Where is Kulikovo Field? Museum "Kulikovo Field"

Each Russian heart is dear to the Kulikovo Field, the place where one of the most fateful battles for the independence of our homeland occurred. On it, the myth of the invincibility of the Tatar-Mongol hordes, which for a long time held captive many peoples inhabiting Eurasia, was broken.

In connection with the tragedy that occurred in Ukraine, the fame also acquired another, the Odessa Kulikovo field. What is the connection between the old battle and the death of defenseless people at the hands of nationalists? Obviously, in the presence of aggressive barbarism, which is confronted by much weaker at first sight the forces of truth.

The veneration of heroes in the Petrine era

In Russia, the tradition of creating military memorials was laid by the first emperor, Peter the Great. The construction of locks did not prevent the tsar from visiting the place of the famous battle that initiated the unification of the Russian lands. The centuries-old green oak grove, cut down by trees in which the highest command was prohibited, became the first Russian natural reserve. This living monument became a shrine, where every patriot can worship the feat of ancestors. Until then, the only material objects, reminiscent of the former glory, served as relics, extracted from the ground by grain-growers. Settlers who founded the villages (Green Oak, Tatinsky fords, Red Hill and Don) during the plowing often came across pieces of swords, shields, arrowheads and crosses of the heroes who took the last fight. And there were legends, legends and people's memory, passed down from generation to generation.

After the Patriotic War

The rise of national consciousness, which occurred after the repulse of the Napoleonic invasion, stirred up memories of the past victories among the people. I could not stay aside and the glorious city of gunsmiths - Tula. Kulikovo field was the object of veneration. Through the efforts of the provincial authorities, with the help of the clergy, merchants and nationwide support, the first structures that perpetuated the feat of the squad of Dmitry Donskoy began to be erected here. Initially, they were planning large-scale construction, which set a double goal: to pay tribute to the heroes of the last war, instructing them to conduct excursions and stories about their past exploits, and to perpetuate the memory of the participants of the battle, which was over four centuries old. To fully implement this plan, then failed because of a lack of money.

Temples and monuments of the century before last

Only in 1850 the Kulikovo Field, or rather the Red Hill, decorated the monument of the work of A. P. Briullov - an obelisk erected in honor of Dmitry Donskoy. Another element of the memorial, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, was built on the project of AG Bocharnikov for almost twenty years, and was completed in 1884. The main Orthodox monument, the church of Sergius of Radonezh, was completed by the ensemble in 1917. Then for many decades this holy place was plunged into oblivion. The new Bolshevik authorities were not up to the heroes of the past epochs, they lacked their own ...

Scientific approach

What is famous about the Kulikovo field? The Tula region, on whose territory a memorable historical event occurred, became a place of excavation and research in the sixties of the last century, which, combined with the materials already available, made it possible to give a scientifically sound description of the course of the battle, its phases, and to identify the places of the most fierce fights. Now scientists with a high degree of probability know what role in history Kulikovo field played. The museum (Tula local lore) for the systematization of expositions at the same time opened a specialized branch, the task of which was set concrete: to identify and substantiate the most probable hypothesis of the events of the beginning of September 1380. It was not easy, but the historians coped.

Place of Battle

The landscape of the places where Kulikovo Field is located has changed significantly over the centuries. In order to restore the situation in 1830, it was necessary to recreate it on maps and mock-ups. All the past centuries, deforestation was carried out, the soil was weathered, the relief leveled. Neprikadva and Don became smaller, which also made reconstruction difficult. And yet you can imagine the picture, as well as restore the tactical plans of Dmitry Donskoy.

Military Council and Battle Plan

It is known that the Kulikovo field is located five kilometers from the present village of Monastyrshchino. From a military point of view, the place was chosen successfully. Given that the favorite method of Mongol-Tatar hordes was a roundabout maneuver, the Russian prince excluded him from a possible arsenal of the enemy, protecting both flanks with water obstacles - the Smolka and Nizhny Dubik rivers. The main cunning consisted of a stray shelter, sheltered in the Green Oakland. He was formed from the elite warriors.

Kulikovo field is large, its area exceeds thirty square kilometers, but the main damage to the enemy was inflicted on a small area of it - three hundred and five hundred meters.

But even before the tactical plan was ripe, a military council took place, in which voevods and princes took part. Some of them, anticipating the difficulties associated with forcing the Don, proposed to occupy the defensive on the left bank, without overcoming the water barrier. Prince Dmitri answered this, which in modern adaptation would sound like this: "It was better not to go against the godless forces, than when you came to do nothing. Today, let's go for the Don, and put our heads there for our brothers! "

Battles rarely pass on the prepared plan, but this time almost everything was successful. There, where now stands the village of Tatinka, bridges were erected, and the horsemen found fords. It was on the night of September 8, the secrecy could be observed.

Before the battle, Prince Dmitry did not sleep, he urged the soldiers to fight boldly and not to spare himself. A foggy morning there was a military deployment in three echelons. In the advanced regiment there was an infantry, then the Great Regiment (the main striking force) was built, Dmitry commanded them personally. There was also a reserve, designed to support the direction on which a critical situation would arise. The reserve regiment, under the command of Governor Bobrok and Vladimir Serpukhovski, disguised in the Green Oak Forest, had a special role to play. Their lives depended on the life of the whole squad and Dmitry himself.

