He was practically not interested. Solution similar questions The prince completely trusted his wise parent. Therefore, it is quite difficult to briefly describe Svyatoslav’s campaigns, because every day of his is a battle. As the chroniclers testify, war was his meaning of life, a passion without which he could not exist.
A fighter's life
Svyatoslav's campaigns began when the boy was four years old. It was then that his mother Olga did everything to take revenge on the Drevlyans who brutally killed her husband Igor. According to tradition, only the prince could lead the battle. And then the spear was thrown by the hand of her young son, giving the first order to the squad.
Having matured, Svyatoslav took the reins of power in his hands. Nevertheless, he spent almost all his time in battles. He is credited with many traits characteristic of European knights.
Svyatoslav's military campaigns never began unexpectedly. The prince won only in a fair battle, always warning the enemy of an attack. His squad moved extremely quickly, since the campaigns of Svyatoslav, a man who did not recognize luxury, took place without escort from carts and tents, which could slow down the movement. The commander himself enjoyed considerable respect among the soldiers; he shared their meals and everyday life.
Khazars
This Turkic-speaking tribe lived in the territory modern Dagestan. It founded its own empire - the Kaganate. Like other tribes, the Khazars conquered foreign lands, regularly raiding the territories of their neighbors. The Kaganate was able to subjugate the Vyatichi and Radimichi, the northerners and the Polans, who, after coming under its rule, were forced to pay constant tribute. All this continued until the princes of Ancient Rus' gradually began to free them.
Many of them waged a long struggle with this Turkic-speaking nomadic tribe, which took place with varying degrees of success. One of the most famous battles can be considered Svyatoslav’s campaign against the Khazars, which took place in 964.
The Russian allies in this campaign were the Pechenegs, with whom the Kiev prince fought several times. The Russian army, having reached the capital of the Kaganate, crushed the local ruler and his large army, capturing several more large cities along the way.
Defeat of the Khazars
The prince's plan is striking in its breadth and maturity. It must be said that all of Svyatoslav’s campaigns were distinguished by strategic literacy. Briefly, according to the chroniclers, they can be characterized as an open challenge to enemies.
The Khazar campaign was no exception. Svyatoslav was interested in one thing: to find the weakest link among the hostile states that surrounded Ancient Rus'. It had to be isolated by unfriendly neighbors and corroded by internal “rust”.
It has been talked about for a very long time that it is time to knock the Khazar castle out of the direction of trade with the East. At that time, the defeat of the Kaganate was simply urgent need. The movement of the princes of Kyiv to the outskirts of the Slavic lands slowed down (they stumbled on the Vyatichi). The reason was that the latter continued to pay tribute to the Khazars. In order to spread Kyiv over them, it was first necessary to throw off the Kaganate yoke from the Vyatichi.
Svyatoslav’s campaign against the Khazars was very different from previous daring raids for booty or captives. This time the prince approached the borders of the Kaganate gradually, gathering allies at every step. This was done in order to be able to surround the enemy with troops of unfriendly peoples and tribes before the invasion.
Tactics
Svyatoslav's campaign against the Khazars was a grandiose outflanking maneuver. To begin with, the prince moved north, conquering those dependent on the Kaganate Slavic tribes Vyatichi and freeing them from Khazar influence. Very quickly moving the boats from the Desna to the banks of the Oka, the squad sailed along the Volga. Having defeated the Burtas and Volga Bulgar tribes dependent on the Khazars, Svyatoslav thereby ensured reliable security for his northern flank.
The Khazars did not at all expect an attack from the north. They were disorganized by such a maneuver, and therefore they were unable to adequately organize the defense. Meanwhile, Svyatoslav's campaign in Khazaria continued. Having reached the capital of the Kaganate - Itil, the prince attacked the army that tried to defend the settlement and defeated it in a fierce battle.
Svyatoslav's campaigns continued in North Caucasus region. Here the Kiev prince defeated another stronghold of this Turkic-speaking nomadic tribe - the Semender fortress. In addition, he managed to conquer the Kasogs and found a new principality on the Taman Peninsula with original name- Tmutarakanskoye, with its capital - the fortress city of Matarkha. It was founded in 965 on the site of an ancient settlement.
Army of Svyatoslav
There are very few chronicle works describing the biographical details of this. But there is no doubt that Svyatoslav’s military campaigns significantly strengthened Kievan Rus. During his reign, the unification of the Slavic lands continued.
Svyatoslav Igorevich’s campaigns were distinguished by their swiftness and characteristic combination. He tried to destroy the enemy forces piecemeal - in two or three battles, interspersing battles with quick maneuvers of his forces. skillfully used the strife and disagreements between Byzantium and the nomadic tribes subject to it. He entered into temporary alliances with the latter in order to have time to defeat the troops of his main enemy.
Svyatoslav's campaigns were necessarily preceded by a study of the situation by a detachment of scouts. Their task included the responsibility not only to conduct observation, but also to take prisoners or local residents, as well as send spies to the enemy detachment to obtain the most useful information. When the army stopped to rest, guards were posted around the camp.
Prince Svyatoslav's campaigns, as a rule, began in early spring, when rivers and lakes were already free of ice. They continued until the fall. The infantry moved along the water in boats, while the cavalry moved along the coast, on land.
Svyatoslav’s squads were commanded by Sveneld, who was invited by his father Igor, under whose leadership there were also his own detachments from the Varangians. The prince himself, as the chroniclers testify, having taken command Kyiv army, never wanted to hire the Varangians, although he favored them. And this became a fateful factor for him: it was at their hands that he died.
Armament of the troops
Offensive tactics and strategy were developed by the prince himself. They skillfully combined the use of a large army with maneuverable and lightning-fast targeted actions of a cavalry squad. We can say that it was Svyatoslav’s campaigns that laid the foundation for the strategy of beating the enemy on his own land.
The Kyiv warriors were armed with spears, double-edged swords and the first were of two types - combat, with leaf-shaped heavy metal tips mounted on a long shaft; and throwing ones - sulitsa, which were noticeably lighter in weight. They were thrown at approaching enemy infantry or cavalry.
They were also armed with axes and sabers, maces, iron-bound clubs, and knives. So that warriors could recognize each other from afar, the shields of the warriors were painted red.
Danube Campaign
The campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav destroyed and erased the huge Khazar Empire from the map. Trade routes in the East were cleared, and the unification of the East Slavic tribes into a common Old Russian state was completed.
Having strengthened and secured his borders in this direction, Svyatoslav shifted his attention to the West. Here was the so-called Rusev Island, formed by the Danube delta and a bend, a defensive huge Trojan Wall with a moat filled with water. According to historical data, it was formed by Danube settlers. Trade Kievan Rus with Bulgaria and Byzantium brought it closer to the coastal peoples. And these ties became especially strong during the era of Svyatoslav.
During the three-year eastern campaign, the commander captured huge territories: starting from the Oka forests and to the North Caucasus. The Byzantine Empire remained silent at this time, since the military Russian-Byzantine alliance was still in effect.
But now, when the northern giant began to put pressure on the Crimean possessions, signs of concern began to show in Constantinople. A messenger was urgently sent to Kyiv to resolve relations.
Already at this time, Svyatoslav’s campaign against Bulgaria was brewing in Kyiv. The prince’s plan for an invasion of the Danube region to annex the mouth of the Danube to Rus' had been brewing for a long time. However, these lands belonged to Bulgaria, so he secured a promise from Byzantium to remain neutral. In order for Constantinople not to interfere in Svyatoslav’s campaigns on the Danube, he was promised a retreat from the Crimean possessions. It was subtle diplomacy that affected the interests of Rus' both in the East and in the West.
Offensive on Bulgaria
In the summer of 967, Russian troops, led by Svyatoslav, moved south. The Russian army was supported by Hungarian troops. Bulgaria, in turn, relied on the Yas and Kasogs, hostile to the Russians, as well as on a few Khazar tribes.
As the chroniclers say, both sides fought to the death. Svyatoslav managed to defeat the Bulgarians and capture about eighty cities along the banks of the Danube.
Svyatoslav's campaign in the Balkans was completed very quickly. True to his habit of carrying out lightning-fast combat operations, the prince, breaking through the Bulgarian outposts, defeated the army of Tsar Peter in an open field. The enemy had to conclude a forced peace, according to which the lower reaches of the Danube with the very strong fortress city of Pereyaslavets went to Rus'.
The true intentions of the Russians
It was here that Svyatoslav’s real plans, which the prince had cherished for a very long time, came to light. He moved his residence to Pereyaslavets, declaring, as chroniclers write, that he did not like to sit in Kyiv. Tributes and benefits began to flow into the “middle” of the land of Kyiv. The Greeks brought gold and precious fabrics, wines and many fruits that were outlandish at that time, silver and excellent horses were brought here from the Czech Republic and Hungary, and honey, fur, wax and slaves were brought from Rus'.
In August 968, his troops had already reached the borders of Bulgaria. According to chroniclers, in particular, the Byzantine Leo the Deacon, Svyatoslav led an army of sixty thousand.
However, according to some reports, this was too much of an exaggeration, since the Kiev prince never accepted tribal militias under his banner. Only his squad, volunteer “hunters” and several detachments of Pechenegs and Hungarians fought for him.
Russian boats freely entered the mouth of the Danube and began to quickly rise upstream. The appearance of such a large army came as a surprise to the Bulgarians. The fighters quickly jumped out of the boats and, covering themselves with shields, rushed to the attack. The Bulgarians, unable to bear it, fled from the battlefield and took refuge in the Dorostol fortress.
Prerequisites for the Byzantine campaign
The Romans' hopes that the Rus would get bogged down in this war did not materialize. After the first battles, the Bulgarian army was defeated. Russian troops, having destroyed its entire defensive system on east direction, opened the way to the borders with Byzantium. In Constantinople real threat They saw it for their empire also because such a victorious march of the Kyiv army through the captured Bulgarian lands did not end in looting and destruction of cities and settlements, and there was also no violence against local residents, characteristic of previous wars of the Romans. The Russians saw them as blood brothers. In addition, although Christianity was established in Bulgaria, ordinary people did not forget their traditions.
That is why the sympathies of the common Bulgarians and some of the local feudal lords immediately turned to the Russian prince. Russian troops began to be replenished with volunteers living on the banks of the Danube. In addition, some feudal lords wanted to swear allegiance to Svyatoslav, since the bulk of the Bulgarian elite did not accept Tsar Peter with his pro-Byzantine policies.
All this could lead the Byzantine Empire to political and military disaster. In addition, the Bulgarians, under the leadership of their overly decisive leader Simeon, almost took Constantinople on their own.
Confrontation with Byzantium
Svyatoslav's attempt to turn Pereyaslavets into the capital of his new state, and perhaps of the entire Old Russian state, was unsuccessful. Byzantium, which saw a mortal threat to itself in this neighborhood, could not allow this. Svyatoslav Igorevich, initially following the points of the agreement concluded with Constantinople, did not invade deep into the Bulgarian state. As soon as he occupied the lands along the Danube and the fortress city of Pereyaslavets, the prince suspended hostilities.
The appearance of Svyatoslav on the Danube and the defeat of the Bulgarians greatly alarmed Byzantium. After all, next to her a merciless and more successful opponent was raising his head. The attempt by Byzantine diplomacy to pit Bulgaria against Russia, thereby weakening both sides, was defeated. Therefore, Constantinople began to hastily transfer its troops from Asia Minor. In the spring of 970, Svyatoslav attacked the Thracian lands of Byzantium. His army reached Arcadiopolis and stopped one hundred and twenty kilometers from Constantinople. Here the general battle took place.
