into account the "immortality" of Chelubey, it is unlikely that a warrior, understanding the importance and complexity of the moment, will take such risks.
Combat between Good and Evil
The painting "Duel of Peresvet with Chelubey" was written by Avilov in the difficult years for the country - the Great Patriotic War.
The author's idea, ripening for about 25 years, was realized in just six months. Whether the author wanted to allegorically reflect the events of his time through legendary images or not is unknown, but it happened. If we consider the picture from the point of view eternal struggle in the world of Good and Evil in the form of Peresvet and Chelubey, why not imagine Good Soviet Union and his army, who came down to the death in battle with Nazi Germany, Hitler's army - the personification of Evil.
So Avilov's painting "Duel on the Kulikovo Field" will always be relevant and can be considered from the point of view of embodying the idea of the unity of the Russian people against enemies, and the image of Peresvet - as a reference point for imitation in love for the Motherland, readiness to give one's life for one's native land.
The duel of Peresvet with Chelubey, according to other versions - Temir-Mirza or Tavrul.A. Peresvet defeated not just the warrior Chelubey, but the great and terrible Warrior, the invincible Chelubey, who has not lost a single battle in his entire life, and is still revered in Tibet.
The story of the bishop of the North Sea diocese, Bishop Mitrofan (Badanin) - a former naval officer, since 2000 - a priest, rector of the Dormition parish in the village of Varzuga, on the shores of the White Sea.
“When we stood in front of this painting (Pavel Ryzhenko’s painting “Victory of Peresvet”), one of the abbots (he was also ordained a bishop) told us the following story. I will retell it the way I heard it.
In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra there is a monk who, in his youth, like many then, was fascinated by Eastern spiritual traditions and martial arts. And when perestroika began, he decided to go to Tibet with his friends in order to enter some Buddhist monastery. Since 1984, when the monasteries of Tibet were opened for access, however, under limited quotas, many foreigners began to come there. And it must be said frankly that the attitude towards foreigners in the monasteries was extremely bad. Still, this is their national spirituality. Our future monk and his friends were disappointed: they were so eager for this lofty teaching, for this brotherhood, spiritual exploits, mantras and prayers...
This attitude continued until the Tibetans found out that they were Russians. They began to talk among themselves, and the word "Peresvet" sounded in the conversation.
They began to find out, and it turned out that the name of this Russian monk was written in a special holy book, where their most important spiritual events are recorded. Peresvet's victory is listed there as an event that fell out of the usual course of things.
It turns out that Chelubey was not only an experienced warrior and hero, but he was Tibetan monk, who was brought up according to the “mag-tszal” system and reached the status of “immortal”. It was believed that such a monk-warrior is practically invincible. The number of such Tibetan warriors chosen by the spirits (they were called "dabdob") has always been extremely small, they were considered a special phenomenon in the spiritual practice of Tibet. That is why he was put up for single combat with Peresvet - in order to spiritually break the Russians even before the battle began.
A few years ago, the Chinese came to the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra and asked if there were chronicles about the fight between Peresvet and Chelubey. When asked why they did it, they answered that in the East Chelubey is considered a great warrior who won three hundred battles. And the fights in those days did not end with a victory on points. If the fight means death. Therefore, the Chinese were amazed at how Peresvet could defeat the invincible great warrior.
Official version
The spear of the master of equestrian fights Chelubey was a meter longer than usual. Entering into battle with him on spears, the enemy could not even strike, as he was already defeated and fell out of the saddle. Alexander Peresvet went against the logic of the duel - having removed his armor, he remained only in the Great Schema, he did this so that the enemy’s spear, passing through the soft tissues of the body at high speed, would not have time to knock him out of the saddle and then he could hit yourself.
Peresvet was from a boyar family, strong in strength, and in the past a skilled warrior. Having said a prayer and said goodbye to his comrades, he rode out to meet Chelubey on a black horse. He wore a schema with red crosses, which he had received from hegumen Sergius along with a blessing for the battle. All his equipment was sent to the monastery treasury. The tip of his spear was forged by a local blacksmith. The shaft of the spear is made from nearby forests. Until that moment, the legendary spear of Peresvet was unknown to anyone. The horsemen dispersed and, dispersing their horses, began to approach.
Bogatyrs collided with such terrible force that the spears were broken.
The strong and experienced warrior Chelubey accurately struck Peresvet, who did not have a shield, under the left bosom. The blow of the spear of Peresvet hit the shield of Chelubey. But there was so much strength and determination in this blow that the spear of Peresvet pierced the shield through and through and Chelubey himself, having received a mortal wound, fell headlong to the Horde troops. Which was a bad omen for them.
