Why Tatar-Mongols, winning huge expanses of Eurasia (from China to Russia), unexpectedly ceased to "Go to the last sea" and spared Western Europe? One of the most important mysteries of world history is not yet an unequivocal explanation. Recently, scientists, relying on the chronicle sources and the "archives" of nature itself (wood rings), recreated the microclimate of Eastern Europe and pointed to the decisive role of the natural factors of the Mongolian strategy. Cold and rainy Spring 1242 years old, the fear of the middlenayan plain, together with the looting of the region, made it difficult to supply the army, and as a result, Mongols preferred not to risk, returning to South Russian steppes. The relationship between climate, politicians and military affairs in the XIII century historians reflected on the pages of the Scientific Reports magazine.

Gogh and Magog attack

The task to conquer the Polovtsy and get to Kiev, I set even Changis-Khan (in 1221), however, they began to realize these plans to Mongols only under his son Ugrian, after Kurulta (Congress Khanov) 1235. The army was moved under the command of Batu (Batya), the grandson of the Genghis-Khan and the experienced commander of the subedey - about 70 thousand people. Details of the campaign to the northeastern and South Rus are well known to everyone since school bench. After the burning of Kiev, Baty captured the cities of South and Western Russia, to Galich and Misley, where it was located for the winter of 1240/1241.

The next goal of the Mongols is obvious - Hungary, located on the Middle Indiana Plain, the extreme western part of the great belt Eurasian steppes. In addition, it was there, to the king of white IV, the defeated polovtsy, the long-standing enemies of Tatar-Mongols convened. But the army was divided: the 30-thousandth army was victoriously passed Polish lands, defeating the Polish-German army in the battle of Legnica (April 9). However, Mongols did not move to Germany, they turned themselves to the south and were in Hungary through Moravia - where the main forces of nomads were invaded.

Image: Nature.

The Batu body was moving through the brass passage in the carpathians, the cadan housing - through Moldova and Transylvania, a squad of a bucket - southern way, through Valachia. Such a construction was planned by Subemeth - to force the Hungarians to crush their strength and break them in parts. The main subemetic forces went slower, acting as a reserve. After the capture of many cities and complex maneuvers, on April 11, the Mongols of the Nedola was divided by the Hungarian-Croatian army on the Shaio River and began to administrative restructuring of the conquered part of Hungary.

Resting for several months, in the winter of 1242, the Army Batu crossed the frozen Danube and began the siege of the cities, and Cadan's Corpus went to ruin Croatia, where the Hungarian king was hidden. However, the Dalmatian Fortress Clis Mongolas did not submit. In the spring of 1242, by unidentified until now, the reasons, Baty and Subedei turned back and through Bosnia, Serbia and Bulgaria returned to South Russian Steppes.

Mystery of retreat

What caused Mongols to stop her victorious invasion of deep into Europe and even leave the won Hungary, where did they have already appointed Baskakov (Dani's collectors) and minted a coin? Most often, the retreat of Batu is explained by the sustainable death of Khan Ugheday in December 1241 - Genghisid wanted to arrive as soon as possible on Kurultay in Mongolia to participate in the elections of the Great Khan. However, against this hypothesis, the fact that Batu did not get to Kurulta, but remained on the territory of his ulus (the future golden horde).

It is believed that Tatar-Mongols and were not going to conquer Europe, but they just wanted to show their enemies-Polovtsy, already broken under the river Kalka. Kypchakov covered the Hungarian king, who ignored the requirements of the Mongols to issue them. In favor of this version, the targeted hunt between Batu on Belo IV, to persecute which in the winter of 1242, a whole building was isolated. However, this version does not explain why Mongols began to include Hungary in their state and why then left this project.

The explanations of a military nature are more substantiated: the complexity of taking fortresses in the contemporary part of Hungary, large losses in the lively strength and pneneon plain poverty, which is not able to feed the troops, forced the Mongols to turn back. However, Avar and Hungarians three or four centuries ago, all this did not stop.

Dirt, slush and cripples

The authors of the new research rightly indicate too much the nature of all these explanations. To understand the logic of Batu and Subeda, you need to at least clearly imagine geography, climate and weather 1240-1242 at the Theater of Military Action. Mongolian military leaders were extremely closely followed by natural conditions (it is known to be a letter to Khan Hulag by the French king) - and scientists admit that fast climatic shifts affected both the successful conquest of Hungary and on the decision to leave her a year later.

Image: Széchényi National Library, Budapest

So, in the spring-autumn of 1241, the Mongols move quickly through the Hungarian lands, capturing one fortress after another. Nobody rendered organized resistance to the invaders, and they were freely robbed, killed and captured the local population. Summer was early (the chronicle mentions the heat during the battle on the Shaio River - April 11) and warm. In the chronicles it is said that the Mongols did not burn cereals in the fields, shouted fruit trees and did not kill peasants collecting harvest. That is, they did not turn agricultural land into pastures because their horses did not have a flaw in the stern.

But the cold and snowy winter of 1242 came early. At first she helped Mongolam: Danube frozen, nomads crossed the river and started the siege of the Forms of Bella IV (usually the campaigns were not started in winter). But luck from them turned away: because of the early thaws, they could not take a whisferer. "Snow and ice melted, and the swampy terrain around the city became impregnable," writes a Hungarian chronicle. Because of the same impassive dirt, the Cadan Case sent to Dalmatia was forced to retreat from the town of Trogir.

Soilists are known that Hungary's lowlands are very easily flooded. If the winter is snowy, and spring rainy, then extensive plains quickly turn into a swamp. By the way, the Hungarian steppes were "dried" only in the XIX century, thanks to the drainage projects of the Habsburgs - before this spring spills of numerous rivers were formed by multi-kilometer swamps. Top and dirt reduced the effectiveness of siege guns and reduced the mobility of the cavalry.

Image: Nature.

Cold rainy spring, later the appearance of grass and the fever of the plains sharply reduced pasture area - Mongolian horses, and so weakened severe winter, lacked feed. Mongols realized that a large harvest in 1242 would not have to wait. So it came out: the autumn in Hungary broke out a terrible hunger.

So the decision of the Mongols to retreat is quite reasonable. Weather conditions influenced the choice of route to return to South Russian Steps - through Serbia and Bulgaria. The Batu's army preferent prior to wetlands, the boat preferred and high mountains along the foothills of the Carpathians.

History drive climatic anomalies?

"In my opinion, it is enough to rashly explain the stop of Mongolian promotion to Europe two-year weather anomaly. The Mongols for decades were the conquest war in extremely unfavorable climatic conditions, their troops were operated on in areas that are poorly suitable or completely unsuitable for actions for the actions of Connection (South China, Afghanistan, Burma, Kashmir), and even organized maritime expeditions (failed invasion of Java).