From the works of Byzantine chroniclers one can learn that all the Pechenegs in the encirclement were killed, and in addition, the main forces of Svyatoslav Igorevich were defeated. However, ancient Russian historians present events differently. According to their reports, Svyatoslav, having come close to Constantinople, nevertheless retreated. However, in return he took a fairly large tribute, including for his dead warriors.
One way or another, Svyatoslav’s largest campaign against Byzantium was completed in the summer of that year. In April of the following year, the Byzantine ruler John I Tzimiskes personally opposed the Rus, sending a fleet of three hundred ships to the Danube to cut off their retreat. Another thing happened in July big battle, in which Svyatoslav was wounded. The battle ended inconclusively, but after it the Russians entered into peace negotiations.
Death of Svyatoslav
After the truce was concluded, the prince safely reached the mouth of the Dnieper, heading on boats to the rapids. His faithful commander Sveneld strongly advised him to go around them on horseback so as not to stumble upon the Pechenegs, but he did not listen. Svyatoslav’s attempt in 971 to climb up the Dnieper did not end successfully, so he had to spend the winter at the mouth in order to repeat the campaign in the spring. But the Pechenegs were still waiting for the Rus. And in an unequal battle, Svyatoslav’s life was cut short...
Reign of Svyatoslav (briefly)
The reign of Prince Svyatoslav - a brief description
The Russian prince Svyatoslav spent the bulk of his life on military campaigns. His first baptism of fire took place at the age of four years. This campaign against the Drevlyans was organized by Svyatoslav’s mother, Grand Duchess Olga, who decided in this way to avenge her husband, Prince Igor, whom the Drevlyans brutally killed. According to Slavic tradition, only the prince could lead an army, and it was four-year-old Svyatoslav who threw the first spear, thereby giving the order to the army.
Svyatoslav was not at all interested in internal state political affairs, and therefore he gave all rights to resolve these issues to his mother. The prince was a real warrior, and his squad was mobile, since Svyatoslav did not take with him either tents or any amenities. In addition, the prince enjoyed authority even among his enemies, since he never attacked on the sly, but warned the enemy about the attack.
In 964, Prince Svyatoslav went on a campaign to Khazaria. Its route passes through the lands of the Vyatichi, who paid tribute to the Khazars. Svyatoslav forces them to pay tribute to Rus' and sets out again (to the Volga). After the defeat of the Volga Bulgaria, the great warrior prince in 965 completely defeats the Khazars, capturing their main city of Belaya Vezha. This campaign ended with the capture of the Caucasus.
Holidays in Kyiv from military labors was not long, since the arriving embassy of Nikephoros Phocas asked for help against the Bulgarians who lived on the Danube lands. This campaign was also a success. Moreover, Prince Svyatoslav even wanted to move his capital from Kyiv to Pereyaslavets.
In 968, during Svyatoslav’s absence from Kyiv, the Pechenegs surrounded the city. Only thanks to the governor Petich, called by Olga, did the nomads retreat. After returning to Kyiv lands The prince was completely driven far beyond the borders of the state.
After the death of Princess Olga in 969, Svyatoslav left his sons (Yaropolk, Vladimir and Oleg) to rule, and he himself put forward his squad on a new military campaign against the Bulgarians, which ended very badly for the Russian squad, where during the war with the Greeks, Svyatoslav concluded a peace treaty according to which he had to leave the lands, hand over prisoners and prevent any attacks on Byzantium.
At the same time, Kyiv was again surrounded by the Pechenegs, who defeated Svyatoslav’s army, killing the prince. After him, his son Vladimir ascended the Kiev throne.
941 IGOR'S CAMPAIGN TO CONSTANTINOPLE.
Prince Svyatoslav
Constantinople did not comply with the agreement with Russia, and most of the Byzantine troops were engaged in the war with the Arabs. Prince Igor led a huge squadron of 10 thousand ships south along the Dnieper and the Black Sea to the south. The Russians devastated the entire southwestern coast of the Black Sea and the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. On June 11, Theophanes, who led the Byzantine troops, was able to burn a large number of the Russian rooks with “Greek fire” and drive them away from Constantinople. Part of Igor’s squad landed on the Asia Minor coast of the Black Sea and in small detachments began to plunder the provinces of Byzantium, but by the fall they were forced out onto the boats. In September, near the coast of Thrace, the patrician Theophanes again managed to burn and sink the Russian boats. The survivors were plagued by a “stomach epidemic” on the way home. Igor himself returned to Kyiv with a dozen rooks.
A year later, Igor’s second campaign against Constantinople was possible. But the emperor paid off, and the princely squad was glad to receive tribute without a fight. In the next year, 944, peace between the parties was formalized by an agreement, although less favorable than in 911 under Prince Oleg. Among those who concluded the agreement was the ambassador of Svyatoslav, the son of Prince Igor, who reigned in “Nemogard” - Novgorod.
942 BIRTH OF SVYATOSLAV.
This date appears in the Ipatiev and other chronicles. Prince Svyatoslav was the son of Prince Igor the Old and Princess Olga. The date of birth of Prince Svyatoslav is controversial. Due to the advanced age of his parents - Prince Igor was over 60 years old, and Princess Olga was about 50. It is believed that Svyatoslav was a young man over 20 by the mid-40s. But rather parents Svyatoslav was much younger than he was as a mature husband in the 40s of the 9th century.
943 -945. RUSSIAN TROODS DESTROY THE CITY OF BERDAA ON THE CASPIAN SEA.
Detachments of Rus appeared in the vicinity of Derbent on the shores of the Caspian Sea. They failed to capture a strong fortress and, using ships from the harbor of Derbent, moved by sea along the Caspian coast to the south. Having reached the confluence of the Kura River and the Caspian Sea, the Russians climbed the river to the largest trading center of Azerbaijan, the city of Berdaa, and captured it. Azerbaijan was recently captured by the Daylemite tribes (warlike highlanders of the southern Caspian region) led by Marzban Ibn Muhammad. The troops gathered by Marzban continually besieged the city, but the Rus tirelessly repelled their attacks. After spending a year in the city, completely devastating it, the Rus left Berdaa, having destroyed by that time most its population. After the blow inflicted by the Russians, the city fell into decay. It is assumed that one of the leaders of this campaign was Sveneld.
945 THE DEATH OF PRINCE IGOR.
Igor entrusted the collection of tribute from the Drevlyans to governor Sveneld. The princely squad, dissatisfied with the quickly rich Sveneld and his people, began to demand that Igor independently collect tribute from the Drevlyans. The Kiev prince took increased tribute from the Drevlyans, returning back he released most of the squad, and he himself decided to return and “collect more”. The indignant Drevlyans “emerged from the city of Iskorosten and killed him and his squad.” Igor was tied to tree trunks and torn in two.
946 OLGA'S REVENGE OF THE DREVLYANS.
Duchess Olga
A vivid chronicle story tells about the unsuccessful matchmaking of the Drevlyan prince Mal with Olga, and about the princess’s revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of Igor. Having dealt with the Drevlyan embassy and exterminated their “deliberate (i.e., senior, noble) husbands,” Olga and her squad went to the Drevlyan land. The Drevlyans went to battle against her. “And when both armies came together, Svyatoslav threw a spear towards the Drevlyans, and the spear flew between the horse’s ears and hit him in the leg, for Svyatoslav was just a child. And Sveneld and Asmund said: “The prince has already begun, let us follow, squad, the prince.” And they defeated the Drevlyans.” Olga’s squad besieged the city of Iskorosten, the capital of the Drevlyansky land, but could not take it. Then, having promised peace to the Drevlyans, she asked them for tribute “from each household, three doves and three sparrows.” The delighted Drevlyans caught the birds for Olga. In the evening, Olga’s warriors released the birds with smoldering tinder (smoldering tinder fungus) tied to them. The birds flew into the city and Iskorosten began to burn. Residents fled from the burning city, where the besieging warriors were waiting for them. Many people were killed, some were taken into slavery. Princess Olga forced the Drevlyans to pay a heavy tribute.
Around 945-969. THE REIGN OF OLGA.
Svyatoslav's mother reigned peacefully until he reached manhood. Having traveled all her possessions, Olga organized the collection of tribute. By creating local “graveyards”, they became small centers of princely power, where tribute collected from the population flocked. She made a trip to Constantinople in 957, where she converted to Christianity, and Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself became her godfather. During Svyatoslav's campaigns, Olga continued to rule the Russian lands.
964-972 RULE OF SVYATOSLAV.
964 SVYATOSLAV'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST VYATICHI.
Vyatichi is the only Slavic tribal union, who lived between the Oka and upper Volga rivers, was not part of the sphere of power of the Kyiv princes. Prince Svyatoslav organized a campaign into the lands of the Vyatichi in order to force them to pay tribute. The Vyatichi did not dare to engage in open battle with Svyatoslav. But they refused to pay the tribute, informing the Kyiv prince that they were tributaries of the Khazars.
965 SVYATOSLAV'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KHAZARS.
Svyatoslav took Sarkel by storm
Khazaria included Lower Volga region with the capital Itil, the North Caucasus, the Azov region and Eastern Crimea. Khazaria fed and grew rich at the expense of other peoples, exhausting them with tributes and predatory raids. Numerous trade routes passed through Khazaria.
Having secured the support of the steppe Pechenegs, the Kiev prince led a strong, well-armed, large army trained in military affairs against the Khazars. The Russian army moved, - according to Seversky Donets or Don defeated the army of the Khazar Kagan near Belaya Vezha (Sarkel). They besieged the Sarkel fortress, which was located on a cape washed by the waters of the Don, and on the eastern side a ditch filled with water was dug. The Russian squad, with a well-prepared, sudden assault, took possession of the city.
966 CONQUEST OF VYATICHI.
The Kyiv squad invaded the lands of the Vyatichi for the second time. This time their fate was sealed. Svyatoslav defeated the Vyatichi on the battlefield and imposed tribute on them.
966 VOLGA-CASPIAN CAMPAIGN OF SVYATOSLAV.
Svyatoslav moved to the Volga and defeated the Kama Bolgars. Along the Volga he reached the Caspian Sea, where the Khazars decided to give Svyatoslav battle under the walls of Itil, located at the mouth of the river. The Khazar army of King Joseph was defeated, and the capital of the Khazar Kaganate Itil was devastated. The winners received rich booty, which was loaded onto camel caravans. The Pechenegs plundered the city and then set it on fire. A similar fate befell the ancient Khazar city of Semender on Kum in the Caspian region (the vicinity of modern Makhachkala).
966-967 year. SVYATOSLAV ESTABLISHED TAMAN.
Svyatoslav's squad moved with battles across the North Caucasus and Kuban, through the lands of the Yases and Kasogs (ancestors of the Ossetians and Circassians). An alliance was concluded with these tribes, which strengthened the military power of Svyatoslav.
The campaign ended with the conquest of Tmutarakan, then it was the possession of the Khazars of Tamatarkh on the Taman Peninsula and Kerch. Subsequently, the Russian Tmutarakan principality arose there. The Old Russian state became the main force on the shores of the Caspian Sea and on the coast of Pontus (Black Sea). Kievan Rus strengthened in the south and east. The Pechenegs kept peace and did not disturb Rus'. Svyatoslav tried to gain a foothold in the Volga region, but he failed.
