In the first half of the XIII century in Asia and Europe struck another invasion of the nomads.The Mongols conquered one country after another.Soon they came to the borders of Russia.
all started in 1206, when the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan chose to know.By the time he already had a great reputation among the Mongols, and the stop was not going to.The new ruler united under his rule many tribes, including one of the largest were Tatars.That is why the aggressive campaign of Genghis Khan, and later his grandson Batu known as the Mongol-Tatar invasion.
By 1223 nomads subjugated China, Central Asia and the Caucasus.When he reached the Azov steppe, the Mongols came into confrontation with the Polovtsy, who was called to the aid of Russian princes.In May 1223 a joint army met the enemy on the river Kalka.Rusichi suffered a catastrophic defeat: According to chroniclers, remained alive only every tenth.The road to Kiev and other cities were opened.But then from the rear of the Mongols struck the Volga Bulgars.Exhausted long march nomads decided not to tie a new fight and went home.Mongol-Tatar invasion has been postponed.
Trip to Russia and its consequences
In 1227, Genghis Khan died.He was succeeded by his son Ogedei, which soon began to think about new campaigns.In 1235 at the next Kurultai (Congress of nobility) decided to go west.In winter 1237 Mongol hordes were already at the borders of Ryazan principality.Genghis Khan's grandson Batu, who led the campaign, demanded a tribute to the Ryazan princes.They refused, and began to prepare for battle.The forces were unequal, and the Mongols were victorious.After a 6-day siege of Ryazan stormed, but the Ryazan long resisted the invaders, leading a guerrilla war.
between Russian princes there was no unity.Even in the face of the enemy, they have not managed to create at least some coalition.This contributed to the victories of the Mongols, which differed iron discipline.It plays a significant role and siege equipment borrowed from the Chinese.During the years 1237-1238 the Mongol-Tatar invasion is gaining momentum.It was broken and seized Vladimir-Suzdal, and then turned south conquerors.Here he also had to exert much effort.Only one small town Kozelsk did not surrender to the enemy for 7 weeks.That same year, the Mongols attacked the Polovtsian Khan, who was forced to retreat to Hungary.
In 1239 the nomads undertook southwestern Russian principality.He was defeated Pereyaslav and Chernigov.Come to Kiev until the Mongols decided instead attacked the Crimea.Only a year later, the nomads went to the new campaign, this time to the capital of Russia.In November 1240 the Mongol troops were already under the walls of Kiev.The siege.Taking breaks to strengthen through battering machines, the Mongols stormed the city.Kiev was taken.
wave of invasion rolled westward, leaving a conflagration.Coming in Galicia and Volyn, the Mongols moved on.Nomads managed to seize Poland and Hungary.European kings were in a panic.When he reached Italy, Mongolia decided to turn back.Forces for future campaigns they did not have, in addition, in December 1241 died Khan Ogedei.Therefore Batu returned to Russia.
Mongol-Tatar invasion and its consequences for the Russian land became a heavy blow.Mass destruction, the decline of trade and crafts long ago rejected Russia.The princes became vassals of the Golden Horde khans and pledged to pay tribute to them and to help in the campaigns.Without Khan's label (ratification), none of them could control his principality.According to historians, the effects of the Mongol invasion of Russia were deeper than just the destruction and casualties.This event changed the way of development of a large part of Russian land, which was now more Asian than European.The destruction of the cities has weakened the role of the urban population in the country and led to a long preservation of serfdom, than in Europe.Not the best situation in agriculture, which has long been a natural.