Historian Alexey Kupriyanov specifically for "tape.ru": It should be noted that the victories in these campaigns of the Mongols have gained through local allies and auxiliary detachments scored from local natives using conquered territories as a base for further expeditions. At the invasion of Europe, the Mongols had no one to lean to whom: they lay the ruined South Russian steppes and burned cities (one of the few exceptions was the Bolokhovsky land, the princes of which concluded the Union with the Mongols in exchange for the supply of forage), the army was exhausted by a long campaign, Time as before them was densely saturated with fortified cities and castles Western Europe with the militant population. At the same time, the struggle for power began in the Mongolian Empire, and in these conditions Batu-Khan, naturally, preferred to return to the banks of the Volga and start the arrangement of his ulus. Therefore, from my point of view, to refuse traditional theory in favor of the "climate" hypothesis is too early. "

When recreating "weather history" of the Western campaign, the authors of the article were not limited to random facts from medieval chronicles. Data on the rings of the trees of Northern Scandinavia, the Central Eastern Alps, Romanian Carpathians and Russian Altai helped determine the summer temperature in Europe for 1230-1250 years. Judging by the mountains closest to Hungary, in 1238-1241, the summer was long and hot - this, in particular, could attract Mongols there. However, 1242-1244 are characterized by colder summer. Moreover, in 1242, in the territory of the Czech Republic, Southern Poland, Western Slovakia, North-Western Hungary and East Austria - and only there, on the territory of the conflict - the anomalous amount of precipitation fell.

Scientists emphasize that the influence of the climate on history is not total and static, but random and dynamic. So, the fleeting anomaly of 1242 years (cold spring plus a lot of precipitation) played a rather serious role to make the Mongols - who have always been distinguished by the flexibility of their goals and tasks - decided not to go across, and retreat, saving people and horses. Similarly, twice the Mongolian fleet near the coast of Japan Typhoon ("Kamikadze", the divine wind), were removed this country from conquest at the end of the 13th century.

One way or another, Tatar-Mongols were limited in the west of South Russian steppes. Scientists carefully note: finally establish, nomads retreated due to political factors (death of the UGDEY) or deciding that Hungarian lands, too vulnerable to weather fluctuations, do not suit them as a bridgehead (and the rear base), until it is impossible. It is worth more carefully studying the Wednesday of the XIII century: for example, to design the fortress deposited by the Mongols (and the dirt from their walls), to deal with the state of the rivers and swamps of the Panneon Plain - and other regions of Eurasia, according to which the Mongols passed (including Rus).

However, in 1231-1234, Mongols won the second war with Jin, and the movement to the West of the United's forces of all uluses begins immediately after the decision of Kurultaya 1235, which took place in the vicinity of modern Nerchinsk, on the banks of the Oneon.

In modern historical literature, the dominant is the assessment of the total number of Mongolian troops in the western campaign: 120-140 thousand years, 150 thousand soldiers, but according to some estimates (L. N. Gumilev, N. I. Veselovsky) initially amounted to 30-40 thousand . Warriors, since part of the troops was engaged in the suppression of Muslims in Persia.

The number of the Mongolian army in the Western campaign is also estimated at approximately 60 thousand people at the time of the start of the campaign, 40 thousand people after the care of Menhu and Goyuk in Mongolia (taking into account the loss of Mongols in the battles with Russian principalities, Poland, Bulgarians, Bashkirs, Asami, Mordeva, and etc. + Involutionary troops of his uluses Mengu and Goojuk after graduating from a hike on Russia) and about 30 thousand during a hike in Hungary.

The Bulgarian left without allies could not effectively confront a new attack. Realizing this, at first, her ruling circles also tried to come to an agreement with conquerors. As Rashid Ad-Dean writes, Mongols:

The cities of Bulgar, Bilar, Kernek, Zhukotin, Suvavo were burned. Later, Bulgarian refugees were adopted by Yuri Vsevolodovich Vladimir and settlers in Volzhsky cities.

At the same time, part of the Mongolian troops led by Munke and Bucheck led to the submission of Polovtsy and Alan in the lower times of the Volga. Rashid Ad-Dean writes about the captured in the summer of 1237 (in the summer of 1238, according to R. P. P. Strapachevsky), the head of Polovtsy resistance, captured at one of the Volga Islands: "Bachman begged to Menhu Kan [himself] his blessing handle brought his business to the end; He [Mengu-Kaan] gave an indication that his brother Buchek ruined Bachman's bachman. "

Hike to Northeast Rus (1237-1238)

The Hungarian missionary Brother Julian reports that in the fall of 1236, the entire Mongolian army was divided into four parts, three of which were preparing for the invasion of Russia:

Now, being at the borders of Russia, we closely learned the actual truth that the whole army going to the countries of the West was divided into four parts. One part of the Ethyl River (Volga) on the borders of Russia from the eastern edge approached Suzdal. The other part in the southern direction has already attacked the borders of Ryazan, another Russian principality. The third part stopped against the Don River, near the castle OverheruchAlso the principalities of Russians. They, as the Russians themselves passed to us, who fled to them, are waiting for the land, rivers and swamps with the coming of the near winter, after which the entire Tatar will easily plunder all Russia, the whole country of Russians.

when the Tatars came, the moms that all fled to the seashore were entered into this land in such a huge amount that they devoured each other mutually, the living dead, as I was told by a certain merchant; Living devoured and ruined with teeth raw meat dead, like dogs - corpses

In the summer of the same 1238, the brother of Batya Berk, who acted independently, captured three Polovetsky military leaders.

In winter, 1238/39 according to the Tver Chronicles, the dating of which confirms L. V. Cherepnin, a new trip was held in the Volga-Oksky region. It is also reported in the Lavrentiev Chronicles:

For winter. Tatarov, Mordovskaya Earth. And Murom̑ Faiga. And according to the closis. And hail of the village. Gorokhovets Faiga. and ourselves okosha in Stanı

It is not quite clear whether it is in the chronicle of the same campaign, which has already been mentioned by Rashid Ad-Din under 1237, or it was a new offensive of the Mongols. If the second assumption is true, then the goal at this stage was probably the land of Erzi, whose prince refused to conquer Mongols back in 1236. In any case, the Tver Chronicle indicates that this campaign made a separate ("Inland Tatarov Batiev") from the main forces Batiya Corpus: "In the summer 6747 ... Ambassador of Tatarov and Tatarov, Tatarovy Mordwy, and Murom, and Gorodets, Tatar, and Moore, and Gardee Radil Vizard, and Grade of the Virgin Virgin Vladimirskya. That is, in addition to Mordovskaya lands, Mongols plundered and neighboring Russian lands, which, apparently, were not injured during the winter campaign, 1237-1238: Murom, Gorokhal, Nizhny Novgorod and Gorokhovets.

we see degrees. Seeing his beauty. And the Majesty was sent to the village of his own to Mikhailou and Korzhan. Hotѧ e. Presente.