967 MEETING OF SVYATOSLAV WITH THE BYZANTINE AMBASSADOR KALOKIR.
Vladimir Kireev. "Prince Svyatoslav"
The Emperor of Constantinople, Nikephoros Phocas, was busy with the war with the Arabs. Deciding to eliminate the threat to the Byzantine colonies in Crimea, as well as to get rid of the Bulgarians, to whom the Empire had been paying tribute for 40 years, he decided to pit them against the Russians. To do this, the ambassador of Emperor Nicephorus, patrician (Byzantine title) Kalokir, went to the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav. He promised Svyatoslav neutrality and even the support of Byzantium if the prince started a war with Bulgaria. This proposal came from the emperor; Kalokir himself secretly hoped in the future, with the support of Svyatoslav, to overthrow the emperor and take his place.
August 967. ATTACK OF SVYATOSLAV ON THE DANUBE BULGARIA.
Having gathered an army of 60,000 soldiers on his lands, from young “husbands blooming with health,” Svyatoslav moved to the Danube along the route of Prince Igor. Moreover, this time he attacked the Bulgarians suddenly, without the famous “I’m coming to you.” Having passed the Dnieper rapids, part of the Russian troops moved to Danube Bulgaria, along the coast. And the Russian boats went out into the Black Sea and along the coast reached the mouth of the Danube. Where the decisive battle took place. During the landing, the Russians were met by thirty thousand Bulgarian army. But unable to withstand the first onslaught, the Bulgarians fled. Having tried to take refuge in Dorostol, the Bulgarians were defeated there too. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Svyatoslav captured 80 cities in Dnieper Bulgaria and settled in Pereyaslavets. At first the Russian prince did not seek to go beyond the boundaries of Dobrudja; apparently this was agreed upon with the ambassador of the Byzantine emperor.
968 NIKIFOR PHOCAS IS PREPARING FOR WAR WITH SVYATOSLAV.
The Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phocas, having learned about the captures of Svyatoslav and the plans of Klaokir, realized what a dangerous ally he called and began preparations for war. He took measures to defend Constantinople, blocked the entrance to the Golden Horn with a chain, installed throwing weapons on the walls, reformed the cavalry - dressed the horsemen in iron armor, armed and trained the infantry. Through diplomatic means, he tried to attract the Bulgarians to his side by negotiating a marriage alliance between the royal houses, and the Pechenegs, probably bribed by Nicephorus, attacked Kyiv.
Spring 968. SIEGE OF Kyiv BY THE PECHENEGS.
Pecheneg raid
The Pechenegs surrounded Kyiv and kept it under siege. Among the besieged were three sons of Svyatoslav, the princes Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir and their grandmother Princess Olga. For a long time they were unable to send a messenger from Kyiv. But thanks to the valor of one youth who was able to pass through the Pecheneg camp, posing as a Pecheneg looking for his horse, the people of Kiev managed to convey the news to the governor Petrich, who stood far beyond the Dnieper. The voivode depicted the arrival of a guard, who was supposedly followed by a regiment with the prince “without number.” The cunning of Governor Pretich saved the people of Kiev. The Pechenegs believed all this and retreated from the city. A messenger was sent to Svyatoslav, who told him: “You, prince, are looking for and pursuing a foreign land, but having taken possession of your own, you are too small to take us, your mother and your children.” With a small retinue, the warrior prince mounted his horses and rushed to the capital. Here he gathered “warriors”, teamed up with Petrich’s squad in hot battles, defeated the Pechenegs and drove them to the steppe and restored peace. Kyiv was saved.
When they began to beg Svyatoslav to stay in Kyiv, he answered: “I don’t like living in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube (probably the current Rushchuk). Princess Olga persuaded her son: “You see, I’m sick; where do you want to go from me? (“For she was already ill,” adds the chronicler.) When you bury me, go wherever you want.” Svyatoslav stayed in Kyiv until his mother’s death. During this time, he divided the Russian land between his sons. Yaropolk was imprisoned in Kyiv, Oleg in the Drevlyansky land. And the “robichich” Vladimir’s son from the housekeeper Malusha was asked to join the Princes of Novgorod by the ambassadors. Having completed the division and buried his mother, Svyatoslav, replenishing his squad, immediately set off on a campaign across the Danube.
969 BULGARIAN RESISTANCE IN THE ABSENCE OF SVYATOSLAV.
The Bulgarians did not feel any special changes with his departure to Rus'. In the fall of 969, they prayed to Nikifor Phokas for help against the Rus. The Bulgarian Tsar Peter tried to find support in Constantinople by concluding dynastic marriages Bulgarian princesses with young Byzantine Caesars. But Nikifor Foka apparently continued to adhere to the agreements with Svyatoslav and military assistance did not provide. Taking advantage of Svyatoslav's absence, the Bulgarians rebelled and knocked the Rus out of several fortresses.
Invasion of Svyatoslav into the lands of the Bulgarians. Miniature of the Manasieva Chronicle
“Russian History” by V.N. Tatishchev tells about the exploits in Bulgaria during Svyatoslav’s absence there of a certain governor Volk (unknown from other sources). The Bulgarians, having learned about the departure of Svyatoslav, besieged Pereyaslavets. The Wolf, experiencing a shortage of food and knowing that many townspeople “had agreement” with the Bulgarians, ordered the boats to be secretly made. He himself announced publicly that he would defend the city to the last man, and defiantly ordered to cut all the horses and salt and dry the meat. At night, the Russians set the city on fire. The Bulgarians rushed to attack, and the Russians, setting out on boats, attacked the Bulgarian boats and captured them. The Wolf detachment left Pereyaslavets and freely went down the Danube, and then by sea to the mouth of the Dniester. On the Dniester, the Wolf met Svyatoslav. Where this story came from and how reliable it is is unknown.
Autumn 969-970. SECOND CAMPAIGN OF SVYATOSLAV TO BULGARIA.
Upon returning to Danube Bulgaria, Svyatoslav again had to overcome the resistance of the Bulgarians, who took refuge, as the chronicle says, in Pereyaslavets. But we must assume that we're talking about about Preslav, the capital of Danube Bulgaria, not yet controlled by the Russians, which is south of Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In December 969, the Bulgarians went to battle against Svyatoslav and “the slaughter was great.” The Bulgarians began to prevail. And Svyatoslav said to his soldiers: “Here we fall! Let us stand up courageously, brothers and squad!” And by evening Svyatoslav’s squad won, and the city was taken by storm. The sons of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter, Boris and Roman, were taken prisoner.
Having captured the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, the Russian prince went beyond Dobrudja and reached the Bulgarian-Byzantine border, ruining many cities and drowning the Bulgarian uprising in blood. The Russians had to take the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv) in battle. As a result, the ancient city, founded by King Philip of Macedon in the 4th century BC. e., was devastated, and the 20 thousand surviving inhabitants were impaled. The city was depopulated for a long time.
Emperor John Tzimiskes
December 969. THE COUP OF JOHN TZIMISCES.
The conspiracy was led by his wife, Empress Theophano, and John Tzimiskes, a commander who came from a noble Armenian family and nephew of Nikephoros (his mother was Phocas’ sister). On the night of December 10-11, 969, the conspirators killed Emperor Nicephorus Phocas in his own bedchamber. Moreover, John personally split his skull in two with a sword. John, unlike his predecessor, did not marry Theophano, but exiled her away from Constantinople.
On December 25, the coronation of the new emperor took place. Formally, John Tzimiskes, like his predecessor, was proclaimed co-ruler of the young sons of Romanus II: Basil and Constantine. The death of Nikephoros Phocas finally changed the situation on the Danube, because the new emperor considered it important to get rid of the Russian threat.
A new usurper ascended to the Byzantine throne - John, nicknamed Tzimiskes (this nickname means translated from Armenian language“slipper”, he received for his small height).
Despite his small stature, John was distinguished by extraordinary physical strength and agility. He was brave, decisive, cruel, treacherous and, like his predecessor, possessed the talents of a military leader. At the same time, he was more sophisticated and cunning than Nikifor. Byzantine chroniclers noted his inherent vices - an excessive craving for wine during feasts and greed for bodily pleasures (again, in contrast to the almost ascetic Nikephoros).
The old king of the Bulgarians could not withstand the defeats inflicted by Svyatoslav - he fell ill and died. Soon the entire country, as well as Macedonia and Thrace as far as Philippopolis, fell under the rule of Svyatoslav. Svyatoslav entered into an alliance with the new Bulgarian Tsar Boris II.
Essentially, Bulgaria broke up into zones controlled by the Rus (northeast - Dobrudzha), Boris II (the rest of Eastern Bulgaria, subordinate to him only formally, in fact - by the Rus) and not controlled by anyone except the local elite (Western Bulgaria). It is possible that Western Bulgaria outwardly recognized the power of Boris, but the Bulgarian tsar, surrounded in his capital by a Russian garrison, lost all contact with the territories not affected by the war.
For six months in all three countries The rulers involved in the conflict were replaced. Olga, a supporter of an alliance with Byzantium, died in Kyiv, Nicephorus Phocas, who invited the Russians to the Balkans, was killed in Constantinople, Peter, who hoped for help from the Empire, died in Bulgaria.
Byzantine emperors during the life of Svyatoslav
Byzantium was ruled by the Macedonian dynasty, which was never violently overthrown. And in Constantinople of the 10th century, a descendant of Basil the Macedonian was always emperor. But when the emperors of the great dynasty were young and politically weak, a co-principal who had actual power sometimes became at the helm of the empire.
Roman I Lakopin (c. 870 - 948, imp. 920 - 945). Usurper-co-ruler of Constantine VII, who married him to his daughter, but tried to create his own dynasty. Under him, the Russian fleet of Prince Igor was burned under the walls of Constantinople (941).
Constantine VII Porphyrogenetus (Porphyrogenitus) (905 - 959, imp. 908 - 959, fact. from 945). The emperor is a scientist, the author of edifying works, such as the work “On the Administration of an Empire.” He baptized Princess Olga during her visit to Constantinople (967).
Roman II (939 - 963, imp. from 945, fact. from 959). The son of Constantine VII, husband Feofano died young, leaving two minor sons Vasily and Constantine.
Theophano (after 940 - ?, empress regent in March - August 963). Rumor attributed to her the poisoning of her father-in-law Konstantin Porphyrogenitus and her husband Roman. She was a participant in the conspiracy and murder of her second husband, Emperor Nikephoros Phocas.
Nikephoros II Phocas (912 - 969, emperor from 963). Famous commander returning Crete to imperial rule, then Byzantine emperor married Feofano. He continued successful military operations, conquering Cilicia and Cyprus. Killed by John Tzimiskes. He was canonized.
John I Tzimisces (c. 925 - 976, emperor from 969) Main opponent Svyatoslav. After the Russians left Bulgaria. He carried out two eastern campaigns, as a result of which Syria and Phenicia again became provinces of the empire. Presumably poisoned
Vasily Lakapin - illegitimate son Roman I, castrated as a child, but who served as the first minister of the empire from 945-985.
Vasily II Bulgarokton (Bulgaro-Slayer) (958 - 1025, cont. from 960, imp. from 963, fact. from 976). Greatest Emperor Macedonian dynasty. He ruled jointly with his brother Konstantin. He fought numerous wars, especially with the Bulgarians. Under him, Byzantium reached its greatest power. But he was unable to leave a male heir and the Macedonian dynasty soon fell.
