Invasion of Batu. Traditional version
In 1234, the "Mongol" armies completed the conquest of Northern China. In 1235, a congress of nobility was held on the banks of the Onon, and it was decided to organize the Great western campaign, to reach “the last sea.” In the east, the borders of the empire were washed by the Pacific Ocean. It was necessary to reach the same border in the west. The grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu, was appointed military leader of the campaign. Several khans, who had their own military corps, were sent with him.
The question of the size of the army remains to this day - various researchers give figures from 30 to 500 thousand soldiers. Apparently, those who believe that the army actually had a “Mongol-Tatar” core of 30-50 thousand soldiers, as well as a significant number of less combat-ready militias from the vassal, subordinate tribes of the “Ulus of Jochi”, are right. A significant part of them were representatives of Turkic tribes, Turkmens, Karakalpaks, Kipchaks, there were also Tajiks and warriors of Siberian peoples. There were also a significant number of robbers, adventurers, volunteers of all stripes who flocked to the successful conquerors. Among them were even the Knights Templar (which is a very interesting line).
In 1236, an avalanche overturned the barrier of the Bashkirs and Mansi, who had been waging a border war with enemy troops for 13 years. Some of their defeated detachments were also included in Batu’s army. Then the wave reached Volga Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Bulgars defeated the corps of Jebe and Subedei after the battle on the Kalka River. Now this “debt” has been paid with interest. The Bulgarians had many rich trading cities and towns, which they put up stubborn resistance, but were destroyed one after another. The capital of the state, Great Bolgar (Bilyar), was also captured. The surviving Bulgarians fled to the forests and appeared in Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov and Vladimir.
The Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri II knew that the “Mongols” had good reasons for enmity with the Bulgarians. But they did not collide with Vladimir Russia; there were no visible reasons for hostility. There was no point in standing up for a foreign, and often hostile, country. Mstislav Udalov had already stood up for his Polovtsian friends, but it ended very badly. It is clear that the pogrom of a neighboring state was an alarming signal. But Rus' has long been dealing with the “steppe”. Usually everything was done with raids on the border areas, and then more or less stable relations were established, including trade, dynastic marriages, and twinning of princes with steppe leaders.
Empire of Genghis Khan at the time of his death.
Initially it seemed that this would be the case. Having defeated Volga Bulgaria, Batu’s army retreated further south, and part of it clashed with the Polovtsians. It must be said that the stubborn war with the Polovtsians will continue for several years, until their complete defeat. Then part of the Polovtsians will go to Europe, Transcaucasia and Asia Minor. Most of the Polovtsy will be subjugated and will form the bulk of the population of the Golden Horde. From Bulgarians, merchants, and random Russians, Batu collected information about Russian principalities, cities, and roads. The best time They considered the winter to strike, when it would be possible, following the example of the Russians, to move along the beds of frozen rivers.
Devastation of the Ryazan land
By this time, the situation with intelligence was very bad for the Russian princes. The times when “heroic outposts” stood in the steppe are long gone. Thus, in Ryazan they learned about the approach of the enemy army from the “Tatar” ambassadors themselves - two khan officials and a certain “sorceress wife”. The ambassadors calmly reported Batu’s demands - to express their submission to the khan, and to begin paying “tithes,” which included not only a tenth of wealth, livestock, horses, but also people - warriors, slaves. The Ryazan princes naturally refused: “When no one of us is alive, then everything will be yours.” Proudly, but hardly reasonable. If the reconnaissance had been carried out well, the princes should have already known about the fate of their neighbors. The tithe that was customarily paid to the church, or the devastation of the entire land, the destruction of cities and thousands of dead and stolen for sale into slavery, their own death. What's better?
The Ryazan rulers did not have the strength to resist Batu’s army. The “Tatar” ambassadors were not touched, but were allowed to continue to Vladimir. Ryazan residents began to look for help. The Ryazan prince Ingvar Ingvarevich, together with the boyar Evpatiy Kolovrat, went to Chernigov for help. Prince of Kolomna Roman Ingvarevich went to Vladimir to ask for troops. However, the Vladimir prince at this time simply could not allocate significant forces to help Ryazan - his selected regiments went with Yaroslav to the Dnieper in 1236 and fought with the Chernigovites for Galich. At the same time, Yuri apparently believed that it was more profitable to sit behind the walls of cities and fortresses. The enemy will devastate the surrounding area, maybe take one or two towns, besiege powerful Russian cities and flee to the steppe.
The Grand Duke of Ryazan Yuri Igorevich began to form an army. Ryazan residents had great experience fight against the Polovtsians, and they believed that the “Tatars” were steppe dwellers. Therefore, they decided to bring the squads out to meet the enemy and give battle. The steppe people usually could not withstand the blows of well-armed and trained squads. Yuri Ryazansky, his son Fyodor Yuryevich, Oleg Ingvarevich Krasny, Roman Ingvarevich, and the regiments of the Murom princes came out with their squads. Yuri tried to enter into negotiations with the enemy again and sent an embassy with his son Fedor. However, Batu decided that the time for talking was over. Fedor was killed. A fierce battle took place on the border river Voronezh. Some princely squads fought to the last, others, seeing that the larger enemy army was surrounding them, tried to retreat. Oleg Ingvarevich was captured and was released only in 1252. Murom princes Yuri Davydovich and Oleg Yuryevich died. After this battle, the “Tatars” quite easily captured the cities of the Ryazan land that were left without defenders - Pronsk, Belgorod, Izheslavets, Voronezh, Dedoslavl.
