The Days of Military Honour of Russia (Days Russian Arms Glory) are memorial days to mark victories of Russian troops that played a crucial part in the history of the country. The list of these dates was established by the Federal Law ‘On Days of Military Honor and Commemorative Dates of Russia’. All together 20 memorial days of military honor exist in Russia.

One of them – the Day Russian regiments victory led by Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy over the Mongol-Tatar troops in 1380 in the battle on the Kulikovo field, is celebrated on September 21. According to the traditional point of view that dates back to Karamzin, the Battle of Kulikovo was the first step towards liberation of the Russian lands from the Golden Horde dependence. The battle was also the major prerequisite for the formation of a new, strong and sovereign Russian state. In the second half of the 14^th century, the Golden Horde was disintegrating, and one of the senior emirs, Mamai, became the de facto ruler. At the same time a gradual process of unification of Russian lands under the rule of the Moscow principality was under way in Russia. The Battle of Kulikovo took place on September 21, on the field between the Don, Nepryadva and Krasivaya Mecha rivers (nowadays – the Tula region south-east). The exact location of the combat encounter remains disputable nowadays; several versions are presented in various research papers. The battle started with a single combat between two champions (bogatyrs). The Russian bogatyr was Alexander Peresvet and the Horde's champion was Temir-Murza (also Chelubey or Chrysotovrul). During the first pass of the contest, each champion killed the other with his spear and both fell to the ground. Thus, it remained unclear whose victory was predicted by the duel's outcome.
The losses of Russian army in the battle, according to various sources, were estimated in the thousands; Dmitry Ivanovich himself was contused in the battle. Mamai escaped to the Genoese stronghold Caffa in Crimea, where he was later killed in a feud. Prince Dmitry received his nickname ‘Donskoy’ precisely because of his victory on the Kulikovo Field.

According to chronicles, the battle on Kulikovo Field took place on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Prince Dmitry cast himself on the Mother of God mercy and offered her his prayers. The ‘The Life of Sergius of Radonezh’ features the story of the meeting before the battle between St. Sergius, Hegumen of Radonezh, the Miracle-worker of all Russia and Dmitri Donskoy and directing the Russian orthodox monks-warriors Alexander Peresvet and Rodion Oslyabya to assist Dmitri in the battle. Since those years, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the victory over Mamai on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

The Battle of Kulikovo contributed to the further growth and strengthening of Russia as a united state, and Moscow as the centre of Russian lands unification. In the mid-19^th century, a monument designed by architect Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov was erected at the site considered to be the Kulikovo Battle Field. In 1996, the State Military-Historical and Natural Museum-Reserve ‘Kulikovo Field’ was established by the Resolution of the Russian Federation Government. From that time it annually hosts the international military-historical festivals. The victory on the Kulikovo field could not be secured by a complete defeat of the Golden Horde. There were not enough resources for that at that time.  But the Golden Horde ceased to be considered invincible, and the glory of Russian warriors spread in the vicinity. The victory in the Battle of Kulikovo left a mark on all social and cultural aspects of Russian history. The important point for Russian people was that the Battle of Kulikovo allowed them to believe in themselves and trust in their strength.
Therefore, the day of the battle deservedly became a holiday praising the military glory of the Russian nation.

On the cover: wall platter ‘Prince Dmitry Donskoy’ 1904-1917.