Unrelated fact #15: The Great battle that decided the fate of half of Europe but remains unknown in the west. The great Battle of Vorskla River. 1399
Battle of the Vorskla River
Lithuanian forces lead by Vytautas the Great, supported by Polish, Teuton contingents, went on a campaign to intervene in the Golden Horde's civil war. Vytautas and Tokhtamysh, pretender to the throne, met Edigu(founder of later Nogai horde) and Khan Temür Qutlugh in battle at Vorskla river.
Lithuanians wanted territory but most of all an alliance with the Golden horde against Muscovites to defeat them and unite all Rus under their rule. This battle marks the peak of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's military might and the lost opportunity to become a dominant hegemon in the Eastern Europe.
Lithuanians lost the battle. And the Tatar refugees, supporters of Tokhtamysh, found their permanent home in Lithuania and North/East Poland where they live to this day and preserved their muslim faith, language and traditions which were guranteed by Polish and Lithuanian rulers in exchange for military service.
Size of the battle forces:
Lithuanians 38k vs 90k~ Tatars (Polish wiki)
Lithuanians 38k vs 90k Tatars (Lithuanian wiki)
Lithuanians 90k vs 100k Tatars (English wiki)
PS: Lithuanians despite being Pagan wore no worse heavy armour & arms than their christian counterparts. Same with gone Sudovians.
Posted Jun 3, 2025, 2:38 PM UTC