Yuri Ryazansky with the remnants of his squad was able to break through and galloped to his city, organizing a defense. Roman Ingvarevich led his soldiers north to join the Vladimir army. However, the walls of even powerful fortresses were not an obstacle to the “Mongol-Tatars”. Prisoners and auxiliary troops led engineering work, erecting a palisade to prevent forays, filling up a ditch, preparing siege engines and battering guns. The army had a contingent of engineers for siege work. Initially, the attack was carried out by auxiliary troops, who were not spared, Bulgars, Bashkirs, Turkmens, etc. Their death was not considered a great loss. The large size of the army made it possible to stage one attack after another, and the ranks of the defenders were constantly melting away, and there was no replacement for them. On the sixth day of the siege, December 21, 1237, Ryazan fell. Prince Yuri fell in battle. From Ryazan, Batu’s army moved across the ice of the Oka to Kolomna.
Meanwhile, in Chernigov, the Ryazan prince Ingvar was also not given help - the Chernigov residents at that time were fighting with the regiments of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich for Kyiv and Galich. The prince went back. Ahead was boyar Evpatiy Kolovrat. The picture of completely destroyed and devastated Ryazan enraged him, and he, with a small squad of Ryazan residents and Chernigov volunteers, rushed to catch up with the enemy army. Along the way, his squad was replenished with local residents. Evpatiy overtook the enemy in the Suzdal land and with a sudden blow destroyed a number of rear detachments: “And Evpatiy beat them so mercilessly that the swords were dulled, and he took Tatar swords and cut them with them.” Surprised by the unexpected blow, Batu sent a selected detachment led by the hero Khostovrul against Evpatiy the Furious. However, this detachment was also destroyed, and Khostovrul was struck down by the hand of Evpatiy Kolovrat. The Russian warriors continued their attacks and the Ryazan knight “beat many famous heroes of the Batyevs here...”. According to legend, Batu’s envoy, sent to negotiate, asked Evpatiy, “What do you want?” And I received the answer - “Die!” Batu was forced to send the main forces in a sweep arc, and only then was the Russian squad surrounded. The Russian heroes fought so fiercely, exterminating Batu’s best hundreds, that according to legend, the “Tatars” had to use stone throwers. Batu valued strong opponents and, respecting the desperate courage and military skill of Evpatiy Kolovrat, left him alive last defenders the body of the hero and allowed them to bury him.
Battle of Kolomna. The destruction of Vladimir land
At this time, Yuri II was able to gather some forces and, putting his son Vsevolod at their head with the governor Eremey Glebovich, sent them to help the Ryazan people. However, they were late; near Kolomna they were met only by the squad of Prince Roman Ingvarevich. Both princes were young and brave, in Russian traditions there was an attack, not defense, outside the city walls. Therefore, princes Vsevolod, Roman and governor Eremey Glebovich led their troops into the floodplain of the Moscow River onto the river ice and on January 1, 1238, struck the enemy vanguard.
Russian heavy squads broke through the enemy front, and many noble “Tatars” fell in battle, including Genghis Khan’s youngest son Kulkan. The battle was stubborn and lasted three days. Batu pulled up the main forces, the Russian regiments were forced to retreat to the walls of the city and into the fortress itself. Prince Roman and governor Eremey laid down their heads in battle. Vsevolod with a small squad was able to break out of the encirclement and retreated to Vladimir.
After Kolomna it was Moscow’s turn, it was defended by the youngest son of the Vladimir prince Yuri, Vladimir, and the governor Philip Nyanka. On January 20, 1238, after a 5-day siege, the fortress fell. Along the Yauza and Klyazma, Batu’s army moved towards the capital of the grand duchy. Grand Duke Yuri II found himself in a difficult situation. He sent all available forces with Vsevolod to the Ryazan people; time was needed to gather a new militia, which was not available. Messengers were sent to the Novgorodians, and to Kyiv to their brother Yaroslav. But Novgorod and Kyiv are far away, and the enemy regiments were moving rapidly. As a result, he left his sons Vsevolod and Mstislav to defend the capital city, and he himself went to the Upper Volga to collect regiments. In general, the plan was not stupid. Such a maneuver could have brought success if Vladimir had withstood a long-term siege. At that time Grand Duke could gather vigilantes, militias from cities and churchyards into a fist, and receive reinforcements. A serious threat to the rear of Batu’s army would arise, forcing him to lift the siege. However, for this it was necessary for Vladimir to hold on.
On February 2, “Tatar” detachments appeared near Vladimir and showed the townspeople Prince Vladimir, captured in Moscow. They did not immediately launch an assault; they surrounded the city with a fence. Confusion and despair reigned in the city. Vsevolod and Mstislav either wanted to go beyond the walls and die “with honor,” they were especially eager to fight when Vladimir Yuryevich was killed in front of their mother and brothers, then they asked Bishop Mitrofan to tonsure them, their wives and boyars into the schema. Voivode Pyotr Oslyadyukovich dissuaded them from the sortie and suggested defending from the walls. In general, there was no single firm hand that could organize the multitude of people crowded into the city. Some went to the walls, preparing to fight to the last, others just prayed and waited for the end.
The “Mongolian” command, realizing that there was no need to expect a fierce battle here like at the walls of Kolomna, calmed down. Batu even sent part of the army to take Suzdal to replenish supplies. Suzdal fell quickly, and a large load was brought from there. Vladimir was taken according to the same procedure as Ryazan. First they built a tyn around the city, then assembled siege engines, and on the sixth day a general assault began. Vsevolod and Mstislav with their personal squads tried to break through, but the ring was tight, everyone died (according to others, they tried to negotiate and were killed at Batu’s headquarters). On February 7, the “Tatars” burst into the city and set it on fire. Vladimir fell, the entire family of the Grand Duke died. According to another source, the enemy only broke through the first line of defense; in the city itself, fighting continued until February 10.