Winter 970. THE BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN-BYZANTINE WAR.
Having learned of the murder of his ally, Svyatoslav, possibly instigated by Klaokir, decided to begin the fight against the Byzantine usurper. The Rus began to cross the border of Byzantium and devastate the Byzantine provinces of Thrace and Macedonia.
John Tzimiskes tried through negotiations to persuade Svyatoslav to return the conquered regions, otherwise he threatened with war. To this Svyatoslav replied: “Let the emperor not bother to travel to our land: we will soon set up our tents in front of the Byzantine gates, surround the city with a strong rampart, and if he decides to undertake a feat, we will bravely meet him.” At the same time, Svyatoslav advised Tzimiskes to retire to Asia Minor.
Svyatoslav reinforced his army with the Bulgarians, who were dissatisfied with Byzantium, and hired detachments of Pechenegs and Hungarians. The number of this army was 30,000 soldiers. The commander of the Byzantine army was Master Varda Sklir, it consisted of 12,000 soldiers. Therefore, Sklir had to give up most of Thrace to be torn to pieces by the enemy and preferred to sit out in Arcadiopolis. Soon the army of the Kyiv prince approached this city.
970 BATTLE NEAR ARCADIOPOL (ADRIANOPOL).
At the Battle of Arkadiopolis (modern Lüleburgaz in Turkey, about 140 kilometers west of Istanbul), the Rus' onslaught was stopped. The apparent indecisiveness of Bardas Sklera caused the barbarians to become self-confident and disdainful of the Byzantines who were secluded in the city. They wandered around the area, drinking, thinking they were safe. Seeing this, Varda began to implement a plan of action that had long been matured in him. Main role in upcoming battle was entrusted to the patrician John Alakas (by origin, by the way, a Pecheneg). Alakas attacked a detachment consisting of Pechenegs. They became interested in pursuing the retreating Romans and soon came across the main forces, which were personally commanded by Varda Sklir. The Pechenegs stopped, preparing for battle, and this completely destroyed them. The fact is that the phalanx of the Romans, allowing Alakas and the Pechenegs chasing him through, parted to a considerable depth. The Pechenegs found themselves in the “sack”. Because they did not immediately retreat, time was lost; the phalanxes closed and surrounded the nomads. All of them were killed by the Romans.
The death of the Pechenegs stunned the Hungarians, Rus and Bulgarians. However, they managed to prepare for battle and met the Romans fully armed. Skylitsa reports that the first blow to the advancing army of Bardas Skleros was delivered by the cavalry of the “barbarians,” probably consisting mainly of Hungarians. The onslaught was repelled, and the horsemen took refuge among the foot soldiers. When both armies met, the outcome of the battle for a long time was uncertain.
There is a story about how “a certain Scythian, proud of the size of his body and the fearlessness of his soul,” attacked Barda Sklerus himself, “who was going around and inspiring the formation of warriors,” and hit him on the helmet with a sword. “But the sword slipped, the blow was unsuccessful, and the master also hit the enemy on the helmet. The weight of his hand and the hardening of the iron gave his blow such force that the entire skiff was cut into two parts. Patrick Constantine, the brother of the master, rushing to his rescue, tried to strike another Scythian on the head, who wanted to come to the aid of the first and boldly rushed towards Varda; the Scythian, however, dodged to the side, and Constantine, missing, brought his sword down on the horse’s neck and separated his head from the body; the Scythian fell, and Konstantin jumped off his horse and, grabbing the enemy’s beard with his hand, stabbed him to death. This feat aroused the courage of the Romans and increased their courage, while the Scythians were gripped by fear and horror.
The battle approached its turning point, then Varda ordered the trumpet to be blown and the tambourines to be banged. The ambush army immediately, at this sign, ran out of the forest, surrounded the enemies from the rear and thus instilled such terror in them that they began to retreat.” It is possible that the ambush attack caused temporary confusion in the ranks of the Rus, but the battle order was quickly restored. “And Rus' gathered in arms, and there was a great slaughter, and Svyatoslav was overcome, and the Greeks fled; and Svyatoslav went to the city, fighting and smashing the cities that stand and are empty to this day.” This is how the Russian chronicler talks about the outcome of the battle. And the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon writes about the victory of the Romans and reports implausible loss figures: the Rus allegedly lost over 20 thousand people, and the Byzantine army lost only 55 people killed and many wounded.
Apparently the defeat was severe, and the losses of Svyatoslav’s troops were significant. But he still had great strength to continue the war. And John Tzimiskes had to offer tribute and ask for peace. Since the Byzantine usurper was still puzzled by the suppression of the rebellion of Bardas Phocas. Therefore, trying to gain time and delay the war, he entered into negotiations with Svyatoslav.
970 REBELLION OF VARDAS PHOCAS.
In the spring of 970, the nephew of the murdered Emperor Nicephorus, Bardas Phocas, fled from his place of exile in Amasia to Caesarea in Cappadocia. Gathering around him a militia capable of resisting government troops, he solemnly and in front of a crowd of people put on red shoes - a sign of imperial dignity. The news of the rebellion greatly excited Tzimisces. Bardas Skleros was immediately summoned from Thrace, whom John appointed stratelate (leader) of the campaign against the rebels. Skler managed to win over to his side some of the military leaders who were subordinate to his namesake. Abandoned by them, Foka did not dare to fight and preferred to take refuge in a fortress with the symbolic name of the Tyrants' Fortress. However, besieged by stratilate, he was forced to surrender. Emperor John ordered Varda Phokas to be tonsured a monk and sent him along with his wife and children to the island of Chios.
970 RUS ATTACKS ON MACEDONIA.
Squad of the Russian Prince
Having received the tribute, Svyatoslav returned to Pereyaslavets, from where he sent his “best men” to the Byzantine emperor to conclude an agreement. The reason for this was the small number of the squad, which suffered heavy losses. Therefore, Svyatoslav said: “I will go to Rus' and bring more squads (since the Byzantines could take advantage of the small number of Russians and surround Svyatoslav’s squad) in the city; and Ruska is a distant land, and the Pechenesi are with us as warriors,” that is, from allies they turned into enemies. A small reinforcement arrived from Kyiv to Svyatoslav.
Detachments of Russians periodically devastated the border Byzantine region of Macedonia throughout 970. The Roman troops here were commanded by Master John Kurkuas (the Younger), a known lazy man and drunkard, who was inactive, making no attempt to protect the local population from the enemy. However, he had an excuse - a lack of troops. But Svyatoslav no longer launched a large-scale offensive against Byzantium. He was probably happy with the current situation.
Winter 970. TZIMISCES' CLICKY.
In order to take decisive action to curb the aggressive attacks of the Rus, significant preparations were required, which could not be completed before the spring of next year; and besides, in the coming winter, crossing the Gemsky ridge (Balkans) was considered impossible. In view of this, Tzimiskes again started negotiations with Svyatoslav, sent him expensive gifts, promising to send gifts in the spring, and, in all likelihood, the matter ended with the conclusion of a preliminary peace treaty. This explains that Svyatoslav did not occupy the mountain passes (klissurs) through the Balkans.
Spring 971. INVASION OF JOHN TZIMISCES IN THE DANUBE VALLEY.
Tzimiskes, taking advantage of the dispersion of Svyatoslav's army throughout Bulgaria and his confidence in the world, unexpectedly sent a fleet of 300 ships from Suda with orders to enter the Danube, and he himself and his troops moved towards Adrianople. Here the emperor was pleased with the news that the mountain passes were not occupied by the Russians, as a result of which Tzimiskes, with 2 thousand mounted men-at-arms at the head, having behind 15 thousand infantry and 13 thousand cavalry, and a total of 30 thousand, unhindered passed the terrible klissurs. The Byzantine army fortified itself on a hill near the Tichi River.
Quite unexpectedly for the Russians, Tzimiskes approached Preslava, which was occupied by the governor of Svyatoslav Sfenkel. The next day, Tzimiskes, having built dense phalanxes, moved towards the city, in front of which the Rus were waiting for him in the open. A stubborn battle ensued. Tzimiskes brought the “immortals” into battle. The heavy cavalry, thrusting their spears forward, rushed towards the enemy and quickly overthrew the Rus, who were fighting on foot. The Russian soldiers who came to the rescue could not change anything, and the Byzantine cavalry managed to approach the city and cut off those fleeing from the gate. Sfenkel had to close the city gates and the victors destroyed 8,500 “Scythians” that day. At night, Kalokir, whom the Greeks considered the main culprit of their troubles, fled from the city. He informed Svyatoslav about the emperor's attack.
The Greeks storm Preslav. A stone thrower is shown as a siege weapon. Miniature from the chronicle of John Skylitzes.
The rest of the troops arrived at Tzimiskes with stone-throwing and battering machines. It was necessary to hurry to take Preslava before Svyatoslav arrived to the rescue. At first, the besieged were asked to surrender voluntarily. Having received a refusal, the Romans began to shower Preslav with clouds of arrows and stones. Without difficulty breaking the wooden walls of Preslava. After which, with the support of archers' shooting, they stormed the wall. With the help of ladders, they managed to climb the fortifications, overcoming the resistance of the city’s defenders. The defenders began to leave the walls, hoping to take refuge in the citadel. The Byzantines managed to open the gate in the southeastern corner of the fortress, allowing the entire army into the city. The Bulgarians and Russians, who did not have time to take cover, were destroyed.
It was then that Boris II was brought to Tzimiskes, who was captured in the city along with his family and identified by the signs on him. royal power. John did not punish him for collaborating with the Rus, but, declaring him the “legitimate ruler of the Bulgars,” gave him due honors.
Sfenkel retreated behind the walls royal palace, from where he continued to defend himself until Tzimiskes ordered the palace to be set on fire.
Driven out of the palace by flames, the Russians desperately fought back and almost all were exterminated; only Sfenkel himself with several warriors managed to get through to Svyatoslav in Dorostol.
On April 16, John Tzimiskes celebrated Easter in Preslav and renamed the city in honor of the victory in his name - Ioannopolis. They also released the Bulgarian prisoners who fought on the side of Svyatoslav. The Russian prince did the opposite. Blaming the traitorous “Bulgarians” for the fall of Preslava, Svyatoslav ordered to gather the most noble and influential representatives of the Bulgarian nobility (about three hundred people) and behead them all. Many Bulgarians were thrown into prison. The population of Bulgaria went over to the side of Tzimiskes.
The emperor moved to Dorostol. This well-fortified city, which the Slavs called Dristra (now Silistria), served as Svyatoslav's main military base in the Balkans. Along the way, a number of Bulgarian cities (including Dinia and Pliska - the first capital of Bulgaria) went over to the side of the Greeks. The conquered Bulgarian lands were included in Thrace - the Byzantine theme. In the twentieth of April, the army of Tzimiskes approached Dorostol.
Armament of Kievan Rus warriors: helmets, spurs, sword, axe, stirrup, horse fetters
The defense of the city began in complete encirclement. Numerical superiority was on the side of the Byzantines - their army consisted of 25-30 thousand infantry and 15 thousand cavalry, while Svyatoslav had only 30 thousand soldiers. With available forces and without cavalry, he could easily be surrounded and cut off from Dorostol by the excellent numerous Greek cavalry. heavy, grueling battles for the city, which lasted about three months.
