2025, vol. 13, no. 1. Bityukov V.S.

2025, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 183-195

DOI: http://doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2025-13-1.183-195

EDN: https://elibrary.ru/XOJLDL

THE FALL OF THE GREAT HORDE IN THE ASSESSMENTS
OF RUSSIAN AND LITHUANIAN SOURCES

V.S. Bityukov

Voronezh State University
Voronezh, Russian Federation
Natural, Architectural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve “Divnogorye”
vbitzzz7@gmail.com

Abstract. The purpose of the study: The article is devoted to the analysis of the defeat of the Great Horde in 1502 by Mengli-Giray based on Russian and Lithuanian sources, which reflect the perception of contemporaries, their different views on this event from the Russian and Polish-Lithuanian sides.

Research materials: Nikon Chronicle is a chronicle of the 16th century. Vologda-Perm Chronicle is a chronicle of the end of the 15th – first half of the 16th century. The 16th century pictorial vault is a monument of book art containing 17 thousand miniatures. Gustyn Chronicle is a chronicle of the last third of the 17th century, containing information about the history of South-Western Rus’, Lithuania and Poland. Bykhovets Chronicle is a source on the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until 1506. Monuments of diploma­tic relations of Ancient Russia with foreign powers. This source contains ambassadorial letters on relations with the Crimean Khanate.

Results and novelty of the study: the article analyzes the defeat of the Great Horde on the river Sula in 1502 in Russian and Lithuanian sources. It was possible to identify differences in the interpretation of this event. Russian chronicles report on the fall that occurred rather reservedly and assess it from a neutral position. Lithuanian chronicles and annals, on the contrary, sympathize with the Great Horde in the outcome of this battle, and there is clear condemnation of the political leadership of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Differences in the perception of this event are due to the fact that the Great Horde ceased to pose a great danger to the Russian principalities at the beginning of the 16th century, and all attention was focused on relations with the Crimean Khanate. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland tried to build an alliance with the Great Horde, directed against Moscow and Crimea, so all the attention of contemporaries at that time could be focused on relations with it, in addition, the battle took place on the territory that was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Treatise on Tractatus de duabus Sarmatiis is a source of Polish origin, written by the historian Maciej Miechowita and published in 1517.

Keywords: Great Horde, Crimean Khanate, Mengli-Giray, Sheikh-Ahmed, Jan Olbracht, Alexander Kazimirovich, Ivan III, Nikon Chronicle, Vologda-Perm Chronicle, Gustyn Chronicle, Bykhovets Chronicle, Maciej Miechowita, Illustrated Chronicle Collection of the 16th century

For citation: Bityukov V.S. The fall of the Great Horde in the assessments of Russian and Lithuanian sources. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2025, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 183–195. https://doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2025-13-1.183-195 (In Russian)

Financial Support:  The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant No. 23-18-00147, implemented at Voronezh State University, https://rscf.ru/project/23-18-00147

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valentin S. Bityukov – Postgraduate Student of the Voronezh State University, Resear­cher,  State Budgetary Institution of Culture of the Voronezh Region “Natural, Architectural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve “Divnogorye” (27, Divny Lane, Divnogorye farm 397970, Liski District, Voronezh Region, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0009-0005-1455-1895. E-mail: vbitzzz7@gmail.com

 Received  15.12.2024
 Revised  14.02.2025
 Accepted  17.02.2025