The city of Chernigov Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich answered at the time of the city of Chernihivsky Prince then refusal to the peaceful offers of Mongols. A new attempt to master Kiev was undertaken by Mongols almost a year later.

Hike to Central Europe through South Rus (1240-1242)

The hull under the leadership of a dropping in the spring of 1240 was sent through Derbent to the south, to help the Mongolian troops operating in the Transcaucasus. At about the same time, Batie decided to send home Munke, GUUK and storms, the relationship with which he did not have. According to the innermost legend of Mongols in the summer of 1240, they were already in Mongolia. The remaining troops conducted regrouping, replenished with the midst and the Volga peoples.

Hike against Daniel Galitsky (1240)

The next goal of the Mongols became Russian lands on the right bank of the Dnieper. By 1240, most of them (Galitsky, Volynskoye, Kiev, and also, allegedly - the Turkish Principality) were combined under the rule of the sons of Volyn Prince Roman Mstislavich: Daniel and Vasilka.

Not considering itself able to independently resist the Mongols, on the eve of the invasion (that is, approximately 1240) Daniel went to Hungary, probably trying to lean the King Belo IV to help him. Without having achieved his own, he according to the Ipatiev Chronicle:

... Round from the king, and came to the Synevolodskoye, in the monastery of the Holy Virgin ... and returned back to the Ugry, because it could not go to Russian land, because there was little squads with him.

Later he moved to Poland: first in Sandomiir (where he met with his family), and then in Mazovia, to his ally a conducer. The brother Daniel Vasilko was also there. The princes remained in Mazovia until they learned about the departure of the Mongols from their lands.

brotherly His Sulfur Voivodel. Oour. and Baiddle. Biruy Kaidan. Bechak. and annihi. And Kyuby (...) is not omnory. But Bѣ of the Governor of his Perf. Segodѧi richoj. And Bowlunydai Bagatyr izh Bulgarian Earth. And co-owned. Inѣh Bezheisl Voevod.

Mongol's offensive began with the conquest of the piglets - the area of \u200b\u200bthe black hoods dependent on the Kiev princes. After the piglets, Mongolian troops were besieged Kiev. The defense of Kiev was led by a thousand Dmitr.

Regarding the timing and duration of the siege of Kiev in the sources there is a contradiction. The main source for the events of the siege - the Ipatiev chronicle - does not contain any dates. Lavrentievsky chronicle under 1240 reports that Kiev was taken by the Mongols " before Rzhs̑tva GS̑N. on Nikolin Dn҃"- that is, on December 6th. At the same time, according to a relatively late (XV century), the chronicle of Abrahamki Osada Kiev lasted 74 days from September 5 to November 19: " priose Tatarov Kieyev, the sepital 5, and standing 10 weeks and 4 days, and barely taking it, November 19, in the raced».

According to the modern researcher R. Marshall:

For the winter, the Batie is located near the motley - at his springboard to Europe. The question arose: where and when to make the next attack? From the point of view of common sense, it should be chosen for the campaign better weather and wait for spring. The obvious goal was Poland, which was now in the immediate vicinity of the Mongolian troops. But the Baty and subedei kept a much more complex campaign plan in the head

The main strike of the new campaign was decided to apply in Hungary.

One way or another, but the remaining troops were divided into several buildings and in 1241 continued their goal to the West.

Hike to Poland and Moravia (1241)

Mongolian troops highlighted for a trip to Poland (according to R. Sustachevsky there were 3 tumen) He headed Baidar and the Horde: Ohibaya Karpaty from the north, they proceeded to Poland through the southern part of the Beresheska land. There are information about the destruction of the Mongols of Borsery. In January 1241, they captured Lublin and vigor. February 13, 1241 fell Sandomir. On the same day, they defeated the Malopolian militia under the Turkish. Krakow troops Governors Vladislav Klemens and Sandomiroshi - Pakoslav's Governors and Castelan Yakub Ratibovich tried to close the way to Krakow, but were broken, respectively, under Khmelnik (Schidlovse) on March 18 and under the top March 19. On March 22, Mongols took Krakow, and then by life. Krakow Prince Boleslav V with his mother fled to Hungary, and then hid for some time at the Tsistercian monastery in Moravia.

In early April, Mongols via Raciborz and Opole broke through Wroclaw, whose residents fled, after which Posad was burned by the warriors of the Silesian Prince. On April 9, in the battle under the league, the Polish-German army Henry Piously suffered a terrible defeat. Taking advantage of the death of Heinrich, Konrad Mazovsky took Krakow. Czech troops led by the King of Wenceslas I for 1 day were late under the lender and were directed to the puddles in the alleged path of the Mongols.

Military actions in Hungary and Croatia (1241-1242)

Highlynunay's lowland occupying Hungary is an organic continuation of South Russian steppes and long before Mongols attracted the attention of various nomadic peoples (Gunns, Avars, Hungarians), wishing to settle in close proximity to European states with a settled population. It is in this region that the carpathia through the Valahius or forcing them through various mountain passes) and was sent to the main blow of Mongolian troops.

It is noteworthy in the light of the Daniel relationship with Belaya IV looks like the Council of the Mongols of the Kiev Mongoli Dmitra Batyu:

According to his results, the king fled under the protection of the Austrian Duke Friedrich II, and under the rule of Mongols, the whole of the Sannaya part of the Hungarian kingdom was. Having finished the persecution of Hungarians in Pesta, Mongols began to organize a temporary administration on a conquered territory: all lands were divided into district, at the head of which officials stood, in their functions close to the French Balle.

The disadvantage of Hungary prompted the emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire of Friedrich II Gogyenstaofen (as early as 1239, the retired dad

Plan
Introduction
1 prehistory
2 First Stage (1236-1237)
3 Second Stage (1237-1238)
4 Third Stage (1238-1239)
5 Fourth Stage (1239-1240)
6 Fifth Stage (1240-1242)
6.1 Actions of the Northern Corps
6.2 South Corps
6.3 Return to the East

9 Bibliography
9.1 Sources

Introduction

Western travel of Mongols ( Kipchak's hike) - the campaign of the Mongolian Empire troops in Eastern Europe in 1236-1242. Heading with Genghisid Batuem and the commander of Subedem.

1. Prehistory

For the first time, the task of conquering Kipchakov, as well as the task of walking to the city of Kiev, was supplied by Changiz-Khan Subedey in 1221:

After the victory in the battle on the river Kalka (above Mi-Chi-Lao, that is, Mstislavami) Mongols refused to go plan to Kiev and suffered a defeat from the Volga Bulgar to the East in 1224.