The Rus stood in dense rows, long shields closed together and spears thrust forward. The Pechenegs and Hungarians were no longer among them.
John Tzimiskes deployed infantry against them, placing heavy cavalry (cataphracts) along its edges. Behind the infantrymen were archers and slingers, whose task was to shoot without stopping.
The first attack of the Byzantines slightly upset the Russians, but they held their ground and then launched a counterattack. The battle continued with varying success all day, the entire plain was strewn with the bodies of the fallen on both sides. Closer to sunset, Tzimiskes’ warriors managed to push back the enemy’s left wing. Now the main thing for the Romans was to prevent the Russians from rebuilding and coming to the aid of their own. rang out new signal trumpets, and the cavalry - the emperor's reserve - was brought into battle. Even the “immortals” were marched against the Rus; John Tzimiskes himself galloped after them with the imperial banners unfurled, shaking his spear and motivating the soldiers with a battle cry. An answering cry of joy rang out among the hitherto restrained Romans. The Russians could not withstand the onslaught of the horsemen and fled. They were pursued, killed and captured. However, Byzantine army was tired of the battle and stopped the pursuit. Most of Svyatoslav's soldiers, led by their leader, returned safely to Dorostol. The outcome of the war was a foregone conclusion.
Having identified a suitable hill, the emperor ordered a ditch more than two meters deep to be dug around it. The excavated earth was carried to the side adjacent to the camp, so that the result was a high shaft. At the top of the embankment they strengthened spears and hung interconnected shields on them. The imperial tent was placed in the center, the military leaders were located nearby, the “immortals” were around, then ordinary warriors. At the edges of the camp stood infantrymen, behind them were horsemen. In the event of an enemy attack, the infantry took the first blow, which gave the cavalry time to prepare for battle. The approaches to the camp were also protected by skillfully hidden pit traps with wooden stakes at the bottom, laid out in in the right places metal balls with four points, one of which stuck up. Signal ropes with bells were stretched around the camp and pickets were placed (the first began within an arrow's flight from the hill where the Romans were located).
Tzimiskes tried, but failed, to take the city by storm. In the evening, the Russians again undertook a large-scale foray, and, according to chronicle sources Byzantines, they tried for the first time to act on horseback, but, having bad horses, recruited in the fortress and not accustomed to battle, they were overthrown by the Greek cavalry. In repelling this attack, Varda Sklir commanded.
Came up the same day greek fleet consisting of 300 ships, and settled down on the Danube opposite the city, as a result of which the Russians were completely surrounded and no longer dared to go out on their boats, fearing Greek fire. Svyatoslav, who attached great importance to the preservation of his fleet, for safety ordered the boats to be pulled ashore and placed near the city wall of Dorostol. Meanwhile, all his boats were in Dorostol, and the Danube was his only route of retreat.
Russian squad attacks
Realizing the doom of their situation, the Russians again made a foray, but with all their might. It was led by the valiant defender of Preslav Sfenkel, and Svyatoslav remained in the city. With long, human-sized shields, covered with chain mail and armor, the Russians, leaving the fortress at dusk and observing complete silence, approached the enemy camp and unexpectedly attacked the Greeks. The battle lasted with varying success until noon next day, but after Sfenkel was killed, struck by a spear, and the Byzantine cavalry again threatened with destruction, the Rus retreated.
Svyatoslav, expecting an attack in turn, ordered a deep ditch to be dug around the city walls and Dorostol now became practically impregnable. By this he showed that he decided to defend to the last. Almost daily there were forays by the Russians, often ending successfully for the besieged.
Tzimisces at first limited himself to only a siege, hoping to starve to force Svyatoslav to surrender, but soon the Russians, who were making constant forays, dug up all the roads and paths with ditches and occupied them, and on the Danube the fleet increased its vigilance. The entire Greek cavalry was sent to monitor the roads leading from the west and east to the fortress.
There were many wounded in the city and severe famine was setting in. Meanwhile, the Greek battering machines continued to destroy the walls of the city, and stone-throwing weapons caused great casualties.
Horse Guard X century
Choosing a dark night, when a terrible thunderstorm broke out with thunder, lightning and heavy hail, Svyatoslav personally led about two thousand people out of the city and put them on boats. They safely bypassed the Roman fleet (it was impossible to see or even hear them because of the thunderstorm, and the command of the Roman fleet, seeing that the “barbarians” were fighting only on land, as they say, “relaxed”) and moved along the river for food . One can imagine the amazement of the Bulgarians who lived along the Danube when the Rus suddenly reappeared in their villages. It was necessary to act quickly before news of what had happened reached the Romans. A few days later, having collected grain bread, millet and some other supplies, the Rus boarded ships and just as quietly moved towards Dorostol. The Romans would not have noticed anything if Svyatoslav had not learned that horses from the Byzantine army were grazing not far from the shore, and nearby there were baggage servants who were guarding the horses and at the same time stocking up firewood for their camp. Having landed on the shore, the Russians silently passed through the forest and attacked the baggage trains. Almost all the servants were killed, only a few managed to hide in the bushes. Militarily, this action did not give the Russians anything, but its audacity made it possible to remind Tzimisces that much could still be expected from the “damned Scythians.”
But this foray enraged John Tzimisces and soon the Romans dug up all the roads leading to Dorostol, posted guards everywhere, control over the river was established in such a way that even a bird could not fly from the city to the other bank without the permission of the besiegers. And soon the truly “dark days” came for the Rus, exhausted by the siege, and the Bulgarians still remaining in the city.
End of June 971. THE RUSSIANS KILL THE “EMPEROR”.
During one of the forays, the Russians managed to kill a relative of Emperor Tzimiskes, John Kurkuas, who was in charge of the battering guns. Because of his rich clothes, the Russians mistook him for the emperor himself. Puffed up, they planted the severed head of the military leader on a spear and displayed it over the city walls. For some time, the besieged believed that the death of the basileus would force the Greeks to leave.
At noon on July 19, when the Byzantine guards, exhausted by the heat, lost their vigilance, the Rus quickly attacked and killed them. Then it was the turn of catapults and ballistae. They were hacked to pieces with axes and burned.
The besieged decided to inflict new blow according to the Greeks, he, like Sfenkel, had his own squad. The Russians revered him as the second leader after Svyatoslav. He was respected for his valor, and not for his “noble relatives.” And initially in battle he greatly inspired the squad. But he died in a skirmish with Anemas. The death of the leader led to a panicked flight of the besieged. The Romans again cut down those fleeing, and their horses trampled the “barbarians.” The coming night stopped the massacre and allowed the survivors to make their way to Dorostol. Howls were heard from the direction of the city; there were funerals of the dead, whose bodies the comrades were able to carry from the battlefield. The Byzantine chronicler writes that many male and female captives were slaughtered. “Performing sacrifices for the dead, they drowned infants and roosters in the Istra River.” The bodies that remained on the ground went to the winners. To the surprise of those who rushed to tear off the armor from the dead “Scythians” and collect weapons, among the Dorostol defenders killed that day were women dressed in men's clothing. It is difficult to say who they were - Bulgarians who sided with the Rus, or desperate Russian maidens - the epic “wood logs” who went on a campaign along with men.
Feat of arms. The hero of Byzantium is the Arab Anemas.
One of the last forays of the Rus against the Greeks was led by Ikmor, a man of enormous stature and strength. Drawing the Rus with him, Ikmor destroyed everyone who stood in his way. It seemed that there was no equal to him in the Byzantine army. The invigorated Russians did not lag behind their leader. This continued until one of Tzimiskes’ bodyguards, Anemas, rushed towards Ikmor. This was an Arab, the son and co-ruler of the Emir of Crete, who ten years earlier, together with his father, was captured by the Romans and went into the service of the victors. Having galloped up to the mighty Russian, the Arab deftly dodged his blow and struck back - unfortunately for Ikmor, a successful one. An experienced grunt cut off the Russian leader's head, right shoulder and arm. Seeing the death of their leader, the Russians screamed loudly, their ranks wavered, while the Romans, on the contrary, were inspired and intensified the onslaught. Soon the Russians began to retreat, and then, throwing their shields behind their backs, they ran to Dorostol.
During the last battle of Dorostol, among the Romans rushing towards the Rus from the rear, there was Anemas, who had killed Ikmor the day before. He passionately wanted to add a new, even brighter feat to this feat - to deal with Svyatoslav himself. When the Romans who suddenly attacked the Rus briefly brought disorganization into their system, a desperate Arab flew up to the prince on horseback and hit him on the head with a sword. Svyatoslav fell to the ground, he was stunned, but remained alive. The Arab's blow, gliding across the helmet, only broke the prince's collarbone. The chainmail shirt protected him. The attacker and his horse were pierced by many arrows, and then the fallen Anemas was surrounded by a phalanx of enemies, and he still continued to fight, killed many Russians, but finally fell cut into pieces. This was a man whom none of his contemporaries surpassed in heroic deeds.
971, Silistria. Anemas, bodyguard of Emperor John Tzimisces, wounded the Russian prince Svyatoslav
Svyatoslav gathered all his military leaders for a council. When some started talking about the need to retreat, they advised waiting for the dark night, lowering the boats that were on the shore into the Danube and, keeping as quiet as possible, sailing unnoticed down the Danube. Others suggested asking the Greeks for peace. Svyatoslav said: “We have nothing to choose from. Willingly or unwillingly, we must fight. We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lie down with bones - the dead have no shame. If we run away, it will be a shame for us. So let’s not run, but let’s stand strong. I’ll go before you - if my head falls, then take care of yourself.” And the soldiers answered Svyatoslav: “Where you place your head, there we will lay our heads!” Electrified by this heroic speech, the leaders decided to win - or die with glory...
The last bloody battle near Dorostol ended in the defeat of the Rus. The forces were too unequal.
July 22, 971 The last battle under the walls of Dorostol. First and second stages of the battle
Svyatoslav personally led the thinned squad to last Stand. He ordered the city gates to be tightly locked so that none of the soldiers would think of seeking salvation outside the walls, but would think only about victory.
The battle began with an unprecedented onslaught of Russians. It was a hot day, and the heavily armored Byzantines began to succumb to the indomitable onslaught of the Rus. In order to save the situation, the emperor personally rushed to the rescue, accompanied by a detachment of “immortals”. While he was distracting the enemy's attack, they managed to deliver bottles filled with wine and water to the battlefield. The invigorated Romans with renewed vigor began to attack the Rus, but to no avail. And it was strange, because the advantage was on their side. Finally Tzimiskes understood the reason. Having pushed back the Rus, his warriors found themselves in a cramped place (everything around was in the hills), which is why the “Scythians,” who were inferior to them in numbers, withstood the attacks. The strategists were ordered to begin a feigned retreat in order to lure the “barbarians” onto the plain. Seeing the flight of the Romans, the Russians shouted joyfully and rushed after them. Having reached the appointed place, the warriors of Tzimiskes stopped and met the Rus who were catching up with them. Having encountered the unexpected resistance of the Greeks, the Russians not only were not embarrassed, but began to attack them with even greater frenzy. The illusion of success that the Romans created with their retreat only inflamed the exhausted pre-Rostol villagers.
