How many warriors fought on the Kulikovo field? According to the tradition dating back to the Zadonshchyna, a story from the 14th century, it is believed that Mamai brought "countless numbers" of soldiers to Kulikovo Field, while Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich opposed him with about 300,000 shackled rati, mostly "sons" peasant from small to large. " The latter, they say, decided the fate of the battle, defeating the enemy, although they themselves suffered enormous losses - almost 90 percent of the personnel.
In monographs of recent years, the annals of the number of armies fighting were revised. Historians have come to the conclusion that the Russians could not have more than 100,000, and the Horde could have 150,000. Thus, the ratio of forces on September 8, 1380 was 1: 1, 5 in favor of Mamaia.
However, it is doubtful that 250,000 warriors, including horsemen, would not only be located on the relatively small Kulikovo field, but would also maneuver and attack simultaneously from different directions. Especially when you consider that over the past six-plus centuries, some of the rivers and marshes on it have dried up, thinned forests, and therefore it has now expanded markedly. Another thing is not clear: how the generals controlled such masses, because even with modern means of communication and signaling this task is very difficult.
Let's assume that there were actually about 100,000 Russians. It is known that an adult needs at least two kilograms of dry food per day. Therefore, to feed such an army, it would take up to 200 tons of meat, vegetables, cereals and bread per day, and for the transition from August 15 to September 8, 4,800 tons. At that time, the soldiers did not carry provisions on themselves - there were also enough weapons. If we take the average carrying capacity of the cart for 200 kilograms, then the convoy that accompanied the army that left Kolomna should have counted 24,000 "crews". Since the length of each of them is 5–6 meters, and the distance in the campaign is observed about 3 meters, a stunning conclusion wakes up willy-nilly - the column will stretch for ... 192 kilometers. Even if the regiments moved separately, along several roads, and in this case it turns out: while the vanguard was already approaching the Don, the rearguard only left Kolomna ...
There is another problem with Don. The Russian army forced it almost instantly, on the night of September 7-8. Suppose the river is 200 meters wide. Let’s also assume that 100,000 people moved along the crossing in rows of five in "soldier's step" (at a speed of 5.5 kilometers per hour) at intervals of 2 meters between the lines. Then one such transition would take 1250 hours! Since the duration of the September night in our latitudes does not exceed 11 hours, it turns out that in order to ensure a secretive, quick throw through the Don, "sappers" Dmitry Ivanovich had erected at least 117 bridges in advance, and this would not have gone unnoticed. It remains to be assumed: either there was no crossing, which does not correspond to the facts, or the Russian army was several times smaller than the sources indicate.
Now let's turn to the enemy coalition. Talking about a 150-300 thousandth horde is just as frivolous, for it, together with a huge number of clockwork horses and a giant wagon train, would have been completely clumsy and uncontrollable, and the regiments of Mamai acted quite swiftly and skillfully. And if so, then the figure of 150,000 should be reduced several times. Do not exaggerate the role of Genoese mercenaries. According to the Feodosia Museum of History and Local Lore, the armed forces of this Italian colony in Cafe totaled one thousand foot soldiers and up to 20 heavily armed knights. It is unlikely that the magistrate presented Mamaia more than he had at his disposal ...
In monographs of recent years, the annals of the number of armies fighting were revised. Historians have come to the conclusion that the Russians could not have more than 100,000, and the Horde could have 150,000. Thus, the ratio of forces on September 8, 1380 was 1: 1, 5 in favor of Mamaia.
However, it is doubtful that 250,000 warriors, including horsemen, would not only be located on the relatively small Kulikovo field, but would also maneuver and attack simultaneously from different directions. Especially when you consider that over the past six-plus centuries, some of the rivers and marshes on it have dried up, thinned forests, and therefore it has now expanded markedly. Another thing is not clear: how the generals controlled such masses, because even with modern means of communication and signaling this task is very difficult.
Let's assume that there were actually about 100,000 Russians. It is known that an adult needs at least two kilograms of dry food per day. Therefore, to feed such an army, it would take up to 200 tons of meat, vegetables, cereals and bread per day, and for the transition from August 15 to September 8, 4,800 tons. At that time, the soldiers did not carry provisions on themselves - there were also enough weapons. If we take the average carrying capacity of the cart for 200 kilograms, then the convoy that accompanied the army that left Kolomna should have counted 24,000 "crews". Since the length of each of them is 5–6 meters, and the distance in the campaign is observed about 3 meters, a stunning conclusion wakes up willy-nilly - the column will stretch for ... 192 kilometers. Even if the regiments moved separately, along several roads, and in this case it turns out: while the vanguard was already approaching the Don, the rearguard only left Kolomna ...
There is another problem with Don. The Russian army forced it almost instantly, on the night of September 7-8. Suppose the river is 200 meters wide. Let’s also assume that 100,000 people moved along the crossing in rows of five in "soldier's step" (at a speed of 5.5 kilometers per hour) at intervals of 2 meters between the lines. Then one such transition would take 1250 hours! Since the duration of the September night in our latitudes does not exceed 11 hours, it turns out that in order to ensure a secretive, quick throw through the Don, "sappers" Dmitry Ivanovich had erected at least 117 bridges in advance, and this would not have gone unnoticed. It remains to be assumed: either there was no crossing, which does not correspond to the facts, or the Russian army was several times smaller than the sources indicate.
Now let's turn to the enemy coalition. Talking about a 150-300 thousandth horde is just as frivolous, for it, together with a huge number of clockwork horses and a giant wagon train, would have been completely clumsy and uncontrollable, and the regiments of Mamai acted quite swiftly and skillfully. And if so, then the figure of 150,000 should be reduced several times. Do not exaggerate the role of Genoese mercenaries. According to the Feodosia Museum of History and Local Lore, the armed forces of this Italian colony in Cafe totaled one thousand foot soldiers and up to 20 heavily armed knights. It is unlikely that the magistrate presented Mamaia more than he had at his disposal ...
Show More