Genghis Khan handed over to his son Juchi " the country of Kipchakov"(Polovtsy) and instructed him to take care of the expansion of possessions, including at the expense of Russian lands. After Dzhuchi's death in 1227, the land of his ulus passes to his son - Batu. Great Khan became the son of Genghis Khan Ugtei. Persian historian Rashid Ad-Dean writes that Ughedei " in pursuance of the decree given by Genghis Khan in the name of Juci, instructed the conquest of the northern countries to members of his house».

In 1228-1229, going to the throne, Ughedyi sends two 30,000-wing buildings to the West (at the same time the Mongolian troops operate on other fronts). One, led by Choremagan, the south of the Caspian Sea against the last Khorezm-Shaha Jelal Ad-Dina (failed and died in 1231), in Horacean and Iraq. Another, led by Subedem and Kokosham, the north of the Caspian Sea against Kipchak and Volga Bulgars, who suffer defeat in the Battle of the Yaik River already in 1229 (and in 1232 It is appropriate to Tatarov and wintering not reached the Great Grade Bulgarianskago).

"Faithful legend" in relation to the period 1228-1229 reports that Ughedei

However, in 1231-1234, Mongols wondered the second war with Jin, and the movement to the West of the United's forces of all uluses begins immediately after the decision of Kurultaya 1235.

Similarly (30-40 thousand people.) Assesses the number of Mongolian troops Gumilev L. N .. In modern historical literature, another assessment of the total number of Mongolian troops in the Western campaign: 120-140 thousand years, 150 thousand soldiers

Initially, Ugteja himself planned to head the Kipchak's campaign, but Munke dissuaded him. In addition to Batya, the following Gengizids participated in the campaign: the sons of Jucci Horde-jn, Shiban, Tangkut and Berk, grandson Chagatai storms and son Chagatai Baidar, Sons of Ugheda Gueuk and Kadan, Sons Toluja Mcane and Buchek, son Chingishahan Kuulkhan, Grandfather.

First stage (1236-1237)

The troops sent to the help of Juchidam made a trip in the spring of 1236 and in the fall within the Volga Bulgaria joined the battle. The city of Bulgar, Bilac, Kernek, Zhukotin, Svwavin scattered ashes.

Bulgarian refugees were adopted by Yuri Vsevolodovich Vladimir and settlers in Volzhsky cities. Rashid-ad-DIN attributes the surroundings and defeat of the camp of "Bulars" by Batym and Shiban at a large river to events in the Volga Bulgaria, the version of the independent conquest of Bulgaria by Juchidami and the Munke hull movement was already in 1236 more southern route, in Polovtsy steppes. Jowney "Kelars and Bashchiks, the numerous people of Christian confession, who say, lives next to Franks" opposed the Mongols after the Mongolian invasion on Russia, presumably we are talking about the battle on the Shaio River in Hungary in the spring of 1241.

After the defeat of the Bulgaria, in the spring and summer of 1237, the troops led by Batym, Horde, Burke, Goyukuk, Kadanan, Storms and Click invaded the Earth of Bartas and Mordv. Hungarian monk-missionary, Dominican Julian, who preached in Polovtsy steppes, writes about one of the princes " mordukanov"(Mordva), which," performing on the same day ..., with all his people and family ... Submitted by Tatars" In the annals of the Wayverley Monastery under 1239, it contains the "Message of the Hungarian Bishop Bishop Paris about the Tatars," which says: "... On the way ahead of them (Tatars), some tribes, referred to as the face, who are destroyed by people who will meet" without disagreement.. On the first replenishment of the Mongolian troops at the expense of the defeated Polovtsy and the Volga peoples before the campaign on the northeast Russia also reports Foma Splitsky.

Munke and Buchek moved from Bulgaria south in the Polovtsy steppes with two banks of the Volga. Polovtsy Khan Kotyan Sutoevich together with 40 thousand of their people Gone to Hungary. Rashid Ad-Dean writes about the captured in the summer of 1237 (in the summer of 1238, according to R. P. P. Strapachevsky), the head of Polovtsy resistance, captured at one of the Volga Islands: "Bachman begged to Menhu Kan [himself] his blessing handle brought his business to the end; He [Menhu Kaan] gave an indication that his brother Buchek destroy Bachman's bachman "and speaks of the first clash with Alans - the North Caucasian people.

Second Stage (1237-1238)

Julian reports that in the fall of 1237, the Mongolian army was divided into four parts, three of whom were preparing for the invasion of Russia in winter: "Now, being at the borders of Russia, we have closely learned the actual truth that the entire army coming In the countries of the West, divided into four parts. One part of the Ethyl River (Volga) on the borders of Russia from the eastern edge approached Suzdal. The other part in the southern direction has already attacked the borders of Ryazan, another Russian principality. The third part stopped against the Don River, near the castle OverheruchAlso the principalities of Russians. They, as the Russians, Hungarians and Bulgarians who fled to them, waiting for us, waiting for the land, rivers and swamps with the onset of the near winter, after which the whole set of Tatars will easily plunder all Russia, the whole country of Russians. "

According to Rashid-Ad-Dina (and the Chinese "Mongol History"), Munke participated in the campaign to Northeast Rus. He calls him later "Kaan" and tells about how he "personally committed the henichrs, until they broke their [Russian]." What significance of the Gengizids are attached to the conquest of Russians, the monologue of Ugride is testified to the GUUKA, dissatisfied with the Batiev leadership.

After the defeat of the troops of the Ryazan Principality, Mongols took Ryazan on December 21, 1237, after the battle of Kolomna with the connected forces of Northeast Russia, in the first days of January 1238, in which the son of Genghis Khaulhan died, Kolomna fell. Then the Mongolian army was overtaken by the detachment of Evpathy Kolovrat returned from Chernigov. Moscow was most resistant to Mongols (taken on January 20), Vladimir (February 7), Pereslavl-Zalessky, Tver, Torzok (March 5), Kozelsk (beginning of May 1238). In early March 1238, the minor forces of Mongols, thanks to the factor of surprise, were able to destroy the United Russian army in the parking lot and kill the Grand Duke Yuri Vsevolodovich Vladimirsky in the battle of City. Great Novgorod was not reached, the largest city of the northern part of the Volga Trading Road.

Third Stage (1238-1239)

Perhaps in the summer of 1238 (and not in the summer of 1237), a munke and buccs of the Polovtsy uprising and a victory over Alans occurred. The next action of the southern corps of the munke (together with the day) was victory over Circassians (Western neighbors of Alanov) and the killing of their ruler at the end of 1238.

At the turn of 1238-1239 in the Volga region began the uprising of the Volga Bulgar and Morder. Rashid-Ad-Dean writes about Bulgarians:

There was a new invasion of the land of Northeast Russia (ruined the surroundings of Nizhny Novgorod, Gorokhal, Gorokhovets, Murom, Ryazan secondary).

