Kostroma

Like Moscow, Kostroma was founded in the middle of the twelfth century. Although the town was sacked by the Mongols in 1238, it quickly reasserted itself under Prince Basil the Drunkard, a younger brother of Alexander Nevsky who briefly inherited the title of grand prince. After Basil’s death in 1276, Kostroma was absorbed by Muscovy.

Kostroma contributed forces to the victory of Dmitry Donskoi over the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. One of the northernmost towns in Muscovy, it served as a place of retreat for the princes when the Mongol armies threatened the capital. Dmitry Donskoi took refuge in Kostroma when Tokhtamysh besieged Moscow in 1382, while his son, Basil I, escaped there during the invasion of Edigu in 1408.