Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 9,001
The Mongols are coming!
On February 7, 1238 the Mongol Khan Batu...
... conquers the city of Vladimir and largely destroys it ..
In early 1235, the Mongolian Council decided to invade northeast Russia.
In winter, the Grand Duchy of Ryazan (green on the map above) is conquered and devastated. On January 20, 1238 Moscow was taken, at that time a rather insignificant nest southwest of Vladimir. The Russians (who did not call themselves "Russians" at the time) defend themselves bitterly as well as bravely, but lose several field battles against the Mongols, who are tactically better because they are more flexible.
Then Batu turns to the fattest chunk, the principality of Suzdal-Vladimir (purple in the map above).
On February 2nd, 1238, Batu's troops appeared at the capital city Vladimir and began the siege a day later. In the background to the left of the next picture you can see the characteristic arches and domes of the main church of Vladimir, the Assumption Cathedral, which we will talk about shortly ...:
At the same time, Suzdal is overrun.
The defender of the city of Vladimir is Vsevolod, the son of the Prince of Vladimir ...:
The Vladimians are initially considering facing the Mongols outside the city for a field battle, but in view of their bad experiences so far, they distance themselves from the plan.
On February 7th, Khan Batu's soldiers managed to enter the city. The Mongols storm all five gates of the city almost simultaneously, the defenders have no more chance!
cted
Survivors take refuge in the Assumption Cathedral ...:
The Mongols set fire to the church, and hundreds of Vladimirians died in the fire, including Princess Agatha Vsevolodowa (the daughter of Vsevolod) and other members of the royal family.
Vsevolod von Vladimir dies in the fighting in a way that has never been fully clarified. His body is later found outside the city walls.
From now on, the principalities that will one day become Russia are subject to the "Tatar yoke", as they call it, and are subject to tribute to the Mongols for over 300 years (until 1547)!
Only in the Cossack areas in the "wild field", that is the Ukraine (Ukrainian Cossacks) and south of it on the Dnieper (Zaporozhian Cossacks), one still does not recognize a master except the self-ele atamans or hetmans (Ukrainian name) ...
On February 7, 1238 the Mongol Khan Batu...
... conquers the city of Vladimir and largely destroys it ..
In early 1235, the Mongolian Council decided to invade northeast Russia.
In winter, the Grand Duchy of Ryazan (green on the map above) is conquered and devastated. On January 20, 1238 Moscow was taken, at that time a rather insignificant nest southwest of Vladimir. The Russians (who did not call themselves "Russians" at the time) defend themselves bitterly as well as bravely, but lose several field battles against the Mongols, who are tactically better because they are more flexible.
Then Batu turns to the fattest chunk, the principality of Suzdal-Vladimir (purple in the map above).
On February 2nd, 1238, Batu's troops appeared at the capital city Vladimir and began the siege a day later. In the background to the left of the next picture you can see the characteristic arches and domes of the main church of Vladimir, the Assumption Cathedral, which we will talk about shortly ...:
At the same time, Suzdal is overrun.
The defender of the city of Vladimir is Vsevolod, the son of the Prince of Vladimir ...:
The Vladimians are initially considering facing the Mongols outside the city for a field battle, but in view of their bad experiences so far, they distance themselves from the plan.
On February 7th, Khan Batu's soldiers managed to enter the city. The Mongols storm all five gates of the city almost simultaneously, the defenders have no more chance!
cted
Survivors take refuge in the Assumption Cathedral ...:
The Mongols set fire to the church, and hundreds of Vladimirians died in the fire, including Princess Agatha Vsevolodowa (the daughter of Vsevolod) and other members of the royal family.
Vsevolod von Vladimir dies in the fighting in a way that has never been fully clarified. His body is later found outside the city walls.
From now on, the principalities that will one day become Russia are subject to the "Tatar yoke", as they call it, and are subject to tribute to the Mongols for over 300 years (until 1547)!
Only in the Cossack areas in the "wild field", that is the Ukraine (Ukrainian Cossacks) and south of it on the Dnieper (Zaporozhian Cossacks), one still does not recognize a master except the self-ele atamans or hetmans (Ukrainian name) ...
Good stuff Martin, and good artwork to back it up. I've visited Novgorod - nice place with lots of open public spaces. Seem to remember the composer Sergei Rachmaninov was born there.
