General Notes

Dimitry Donskoi, b. 1350, d. May 19, 1389, grand duke of Moscow (1359-89),
first broke the tradition of submission to the Khanate of the Golden Horde. On
Sept. 8, 1380, Dimitry led the Russian princes to victory over the Tatars on
the plain of Kulikovo on the upper Don River. Although this victory did not
end the Tatar domination over Russia, it enhanced the prestige of the grand
duke of Moscow. Dimitry, the son of Ivan II (r. 1353-59), also enlarged the
territory of Moscow considerably and helped prevent an invasion by Lithuania.