Tzimisces was extremely annoyed by both the large losses that his army suffered and the fact that the outcome of the battle, despite all efforts, remained unclear. Skylitzes even says that the emperor “planned to settle the matter by duel. And so he sent an embassy to Svendoslav (Svyatoslav), offering him single combat and saying that the matter should be resolved by the death of one husband, without killing or depleting the strength of the peoples; whoever wins among them will be the ruler of everything. But he did not accept the challenge and added mocking words that he, they say, better than the enemy understands his benefit, and if the emperor does not want to live anymore, then there are tens of thousands of other ways to death; let him choose whichever he wants. Having answered so arrogantly, he prepared for battle with increased zeal.”
The battle between Svyatoslav's soldiers and the Byzantines. Miniature from the manuscript of John Skylitzes
The mutual bitterness of the parties characterizes the next episode of the battle. Among the strategists who commanded the retreat of the Byzantine cavalry was a certain Theodore of Mysthia. The horse under him was killed, Theodore was surrounded by the Rus, who longed for his death. Trying to get up, the strategist, a man of heroic build, grabbed one of the Rus by the belt and, turning it in all directions like a shield, managed to protect himself from the blows of swords and spears flying at him. Then the Roman warriors arrived, and for a few seconds, until Theodore was safe, the entire space around him turned into a battle arena between those who wanted to kill him at all costs and those who wanted to save him.
The emperor decided to send the master Barda Skler, the patricians Peter and Roman (the latter was the grandson of Emperor Roman Lekapinus) to circumvent the enemy. They should have cut off the “Scythians” from Dorostol and struck them in the back. This maneuver was carried out successfully, but it did not lead to a turning point in the battle. During this attack, Svyatoslav was wounded by Anemas. Meanwhile, the Rus, who had repulsed the rear attack, again began to push back the Romans. And again the emperor, with a spear at the ready, had to lead the guard into battle. Seeing Tzimiskes, his soldiers cheered up. The decisive moment was approaching in the battle. And then a miracle happened. First, from behind the advancing Byzantine army, a blow blew strong wind, a real hurricane began, bringing with it clouds of dust that filled the eyes of the Russians. And then there was a terrible downpour. The Russian advance stopped, and the soldiers hiding from the sand became easy prey for the enemy. Shocked by the intervention from above, the Romans later assured that they saw a rider galloping ahead of them on a white horse. When he approached, the Russes allegedly fell like mown grass. Later, many “identified” the miraculous assistant of Tzimisces as Saint Theodore Stratilates.
Varda Sklir pressed on the Russians from the rear. The confused Russians found themselves surrounded and ran towards the city. They did not have to break through the enemy's ranks. Apparently, the Byzantines used the widely known military theory the idea of the "golden bridge". Its essence boiled down to the fact that the defeated enemy was left with the opportunity to escape by flight. Understanding this weakened the enemy’s resistance and created the most favorable conditions for his complete defeat. As usual, the Romans drove the Rus to the very city walls, mercilessly chopping them down. Among those who managed to escape was Svyatoslav. He was badly wounded - in addition to the blow that Anemas dealt him, the prince was hit by several arrows, he lost a lot of blood and was almost captured. Only the onset of night saved him from this.
Svyatoslav in battle The losses of the Russian army in the last battle amounted to more than 15,000 people. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, after the conclusion of peace, when asked by the Greeks about the size of his army, Svyatoslav answered: “We are twenty thousand,” but “he added ten thousand, for there were only ten thousand Russians.” And Svyatoslav brought more than 60 thousand young and strong men to the banks of the Danube. You can call this campaign a demographic catastrophe for Kievan Rus. Calling on the army to fight to the death and die with honor. Svyatoslav himself, although wounded, returned to Dorostol, although he promised to remain among the dead in the event of defeat. By this act, he greatly lost his authority in his army.
But the Greeks also achieved victory at a high price.
Significant numerical superiority of the enemy, lack of food and, probably, not wanting to irritate his people, Svyatoslav decided to make peace with the Greeks.
At dawn on the day following the battle, Svyatoslav sent envoys to Emperor John asking for peace. The Emperor received them very favorably. According to the chronicle, Svyatoslav reasoned as follows: “If we do not make peace with the king, the king will find out that we are few - and, when they come, they will surround us in the city. But the Russian land is far away, and the Pechenegs are our warriors, and who will help us? And his speech to the squad was lovely.
According to the concluded truce, the Russians pledged to cede Dorostol to the Greeks, release prisoners and leave Bulgaria. In turn, the Byzantines promised to let their recent enemies return to their homeland and not attack their ships along the way. (The Russians were very afraid of the “Greek fire” that destroyed the ships of Prince Igor at one time.) At the request of Svyatoslav, the Byzantines also promised to obtain from the Pechenegs guarantees of the inviolability of the Russian squad upon its return home. The booty captured in Bulgaria, apparently, remained with the vanquished. In addition, the Greeks had to supply the Rus with food and actually gave out 2 medimnas of bread (about 20 kilograms) for each warrior.
After the conclusion of the agreement, the embassy of John Tzimiskes was sent to the Pechenegs, with a request that they allow the Rus, returning home, through their possessions. But it is assumed that Theophilus, Bishop of Euchaitis, who was sent to the nomads, set the Pechenegs against the prince, carrying out a secret assignment from his sovereign.
PEACE TREATY.
A peace treaty was concluded between the two states, the text of which was preserved in the Tale of Bygone Years. Due to the fact that this agreement determined the relationship between Rus' and Byzantium for almost twenty years and subsequently formed the basis of the Byzantine policy of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, we present its entire text translated into modern Russian: “List from the agreement concluded under Svyatoslav, Grand Duke of Russia , and under Sveneld. Written under Theophilos sinkel, and to Ivan, called Tzimiskes, King of Greece, in Derestre, the month of July, indictment 14th, in the summer of 6479. I, Svyatoslav, Prince of Russia, as I swore, and confirm my oath by this agreement: I want to have peace and perfect love with every great king of Greece, with Basil, and Constantine, and with God-inspired kings, and with all your people until the end of the age; and so do those who are under me, Rus', the boyars and others. I will never plan to gather soldiers against your country, and I will not bring any other people to your country, nor to those that are under Greek rule, nor to the Korsun volost and how many of their cities there are, nor to the Bulgarian country. And if anyone else thinks against your country, then I will be his opponent and will fight with him. As I swore to the Greek kings, and the boyars and all of Rus' are with me, so we will keep the agreement inviolable; if we do not preserve what was said before, let me, and those who are with me, and those under me, be cursed by the god in whom we believe - in Perun and Volos, the cattle god - and Let us be pierced like gold, and let us be cut off with our own weapons. What we have promised you today and have written on this charter and sealed with our seals will be true.”
End of July 971. MEETING OF JOHN TSIMISKES WITH SVYATOSLAV.
Meeting of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav with the Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes
Finally, the prince wanted to personally meet with the Basileus of the Romans. Leo the Deacon writes in his “History” a description of this meeting: “The Emperor did not shy away and, covered in gilded armor, rode up on horseback to the bank of the Istra, leading behind him a large detachment of armed horsemen sparkling with gold. Sfendoslav also appeared, sailing along the river on a Scythian boat; he sat on the oars and rowed along with his entourage, no different from them. This is what his appearance was: of moderate height, not too tall and not very short, with shaggy eyebrows and light blue eyes, snub nose, beardless, with thick, excessively long hair above his upper lip. His head was completely naked, but a tuft of hair hung from one side of it - a sign of the nobility of the family; the strong back of his head, wide chest and all other parts of his body were quite proportionate, but he looked gloomy and wild. He had a gold earring in one ear; it was decorated with a carbuncle framed by two pearls. His robe was white and differed from the clothing of his entourage only in its cleanliness. Sitting in the boat on the rowers’ bench, he talked a little with the sovereign about the terms of peace and left.”
971-976. CONTINUATION OF THE REIGN OF TZIMISCES IN BYZANTIUM.
After the departure of the Rus, Eastern Bulgaria became part of the Byzantine Empire. The city of Dorostol received a new name Theodoropol (either in memory of St. Theodore Stratelates, who contributed to the Romans, or in honor of the wife of John Tzimiskes Theodora) and became the center of the new Byzantine theme. Vasilevo Romanev returned to Constantinople with huge trophies, and upon entering the city, the residents gave their emperor an enthusiastic meeting. After the triumph, Tsar Boris II was brought to Tzimiskes, and he, submitting to the will of the new ruler of the Bulgarians, publicly laid aside the signs of royal power - a tiara trimmed in purple, embroidered with gold and pearls, a purple robe and red ankle boots. In return, he received the rank of master and had to begin to get used to the position of a Byzantine nobleman. Regarding him younger brother The Byzantine emperor was not so merciful to Roman - the prince was castrated. Tzimiskes never got around to Western Bulgaria - it was necessary to resolve the protracted conflict with the Germans, to continue victorious wars against the Arabs, this time in Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine. The basileus returned from his last campaign completely ill. According to the symptoms, it was typhus, but, as always, the version that Tzimiskes was poisoned became very popular among the people. After his death in 976, the son of Roman II, Vasily, finally came to power. Feofano returned from exile, but her eighteen-year-old son no longer needed guardians. She had only one thing left to do - to live out her life quietly.
Summer 971. SVYATOSLAV EXECUTES HIS CHRISTIAN WARRIORS.
The later so-called Joachim Chronicle provides some additional details about last period Balkan war. Svyatoslav, according to this source, blamed all his failures on the Christians who were part of his army. Having become furious, he executed, among others, his brother Prince Gleb (about whose existence other sources know nothing). By order of Svyatoslav, Christian churches in Kyiv were to be destroyed and burned; the prince himself, upon returning to Rus', intended to exterminate all Christians. However, this, in all likelihood, is nothing more than a conjecture by the compiler of the chronicle - a later writer or historian.
Autumn 971. SVYATOSLAV GOES TO HOMELAND.
In the fall, Svyatoslav set off on the return journey. He moved on boats along the seashore and then up the Dnieper towards the Dnieper rapids. Otherwise, he would not have been able to bring the booty captured in the war to Kyiv. It was not simple greed that motivated the prince, but the desire to enter Kyiv as a winner, not a vanquished one.
The closest and most experienced governor of Svyatoslav, Sveneld, advised the prince: “Go around the rapids on horseback, for the Pechenegs are standing at the rapids.” But Svyatoslav did not listen to him. And Sveneld, of course, was right. The Pechenegs were really waiting for the Russians. According to the story “The Tale of Bygone Years”, the “Pereyaslavl people” (you must understand, the Bulgarians) reported the approach of the Russians to the Pechenegs: “Here Svyatoslav is coming to you in Rus', having taken from the Greeks a lot of booty and countless prisoners. But he doesn’t have enough squad.”
Winter 971/72. WINTERING IN BELOBEREZHE.
Having reached the island of Khortitsa, which the Greeks called “the island of St. George,” Svyatoslav became convinced of the impossibility of further advancement - at the ford of Krariy, which was located in front of the first threshold on his way, there were Pechenegs. Winter was approaching. The prince decided to retreat and spend the winter in Beloberezhye, where there was a Russian settlement. Perhaps he was hoping for help from Kyiv. But if so, then his hopes were not destined to come true. The people of Kiev were unable (or perhaps did not want?) to come to the rescue of their prince. The bread received from the Byzantines was soon eaten.
The local population did not have food supplies sufficient to feed the rest of Svyatoslav’s army. Hunger began. “And they paid half a hryvnia for a horse’s head,” the chronicler testifies to the famine in Beloberezh. This is a lot of money. But, obviously, Svyatoslav’s soldiers still had enough gold and silver. The Pechenegs did not leave.
