Atlas of Battles

battle, landmark, medieval

Battle of Kulikovo

Battle of Kulikovo was a battle fought on 8 September 1380 at Kulikovo Field, in what is now Russia. It was part of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus', which ran from 1223 to 1240. The recorded result: Russian victory. Recorded strength: Modern estimates: 15,000–20,000 men; Traditionally in historiography: 50,000–60,000 against Up to 30,000 (modern estimates).

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The Battle of Kulikovo. A large-scale hand-drawn lubok (ink, tempera, gold). On display in the State Historical Museum.
The Battle of Kulikovo. A large-scale hand-drawn lubok (ink, tempera, gold). On display in the State Historical Museum.. Ivan Blinov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought8 September 1380
WhereKulikovo Field, Russia53.653N, 38.654E
OutcomeRussian victory
BelligerentsOrthodox Coalition; Principality of Moscow; Principality of Beloozero; Principality of Yaroslavl; Principality of Rostov; Principality of Starodub; Principality of Mologa; Principality of Kashin; Princes from Vyazma and Dorogobuzh; Part of Upper Oka Principalities; Lithuanian princes of Polotsk in exile; Lithuanian princes of Bryansk in exileagainstGolden Horde; European mercenaries; Principality of Ryazan; Genoese mercenaries; Cumans; Circassians; Ossetians
Casualties and lossesExtremely HeavyandUnknown
Part ofMongol invasion of Kievan Rus'1223 to 1240

Where it sits in the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'

Siege of Bilär, 1236Siege of Kolomna, 1236Siege of Ryazan (1237), 1237Siege of Vladimir, 1238Siege of Kozelsk, 1238Battle of the Sit River, 1238Siege of Kyiv, 1240Battle of Kulikovo, 138012361380Battle of Kulikovo, 1380
8 placed engagements of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date8 September 1380
PlaceKulikovo Field, Russia
53.653N, 38.654E
KindBattle, medieval
StrengthModern estimates: 15,000–20,000 men; Traditionally in historiography: 50,000–60,000Up to 30,000 (modern estimates)
Casualties and lossesExtremely HeavyUnknown
Commanders
  • Dmitry Donskoy
  • Vladimir the Bold
  • Bobrok
  • Mamai
  • Tulak (Golden Horde)
Battle of KulikovoBattle of KulikovoSiege of LankaranBattle of the Vozha RiverBattle of LipitsaSiege of Ryazan (1237)Siege of LankaranBattle of the Vozha RiverBattle of LipitsaSiege of Ryazan (1237)RyazanTulaOrelKalugaMtsenskYefremovBogoroditskNovomoskovsk100 km53.653N, 38.654E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of Kulikovo
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 10 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Battle of Kulikovo today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2024-09-02. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024.

The recorded site stands at about 207 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from 142 to 243 m, 101 m of relief, gently rolling country and today it is 58% grassland, 36% cropland, 5% tree cover.

grassland: 58%cropland: 36%tree cover: 5%grassland 58%cropland 36%tree cover 5%
west to east, 10.0 km183 to 212 mnorth to south, 10.0 km146 to 219 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1380

Battle of Kulikovo is one of 566 engagements of the 14th century in the atlas and one of 350 in present-day Russia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q210354, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Kulikovo, revision 1384545167, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.