Was Kulikovo a Rebellion or a Power Struggle? New Historical Insights

The Battle of Kulikovo: A Revisionist View. The commonly held belief that the Battle of Kulikovo was a rebellion against the Golden Horde is challenged by new research. Historians are now suggesting that Dmitry Donskoy's campaign was targeted at Mamai, a usurper who had seized power and lacked the legitimate lineage of a Genghisid. This alternative interpretation is supported by analysis of contemporary chronicles, which highlight Mamai's illegitimate rule and the political landscape of the time. "The conflict was not against the Golden Horde as a whole, but specifically against Mamai, an individual who had illegally seized power," explains one historian. This nuanced perspective sheds light on a pivotal moment in Russian history, offering a more complex understanding of the motivations and consequences of the battle.