Burke, sent to the West against Polovtsy, was captured by three Polovtsovsky military leaders and on March 3, 1239, Pereyaslavl-South - possession of Vladimir Princes, which, when traveling Daniel Galitsky to Batyu in 1245 was located under the immediate authority of the Golden Horde. Presumably, in the same position, until 1252, the Ryazan principality turned out to be released, while the wounded and captured in December 1237 (see Ingvarevich) survived from Ryazan princes during invasion, Oleg Ingvarevich Red.

Fourth stage (1239-1240)

In the autumn of 1239, Mongols sent a blow to the ownership of Mikhail Vsevolodovich Chernigov and Kiev. Chernigov was besieged by the Mongols of October 18, 1239 and taken with the use of powerful siege techniques. During the siege to help the city, the army came up with the head of Mstislav Glebovich, Mikhail's cousin, but was defeated. After the fall of Chernigov, Mongols did not go to the north - archaeological studies have shown that love (in the north) was not touched, but the land and cities along the gums and the Sejm were looted and ruined, including Putuft, Glukhov, Vyrka and Rylsk. According to one of the versions, the campaign to the Chernihiv Principality led Munke.

At the end of 1239, the army of the Guyuk, Munke, Storm, and Kadana launched an offensive on the city of Minkas (M.K.S., Me-Tse-sy). According to Rashid-Ad-Dean, the siege of the city lasted one month 15 days. According to Juzzy, the city was rich and multilingual, its surroundings are covered with swamps and dense forest, he was taken by Gengizis together for several days and became an extreme point of promoting Mongol's troops in Russia. The Chinese "Yuan-Shi" calls Me-Tse-Si Alan city and clarifies that the siege began at the end of November-early December 1239 and lasted 3 months.

Schiban, Buchek and Storms (it is mentioned in the Siege of Mininkas) on December 26, 1239, they took Surezh in the Crimea.

Munke approached the Dnieper opposite Kiev (R. P. Stochavsky, a supporter of the Siege of Munke Munkas in the North Caucasus, dates this event of the winter of 6748. Not earlier than February-March 1240 and calls the reconnaissance), sent to the city the Embassy demanding For delivery, but the embassy was destroyed by the Kiev. Mikhail Vsevolodovich (together with Mstislav Glebovich) went to Hungary, trying to suck the daughter of the Hungarian king Bellai IV Anna for his son Rostislav (unsuccessful), then to Poland to Conrad Mazowieckom.

Conquer by the beginning of the 1240s a huge space from the Japanese Sea to the Danube, the Mongols came to Central Europe. They were ready to go further, but their promotion unexpectedly stopped.

First north

The first western campaign of Mongols was carried out in the life of Genghis Khan. His crowds victory over the united Russian-Polovtsy army in the battle at Kalka in 1223. But the subsequent defeat of a weakened Mongolian army from the Volga Bulgaria for a while postponing the expansion of the empire to the West.

In 1227, Great Khan dies, but it continues to live him. In the Persian historian Rashid-Ad-Dina, we encounter such words: "In pursuance of the Decree given by Genghis Khan in the name of Juchi (Senior Son), he instructed the conquest of the northern countries to members of his house."

From 1234, the third son of Genghis Khan Utyday carefully plans a new campaign, and in 1236 a huge army is put forward to the West on some calculations reaching 150 thousand people.

He headed her Bati (Batu), but the real command is entrusted to one of the best Mongolian commander - subedea.
As soon as the rivers turn out to be ice, Mongolian cavalry begins its movement towards Russian cities. One after another capitulate Ryazan, Suzdal, Rostov, Moscow, Yaroslavl. Kozelsk is longer than others, but he is destined to fall under the onslaught of indispensable Asian Halves.

To Europe through Kiev

Genghis Khan planned to take one of the richest and most beautiful cities in Russia as early as 1223. What did not manage to Great Hanu, it turned out his sons. Kiev was besieged in September 1240, but only in December, the defenders of the city drown. After the conquest of the Kiev principality, nothing restrained the Mongolian army from the invasion to Europe.

The formal goal of the campaign to Europe was Hungary, and the task is to destroy the Polovtsy Khan Katyan, hiding there with his Horde. According to the chronicler, Bati "Thirtieth Times" suggested that the Hungarian king Bellya IV expelled from his land broken by the Mongols of Polovtsy, but every time the desperate monarch ignored this proposal.

According to some modern historians, the pursuit of Polovtsy Khan and pushed Batya and subecision to solving the conquest of Europe or at least some of its part.

However, the medieval chronicle of Ivon Narbonsky attributed to the Mongolas much more extensive plans:

"They are inflammable that they leave their homeland, in order to transfer to themselves, whose copies are famous for Cologne; That is to put the greed limit and Gordin Romans, which in antiquity they oppressed; To conquer only the barbaric and hyperborean peoples; then from fear in front of the teutons in order to humble them; to learn from the Galov to the military case; To capture fertile lands that can feed them many; That due to pilgrimage to Saint Yakov, whose final clause is Galicia. "

"Devils from the Underworld"

The main blows of the Ordane troops in Europe fell into Poland and Hungary. On the days of the first week of 1241, "Devils from the Underworld" (the Europeans called the Mongols) are almost simultaneously with the walls of Krakow and Budapest.
Interestingly, to defeat the strong European armies Mongols helped tactics, successfully tried in battle at rod.

The retreating Mongolian troops gradually lured the attacking side deep into the rear, stretching it and separated into parts. As soon as the right moment came - the main Mongol forces destroyed the scattered detachments. An important role in the victory of the horde was played by "despicable onions", so underestimated by European armies.

Thus, a 100 thousand Hungarian-Croatian army was almost completely destroyed, and the color of Polish-German knighthood was partially exterminated. Now it seemed that nothing would save Europe from Mongolian conquest.

Running power

Captured to Bati Kiev thousand Dmitra warned Hana about the transition through the Galician-Volyn lands: "Do not delay in the ground for this long time, time to you in the Ugron. If you will slow down, the earth is strong, they will gather on you and will not let your Earth let you. "

Carpathians of the troops of Batiu managed to go almost painlessly, but the right was the captive of the governor in the other. To act gradually losing their strength to the Mongols in such distant and alien to them, the lands needed extremely quickly.

According to the Russian historian S. Smirnova Rus during the Western campaign, Batya could put up to 600 thousand militia and professional warriors. But decided to fight alone each of the opposing invasions of the principalities of Palo.

The same thing concerned the European armies, which repeatedly exceeding the number of troops of Batiya, could not consolidate at the right moment.

But by the summer of 1241, Europe began to wake up. The King of Germany and the Emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire of Friedrich II in his encyclique was called "Open eyes of spiritual and bodies" and "Become a stronghold of Christianity against the fierce enemy."

However, the Germans themselves are not in a hurry to resist the Mongols, since at this time the conflicting with the Pope Friedrich II led his army on Rome.

