The Horde's Forgotten Rival: The Rise of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the complex relationship between the Golden Horde and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a rising power that eventually absorbed many former Rus' principalities. They discuss how Lithuanian rulers like Gediminas and Algirdas exploited Horde weaknesses after the Great Troubles, the pivotal Battle of Blue Waters in 1362 where Algirdas defeated three Tatar princes, and the surprising alliance between Jogaila and Mamai against Moscow. The episode also covers the Battle of the Vorskla River in 1399, where Tokhtamysh and Vytautas faced off against Timur's general Edigu, resulting in a crushing defeat for the Lithuanian-Mongol coalition. This rivalry shaped the political map of Eastern Europe for centuries, offering a fresh perspective beyond the usual Moscow-centric narrative. Lucas and Luna discuss key figures like Khan Tokhta, Grand Duke Vytautas, and the role of the Orthodox Church in Lithuanian-ruled lands. They also touch on the eventual decline of both powers and the rise of Muscovy. #GoldenHorde #GrandDuchyOfLithuania #BattleOfBlueWaters #BattleOfTheVorskla #Gediminas #Algirdas #Vytautas #Tokhtamysh #Edigu #Jogaila #Mamai #Kiev #Podolia #GreatTroubles #MedievalLithuania #MongolLithuanianWars #EasternEurope #FexingoHistory #MongolEmpire #BatuKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo