litmus test by which we can determine the origin of the people - the language.Pecheneg language belongs to the Turkic family, which includes a variety of media from Turkey to Siberia and Central Asia.In all this, there are a large community of small subgroups.In the case of this pechenegy Oguz languages, to which he is ranked.Knowing this, we can figure out their next of kin.
Origin Pechenegs
Relatives Pechenegs are Oguz - another nomads who took an active part in the formation of the peoples of Central Asia.Pechenegi - is coming their neighbors, decided to move to the west of the Volga steppes.It cites several reasons.Perhaps it was a tribal enmity, as well as severe climatic changes in habitat, including drought, which meant a decrease in vital resources.
way or another, but a union of tribes moved west.It happened at the end of the IX century, exactly at the time of the appearance of the central East Slavic state.For this reason, the aliens did not go to the north, and continued their journey to the west up to the borders with Bulgaria and Byzantium.The new neighbors settled in the Black Sea steppes, in the territory of modern Ukraine.
Despite its Turkic roots, the nomads eventually acquired some Caucasoid features.Thus, contemporaries claimed that the people of the steppes of black-haired and shaved their beards, and from Kiev at a meeting with them can easily get lost in the crowd.Such words seem somewhat contradictory, but it was possible and such, especially when you consider that the steppe after successful raids took as concubines local residents.
nature of relations between Russia and the nomads
From the outset, the Pechenegs and Russia have become rivals and enemies.They belonged to different civilizations, between the gulf of religious differences.In addition, both are different warlike disposition.And if Russia with time acquires the features of this state, which is self-sufficient in itself, and therefore can not attack its neighbors with a view to profit, its southern neighbors and were by nature nomads, leading a half-civilized way of life.
Pechenegi - is another wave, throw out the Asian steppes.In Eastern Europe, this scenario played out in cycles for several hundred years.First there were the Huns, who have begun their migration, the Great Migration.Coming to Europe, they have put fear in the more civilized nations, but eventually disappeared.On their way to the future went Slavs and Magyars.However, they managed to survive and even to settle and inhabit a defined territory.
Slavs, among other things, have become a kind of "human shield" in Europe.They consistently took the brunt of the new hordes.Pechenegi in this sense - only one of many.Later in their place come the Polovtsy, and in the XIII century - the Mongols.
relationship with the steppe dwellers were determined not only the two sides, but also in Constantinople.Byzantine emperors sometimes tried to pit neighbors.In the course went different methods: gold, threats, assurances of friendship.
first clashes between nomads and Slavs
Pechenegi and Russia first encountered in combat, when nomads attacked the governor of Kiev Askold.These figures are disputed by some historians, but no one denies that military confrontation with newcomers from the steppes of Prince Igor in 915 and 920.By this time, the power of Rurikovich already stretched to Novgorod, from where he came.
With such large numbers of people and resources, Russia was able to withstand the onslaught of the nomads from the south.When the son of Igor - Sviatoslav - Horde periodically fights on his side as mercenaries, for example, against the Byzantine Empire.However, the union has never been stronger.All the same, Svyatoslav was killed by Pecheneg ambush on the Dnieper rapids, after John Tzimiskes Khan offered a lot of gold.
heyday steppe
In those years the nomadic alliance reaches its peak.Through campaigns Slavs fell Khazars.Now, the lower reaches of the Volga were empty, and therefore, were immediately busy horde.The raid Pechenegs could not survive and a few colonies of Slavs between the rivers Dniester and Prut, in what is now Moldova.On the outskirts of a quasi-state in Europe it has been heard not only immediate neighbors, but also the Catholic Monarchs in the west and Arab travelers.
Under Vladimir the Red Sun confrontation between the two forces came with varying degrees of success.In particular, Trubezh in 993 year won the Prince, while in 996, under Vasilyeva Slavs were defeated.Vladimir is not only sends army in the border region.He first used the practice of building fortresses on the border with the steppe, with the help of signal lights which can quickly inform Kiev about the impending danger.Also create shafts that plagued nomads graze herds, and thus forced them to go to the south.
Participation in strife in Russia
After the death of the Baptist of Russia in the Principality began strife between his sons.Nomads as mercenaries were in the conflict on the side of Svyatopolk the Damned, who shied away from the dirtiest methods, including the treacherous murder of the brothers.As the name of the fanatic, the word "Pechenegs" is still found as a synonym for barbaric behavior.
Svyatopolk was defeated.To power the Yaroslav the Wise.Pechenegi if it bothered Russia for the last time.In 1036 they tried to lay siege to Kiev unarmed, but were defeated by the army of the Grand Duke appeared in time.
Polovtsian threat
After several defeats from the Pechenegs Slavs position became threatening.In the XI century in Russia began the era of the formation of fiefdoms and silos princes nomads was at hand.However, at this time in the East, a new horde.These were the Cumans (in different sources as Cumans or Kipchaks).They drove past the home side the Black Sea steppes from their seats.It is also important that the new nomads brought their old faith - Islam.Some Khans took it, some, on the contrary, declined.Such feuds could not go to the benefit of the union.
Polovtsy and Pechenegs were ethnically close.Both belonged to the Turkic peoples.However, this did not prevent hatred and defeat one of the parties.Cumans and Pechenegs were unequal in strength, as on the side of a new horde were fresh replenishment of Asia, while the old Union was suffering from constant wars with the powerful neighbors.
subsequent fate
Forced nomads went to the Balkans or in Hungary, where assimilated with the local population and ceased to exist as a separate nation.However, this is only one of the points of view.
According to another theory, Pechenegs - the ancestors of today's Gagauz living in Moldova and Orthodox.During the XI century hordes still found in some sources.For example, they took part in wars against Byzantium, Seljuk.The last serious damage was caused to the Turkic tribe in 1091, when the walls of Constantinople united army of the emperor and Polovtsy defeated aggressors.The defeat of the Pechenegs was complete and final.Most of them no one heard.
However, the memory of the steppe dwellers was still alive among the people for a long time.Thus, already in 1380, in the Battle of Kulikovo, Chelubey hero who started the battle with a private duel, he was named chronicler "Pecheneg".
Lifestyle
steppe dwellers, as might be expected, mainly engaged in cattle breeding and roamed with their animals.Fortunately for this were all the conditions, as a tribal union settled over a huge area.Internal structure was such.There were two large groups.First settled between the Dnieper and the Volga, while the other wandered between Russia and Bulgaria.In each of them, there were forty genera.The approximate center of the possessions of the tribe was the Dnipro, who shared the steppe in the western and eastern.
head of the tribe was chosen at the general meeting.Despite the tradition of counting, fathers inherited mostly children.
Burial
Pecheniz'ke archaeological sites represented by small mounds.The dead are always turned his head to the west.As a rule, the person buried with his horse.Therefore, in the mounds, besides human bones, there are also horse.This cult is the norm for the community, leading a nomadic life.
also left the tomb and all kinds of trophies, or inherited as a reward or as mining (earrings, jewelry and gold coins of the Byzantine coinage).Pechenegi - it is also the owners of awesome arsenal.Therefore, together with the soldiers buried weapons.Typically, this sword (saber).
The remains are found mainly on the territory of Ukraine.The Russian Pecheneg barrows are most often found in the Volgograd region.
