Famine and pestilence followed the ravages of the sword.
While the horde was in this state of distraction, antagonistic khans began to court the aid of the Russian princes, and a successful Tartar chieftain, who had poignarded his rival, and thus attained the throne, deposed Dmitri of Souzdal, and declared a young prince, Dmitri of Moscow, to be sovereign of Russia.

But as the khan, whose whole energies were required to retain his disputed throne, could send no army into Russia to enforce this decree, Dmitri of Souzdal paid but little attention to the paper edict.

Immediately the Russian princes arrayed themselves on different sides.

The conflict was short, but decisive, and the victorious prince of Moscow was crowned as sovereign.

The light of a resurrection morning was now dawning upon the Russian monarchy.