Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'
Channel: 宇宙のすべての知識 プリンシピア
Date: 01/04/2019

Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus', by Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki?curid=45028 / CC BY SA 3.0

#13th_century_in_Kievan_Rus'
#History_of_Kiev
#Invasions_by_the_Mongol_Empire
#Invasions_of_Belarus
#Invasions_of_Russia
#Invasions_of_Ukraine
#1230s_conflicts
#1240s_conflicts
#1230s_in_the_Mongol_Empire
#1240s_in_the_Mongol_Empire
Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'

As part of the Mongol invasion of Europe, the Mongol Empire invaded Kievan Rus' in the 13th century, destroying numerous cities, including Ryazan, Kolomna, Moscow, Vladimir and Kiev.

The campaign was heralded by the Battle of the Kalka River in May 1223, which resulted in a Mongol victory over the forces of several Rus' principalities. The Mongols nevertheless retreated. A full-scale invasion of Rus' by Batu Khan followed, from 1237 to 1242. The invasion was ended by the Mongol succession process upon the death of Ögedei Khan. All Rus' principalities were forced to submit to Mongol rule and became part of the Golden Horde empire, some of which lasted until 1480.

The invasion, facilitated by the beginning of the breakup of Kievan Rus' in the 13th century, had incalculable ramifications for the history of Eastern Europe, including the division of the East Slavic people into three separate nations: modern-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

As it was undergoing fragmentation, Kievan Rus' faced the unexpected eruption of an irresistible foreign foe coming from the mysterious regions of the Far East. "For our sins", writes the Rus' chronicler of the time, "unknown nations arrived. No one knew their origin or whence they came, or what religion they practiced. That is known only to God, and perhaps to wise men learned in books".

The princes of Rus' first heard of the coming Mongol warriors from the nomadic Cumans. Previously known for pillaging settlers on the frontier, the nomads now preferred peaceful relations, warning their neighbors: "These terrible strangers have...