Nevertheless, the appeal of the German king was heard. By the fall, Mongols have repeatedly tried to overcome the bridgeheads on the southern bank of the Danube and transfer hostilities into the territory of the Sacred Roman Empire, but everything is unsuccessful. In 8 miles from Vienna, having met with the United Czech-Austrian army, they were forced to retreat backwards.

Harsh land

According to the majority of domestic historians, the Mongolian army thoroughly weakened its resources when capturing the Russian lands: his ranks were about-third, and therefore it was not ready to conquer Western Europe. But there were other factors.

Even in early 1238, when attempting to seize the great Novgorod, Batiya's troops were stopped on the approaches to the city by no means a strong opponent, but a spring dismotection - Mongolian cavalry is thoroughly jerky in a wetlands. But Nature saved not only the merchant capital of Russia, but also many cities of Eastern Europe.

Imprisingly forests, wide rivers and mountain ranges often put Mongols in a difficult position, forcing the tedious multi-kilometer bypass maneuvers. Where the unprecedented speed of movement in steppe roads was played! People and horses were tired of seriously, and moreover - hungry, without receiving a long time enough food.

Death for death

Despite serious problems, with the onset of December Morozov, the Mongolian army was seriously going to advance in Europe. But unexpectedly happened: 11 December 1241 Khan Ugtei died, which opened the straight path to the Order of the GUUKU - an irreconcilable enemy of Batya. The warlord turned the main forces home.

Between Batuem and Gupuk begins the struggle for the power ending with death (or death) of the latter in 1248. For long rules and battered, soiling in 1255, also quickly left (probably poisoned) Sartak and Uralch. New Khan Burke In the coming vague time, the stability of power and calm inside the empire cares more.

On the eve of Europe, "Black Death" - a plague, which was reached on the caravan ways to the Golden Horde. Mongols will not be for a long time to Europe. Their later western trips will no longer have such a swing as they acquired with Bat.

Since at the end of the XII century, Sultan Saladin took away Jerusalem from the Crusaders, the best knights of Europe tried to return the lost shrine. However, all their efforts were fruitless. The German King Friedrich Barbarossa died towards Holy Grad. Not achieved victory and English king Richard Lion's heart. It seemed that the case of the Crusaders suffered a complete failure. All fagged to Magometan. How suddenly the rumor was separated, which the Mongolian shelves go to the east of the east to help Europeans. They said that they are Christians, hurrying to break the hated MoMetan.

But in Europe rejoiced in vain. They moved "Devils, broken from the underworld." Since then, the Europeans called the uninvited guests of the "Sons of hell." The first tartarskoe army to the West terrible commander Genghis Khan led. If the history of the conquest of Kievan Rus is known to us, then the other European campaigns of Mongols, for example, the defeat of Hungary and Poland, remained in the shadow of fires of Ryazan and Kiev.

On the day of the Palm Sunday, 1241, the devil appeared at the walls of the Polish city of Kraków. Citizens have already prepared to celebrate Easter, how suddenly the pipe suddenly. The meaning of her called was clear to anyone. A disaster was taken to the city. Mongols! The signal was cut around with a time - from the throat of the trumpeter was sticking out the arrow ... A terrible memory was left by the Mongols, like a tornade burst into the city at that festive day. They did not leave Krakow alone. Three more, in 1242,1259 and 1287, they burned it.

Amazed not only their sudden appearance, but also their appearance, their strange language. Their glory moved their cavalry. They were considered invincible. Any resistance to them was meaningless. They seemed to be demons who were elected from the underworld. Their name itself - and they were often called "Tatars" on the name of the Mongolian tribe, which inhabited Central Siberia - suggested their origin. Medieval chronicles reeddied their name to Tartara. So it imagined or rather, because the ancient Greeks called the kingdom of the dead - Tartar. That's where this invincible rhe come from!

However, not only superstitions and fear prevented Europeans to resist the Mongols. At that time, the Mongolian army was perhaps the most combat-ready in the world. In the XIII century, the European armies were made up of horse knights, closed in heavy armor, as well as hiking infantrymen - ordinary citizens and peasants. The knights were noble people; Onions they considered the weapons of commoners and fought with swords. Therefore, in Europe, any battle disintegrated into many fights. Knights of both armies, crashed into a couple, fought with each other.

In the battle with Mongols - "Wall on the wall" - it was ridiculous to talk about tactics, about military art. Let a similar principle of warfare were intelligent in Europe, when meeting with the Mongolian army, he turned out to be meaningless. The knights rushed to the knights did not disparate the rails of Asians - no, the car rolled on them, all parts of which were okay to come to each other. The Mongolian Horde swept the figurines of the knights, like a volcano lava - separate trees. They beat Mahina's rolling on them - and fever fell. Often they did not have time to even fight with someone from the Mongols one to one - they died under the sort of arrows or tried to run, arrows oversized.

This "despicable bow", rejected by knights, played a crucial role in the tactics of the Mongols. Most of their connants did not even wear armor, except for the helmet. These warriors did not think about considerable martial arts. Not approaching with the enemy, they shot it out of the onions, and the accuracy of their shooting on complete chance was amazing. In battle, they used arrows of different types. For the knights, they prepared arrows with flexible steel tips, which punched any armor. Part of the arrows was drilled, so in flight they emit such a loud whistle, which often did not stand the nerves not only in enemy horses, but also at the enemy. Spear, Arkan, the sword complemented the mongols, but they were used only when the advantage over the enemy was clearly noting and the victory is inevitable.

Usually, the Mongols were rushed into the opponent, showering his hail of arrows. When the enemy turned out to be too close, they suddenly imitated the retreat, and turning in the incenturn, just shot, not giving enemies to move from the place. Then, giving the horses to relax, they again rushed into the attack. And again the arrows flew. Almost it was "art preparation", after which he could have flown even the most resistant opponent. As soon as the latter turned to flight, heavy cavalry was going to battle. Conners in leather armor finished the enemy's tormented soldiers, the Namaum rummaged.

Before the sophisticated Mongol tactics, any crowd of knights was powerless, not tolerant of strict control. In addition, the Mongols were not only brilliant fighters, but also canceled the psychological war. Their cruelty became the arrival of the towns, but she was not at all in itself. Cutting the population of one city, which decided to give a fight, Mongols could hope that henceforth dozens of cities they are conjugated without a fight. From such cities, according to L.N. Gumileva, Mongols "charged a moderate contribution of horses for cavalry repair and edible grooves for warriors." Mongola did not leave their garrisons, therefore, "submission" was purely symbolic; After the departure of the Mongolian troops, the residents returned home and everything went old.

Won China, Khorezm and the Black Sea region, by 1227 the Mongolian ruler of Genghis Khan became a genuine "ruler of the world": Never in history did not exist such a long empire as it. Nevertheless, Genghis Khan tightly kept power in his hands. If it also taped he kept reins! He fell from the horse and crashed to death. His ambitious plans was put an end.