After the fall of Vladimir, Batu became convinced that the resistance had been broken. The army was divided, so it was easier to feed the soldiers and horses. One corps marched along the Volga to Gorodets and Galich, the second marched to Pereyaslavl, and the third to Rostov. In total, 14 cities were occupied in February. Almost all of them were taken without a fight. People fled through the forests. Only Pereyaslavl-Zalessky offered resistance. In addition, the residents of Torzhok fought for two weeks; its residents waited until the last for help from Veliky Novgorod. The townspeople fought off the attacks and made forays. But the Novgorodians, who had recently declared war on the Vladimir prince for Torzhok, now behaved differently. A meeting was held. They discussed the situation, argued and decided not to send soldiers, but to prepare Novgorod itself for defense. In addition, there is still a question whether the enemy will reach Veliky Novgorod. On March 5, 1238, the heroic Torzhok fell.
The day before his fall, on March 4, the troops of Yuri Vsevolodovich were destroyed in the Battle of the Sit River. He set up a camp in the Volga forests on the river. Sit (northwest of the Yaroslavl region). His brother Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich from Yuryev-Polsky, the Yaroslavl prince Vsevolod Konstantinovich, nephews Vasilko and Vladimir Konstantinovich, the rulers of Rostov and Uglich, came to his call. Burundai's corps was able to defeat the Russian army. Yuri Vsevolodovich and Vsevolod Konstantinovich fell in battle, Vasilko was captured and executed. Svyatoslav and Vladimir were able to leave.
A very interesting fact should be noted. Batu’s actions clearly contradict the myth of the “Tatar-Mongol” invasion. They instilled in us from school, they love to show it in rich colors and works of art, like the popular works of V. Yan, that the cruel “Mongols” swept through Rus' with fire and sword, destroying everything in their path. All Russians who were not killed were naturally enslaved and then sold. All Russian cities were destroyed and burned. A sort of SS and Sonderkommando of the 13th century. However, if you take a closer look at the invasion. Then you can pay attention to the fact that many cities survived. In particular, the rich and populous Rostov, Yaroslavl, Uglich and other cities entered into negotiations with the “Mongols”. Into negotiations with those who allegedly destroyed everything in their path! They paid the required tribute, provided food, fodder, horses, people for carts, and survived. A very interesting situation would have emerged if the Ryazan princes and Yuri Vsevolodovich had behaved less proudly.
Another fact about the total “terror” on the part of the “Tatar-Mongol troops” - while moving back (Batu’s army turned back before reaching Novgorod 100 versts), the khan’s warriors stumbled upon the “evil city” - Kozelsk. During the siege of Kozelsk, Batu forbade the destruction of surrounding villages; on the contrary, he was merciful to the common people, receiving provisions and fodder. By the way, the siege of Kozelsk and Torzhok are also very interesting facts, which violate the “harmonious” picture of the almighty “Mongolian” hordes sweeping away everything in their path. The capitals of the great principalities - Ryazan and Vladimir - were taken in a few days, and small towns, actually villages with defensive fortifications, fought for weeks.
The behavior of the other princes during this terrible time is also very interesting. It seemed that at such a time - an invasion of unknown “Tatars”, sweeping away everything in their path, they should forget past quarrels, join forces, and actively prepare for battle with the invaders. “Get up, huge country, get up for mortal combat?” No! Everyone behaved as if the events in North-Eastern Rus' did not concern them. The reaction was the same as to ordinary princely strife, and not the invasion of an unknown enemy.
Not only was there no reaction to the invasion of Batu’s army. The Russian princes at this time continued to enthusiastically fight each other! It turns out that the “Tatar” invasion was not an event for them that went beyond the traditional politics of the region?! Mikhail Chernigovsky was still firmly in Galich. To withstand the onslaught of Yaroslav, he entered into an alliance with the Hungarian king Bela IV. He betrothed his son Rostislav to the daughter of the Hungarian monarch. Daniel, who actually pushed Yuri II and Yaroslav into a war with the Chernigov prince, turned out to be a frivolous and unreliable ally. When he realized that the Vladimir regiments did not frighten the Chernigov prince Mikhail and did not force him to cede Galich, Daniil entered into negotiations with the enemy. The Volyn prince agreed to a separate peace, receiving Przemysl for this. Now Mikhail Chernigovsky could concentrate all his forces in order to recapture Kyiv and Chernigov. He left Rostislav in Galich.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich was preparing to meet the troops of the Chernigov ruler. However, then came heavy and confusing news that the “Tatars” were destroying the cities of Vladimir Rus'. The messages were menacing and unclear, capable of stunning anyone. The mighty and populous Vladimir Rus' collapsed in just a month. Yaroslav convened the regiments and moved home. Mikhail Chernigovsky triumphantly occupied Kyiv. Accepted the title of Grand Duke of Kyiv. He handed over Chernigov to his cousin Mstislav Glebovich. His son Rostislav immediately disregarded the agreement with Daniil and captured Przemysl from him. But the quarrel with Daniel was a very rash step. When Rostislav went on a campaign against the Lithuanian tribes, Daniil suddenly appeared near Galich. The common people, despite the resistance of the boyars, immediately recognized him as their prince and opened the gates. The nobility had no choice but to bow to the prince. He joyfully forgave the traitors again. Rostislav rushed to ask for help in Hungary.
To be continued…
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Battle of Kalka.
At the beginning of the 13th century. There was a unification of the nomadic Mongol tribes, which began their campaigns of conquest. The tribal union was headed by Genghis Khan, a brilliant commander and politician. Under his leadership, the Mongols conquered Northern China, Central Asia, and steppe territories stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
The first clash between the Russian principalities and the Mongols occurred in 1223, during which a Mongol reconnaissance detachment descended from the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains and invaded the Polovtsian steppes. The Polovtsians turned to the Russian princes for help. Several princes responded to this call. The Russian-Polovtsian army met the Mongols on the Kalka River on May 31, 1223. In the ensuing battle, the Russian princes acted uncoordinatedly, and part of the army did not participate in the battle at all. As for the Polovtsians, they could not withstand the onslaught of the Mongols and fled. As a result of the battle, the Russian-Polovtsian army was completely defeated, the Russian squads suffered heavy losses: only every tenth warrior returned home. But the Mongols did not invade Rus'. They turned back to the Mongolian steppes.
