Vladimir Putin visits remains of medieval Russian warrior prince uncovered in Kremlin cathedral
Donskoy, who died in 1389 aged 39, ruled the principalities of Muscovy and Vladimir, which would later become the core of the Russian state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the remains of medieval Russian warrior prince Dmitry Donskoy in Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel on Thursday. The cathedral, located within the Kremlin fortress, has been the burial site for over 40 Russian tsars and princes throughout history. Donskoy's body was discovered last month in a crypt by the southern wall of the cathedral, surprising historians who had previously believed it was located elsewhere in the building.
Upon removing the lid of Donskoy's sarcophagus, which was split into four parts, archaeologists found the remains dusted with white stone chips and mortar that had fallen through the cracks. The prince was clothed in ornate burial attire, including a well-preserved outer layer made of dense fabric with a geometric pattern, and a less-well-preserved inner layer with various fragments.
Textile remains and several fragments of remains were collected for further laboratory analysis, with the objective of preserving the remains as they were found.
Putin lit a candle inside the cathedral and stood beside the white-stone sarcophagus as experts explained the identification of the remains as those of the 14th-century prince. The Russian Orthodox Church announced the discovery on Tuesday, stating that the well-preserved remains were nearly complete and belonged to a man of just over 5 feet 11 inches tall who died of natural causes between the ages of 35 and 45. Donskoy's characteristics align with written sources and historical testimony concerning his life and death.
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