The end of winter - the beginning of spring 972. THE DEATH OF THE RUSSIAN PRINCE SVYATOSLAV.
The last battle of Prince Svyatoslav
No longer able to remain at the mouth of the Dnieper, the Rus made a desperate attempt to break through the Pecheneg ambush. It seems the exhausted people were put in stalemate- in the spring, even if they wanted to bypass the dangerous place by abandoning their rooks, they could no longer do this due to the lack of knights (which were eaten). Perhaps the prince was waiting for spring, hoping that during the spring flood the rapids would become passable and he would be able to escape the ambush while preserving the spoils. The result was sad - most of the Russian army was killed by the nomads, and Svyatoslav himself fell in the battle.
“And Kurya, the prince of the Pechenegs, attacked him; and they killed Svyatoslav, and cut off his head, and made a cup out of the skull, bound the skull, and then drank from it.”
The death of Prince Svyatoslav on the Dnieper rapids
According to the legend of later chroniclers, the inscription was made on the bowl: “Seeking strangers, I destroyed my own” (or: “Desiring strangers, I destroyed my own”) - quite in the spirit of the ideas of the Kievites themselves about their enterprising prince. “And this cup is, and is kept to this day in the treasuries of the princes of Pechenezh; The princes and the princess drink from it in the palace, when they are caught, saying this: “As this man was, his forehead is, such will be the one born from us.” Also, other warriors’ skulls were sought for in silver and kept with them, drinking from them,” says another legend.
Thus ended the life of Prince Svyatoslav; This is how the lives of many Russian soldiers ended, including “ younger generation Rusov", which the prince took to war. Sveneld came to Kyiv to Yaropolk. The governor and the “remnant people” brought the sad news to Kyiv. We do not know how he managed to avoid death - whether he escaped from the Pecheneg encirclement (“by escaping in battle,” as a later chronicler put it), or moved by another, land route, leaving the prince even earlier.
According to the beliefs of the ancients, even the remains of a great warrior, and even more so a ruler, a prince, concealed his supernatural power and strength. And now, after death, the strength and power of Svyatoslav should have served not Rus', but its enemies, the Pechenegs.
Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich
There is no greater misfortune than despising your enemies.
Lao Tzu
Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich was born in 940. This date is difficult to call exact, since it differs in different sources. He was the son of the murdered Prince Igor, but in the first years after his father’s death he did not occupy the throne, since he was very young, and the country was ruled by his mother, Princess Olga.
Military campaigns
In 964, the young man’s military activity began - he led his army to the east, against the Vyatichi. After conquering this tribe, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich moved on. This time on his way was Khazar Khaganate. Previously, it was a great state, spread between the Volga and Don, but at that time the Kaganate had already lost its former greatness.
The Khazars are nomads who lived mainly by cattle breeding, agriculture, slave trading and collecting duties on ships. On the territory of the Kaganate, along the rivers piercing it, many trade routes passed, in particular Serebryan path, along which the main flow of jewelry from Asia to Europe went.
The reign of the great warrior prince began precisely with the eastern campaign, since it was extremely important that this trade route be under the control of Kievan Rus. It was important point, since Oleg also built the Tmutarakan fortress, which allowed ships to bypass Khazar territory. However, in response to this, the Khazar fortress Sarkel was built in 830, which blocked this bypass route. With the campaign to Sarkel, new campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav began. In 865, Svyatoslav Igorevich captured the Sarkel fortress, which was later renamed Belaya Vezha. Next point The movements of the army of the Russian ruler were in the northern Caucasus. On his way, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich destroyed Khazar cities. In addition, during this period of Russian rule, the Yas (Ossetians) and Circassians tribes were defeated. The eastern campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav of this period were distinguished by their success.
Hike to Bulgaria
Further activities of Rus' were adjusted by the Byzantine Empire. In 967, the emperor of Byzantium, with the help of Svyatoslav, decided to solve his long-standing problems. The Greeks wanted to punish the Bulgarians, whose lands were often used by the Hungarians for passage to Morai, in order to further threaten the Greeks. The Byzantines sent ambassadors to Kyiv with promises of rich gifts if Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich agreed to attack the Bulgarians. The ruler of Rus' was distinguished by prudence and selfishness. He accepted the ambassadors' offer and, at the head of a 60,000-strong army, moved across the Danube to Bulgaria. The campaign to the Bulgarian land was crowned with success. The Bulgarians could not fight on equal terms and surrendered. The winners captured a great deal of wealth and stayed in the city of Pereyaslaets, to the north modern city Varna.
In 968, Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs. Because of this, the further advance of the Russian troops to the West was postponed, and the prince himself was in a hurry to return to Kyiv. At the same time, an uprising broke out in Bulgaria, which was directed against the Slavs, since the local residents did not want to obey them. These uprisings were far from peaceful. The Bulgarians gathered an army, with the help of which they recaptured Pereyaslavets from the Russians. In 970, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich and his retinue went to Bulgaria and brutally punished the rebels, subjugating all of Bulgaria. With his army, he reached Adrianople, where he was met by superior forces of the Byzantines, who, fearing the possibility of a Russian army consolidating on the territory of the Bulgarians, hastened to defeat the enemy. The forces were not equal.
End of reign
Chroniclers write that there were barely more than 10,000 soldiers on the Russian side, while the Byzantines were able to gather more than 80,000 people. But Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, inspiring his army with his own courage, won the victory. The Greeks offered peace and a rich ransom. However, the following year they started a war again. The Byzantine fleet blocked the mouth of the Danube, depriving Svyatoslav's army of the possibility of retreat, and they went overland to meet the enemy.
In 871, after a long siege, the Greeks burned Pereyaslavets, destroying most of the Russian army. Grand Duke at that time he was in the city of Dorostol. There he learned the sad news, and there a decisive battle took place between the Russians and the Greeks. After a long battle, the Russian army retreated to the fortress. It was surrounded by Greek infantry from land, and Greek ships from sea. Thus began the siege of Dorostol, which lasted 2 months. During this time Russian army decreased significantly. In the decisive battle, the Greeks turned out to be stronger, and Svyatoslav was forced to leave Bulgaria and return to Rus'. On the way back, the Russian army was waylaid by the Pechenegs led by Prince Kuri, who cut off Svyatoslav’s head. This happened in 972.
Appendix 6. history teacher of Municipal Educational Institution Firovskaya Secondary School, history teacher of Municipal Educational Institution Secondary School No. 29 in Tver.
Lesson on the topic “The Campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav 964-972.” (Grade 10)
Explanatory note
This lesson is mixed type case-problematic-
design Students are given several tests to find solutions.
different types of theoretical tasks: such as creative tasks, specific
situations that guide them to formulate a problem and search for
options for its solution. The content of the material is studied in various forms, are used various methods and techniques that allow students to make choices and justify them. The lesson assumes a personal-active approach to students, since tasks are differentiated and take into account the individual capabilities of students. Creative and problematic situations provide an active learning atmosphere in the classroom. Tasks for ingenuity, comparison, and comparison lead students to independently search for and solve a learning problem.
During the lesson, the skills of systematizing and selecting information are developed with the help of supporting notes, theses and tables.
During the work, students will do next job with content:
· recording data about the situations presented - what, where, when it happened, who was included in the situation, what external conditions influenced it:
Formation of a hypothesis about what caused this condition
· students develop a program to influence the situation to achieve the desired result.
All problematic tasks encourage students to think and allow them to freely interpret their versions and reasoning.
“And went on hikes like a leopard”
Goals and objectives
· consider the main campaigns of Svyatoslav
Find out their goals, results, meaning;
Summarize what they gave to the young state;
Assess his activities;
Determine the nature of his personality.
· study:
Make a supporting summary;
Work with historical sources;
Work with the reference signal circuit;
Formulate questions and specify answers to questions;
Make concise notes when drawing up plans and notes;
Clearly present and convey information to the audience.
Educational material:
· map “Old Russian state in IX-XII;
· textbook, Buganov “History of Russia since ancient times”
· until the end of the 17th century";
· document “The Tale of Bygone Years” of the 12th century ( Handout);
· document “On the heroic defense of the city of Dorostol by the army of Prince St.
Toslava" from the work of the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon (printout)
Lesson Plan
1. Portrait of Prince Svyatoslav (based on materials from “The Tale ...”)
2. Hike to Khazaria (working with an outline map)
3. Campaigns to the Danube (reference signal diagram) 969.967g.
4. Russian-Byzantine war (work with documents of 969-971, background summary)
Lesson type- learning new material using case methodologies
During the classes
Formulation of the problem
The assessment of the activities of Prince Svyatoslav is ambiguous. Historians give different and contradictory answers.
· Rybakov: “All his campaigns were designed to solve important state problems.”
·: “Svyatoslav and his retinue left the Russian land for distant exploits, glorious for him and useless for his native land”
·: “Svyatoslav bears the example of the great Sovereign:
for he respected the glory of victories more than the welfare of the state.”
So, some consider him smart commander and wise statesman, others - a reckless adventurer scouring the steppes in search of adventure.
Exercise
Express and justify your point of view. Which historian's opinion do you share? Who is he - Prince Svyatoslav?
During the lesson, a table is filled out and discussed at the end of the lesson.
Lesson plan question 1. Portrait of Svyatoslav.
Independent work with the text of the document and completed tasks)
Assignment: Based on the materials of the chronicle, determine what character traits
the chronicler admires (orally)
Working with the document “The Tale of Bygone Years”XII V.
“In the year 964. When Svyatoslav grew up and matured, he began to collect a lot
brave warriors..., went on campaigns like a pardus (leopard) and fought a lot. IN
On campaigns he did not carry carts or cauldrons with him, did not cook meat, but thinly sliced horse meat or animal or beef and fried it on coals and ate it; didn't have
he and the tent, but slept under open air, spread a sweatshirt with a saddle in his head - all his other warriors were the same. And sent to other lands
with the words: “I want to go to you.” His clothes were white, nothing but
cleanliness is not different from others"
Suggested answer:
· gave up a warm and well-fed life, shared everything with his warriors
· hardships of camping life (harsh life);
· was always ahead of the troops, inspiring them with his example;
· on the battlefield he fought with furious cruelty, always loved to chase the enemy and sent him a daring, short, unconditional invitation to battle;
· the fact that Svyatoslav did not differ in clothing from his soldiers was not accidental; he did not want to burden himself with anything that would interfere with his life on the march;
· his squad was light, mobile, it was ready for battle at any time.
Lesson plan question 2. Campaign against Khazaria 964-966.
Task- mark on the contour map the direction of the march to the east, find out the goals, meaning, results.
Tasks:
Group 1: mark on the contour map the direction of Svyatoslav’s campaign.
Group 2: compile a summary of “The Conquest of Svyatoslav.”
Group 3: on a blank sheet of paper, mark the route of Svyatoslav’s campaign in the form of reference signals.
Question 1.
The Russian squad fought three thousand kilometers by land
and one and a half thousand along the rivers in boats. For what?
Indicate this route to Svyatoslav. Define goals, outcomes, and meaning.
Question 2.
Not only goods were transported to markets.
But slaves and captives;
It was one of the main centers of Rus'.
Exercise 1. Contour map.
Task 2. Basic summary.