Reasons for the Mongol victories
The main reason for the victories of the Mongols was the superiority of their army, which was well organized and trained. The Mongols managed to create the best army in the world, which maintained strict discipline. The Mongol army consisted almost entirely of cavalry, so it was maneuverable and could cover very long distances. The Mongol's main weapon was a powerful bow and several quivers of arrows. The enemy was fired at from a distance, and only then, if necessary, selected units entered the battle. The Mongols made extensive use of military techniques such as feinting, flanking, and encirclement.
Siege weapons were borrowed from China, with which the conquerors could capture large fortresses. Conquered peoples often provided military contingents to the Mongols. The Mongols attached great importance to reconnaissance. An order was emerging in which, before the proposed military actions, spies and intelligence officers penetrated into the country of the future enemy.
The Mongols quickly dealt with any disobedience, brutally suppressing any attempts at resistance. Using the policy of “divide and rule,” they sought to fragment the enemy forces in the conquered states. It was thanks to this strategy that they managed to maintain their influence in the occupied lands for a fairly long period of time.
Batu's campaigns in Rus'
Batu's invasion of North-Eastern Rus' (Batu's 1st campaign)
In 1236, the Mongols undertook a grandiose campaign to the west. The army was led by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu Khan. Having defeated Volga Bulgaria, the Mongol army approached the borders of North-Eastern Rus'. In the fall of 1237, the conquerors invaded the Ryazan principality.
The Russian princes did not want to unite in the face of a new and formidable enemy. The Ryazan people, left alone, were defeated in a border battle, and after a five-day siege, the Mongols took the city itself by storm.
Then the Mongol army invaded the Principality of Vladimir, where it was met by the Grand Duke's squad under the leadership of the son of the Grand Duke. In the battle of Kolomna, the Russian army was defeated. Taking advantage of the confusion of the Russian princes in the face of impending danger, the Mongols successively captured Moscow, Suzdal, Rostov, Tver, Vladimir and other cities.
In March 1238, a battle took place on the Sit River between the Mongols and the Russian army, gathered throughout North-Eastern Rus'. The Mongols won a decisive victory, killing the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri in battle.
Then the conquerors headed towards Novgorod, but, fearing to get stuck in the spring thaw, they turned back. On the way back, the Mongols took Kursk and Kozelsk. Kozelsk, called the “Evil City” by the Mongols, offered especially fierce resistance.
Batu's campaign against Southern Rus' (Batu's 2nd campaign)
During 1238 -1239. The Mongols fought with the Polovtsians, after whose conquest they set off on a second campaign against Rus'. The main forces here were sent to Southern Rus'; In North-Eastern Rus', the Mongols captured only the city of Murom.
The political fragmentation of the Russian principalities helped the Mongols quickly seize the southern lands. The capture of Pereyaslavl and Chernigov was followed by the fall of the ancient Russian capital, Kyiv, on December 6, 1240, after fierce fighting. Then the conquerors moved to the Galicia-Volyn land.
After the defeat of Southern Rus', the Mongols invaded Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and reached Croatia. Despite his victories, Batu was forced to stop, since he did not receive reinforcements, and in 1242 he completely recalled his troops from these countries.
In Western Europe, which was awaiting imminent ruin, this was perceived as a miracle. The main reason for the miracle was the stubborn resistance of the Russian lands and the damage suffered by Batu’s army during the campaign.
Establishment of the Tatar-Mongol yoke
After returning from the western campaign, Batu Khan founded a new capital in the lower reaches of the Volga. The state of Batu and his successors, covering lands from Western Siberia to Eastern Europe, was called the Golden Horde. All the surviving Russian princes who were at the head of the devastated lands were summoned here in 1243. From the hands of Batu they received labels - letters of authorization for the right to govern one or another principality. So Rus' fell under the yoke of the Golden Horde.
The Mongols established an annual tribute - “exit”. Initially the tribute was not fixed. Its supply was monitored by tax farmers, who often simply robbed the population. This practice caused discontent and unrest in Rus', therefore, in order to fix exact size In tribute, the Mongols conducted a population census.
The collection of tribute was monitored by the Baskaks, supported by punitive detachments.
The great devastation caused by Batu, subsequent punitive expeditions, and heavy tribute led to a protracted economic crisis and the decline of the Russian land. During the first 50 years of the yoke, there was not a single city in the principalities of North-Eastern Rus', a number of crafts disappeared in other places, serious demographic changes occurred, the area of settlement of the Old Russian people decreased, and the strong Old Russian principalities fell into decay.
Lecture 10.
The struggle of the peoples of North-Western Rus' against the aggression of Swedish and German feudal lords.
At the same time with Tatar-Mongol invasion Russian people in the 13th century. had to wage a fierce fight against the German and Swedish invaders. The lands of Northern Rus' and, in particular, Novgorod attracted invaders. They were not ruined by Batu, and Novgorod was famous for its wealth, since the most important trade route connecting Northern Europe with the countries of the East passed through it.
Campaigns to Rus' Batu
After the death of Genghis Khan (1227), his son Ogedei became the heir. The campaigns of conquest continued. In the early 30s of the 13th century. The Mongols again attacked Transcaucasia. And in 1236 the campaign against Russian lands began. It was headed by the grandson of Genghis Khan, the son of his eldest son Jochi-Batu (Batu), who received possession (ulus) of the western lands, including those that were to be conquered.
Having captured Volga Bulgaria, by the fall of 1237 the Mongols crossed the Volga and concentrated on the Voronezh River. It must be said that the new campaign against Rus' was not a surprise for the princes and the entire population. As the chronicles testify, in Russian cities they monitored the advance of the Mongol-Tatars, knew about their approach and plans of conquest, and prepared for defense. However, the Mongol-Tatars remained overwhelmingly superior in military forces. At the most conservative estimates, their army numbered from 37.5 thousand to 75 thousand people and used first-class siege equipment for that time. In the absence of political and military unity in Rus', it was extremely difficult to resist the numerous, well-trained and brutal troops of the Mongol-Tatars. And yet, the Russian lands, especially in initial period, tried to organize a collective response. But the unification of the forces of several principalities was not enough to resist a strong enemy.
The first Russian volost on the path of the Mongol-Tatars was Ryazan. To Batu's demands for voluntary submission and payment of tribute, the Ryazan prince Yuri Ingvarevich and the Pronsky and Murom princes allied with him refused. In turn, having received no help from other lands, the Ryazan people had to act alone. But even while under siege, they found the courage to answer the Tatar ambassadors: “If we are all gone, then everything will be yours.” Ryazan fell after a five-day defense on December 21, 1237. The city was plundered and burned, and the inhabitants, including the princely family, were killed. Ryazan was never reborn in its original place.
In January 1238, the Mongol-Tatars moved to the Vladimir-Suzdal land. In the battle near Kolomna, they defeated the Vladimir people and the remnants of the Ryazan people, after which they approached Moscow. Moscow, which at that time was a small suburb of Vladimir, put up desperate resistance. The defense was led by Voivode Philip Nyanka. The city was taken only five days later. On February 3, 1238, Batu approached Vladimir and besieged it, while simultaneously sending a detachment to Suzdal. On February 7, after a number of unsuccessful attempts to take possession of the city through the Golden Gate, the invaders broke into it through gaps in the wall. The chronicler paints terrible pictures of robbery and violence. Bishop Mitrofan, with the princesses and children who were part of the family of Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, and other people, who took refuge in the Assumption Cathedral, were set on fire and died in agony from suffocation and fire. Meanwhile, Prince Yuri of Vladimir himself, having gone north, tried with the forces of the Vladimir army and the regiments of the Rostov, Yaroslavl, Uglitsky and Yuriev lands gathered by him to stop the deadly march of the Mongol-Tatars. On March 4, 1238, a battle took place on the City River, lost in dense forests northwest of Uglich. The exact location of the battle has not yet been established, but it is reliably known that the entire Russian army was killed. Yuri Vsevolodovich also died. North-Eastern Rus' was devastated and devastated.
At the same time, another detachment of Mongol-Tatars moved to North-Western Rus'. Here they met stubborn resistance from the residents of Torzhok, a suburb of Novgorod. But on March 5 - after two weeks of standing under its walls - the Mongol-Tatars, using battering devices, took it too. The enemies exterminated everyone “from male to female, all of the priestly ranks and those of the Black Rises, and everything was naked and desecrated, giving up his soul to the Lord with a bitter death.”
The path to Novgorod was thus open. However, the unexpected happened: not having reached Novgorod a hundred miles, Batu, near the town of Ignach-cross, sharply turned south. The reasons for this decision can only be named tentatively: the upcoming spring thaw, as a result of which further advancement was extremely difficult, fatigue and loss of morale of the Mongols themselves, who were fighting in unusual conditions for them, as well as rumors that reached them about the determination of the Novgorodians to fight to the last.
The retreat was rapid and had the character of a “raid.” The Mongols divided into detachments and, going from north to south, covered with their “network” the settlements they encountered along the way. It is especially necessary to note the resilience of the residents (led by the young prince Vasily) of the small town of Kozelsk, who defended themselves without anyone’s help for seven weeks. They made forays, attacked the enemy, and destroyed siege engines. When it came to the assault, “the goats and knives were cutting with them.” The Tatars called it “the evil city” and “show no mercy from the young to the milk-sucking.”
Smolensk managed to fight back, but such large centers as Pereyaslavl-Yuzhny, Chernigov, etc. were devastated. After this, the Mongol-Tatars again went to the steppes. But already in 1239 a new invasion followed. After capturing Murom, the Mongols moved to southern Rus' and approached Kyiv. The defense of the city was organized by Voivode Dmitry (Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich fled). The townspeople selflessly defended themselves for about three months; their strength was unequal. In December 1240, Kyiv was taken. The following year, the Mongol-Tatars defeated Galician-Volyn Rus and then invaded Europe.
However, having suffered a series of failures in the Czech Republic and Hungary, Batu turned his troops to the East. The Italian monk Plano Carpini, who was passing through the southern Russian lands a little later, left chilling lines: the Tatars “went against Russia and carried out a great massacre in the land of Russia, destroyed cities and fortresses and killed people, besieged Kiev, which was the capital of Russia, and after a long siege they took him and killed the inhabitants of the city; from here, when we rode through their land, we found countless heads and bones dead people, lying in the field; for this city was large and very populous, but now it has been reduced to almost nothing: there are barely two hundred houses there, and they keep those people in the most severe slavery.”
Based on the above, it is difficult to take seriously L.N. Gumilyov’s conclusions that “the few Mongol warriors of Batu only passed through Rus' and returned to the steppe.” It seems that A.S. Pushkin said much more precisely about the tragedy that befell the Russian people, at the same time defining the significance that the fortitude and courage of the Russian people had: “... torn and bloodless Rus' stopped the Mongol-Tatar invasion on the edge of Europe.” Her dedication cost Rus' dearly. According to archaeologists, out of 74 Russian cities, 49 were devastated by the Tatars. 14 of them ceased to exist forever, and 15 turned into rural settlements. Thousands of townspeople, villagers, noble people and ordinary community members died. Many, especially artisans, were taken captive. The crooked Tatar saber and the accompanying fire devastated Rus', but did not bring it to its knees. Batu's invasion did not entail the destruction of the ancient Russian people and civilization.
