Russian chronicles could not ignore this woman. The dramatic story of Dmitry Donskoy's wifetranslated

Crowds of people gathered near Lake Pleshcheevo. Consider that the entire population of the city of Pereslavl poured onto the shore. Boats are visible everywhere. It seems that the Pereslavl residents suddenly decided to flee the city. Why are they so alarmed and afraid?

Dmitry ERMAKOV

Among the frightened crowd stands a woman in expensive clothes that mark her as a noble person. This is Grand Duchess Evdokia Dmitrievna. Her children are huddled around. There are six of them. The eldest, Vasily, was barely twelve. The princess holds the newborn Andrei in her arms. What is Evdokia Dmitrievna doing? She is praying. He prays for deliverance from a terrible misfortune.

If we listen, then truly eerie sounds will reach our ears - measured blows of wood against wood at regular intervals. This is a battering ram with which Tokhtamysh’s troops hit the gate. Having missed Prince Dmitry, the formidable khan is trying to get to his family. Why does the khan need the wife and children of the prince? Who knows what his plan is! Maybe Evdokia Dmitrievna and her children will be taken prisoner. Or maybe they will kill you.

And now Evdokia stands on the shore of Lake Pleshcheevo and prays to the Lord for help. But there is nowhere to wait for her. The garrison is weak. There are women, children, old people around. My husband, Dmitry Ivanovich, is far away. What can we hope for...