Description
Book SynopsisThe battle of Kulikovo, fought between Muscovite and Tatar troops in 1380, has been considered as a crucial turning point in the national history of Russia. In The Battle of Kulikovo Refought Kati Parppei examines the layers of contemporary meanings attached to the event from the Middle Ages to the present, following the formation and establishment of the collective images and perceptions concerning the battle. By utilizing a diverse set of sources she shows that the present image of the medieval battle was created in retrospect from the 15th century onwards by interpolating, interpreting and simplifying. The narrative themes emphasizing internal unity have been applicable to practically any political situation over the centuries, especially to ones involving external threat.
Table of ContentsForeword and acknowledgements List of maps and illustrations Maps Illustrations Introduction “Light of freedom began to dawn” “History’s turning points” The battle of Kulikovo as “mythscape” Hindsight and narrative About the structure of the book Part 1 The medieval and pre-modern battlefield 1.1. The battle of Kulikovo in the early sources 1.2. The first chronicle entries 1.3. New cluster of texts 1.4. The Life of Dmitrii Ivanovich 1.5. Poetic Zadonshchina 1.6. Expanded Chronicle Tale Oleg of Riazan – “the new Judas” Churchmen enter the scene Anticipation and divine miracles 1.7. Vassian Rylo’s letter to Ivan III 1.8. The Tale of the Rout of Mamai “Like a flock of sheep” Allies of Mamai and Dmitrii Role of Dmitrii’s family Involvement of the Trinity Monastery Metropolitans alive and dead Omens and comparisons Events on the battlefield Image of Dmitrii in “The Tale” List of motifs: the plot-structure is established 1.9. Further developments Nikon Chronicle Book of Degrees Zadonshchina : the longer version Our Lady of the Don – and Vladimir Part 2 From manuscripts to national history writing Entering the age of print 2.1. The Kievan Sinopsis – the first history textbook “Slavo-Rossian” viewpoint The adventures of Zakhariia Tiuchev Other details in the Sinopsis 2.2. Historians’ Kulikovo takes shape First steps in national history writing Mankiev’s “secular Kulikovo” V. N. Tatishchev’s detailed narrative M. M. Shcherbatov’s critical touch I. N. Boltin: defending the virtues of the Muscovite Grand Prince 2.3. “First National Victory”: Russian National Historiography and the Kulikovo Battle Scholarly developments N. M. Karamzin’s patriotic viewpoint N. A. Polevoi – a critic who failed S. M. Solov’ev: “Europe over Asia” N. I. Kostomarov: Dmitrii as a man of “poor talent” V. O. Kliuchevskii: “The first national victory” Later developments Part 3 Popular Kulikovo 3.1. Popular-historical publications The first attempts Productive Gur’ianov Kazadaev’s post-Napoleonic ideas Afremov’s military details 500-year celebrations: Ilovaiskii’s “historical viewpoint” The Ottoman question 3.2. School textbooks Ilovaiskii and the role of Riazan Ostrogorskii fulfilling “certain didactic criteria” “The first national feat” The active role of Dmitrii S. F. Platonov’s enduring interpretations 3.3. Lubok literature “The horrible rout of Mamai” 3.4. Oral tradition Historical songs and the “Saturday of Dmitrii” Afanas’ev and “godless Mamai” Kulikovo in bylinas 3.5. Plays and poetry Ozerov and “Dmitrii Donskoi” Poems inspired by Kulikovo 3.6. Visual battlefield Kulikovo in artworks Monument to Kulikovo Epilogue: Notes on Soviet and post-Soviet Kulikovo ”Contemporary Kulikovo fields” St. Dmitrii Donskoi Kulikovo in images Mythscape challenged Conclusions Abbreviations Sources Printed chronicle sources Other printed sources Virtual sources Literature
