Putin Visits Newly Unearthed Remains of Dmitry Donskoy
Donskoy, who died in 1389 aged 39, ruled the principalities of Muscovy and Vladimir, which would later become the core of the Russian state.
President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the sarcophagus of Dmitry Donskoy, a 14th-century Russian warrior prince, on Thursday. The remains of the prince, who died in 1389, were recently discovered during restoration work at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Archangel, a burial site for more than 40 Russian tsars and princes throughout history. The cathedral, located within the Kremlin fortress, had previously been believed to house the prince’s remains elsewhere within the building.
Putin lit a candle inside the cathedral and stood beside the white-stone sarcophagus as experts informed him of the identification process. The Russian Orthodox Church announced the discovery on Tuesday, stating that the remains were nearly complete and belonged to a man of nearly 180 cm (5 feet 11 inches) who died of natural causes between the ages of 35 and 45. The characteristics of the remains matched those described in historical records and accounts of the prince’s life and death.
Donskoy, who ruled the principalities of Muscovy and Vladimir, played a significant role in Russian history. He oversaw the construction of the first stone Kremlin fortress, expanded the territory of Muscovy, and led a decisive victory over Mongol forces in a battle near the Don River in 1380. As a prominent figure, Donskoy’s legacy remains an important part of Russia’s past.
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