All made the sign of the cross and rushed forward. The regiment appeared like a terrible storm in the midst of the battle. Those warriors had sprung, as it were, from the earth behind the enemy. Strong, fresh and eager for hours to join in the action, directed by heroes like Bobrok and Vladimir, they decided the battle.
Wearied as they had been, though upheld by the flush and glory of triumph, the terror of the Mongols became now in one moment unbounded. Struck in the rear and the flank by fresh warriors, they were in a hopeless position. Every Mongol who had strength to leave the field fled. The left and right wings of the Russian forces, under Dmitri of Nizni and the sons of Olgerd, rushed after the fugitives. The defeat and the ruin of Mamai’s men was complete. He and his magnates fled, leaving all things behind them. Bobrok’s fresh troops followed throughout the night. The rest of the army, which was wearied, held the field of that desperate slaughter.
Vladimir left pursuit to Bobrok, and returned. His one question was: “Where is the Grand Prince; where is my cousin Dmitri?” No one could answer. “Look for him! Look for him!” cried Vladimir. They sought him in all places, and at last two warriors found him not far from where the battle had opened. There were many trees freshly felled in that place. Among the branches of one of these trees, they saw, as they thought, a dead body. On examination they found that the man was breathing, and then they recognized the Grand Prince. One of the men remained with him, while the other rushed with the news to Vladimir. [[391]]Dmitri was bruised and injured internally, and though he recovered his life was cut short by the wounds received in that terrible battle.
Five centuries have passed since that memorable day, but the name of Dmitri of the Don is still fresh in the minds of the people, and on “Dmitri’s Saturday,” the anniversary of the battle, prayers are offered by the Church in remembrance of the men who on the field of Kulikovo laid down their lives for fatherland and faith.
The victory gave immense gain to Moscow. It strengthened that city’s supremacy greatly. But the liberation of Russia from the Mongols was still in the future, and distant. It was not till a century and four years later that final freedom was attained, in the reign of Dmitri’s great-grandson, Ivan Veliki. [[392]]