In 1380, the Golden Horde came up against Moscow after Grand Duke Dmitry refused to pay the extortionate tribute they demanded. Comforted by the blessing of monk Sergius of Radonezh, and emboldened by a vision of St Nicholas, Dmitry set out to meet the enemy, and on September 8th the two armies faced each other beside the Don.

After hours of dogged fighting, troops Dmitry had concealed in woodland broke upon the Tartar army, and routed it. Yet barely two years later, all Dmitry’s good work was undone. Tartar general Tokhtamysh came demanding tribute again, and the foolishly trusting Muscovites let him enter the Kremlin for talks, whereupon enemy troops swept in behind and sacked the city.

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