The enemy and his forces

Mamai moved slowly, confident in the power of his troops. It was numerous and exceeded those forces that could oppose Rusichi. In addition, the union with the Union Tatars had to be joined by the guards of Oleg Ryazansky and the Lithuanian prince Jagiyl. An hour before noon, the avant-garde, consisting of Genoese mercenaries, went to the Kulikovo field and took a frontal position opposite the Russian army. After maneuvers, Mamai watched from the Red Hill, without foreseeing any complications or surprises. Traditionally, on the neutral strip between the troops, the best bogatyrs took part. The Tatars exposed Chelubeya against the Russian monk Peresvet. The forces were equal, no one wanted to concede, both of the soldiers were killed. And then it began ...

And the battle broke out

For a long time historians have been judged on the collisions of the battle by his description in the Zadonshchina, a document written by an unknown author, perhaps immediately after the battle or somewhat later. The frontal collision of the two armies took place with a large number of casualties. The advanced regiment was crushed and sacked like the Sen, then the turn of the Great Regiment, that is, the main forces of the Russians, came. Shifting the main direction of the blow to the left flank, the Tatars pressed him to Nepryadva, threatening coverage. Mamay thought that his victory was close, but then, according to the tactical plan, struck the Ambush Regiment, causing panic and the flight of the enemy. Russians pursued the Tatars, breaking them mercilessly. Upon learning of the massacre, the allies expected by Mamma also fled, never joining the battle.

Buried the fallen heroes eight days. Moscow triumphed, meeting the winners on October 1. Prince Dmitry was given the title of "Don".

About strategic issues

Skilled in tactics, the commander deserves respect, but only a wise strategist is worthy of the title of genius. Just looking at the map of Russia, you can realize what it meant for our history Kulikovo field. Tula region in its current borders is on the way from the Volga to the north-east of the country. Focusing in the Kolomna district the largest military group in the history of Russia, Prince Dmitry decided to rebuff Mamai, who wanted to punish the rebellious Moscow for refusing to pay tribute and to stop its desire to gain full sovereignty.

The Horde was preparing a "big campaign", the future of this predatory force depended on its results, the Tatars were determined to be extremely determined. There is no doubt that if they managed to get the upper hand on the field Kulikovo, then the punitive expedition would surpass all the boldest assumptions in cruelty. In this sense, Dmitry Donskoy's victory was of a strategic nature, opening to Russia a historical perspective.

In recent decades

In 1980, when the six-century anniversary of the great battle was celebrated, the temple of Sergius of Radonezh was restored. The exhibition held in the village of Monastyrshchino is timed to coincide with this date. A lot of forest workers have done to recreate the historical appearance of the landscape. After Russia gained independence within the framework of the law "On the days of military glory" (1995), a decision was made to create a historical reserve "Kulikovo Field". The museum continues its scientific work, it is open for visits. The memorial complex also includes a memorial cross in Zelenaya Dubrava, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a monument to Dmitry Donskoy and the Alley of Memory and Unity.

Odessa Kulikovo Field

If you ask a local citizen about where Kulikovo field is located when you leave the train at the Odessa railway station, you can be sure that he will not send you to Tula, but point your finger through the fence. Indeed, in spite of the fact that practically all the years of the USSR's existence this area bore the name of the revolution (at first it was simple, and then, so that they did not think it, Oktyabrskaya), everyone called it the old way, like under the tsar.

Once, two hundred years ago, the station district was the outskirts of the city. Here passed the border of Porto-Franco (now it would be called a free trade area), designated by a moat, and there was a wasteland used for drill exercises by soldiers of the Odessa regiment, dressed in black uniforms with red epaulettes. This place enjoyed a dismal reputation, then executed and buried state criminals. Near the prison. But by the end of the century all these fears had become a thing of the past, the country was rapidly developing, and with it - Odessa. Kulikovo field became the place of evening promenades and even attractions.

In the years of the Civil War and intervention, they began again to be buried, all in a row. Victims of city battles, Haidamaks, accidental deaths, some soldiers of a foreign corps found rest on the Kulikovo field and were forgotten. Recalled in 1967, only the heroes of the revolution, who put a mournful squat monument near the final stop of trams 17 and 18 routes. The city expanded very far from that imaginary line where the Kulikovo field marked its border.

Later it was built by the regional committee of the party, then it became the House of Trade Unions.

Odessa rallies

Becoming a part of independent Ukraine, Odessa remained a city of original and predominantly Russian-speaking. It can not be said that the townspeople unanimously supported the "Maidan", as well as to assert the opposite. Sympathy divided, in the spring on the streets, there were often rallies, spontaneous and not very much, during which there were skirmishes, most often verbal.

The thing is that the residents of the southern city (and not only them) were not asked whether they liked it or not what was happening in Kiev. The principle of democracy, absorbed with the first breath of free air, which Odessa was always famous for, was violated. Kulikovo field became a place where people who did not take the ideals of the "heavenly hundred" peacefully expressed their protest. Eyewitnesses can confirm that the townspeople (most often the elderly) did not commit any aggressive actions. They just stood there talking quietly, listening to music and watching a large plasma TV that broadcast Russian news. For this many of them were killed. And burned.

The tragedy of May 2

The official version says that after the match of "Chernomorets" with "Metalist" patriotic fans decided to organize a march, according to which unknown "GRU agents" (in the sense that it is unknown whether they were agents of the GRU) opened fire with pistols. There were even victims, however, they could not be found, protesting nationalists lying on the asphalt covered with clothing did not let the police or doctors. Then they disappeared somewhere, which suggests that the victims were not so dead. Then the uncontrollable (seemingly) crowd, pogroming the tents on the Greek Square, moved towards the place where the "forces of evil" were concentrated, that is, the entire Odessa "anti-Majdan". Kulikovo field in just minutes filled aggressive young people armed with gasoline, plastic bottles and firearms. Having driven the protesters to the House of Trade Unions, they proceeded to the main point of the plan - murder. Again, according to the official version, the victims burn themselves ...