The beginning of the yoke
Batu's campaigns on Russian lands in 1257-1241. did not entail the immediate establishment of foreign domination. But in the summer of 1242, the Mongols who returned from the shores of the “last” Adriatic Sea in the lower reaches of the Volga formed a new state within the Mongol Empire - the Golden Horde (Juchi ulus). It covered a vast territory, including the lands of the Volga Bulgarians, Polovtsy, Crimea, Western Siberia, Urals, Khorezm. The capital became Sarai, or Sarai-Batu, founded not far from present-day Astrakhan. Ambassadors were sent to the ancient Russian lands, demanding that the princes appear before Batu with an expression of submission. Thus, in 1242, the Mongol-Tatar yoke began, which lasted until 1480.
The first to go to the Horde in 1243 was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who remained the eldest among the Vladimir-Suzdal princes. Over the next decade, the Russian princes made at least 19 trips to the Mongol-Tatars, including four times to the capital of Mongolia - Karakorum. In the Horde, the princes, who usually brought rich gifts and tributes, received confirmation of their rights to their principalities and to the “great reign of Vladimir” - “label”. The Mongols, taking advantage of this and extracting benefits for themselves, often incited rivalry between the Russian princes, which led to strife and bloodshed. At the end of the 50s of the 13th century. In Rus', a system of widespread and regular collection of tribute (“Horde exit”) is introduced - household taxation (for which a census was carried out - “number”), as well as military service. At the same time, the institution of khan's governors, the Baskaks, was created, which exercised economic and political-military control in the Russian lands (existed until the beginning of the 14th century). The “Great Baskak” had a residence in Vladimir, which at that time became the largest political center. Along with this, new invasions of the Mongol-Tatars did not stop. The first campaign after Batu took place in 1252. It was the “Nevryuev’s army” that defeated the Suzdal land. In 1292, “Dudenev’s army” fell on Rus', which “took 14 cities and made the whole earth empty.” Many cities were destroyed again and again: Pereyaslavl-Zalessky - 4 times, Murom, Suzdal, Ryazan - 3 times, Vladimir - 2 times, while in the first 50 years of the yoke not a single city was built in Rus'. In general, in the last 25 years of the 13th century. The Horde undertook up to 15 major campaigns. Sometimes their consequences were no less tragic than Batu’s invasion.
Approximately in the second half of the twelfth century, the brilliant politician and commander, a man about whom many different rumors still circulate, the gray-eyed giant Genghis Khan decided to reunite his nomadic peoples under a single command in order to take over the world and establish his own domination. Through brutal terror, intimidation and bribes, he was able to achieve consensus with his subjects, gathered a colossal army for those times, and set out in search of new adventures and lands. Less than ten years had passed before the ruler already had all of Central Asia, Siberia and China, part of the Caucasus and Korea in his hands. Already by 1223, Genghis Khan brought out his invincible army to the banks of the Dnieper, which can be called the beginning of the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus'. At that time, he only wanted to scare away a few insolent Polovtsians, but everything went too far.
How it all began: the reasons for the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus'
The nomadic tribes of the Tatar-Mongols, who rushed across the vast expanses of Central Asia, were precisely the hidden force that threatened them, to which for the time being no one paid any attention at all. The Mongols seemed so wild and incapable of concluding any kind of alliances that no one simply had any idea what they were capable of. And the hordes of rabid robbers themselves, plundering the surrounding lands, because there was simply nothing good in their own, could not even imagine that they would soon rule over half the world, and take tribute from the other half.
It must be said that the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus' belongs to To the first half of the twelfth century, or rather its beginning, and the first swallows appeared when, in 1206, the Mongol Empire decided to gather for a kurultai, which means a general meeting of tribal elders. It was at this congress that the question of who would be in charge was decided. At the very sources of the glorious Onon River, the elders of all clans, the young warrior Temujin was recognized as the great khan of all the tribes that he so dreamed of reuniting, received the title of Kagan, as well as a new name - Genghis Khan, which means “lord of the waters.”
Genghis Khan established his own rules in the new, united country, which led to the fact that he went down in history as the creator of the largest and most powerful continental empire, known to mankind throughout its rebellious history. New laws of Khan Yas were also adopted. Loyalty, bravery, courage and mutual assistance of comrades in arms were the main thing and were welcomed, but for cowardice and betrayal not only universal contempt awaited, but also terrible punishment.
Genghis Khan organized many campaigns, quite successfully annexing a huge number of others to his land. Moreover, his tactics were different in that he left as many opponents alive as possible, in order to later attract them to his side. In 1223, a couple of Genghis Khan’s commanders, Jabei and Subidei, decided to teach the nasty Cumans, who were running around like crazy and spoiling the whole picture on the border, and those, scared and upset, did not come up with anything better than to complain to the Russian princes. In fact, this is exactly how Rus'’s struggle against the Mongol-Tatar invasion began, into which, to be honest, it was drawn into by a third party.
The Russians could not help but help the sick, they united their armies and moved towards the hordes of the Mongols. Moving further and further into Asia, the Russians, and together with them, the Polovtsy, did not even notice that they were being deliberately directed to the banks of a river called Kalka. The Mongols skillfully pretended to retreat and tremble, and ours, like a boa constrictor after a rabbit, followed where they were dragged, like a sheep to a kebab. At the very end of May 1223, a battle took place, and the squads of Russians and Polovtsy, who did not want to act together, were crushingly defeated. But then everything worked out, and the Russian lands were the first to be subjected to the Mongol-Tatar invasion a little later, after the death of the notorious man, the outstanding commander and brilliant politician Genghis Khan in 1227. At that time, the Mongols did not feel strong enough and decided to return home. However, the beginning of the Mongol-Tatar invasion was looming just around the corner; it was just necessary to wait a little.
Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus': briefly about how it happened
Dying, Genghis Khan bequeathed to his children and grandchildren to take over the world, and they would have followed his orders if they could. A good seven years after the death of the Great Khan, the council of elders was assembled again and Batu, who was the grandson of the great Mongol, was elected as the main ruler. He was a young man with great ambition and great intelligence, and he managed to put both to good use. The Mongol-Tatar invasion, in short, became possible in general precisely because Batu was an extremely professional tactician and strategist, without even knowing about it.
Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus': dates and numbers
Before delving into the chronology of events, it is also worth remembering that in historical sources about the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the dates are sometimes confused and even contradict each other. However, during this period, everything is more or less clear, although this still cannot be verified reliably.
- In 1236, Volga Bulgaria was completely devastated by the Tatar-Mongols, after which the Horde, and this was already it, turned around and went straight to the Don, following the Polovtsians, fleeing from well-organized warriors as if from fire.
- A year later, in December, the Polovtsians suffered a fiasco and were almost completely destroyed; those who survived fled and hid.
- In the same year, the Horde came and stood at the walls of Ryazan, which did not want to surrender. After six days of grueling fighting and a tight blockade, the city fell and was plundered and burned.
- Having plundered Kolomna on its way, and at the same time Moscow, the Horde moved further to the north, wanting to take possession of Vladimir.
- Vladimir lasted only four days, after which he was captured and burned.
Need to know
The Horde stood under the walls of Vladimir for four days, and during this time the Grand Duke frantically tried to mobilize his own squad and fight back, but nothing happened. Notable townspeople, their families, clergy and others who had time, took refuge in the Assumption Cathedral. There they burned to the ground when Batu entered the city and burned it to the ground.
Then everything went like clockwork, Batu moved from one settlement to another, and nothing and no one could stop him. Following Vladimir, Torzhok fell and the Battle of City was lost. The Horde only hesitated about the inhabitants of Kozelsk, who stubbornly refused to give up and miraculously resisted the raid for more than six weeks. For this, Batu ordered to completely demolish the city, and not just burn it.
Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus': map attached
It is definitely worth seeing how the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the map of which perfectly illustrates what was happening, spread, because one gets the impression that completely unsystematized and careless actions formed a clear structure, which allowed the Horde to win. So, the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus': a map that will amaze everyone who studies it in more detail.
Then everything went like clockwork, and having won and even killed the Prince of Novgorod over the Sit River, the hordes of invaders moved towards Novgorod, which was the only checkpoint at that time, on the road to the North. It’s wonderful, but having not reached only a hundred miles, the Horde turned around and galloped back home, just “killing” the ill-fated Kozelsk along the way, which was actually completely wiped off the face of the earth. Thus, the table demonstrates the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus' quite clearly. Already in 1239, the evil and angry Horde entered Southern Rus', and in March Perslavl had already fallen, and from that point on, everything went wrong for Ancient Rus'.
In September 1240, when the leaf had just begun to gain gold, Prince Daniil Romanovich Galitsky managed to keep Kyiv from being captured, and he managed to hold out for almost three whole months, after which the city had to be surrendered. At that moment Western Europe There was already a fair amount of trembling, Batu’s troops seemed so scary and dangerous. However, standing under the border of Poland and the Czech Republic, and after thinking a little, great khan I decided to turn the shafts and return to the Volga. The army, weakened by a long campaign, urgently needed to be put in order, and this took time. So Europe breathed a sigh of relief, and Russia fell into three hundred years of dependence on the Horde.
And the little chest just opened: the consequences of the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus'
After everything that happened, after the main labels and letters from the khan were issued to reign over his own lands and people, the Russian land simply lay in ruins, in some places raising smoke from the fires to the sky, like silent prayers to the dead Slavic gods. However, they turned out to be not at all as dead as it might seem to the casual reader; the Mongol-Tatar invasion and its consequences are not at all easy to briefly describe, since over three hundred years quite a lot of events took place that we would like, and indeed need, to cover .
The Russian lands did not want to live in peace; they groaned and reared, and the earth literally burned under the Horde’s feet. This is probably why they did not annex Rus' to the Golden Horde. The Mongol-Tatar invasion led to the establishment of vassalage, according to which the Russians were obliged to pay tribute, which they did until the pressure in their minds simply went off scale. Scattered and disunited, the Russian princes urgently needed to unite, which they could not understand, and they squabbled like fierce dogs.
Because of this, the economic, as well as cultural, development of our Motherland was slowed down and significantly, that is, we can say with confidence that Russia was thrown back two hundred to three hundred years, which seriously affected its further history. In such a situation, Europe should have thanked Mother Rus' for stopping the avalanche of the Horde, but what happened was somewhat different. The results of the Mongol-Tatar invasion turned out to be disastrous, both for Rus' and for the Horde itself, which soon simply fell apart when the descendants of the Great Mongol could no longer control such a powerful colossus for its time.
No matter how much the legendary Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan tried to conquer the whole world, he failed. But the founder of a huge empire had a worthy heir. Batu Khan continued the work of his great grandfather, leading the Horde troops in western campaigns.
It was he who conquered the Polovtsians, Volga Bulgars, Russians, and then moved his army to Poland, Hungary, the Balkan countries, and the cities of Central Europe. The Golden Horde owes its prosperity and power largely to the leadership talent of Khan Batu and his far-sighted policies.
Illustrious Mentor
Genghis Khan (between 1155 and 1162 - 1227) had an eldest son, Jochi. He inherited the richest and most promising lands in terms of future conquests - the part of the empire located west of the Irtysh. That is, the future Golden Horde or Ulus Jochi, as the Mongols themselves called this territory.
Towards the end of his life, Genghis Khan realized that he simply would not have time to implement his grandiose plan to conquer the entire world. But he hoped for heirs: they had to surpass the great glory of Alexander the Great, whom the inhabitants of Asia considered a god for many centuries.
However, Genghis Khan would not have been great if he had relied only on providence. This calculating man was accustomed to trusting only himself and his closest associates - the commanders loyal to him, among whom were real geniuses of military affairs. The most respected associate among the military elite and devoted to the ruler - practically the second person in the Horde after Genghis Khan himself - was Subedei-Baghatur (1176-1248). It was to him that the ruler entrusted an important mission: to prepare a future successor.