The rivals, according to the Legend, "hit hard with spears, almost the earth did not break under them, and both fell from their horses to the ground and died." According to another version, Peresvet, having received a mortal wound, continued to remain in the saddle, he was able to drive himself to the building and only died there.
Alexander Peresvet died, but many Russian soldiers escaped death at the hands of Temir-Murza, who was killed in a duel. As soon as Chelubey fell from the saddle, the Horde cavalry moved into battle and quickly crushed the Vanguard Regiment.
The further onslaught of the Tatars in the center was delayed by the commissioning of the Russian reserve. Mamai transferred the main blow to the left flank and began to push the Russian regiments there. The situation was saved by the Ambush Regiment of Serpukhov Prince Vladimir Andreevich, who emerged from the oak forest, hit the rear and flank of the Horde cavalry and decided the outcome of the battle.
The enemy army trembled and turned to flight. Russian soldiers captured the Khan's headquarters and for almost 50 kilometers (to the Beautiful Sword River) pursued and destroyed the remnants of Mamai's troops. The Headquarters of the Horde was also captured there. Jagiello, having learned about his defeat, also hastily turned back. It is believed that Mamaev's army was defeated in four hours (the battle lasted from eleven to two in the afternoon).
Losses on both sides were huge (about 200 thousand people killed and wounded). The dead (both Russians and the Horde) were buried for 8 days. In the battle fell 12 Russian princes, 483 boyars (60% of the command staff of the Russian army.). Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, who participated in the battle on the front line as part of the Big Regiment, was wounded during the battle, but survived and later received the nickname "Donskoy".
Peresvet's brother Andrei Oslyabya fought heroically on the Kulikovo field, was wounded, but survived.
The description of the duel in the Tale has led some historians to question the very existence of this episode. However, it is known that those who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo were buried on the battlefield, while the body of Peresvet was brought to Moscow and buried in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Simonov Monastery. Later, his brother Andrei Oslyablya, who completed his life path in the monastery. When the temple was rebuilt, their graves were preserved for many centuries.
According to legend, before the battle, Peresvet prayed in the hermit's cell at the chapel of the holy warrior Great Martyr of the 4th century Demetrius of Thessalonica, where the Dimitrievsky Ryazhsky monastery was subsequently founded, which is 7 km from the town of Skopin. After praying, Peresvet left, leaving his apple staff. This staff after the revolution was kept in local history museum Ryazan.
"Duel of Peresvet with Chelubey on the Kulikovo field"(1943) - the most famous picture Soviet artist Mikhail Ivanovich Avilov. The canvas of the picture depicts the battle of the Russian hero Peresvet with the Tatar warrior Chelubey, according to legend, preceded the Battle of Kulikovo. In this duel, both warriors died, but the victory remained with Peresvet. The horse was able to take him to the Russian troops, while Chelubey was knocked out of the saddle.
Description of the picture[ | ]
Spears of opponents hit each other's shields. Shields and chain mail do not withstand the blow and the spears pierce them, piercing the bodies of the heroes. Chelubey flies off the saddle of the horse from the blow of the spear of the Russian hero. A red malachai flies from his shaved head. Leaned back and Peresvet. His figure is extremely tense, his eyes glare with fierce hatred at the defeated enemy.
In the background, along the edges of the picture, there are troops leaving into the distance. With a play of colors, Avilov conveys the condition of the troops before the battle. Modest, strict, grayish tones on the left side of the picture characterize endurance, calmness and confidence in the victory of the Russian army. Ahead building on a white horse Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. In battle, he will receive a shell shock, but will remain alive. The bright, colorful colors of the Tatar-Mongolian army convey their anxiety and uncertainty about the outcome of the duel.
On this day:
On February 19, 1918, the Ice Campaign of the Baltic Fleet began - an operation to save the ships of the Baltic Fleet from capture by German and Finnish troops and transfer them from Reval and Helsingfors to Kronstadt. It was carried out in the most difficult ice conditions of February - May 1918. The operation was commanded by the head of the Naval Forces of the Baltic Sea, Alexei Mikhailovich Shchastny.
Ice Campaign of Admiral Shchastny
On February 19, 1918, the Ice Campaign of the Baltic Fleet began - an operation to save the ships of the Baltic Fleet from capture by German and Finnish troops and transfer them from Reval and Helsingfors to Kronstadt. It was carried out in the most difficult ice conditions of February - May 1918. The operation was commanded by the head of the Naval Forces of the Baltic Sea, Alexei Mikhailovich Shchastny.
As a result of the operation, 236 ships and vessels were saved from capture and relocated, including 6 battleships, 5 cruisers, 59 destroyers, 12 submarines.