To avoid troubles in a country that could break out after his death, Genghis Khan took advantage of the future device of his power. He shared her for four Khanate, which herself were to edit. The most important, from a strategic point of view, was Western Khanate, stretching in the Polovytsky lands. They began to rule the grandson of Genghis Khan - Khan Bati (Batu). Subsequently, it was called the "Golden Horde".

It is from here, from the Volga steppes, the Mongols began to threaten Europe. At first, few people drew attention to their appearance, they were not considered a worthy opponent. In the meantime, the Mongolian cloaks thoroughly renewed everything about Europe and Russia. They were interested in the policy of individual principalities and states, their economy, living conditions in these countries. Preparing for war, the leaders of Mongols thoroughly designed all about their opponents who did not wait for them ...

From 1234, for two years, a trip to the West was planned. The new Great Han Ugadei sent a stoppiece army there (according to other data, the Mongolian army consisted of 30-40 thousand people, the most 50 thousand). He headed her battered, but in fact she commanded one of the best military leaders of the Mongolian Power, Subedei. Recently, in 1232-1234, he defeated the victory in China. Now it was also thoroughly preparing to defeat a series of weak, unfair princes - fragments of the mighty Kiev Rus.

The first victim of the Mongols was the Volga Bulgaria, located at the crossroads of trade routes, which was associated with Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. From here, from the shores of Volga, Mongols were preparing to conquer Russian cities, hoping to find rich prey there.

It was thirty-seventh year of the XIII century. For fourteen years before, the Mongols have already fought on the Steppe River Kalka with Russian and Polovtsy troops and broke their head alone. Then Mongols returned to their homeland. Rus received a breather. But now they did not go away.

On the eve of the new war in Russia, about five million people lived. According to the Russian historian S. Smirnova, the country could set about a hundred thousand professional warriors and about half a million militia, which was several times more than the Mongolian army. However, constant civil workers interfered with a single army. So it happened that each of the principalities fought and lifestyle.

The defeat on Kalka did not combine Russian princes and did not even alert them. The accustomed to break the nomads - that Pechenegs, that Polovtsy, they were not interested in unknown Mongols, did not try to find out their plans, to understand their thoughts. Only this can be explained, for example, the death of the Ryazan Principality.

Baty knew that Ryazan princes did not fought on Kalka, and was not going to fight with them. Going to Ryazan, he informed the princes that he intends to get food and horses for a further campaign. Subsequently, it was: the cities of Northeast Russia avoided the assault, supplying the Mongols by the province. However, Ryazan princes, as L. Gumilev noted, "not bothering to find out with whom they deal," the proudly answered: "Kill us - everything will be yours."

What did Russian princes expect to be calculated? On powerful walls of cities that do not overcome nomads? Or on the Volga - this huge natural moat, filled with water, which does not overcome nomads. They would know that the Mongols armed with Chinese assault tools took any fortress! They fired the enemy city from the ballylter and the catapult, threw it with a burning arrow, causing numerous fires, built siege towers and pierced in the walls of the Bresh. The garrisons of unprofitable fortresses and their peaceful population were always markedly exterminated. The perseverance of the recalcitrant citizens was hopeless and ordered everyone to death.

And Volga ... In December 1237, she froze. And on the ice they caught the hooves of the cavalry. Then the moxed death itself. On December 21, Ryazan fell, although her walls had a lot of Mongolian warriors. Then, during the winter, Suzdal, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Moscow. On the siege of the Russian cities, Mongols spent on average from three days before the week. Winter campaign of 1237-1238 ended on March 4, the battle on the river is to sit, where the army of the Grand Prince Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich was defeated, and he himself died.

Mongols hurried to the north. Torzhok, standing on their way, lasted two weeks and was taken only on March 23. Further, behind the forests and swamps, they were waiting for "Mr. Veliky Novgorod" - one of the richest cities in Russia and one of the European Time Trading Centers. Novgorod was a member of the Hanseatic Union, which united port cities on the Baltic and Northern Seas coast.

But then the Mongols maps confused the weather, or rather, bad weather. They did not have time to approach Novgorod to Novgorod, and soon the dishthele began. Only she saved the merchant capital. In the forest, wetland, Mongols could move only in winter - according to frozen rivers. Now their horses were drowning in monstering swamps. There were no roads. From there, Baty moved further, but, without reaching Novgorod, turned to the south and went to Kozelsk. Turn from Novgorod is made to explain to spring floods, but there is another explanation - probably the campaign did not fit in scheduled time.

Turning the troops back, the battered was detained for seven weeks near Kozelsky, whose residents had strong resistance in the invaders. After the capture of Kozelsk was nusted by Tatars with the "evil" city, and his defense became a symbol of resistance to the Mongol-Tatar invasion.

By the summer of 1238, Mongols returned to the Lower Volga. Here, in the steppe space, their army rested from the winter campaign.

In the next two years, the Mongols ruined South Rus, destroyed and burned Kiev, took Chernihiv, won Galician Rus. The war was carried out again in winter, so the great Ukrainian rivers did not interfere with the rapid transfer of troops.

All these years, until the unknown prize army was systematically planned with the largest European state, in another part of Europe - in the West - reigned amazing grace. There, too, expected the powerful walls of cities, believed in a slight victory over peckers. In the meantime, Pope was hostile to the Emperor Germanic, none of the kings made a military union, did not prepare the war with Mongols.

When the Mongolian ambassadors were killed in Poland, the Mongolian army broke into the country. Almost instantly, Polish troops were intended. In all Poland, an unprecedented panic rose. Refugee waves in horror rolled to the West. The city outside the city was captured, ruined, died. Ahead of the Mongolian columns flew by Solva, who was told about the "hundreds of thousands of enemies", going to Europe. Truly: Fear has great eyes. That's just a fight with the Mongols was really scary. Knights waited for failures.

Army from the German and Polish knights of the German and Polish knights gathered towards the enemy. She waited for Mongols near the city of Legnica. There was another army from Bohemia. He was led by the King of Vezeslav, and with him there were 50,000 soldiers. They remained to stay on the way only two days. But here, overtaking them, the advanced Mongolian squad, and there were about 20,000 people in it, "went to Legnica.

On April 9, 1241, a fight began. Stevaya, Mongols shouted in Polish: "Saw! Saw! " This familiar team led to the confusion of "international forces of rapid response" of the XIII century. Europeans were confused and were broken down by the head. The survivors fled to the west. Mongols did not pursue them. They had other plans.

Their main goal was the Hungarian steppes. Most of the Mongol Forces are three separate armies - fell on Hungary. They walked from different sides: through transylvania, Danube Valley, Central Carpathians. Under the walls of the capital of Hungary, Buda, they had to meet. The detachment leucing in Poland was obliged to be only "to protect the rear" and protect the future ownership of Mongols in Hungary from an unexpected attack from the north.