Subedei (Subudai - depends on the pronunciation) was the person without whom the Mongols could not have conquered half the world. The son of a simple blacksmith from the Uriankhai tribe went down in history as one of the greatest military strategists of all times. Suffice it to say that Napoleon Bonaparte highly appreciated his undoubted military talent. The commander was highly respected in the Horde; the army trusted him infinitely. Subedei-Baghatur also used his authority in politics.
Why, when determining the future conqueror, did Genghis Khan choose young Batu, and not his older brother Ordu-Ichin (Ordu-Eugene) or one of the other heirs? Now it is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Of course, the sons of Jochi, who was never personally interested in military affairs, had priority. Maybe Orda-Ichin was not old enough to study, so Subedei-bagatur became the mentor of Batu, who was born between 1205 and 1209 - exact date medieval chronicles do not indicate.
As history has shown, the mentor coped with his task, preparing a great commander and ruler.
Choice between heirs
It so happened that in 1227 Batu lost both his father and grandfather. The circumstances of the death of both are quite controversial; some historians believe that the rulers were poisoned, because the throne of a huge empire is too big a stake to worry about family ties. A fierce struggle for the throne began in the Horde. The sons of Genghis Khan and his many grandchildren disputed vast possessions with each other.
The throne of the empire was taken by Ogedei (Ögedei) - one of younger brothers Jochi Khan. And promising lands in the west went to Batu. The Mongolian army, renowned in battle, unconditionally recognized this young man by its new leader, of course, with the direct support of the authoritative Subedei-bagatur.
However, Batu’s elder brother, Orda-Ichin, did not lose out. He received most of the Jochi Ulus: all rich eastern lands, including cities of Central Asia. But Batu, who shared the western part of his father’s possessions with his younger brothers, still had to conquer his empire.
In 1235, a national kurultai (congress of official representatives of all uluses) took place in Mongolia. The clan nobility and the army elite decided to resume campaigns of conquest in a western direction. This important task was entrusted to Batu, and the above-mentioned Subedei-bagatur was appointed to him right hand. The famous commander took part in all the battles of Genghis Khan, and he also accompanied Batu on new campaigns.
Successful commander
The Great Western Campaign of the Mongols began in 1236. He was also joined by the troops of Batu’s cousins - Munke, Guyuk and other descendants of Genghis Khan. First, the Polovtsians were defeated, then Volga Bulgaria was forcibly annexed to the empire.
Rus', fragmented into feudal plots, was also unable to repel the invaders. The squads of the princes simply went out “to a fair fight” in open field, as usual - according to the rules of military affairs of Eastern Europe. The Mongols acted completely differently. They attacked with light cavalry, disorienting and gradually exhausting their opponents, shooting from bows, hiding behind covers. Batu valued his experienced and trained troops, which were well equipped. Captured Chinese engineers built for the Mongolian army unprecedented mechanisms for that time - battering guns, with the help of which it was possible to throw stones weighing up to 150-160 kg over several hundred meters. These machines destroyed fortress walls.
Batu's military strategy was unusual for residents European countries. His troops could attack in the middle of the night to achieve the effect of surprise. Mongol army moved quickly, trying to completely destroy the enemy army, so as not to give the enemy the opportunity to regroup for a new blow.
Ryazan and Vladimir fell in 1238, Kyiv in 1240. After the conquest of Rus', the troops of Guyuk and Mongke returned back to Mongolia. Further advance to the west was solely the initiative of Batu himself. His army captured Alania, Poland, Moravia, Silesia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, and Dalmatia. In 1242, Batu's troops ended up in Saxony, but were soon forced to turn back. The news reached them about the death of Khan Ogedei and the convening of the next kurultai. The army returned and settled in the Lower Volga region.
Skillful politician
Supreme power in the empire went to Guyuk, Batu’s cousin, with whom he did not have a good relationship. A new struggle for the throne began, internecine strife reached unprecedented heights.
Offended by Batu's insubordination, in 1248 Guyuk and his army went to the Lower Volga to severely punish his relative. But in the Samarkand region, the supreme ruler of the empire died suddenly. There were rumors that he was poisoned by political opponents, although no one proved anything.
Meanwhile, Batu firmly settled on his lands, around 1250 in the territory of modern Astrakhan region he founded the capital of the Golden Horde - the city of Sarai-Batu. Huge conquests gave impetus to the development of the state; looted goods and captured slaves contributed to economic growth. Rich gifts from vassals who fought for the favor of the commander served as the beginning of legendary wealth. And where there is money, there is power, influence, and recruits ready to join the winning army.
Other descendants of Genghis Khan had to reckon with the great conqueror. In 1251, Batu was proposed to become the next ruler of the empire at the kurultai. But he refused such an honor; he was more interested in strengthening his own state. Then Munke, loyal to Batu, took the throne cousin. However, in order to support his protege, the ruler of the Golden Horde was forced to send troops to Mongolia.
Batu always demonstrated his submission to Munka, although in fact he decided everything personally. Maintain political influence by skillfully winning over to your side the right people, the ruler of the Golden Horde was always helped by an extensive network of spies. And if one of the Russian princes was thinking of organizing resistance, the punitive detachments of the Horde managed to do it earlier. For example, in 1252 the troops of the Vladimir prince Andrei Yaroslavich and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky were defeated. But Batu favored Alexander Nevsky and obviously valued him as a military leader and strategist.
One way or another, the great conqueror died in 1255. Some sources say that he was poisoned, according to others, the khan was overcome by rheumatism. Both Batu's eldest son, whose name was Sartak, and his grandson Ulagchi soon left this world under very suspicious circumstances. And power in the Golden Horde was seized by Berke, one of the younger brothers of the late ruler, another son of Jochi Khan.
The historical legacy of Batu, as well as the conquests of Genghis Khan, can be treated differently. Being a skilled politician and strategist, possessing an undeniable talent as a military leader, the first ruler of the Golden Horde was a cruel, power-hungry and calculating man. Just like his legendary grandfather.