Nevertheless, after the completion of the campaign, by order of Leon Trotsky, A. M. Shchastny was arrested "for crimes in office and counter-revolutionary actions." After the trial, he was sentenced to death. It was the first judicial death sentence in Soviet Russia. The accusation, according to the historian S. Melgunov, was formulated as follows: “Shchastny, performing a heroic deed, thereby created popularity for himself, intending to subsequently use it against the Soviet regime.”
Polar drift SP-1
On February 19, 1938, the work of the world's first drifting research station "North Pole - 1" was completed.
Polar drift SP-1
On February 19, 1938, the work of the world's first drifting research station "North Pole - 1" was completed.
Its composition: station manager Ivan Dmitrievich Papanin, meteorologist and geophysicist Evgeny Konstantinovich Fedorov, radio operator Ernst Teodorovich Krenkel, hydrobiologist and oceanographer Petr Petrovich Shirshov.
Created in the area North Pole station "SP" after 9 months of drift (274 days) to the south was taken out into the Greenland Sea, the ice floe sailed more than 2000 km. The icebreaking ships Taimyr and Murman removed the four winterers on February 19, 1938, beyond the 70th latitude, a few tens of kilometers from the coast of Greenland.
February 19, 1959 Gleb Borisovich Yurchenko was born, Soviet, Russian officer, colonel; Hero of Russia (1995).
Airborne Colonel Gleb Yurchenko
February 19, 1959 was born Gleb Borisovich Yurchenko, Soviet, Russian officer, colonel; Hero of Russia (1995).
In 1981, Gleb graduated from the Kiev Higher Combined Arms command school. Served in Airborne troops. In 1981-1983, he took part in combat operations in Afghanistan (province of Paktia) as part of the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade, commanded a reconnaissance platoon; made 79 reconnaissance exits as a group commander. His raids were distinguished by preparedness, sober calculation, the preservation of personnel, and almost always the complete fulfillment of a combat mission.
Then he served in the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division (Ryazan). Participated in the liquidation of the armed ethnic conflicts in "hot spots" on the territory of the former USSR.
From December 1994 to March 1995 he participated in the battles of the first Chechen war. As chief of staff of the 137th Airborne Regiment, he led a combined battalion (300 paratroopers). In December 1994, while advancing troops to Grozny, the battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Yurchenko defeated a bandit formation, destroying up to 40 militants, 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 3 armored personnel carriers and 6 machine guns. When approaching locality, where about 100 militants were defending, Yurchenko alone went to the positions of the enemy and, in negotiations with the command of the militants and the elders of the village, convinced them to give up resistance. The village was occupied without a fight.
During the assault on Grozny on January 1, 1995, the battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Yurchenko, performing the task of assisting the 131st Maykop motorized rifle brigade in the area of the railway station, took up defense in the control building railway. He organized all-round defense, established interaction with artillery; in the battles of January 2-6, 1995, the paratroopers destroyed over 100 militants, a tank and several enemy armored vehicles. On the afternoon of January 6, the main forces of the group of Russian troops entered the area.
Solving the next task of capturing the building of the State Security Department of Ichkeria, Yurchenko organized a 3-day continuous shelling of the building, which the militants turned into a powerful defense unit. After the collapse of the facade of the building on January 9, on a signal, 6 assault groups entered the battle. The militants were taken by surprise and destroyed on the spot, scattered pockets of resistance were suppressed. The assault took about 30 minutes, the attackers had no dead.
For courage and heroism shown in the performance of a special task, by the Decree of the President Russian Federation dated March 20, 1995 No. 289 of the Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Gleb Borisovich Yurchenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Continued service in Russian army. Military rank— colonel.
Rise and fall of Mir station
On February 19, 1986, the Soviet orbital station "Mir" was launched - the world's first orbital station of a modular type.
Rise and fall of Mir station
On February 19, 1986, the Soviet orbital station "Mir" was launched - the world's first orbital station of a modular type.
In January 2001, the government of the Russian Federation (under clear US pressure) decided to flood the station. Among the reasons were officially named: the development of a resource, expensive maintenance (about $ 200 million per year).
Numerous projects have been proposed to save the station. For example, during the visit of Iranian President Khatami to Russia, the Iranian delegation offered to finance the station, while Russia, for its part, should have trained Iranian cosmonauts.
The destruction of the beautiful station was also unprofitable for Russia from a social point of view. This led to reduction of more than 100 thousand jobs for highly qualified scientific and engineering workers. For the domestic political situation, this is an increase in social tension, the elimination of modern high-tech industries, which, if properly managed, could become the basis for the growth of the country's welfare in the future.
