CHAPTER XVII
Fresh troops assembled by Mamai.—Tohtamish declared heir of Batu.—Slaughter among Mongols.—Demand from Tohtamish that all the Russian princes should come to Sarai.—Indignation in Russia.—Confidence of Dmitri in his own strength.—Treachery of Oleg.—Approach of Tohtamish’s troops.—Disorder in Moscow.—Appearance of Ostei in the capital.—Retreat of the Mongols.—Rebuilding of Moscow by Dmitri.—Sending of Vassili to do homage at the Horde.—Declaration of Tohtamish.—Death of the Nizni prince.—Revenge of Oleg of Ryazan.—Seizure of Kolomna.—Vladimir the Brave.—Peace made between Oleg and Dmitri.—Return of Dmitri’s son from the Horde.—Troubles of Dmitri regarding succession.—Self-sacrifice of Vladimir the Brave.—Death of Dmitri.—Succession of Vassili.—Visit of Vassili to the Horde.—Marriage of Vassili.—Tamerlane, the world-shaking Mongol.—Trouble between Tamerlane and Tohtamish.—Attack of Tohtamish on regions belonging to Tamerlane, 1392.—Army of Tohtamish.—Escape of Tohtamish.—Attack of Tamerlane on Tohtamish.—Fortunate aid of Nur ed din.—Flight of Tohtamish.—Vassili of Moscow leads an army to the Oká to confront Tamerlane.—Withdrawal of Tamerlane.—Storming of Astrachan.—Plans of Vitold to rule the Golden Horde.—Great army assembled to move on the Mongols.—Battle of August 5, 1399.—Triumph of Kutlui. Defeat of Vitold.—Trouble in Smolensk.—War between Lithuania and Smolensk.—Welcome of Yuri in Novgorod.—Attack of Vitold on Pskoff.—Disorder in the Horde.—Installation of Bulat Bey, Kutlin’s son.—Edigai’s march on Moscow, 1408.—Capture of Pereyaslavl, Rostoff and Nizni.—Eligai recalled by Bulat.—Unwillingness of Vassili to pay tribute to the Mongols.—Installation of Jelal ed din as Khan.—Assassination of Jelal ed din.—Dispute between the Teutonic Order and Yagello.—Konrad von Jungingen, 1393–1407.—Battle of Tannenberg.—Defeat of the Order.—Meeting of Yagello, Vitold and Russian boyars at Horodlo, 1413.—Predominance of Poles in upper circles of Russia.—Death of Cyprian, 1406.—Synod assembled by Vitold, 1416.—Territory of Vitold.—Meeting of sovereigns brought about by Vitold, at Lutsk, 1429.—Opposition of Olesnitski.—Assembly at Vilna, 1430.—Disappointment of Vitold.—Death of Vitold, 1430.—Death of Vassili, 1424.—Visit of Yuri to the Crimea.—War between Mongol Khans.—Trouble caused by an heirloom.—Vassili defeated by Yuri, his rival for the throne of Moscow.—Refusal of Moscow boyars to serve Yuri.—Return of Vassili to power.—The Vyatka, a Novgorod colony 392