March to the East - 964 Warriors r. Oka-down the Volga
964 Volzhskaya - Bulgar
Bulgaria
963 Khazar - Itil
966 Wed. Asia - Semender
966 North Caucasus - yassy, kasogi
966 B. Dona - Sarkel
Taman Peninsula - Tmutarakan - Russian shopping center
Conclusion: goal: “….it’s time to put things in order eastern neighbors"Svyatoslav decided.
Possible answers: subjugate the Vyatichi and free the trade route along
Volga from Khazars’ raids on Russian merchants; the final destruction of Khazaria.
Results and significance:
· Khazaria ceased to exist as a strong state;
· the routes to the East were open;
· Rus''s access to the Caspian Sea is ensured.
· the borders of the Old Russian state were expanded and strengthened;
· Russian shopping center became right on the sea
Tmutarakan.
Question 3 of plan point. Campaigns on the Danube 967-970.
Independent work with the text of the textbook, chronicle, and supporting notes.
Task: Determine the goals of the trip, the reasons for the successful trip, record the main events in the supporting notes.
Exercise
Group 1: independently reproduce the diagram of reference signals on a blank sheet of paper.
Group 3 should supplement the reference signal circuit at their discretion.
Returning to Kyiv, Svyatoslav did not stay there even a year. Off to new
Campaign against Bulgaria on the Danube. For what?
Question:
“I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - there is the middle of my land.”
Justify (explain) Svyatoslav’s decisions.
Possible answer options:
· hatched a plan to capture the mouth of the Danube, an important military and commercial bridgehead;
· closer to natural warmth, to rich countries;
· an area where many trade routes converged;
· “….all the blessings flow there: from Greece gold, drags, wines,
· various fruits; from the Czech Republic, Hungary - silver and horses, from Rus' - wax, honey, slaves.
Question: Who said it and why?
“You, prince, are looking for someone else’s land and taking care of it. And he left his own. Don’t you feel sorry for your fatherland, your old mother, your children?”
Why did the prince leave Bulgaria and return to Kyiv?
Suggested answer
The Byzantines bribed one of the Pecheneg hordes and it besieged Kyiv. A messenger from Rus' brought alarming news to Svyatoslav from Princess Olga and a request to come to the rescue. The prince hurried to Kyiv and defeated the Pechenegs.
Working with reference notes
Purpose of the trip: -
· transfer of the capital to Pereyaslavets;
· the union of Rus' with Bulgaria.
Conclusion: the reasons for the victory - Svyatoslav’s military talent and the combat effectiveness of his army turned out to be higher, and the enemy fled.
Results of the campaign: in 970 the last Danube campaign of St.
glory. He recaptured 80 fortresses on the Danube, including the city of Pereyaslavl. Concluded peace with Bulgaria.
Teacher: Byzantium could not allow this. The experienced Byzantine commander Emperor Tzimiskes came out against Svyatoslav with an army twice as large. So the Russian-Bulgarian war developed into the Russian-Byzantine war.
Question 4 of plan point. Russian-Byzantine War 969-971
Students' work with documents about the heroic defense of Svyatoslav's army in besieged Dorostol.
Task: extract quotes from the text, use them to draw up a plan of events, forming the main provisions in your own words.
Exercise 1.
1. Answer the questions posed, extracting quotes from the text of the document (I emphasize
2. Make a plan of events, consistently expressing your thoughts
3. Compose reference diagram signals indicating main events.
Question:“The main military operations took place near the Bulgarian fortress of Dorostol on the right bank of the Danube. It was April 23, 971. The Byzantines were approaching the city. The army of Svyatoslav was waiting for them; it stood with its shields closed and its spears outstretched.
What accompanied the conflict between Byzantium and Russia and how did it end?
Task 2
|
Where did the main battle take place? |
“At the Dorostol fortress on the right bank of the Danube” |
|
What was the balance of power? |
"One hundred thousand Byzantine army approached the city" approached the city" “...the battle on both sides was in balance” |
|
How are the soldiers armed? |
“The ballistas and catapults of the Byzantines gave no rest to the besieged” “Hundreds of projectiles flew through the walls: stones, arrows, spears, barrels of hot tar.” “The Russians chopped up the horseman with swords and axes” |
|
How did the warriors fight? |
“Both troops fought bravely, desperately, and many fell dead.” |
|
How many days did the siege of the city last? |
“2 months of siege have passed. Rare the day passed without skirmishes or battles" |
|
What decision did Svyatoslav make? |
“We have nothing to choose from. Will or we must fight against our will, we will stand strong!” |
|
What words did Svyatoslav address to the soldiers? |
“We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lie with bones, for the dead have no shame... I will go ahead of you, if my head falls, then do what you want...” |
|
What did the soldiers answer him? |
“Where your head lies, there we will lay our heads” |
|
How did the battle end? |
“The Byzantines began to retreat, a storm with rain suddenly poured through the air and upset the Ros, for the rising dust harmed the eyes...” The advance of the Russians stopped. |
|
What decision did you come to? Prince and Emperor? |
"The next day the prince and the emperor Negotiations have begun." “The Russians stop the war, leave Bulgaria, Dorostol, and release the prisoners.” The Byzantines let the squad go to the sea and give each person 2 measures of bread for the journey. |
|
Where and how did Svyatoslav die? |
“When spring came, Svyatoslav went to the rapids and ... and Kurya, the prince of Pecheneg, attacked him and killed him.” |
Task 3
To make a plan
1. Siege of the Dorostol fortress by the Byzantines
2. The beginning of the battle - storming the fortress
3. Two months of siege
4. Famine in a besieged fortress
5. Svyatoslav’s decision is to break out of encirclement
6. Preparing for the decisive battle
7. Svyatoslav’s appeal to the soldiers
8. Progress of the battle - results of the battle
9. Negotiations between the prince and the emperor
10. Terms of the 971 treaty
11. Wintering at the mouth of the Danube
12. Death of Prince Svyatoslav on the Dnieper rapids
When Svyatoslav returned, a lot of mysterious and incomprehensible things happened.
Question: Svyatoslav remained with part of his army to winter at the entrance
at the mouth of the Dnieper (the village of Berezan). The winter was hard. The warriors were starving, all the horses were eaten. What made Svyatoslav stay there during the cold winter of 971-972?
Versions
· did not want to go to Kyiv, because he wanted to leave it forever to Pereyaslavets;
· hoped, after spending the winter, to gather strength and make a new attempt to settle in Bulgaria;
· waited for Sveneld with a new squad;
· feared strong opposition from hostile forces in Kyiv.
Question: Svyatoslav, possessing military leadership talent, should have
to assume that on the way to Kyiv the Pechenegs were rampaging, who destroyed the remnants of his army. Then why did he, returning along the Dnieper, make an obvious miscalculation and send his army in groups with large
at intervals?
Reasoning: in the spring, disagreements could arise in the squad about
further plans, which led it to fragmentation into groups of like-minded people. It was impossible to control a scattered army exhausted by wintering. Well, he made spontaneous decisions without taking into account his strengths. Svyatoslav, perhaps, had no choice but to do
go sailing with one of these groups.
So sadly the exploits of Svyatoslav ended!
Conclusion
Let's sum up the results of his short reign - the war was lost, Svyatoslav was killed, the Pechenegs were not defeated. Does this mean that all the achievements of his foreign policy have been erased? This is an open question.
Who is he, Svyatoslav? Great commander or an adventurer, a reckless leader or a far-sighted politician?
Answer options (working with a table)
On the one side:
· Svyatoslav’s series of campaigns was wisely conceived and brilliantly carried out; he presented himself as a far-sighted politician who cared about the rise of Rus' and the strengthening of its international position;
· on the Danube and Volga created a favorable environment for trade because it was necessary to sell the goods collected in Polyudye. The wealth of the state depended on the development of trade;
· maintained profitable trade relations with Byzantium;
· expanded the state and strengthened the borders in the south;
· strengthened statehood, since he was the first to send his sons to the Russian lands as governors.
On the other side:
· visited Kyiv little;
· did not accept Christianity;
· did not defeat the Pechenegs;
· did not carry out reforms within the state.
Expected output:
Svyatoslav continued the work of Igor and Olga to unite the East Slavic lands. With his victories, the prince gained great glory and fame for the Russian state. Contemporaries admired his courage and fearlessness. His exploits were known far beyond Rus'. And in people's memory he remained as a brave warrior and an experienced commander.
In general, the state activity of the first Russian princes consists of three concepts: unification, trade, defense, although they are all imbued with one thing - military campaigns.
It was such a time!
Application
"The Tale of Bygone Years"
964 When Svyatoslav grew up and matured and began to gather many brave
warriors...I went on campaigns like a leopard and fought a lot.. I didn’t carry them on campaigns
He didn’t cook any pots, carts or meat for himself, but thinly sliced horse meat or animals, baked them on coals and ate them. He did not even have a tent, but he slept in the open air, placing a saddle under his head. All his other warriors were the same.
“And he sent them to other lands with the words “I want to go against you.”
He looked like this: of average height, not too tall, not too short
with thick eyebrows and blue eyes and thick long hair on his upper lip. His head was completely bare, but only on one side of it hung a lock of hair, signifying the nobility of the family. In one ear he had a gold earring, decorated with two pearls with a ruby in the middle. His clothes were white, nothing but cleanliness from others
was different.
The Khazars found clearings in the forests and said: “Pay us tribute.” The clearing thought and gave each hut a sword. The Khazars bore this tribute to their prince
sons and elders. The Khazar elders said: “This tribute is not good, we
They searched for her with one-sided weapons - sabers, but these weapons have both sides -
sharp - with swords they will take tribute from us and from others, which is what happened.”
967 Svyatoslav went to the Danube to attack the Bulgarians. And both sides fought, and Svyatoslav defeated the Bulgarians, and took 80 of their cities along the Danube, and sat down to reign
there in Pereyaslavets, taking tribute from the Greeks.
968 You, the prince of a foreign land, are looking for and caring about it, but have left your own,
and we were almost taken by the Pechenegs and your mother and your children. If you don't receive
If you come and don’t protect us, they will take us. Don't you feel sorry for your homeland?
his own, his old mother and his children. Hearing this, Svyatoslav and his retinue mounted their horses and returned to Kyiv and drove the Pechenegs into the field and peace came.
969 I don’t like to sit in Kiev, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - there is the middle of my land, all the good things flow here: gold, wine, various fruits from Greece, silver and horses from the Czech Republic and Hungary, wax and honey and slaves from Rus'... . Olga responded to this: “Don’t you see that I’m already sick, where do you want to go from me? At least bury me, and then go wherever you want.”
In the year 971. The troops converged, and a strong battle began, which lasted for a long time on both sides.
the sides were in balance. The Rosses fought desperately, quite a few from both
both sides fell dead.
There are 971 per year. We have nothing to choose from. Willingly or unwillingly we must
fight. Let us not disgrace the Russian land, let us lie down with our bones. I'll lead the way
you, if my head falls, then do what you want! And the warriors shouted
in response: “Where your head lies, there we will lay our heads!”
971 The Russians left the city, formed a solid phalanx and
Having stretched out their spears, they decided to go to the feat. With a loud and wild cry, bro-
they attacked the enemy. They stabbed them with spears, hit their horses with arrows and knocked the riders to the ground! Frightened by their extraordinary onslaught
The Romans began to retreat. A sudden storm of rain pouring through the air
upset the Russians, because the rising dust harmed their eyes. Offensive
Russians stopped.