In anticipation of Mongols, the Hungarian king Bela IV collected almost a hundredsmaking army. When the enemy's advanced units appeared, the Hungarians switched to the offensive. And at first Mongols, apparently, trembled. After a few days of careful persecution of Bela IV, they will overtake them at the Shao River. While he was still lucky. He was easily discovered from Mongols a bridge over the river and even began to cross the troops to her other coast, preparing to continue the campaign. At night, he arranged a fortified camp on the bank of the river, fearing the random ribbles of the structures of the Mongols.

But this night passed calmly. But when the first rays of the Sun were to delight and illuminate the day of complete victory over the enemies, there was a thunder, which was worse than no one heard, and all the sky was flooded with fire, and the stones began to fall from above. Many gibbles, without realizing anything; Others fled in horror. So the cunning Mongols used the ballists, catapults and Chinese crackers to strange the enemy.

Under this roar, the main parts of the Mongols forced the Shaio River and surrounded the camp where the main Hungarian forces remained. Their extermination began. Stones, arrows and burning oil poured on Hungarians from all sides. They desperately tried to get out of the environment, and when in the ranks of the Mongols, suddenly formed gap, they darted into it. Hurry to escape from the battlefield, they threw armor and weapons. Probably it seemed to them that the worst was already behind.

But here the Mongolian cafia appeared on all sides and began to chop fugitives. For several hours, about 70,000 Hungarians died. The kingdom remained without an army.

Continuing to ruin Hungary, Mongols reached the Adriatic Sea. They already prepared for a long time to settle in the Hungarian steppes; already minted their coin; Already dreamed of conquering neighboring countries - Italy, Austria, as they intervened, "some historians love to say," Divine Providence. The event that happened in ten thousand kilometers from Hungary has changed the course of world history.

The great Khan Ugudei died. His heir could be his son Guyuk, an old enemy of Batya. A few years ago, he barely disappeared Batya for his hair after a quarrel. Now nothing restrained the mutual hatred of the two brothers.

Surprisingly, a military campaign is over. From the walls of Venice and Vienna, the Mongolian army moved back to the east. She stopped the conquest and began to prepare for the Civil War. Only at the cost of long negotiations managed to preserve the world in the Power.

Four years in the Mongolian capital, Karakorum, Kurultay lasted - the National Assembly, which was chosen by the new Great Khan. All this time, Mongols did not lead wars with neighbors. In the end, Greyuk was elected great Khan in January 1246, well, and Bati received to possession of land in Eastern Europe, they are also conquered.

The latter showed himself a skillful statesman. After the election of the Goyuk Great Khan, the fate of Batya seemed to be predetermined. Understanding the hopelessness of his position, he tried to enlist their support ... On the ruined Rus. His politics of recent years has facilitated him a choice. He has long refused new attacks on Russian cities; He did not leave the Mongolian garrisons in the cities, but only kept the princes of his servants - Baskakov, who were collecting tribute. Russian princes retained power over their lands and were only obliged to come to the capital of Batya to swear to loyalty. Contrary to popular misconceptions, Russia in 1241-1380 was not at all the colony of Mongolian khanov in the full sense of the word. She paid the Mongolian Khan a certain amounts of money.

Bati entered into an alliance with Alexander Nevsky, the best commander of Russia and Grand Duke in Novgorod. The son of Batya, Sartak, adopted Christianity. Batya's diplomatic efforts, his cunning and determination, helped him in the end to win a hopeless battle with his relative.

Two years later, when the armies of Batiya and the Goyuk were already preparing for war with each other, the Great Han Gueuk died. Probably poisoned by the supporters of Batya. And now he could calmly reign in his possessions.

In those days on the banks of the Volga, near the modern Astrakhan, the city of Saray-Batu spreads out, the capital of Batiya State - the Golden Horde. His Power united the Volga Bulgaria, the Polovtsy Steppes, Crimea and Western Siberia. The power of Batya extended throughout the territory from the Lower Danube to Lower Ob, from Irtysh to Neva, from the Black and Caspian Seas to the White Sea.

After the death of Batya in 1255, his brother, Berk, was switched to power. He confirmed all the rights of Alexander Nevsky, anticipating that the other heirs of Genghis Khan will soon be interreposed among themselves and he really needs Russian help. In addition, Berk suffered the capital to the north, to the modern Volgograd, in the city of Saraj-Berke. And soon he became the center of caravan trade. Saraj-Berke quickly rummaged, turning into the largest city in Europe, in which more than half a million people lived. In the Middle Ages, only Constantinople could be compared with him. Even in the famous Florence in the era of Dante and Petrorski lived a little more than one hundred thousand people.

Now at all borders of the Golden Horde, calm reigned. PAX MONGOLICA came, "Mongolian world", spreading to the whole East European Plain, Western Siberia, and soon on China. After the centuries of the civil force in the territory lying along the Great Silk Road, a single power arose - it is possible to call it "Asia without borders" - from the Carpathians to Korea.

This event strongly affected Europe. Now her merchants could trade with the most remote areas of the Eurasian continent. Up to Beijing, the path for them was opened. Venetians especially succeeded in this trading. Trade revival led to a rapid economic rise in Europe. From Asian states, goods and new information constantly arrived.

At first, the information about how people live in the countries of the East, seemed to be the Europeans with "empty taverns", "fairy tales". The most vivid example of this is the history of the merchant Marco Polo, who was first not believed after his return from China.

After several decades of the Mongolian world, Europe is experiencing a real economic and cultural revival. Especially wins from Pax Mongolica Italy - a country of large port cities, in a hurry to traded to trade with the East. On the coast of the Crimea, the colonies of Italian merchants appear - translated points of international trade of that time. Between Genoa and Venice, as well as Constantinople, who recovered from the defeat of his crusaders, even the real trade war.

But it was this neat-beam peaceful distance and destroyed the Golden Horde. According to the same roads, the caravans of the merchants recently moved, now in a hurry "black death". The invisible guest with oblique secretly nailed to one group of merchants, then to the other. Overall on the bodies. Inspected on crowded bazaars. And everywhere sowed the seeds of infection, and on the next days they collected her crop - I made one of the other human life.

On all the roads of the Golden Horde toward Europe. The idyllic world of "Asia without borders" was emptied not the war, but unprecedented by the world. It is known that in Europe for only five years, from 1347 to 1352, it became from about a third of the population, including most of the residents of Southern Italy and three-quarters of the German population.

The population of the Golden Horde is significantly reduced, although we do not know exact numbers. But it is known that after the "Great Plague" in the Golden Horde there was a troubled time. It practically decayed separate areas. From 1357 to 1380, more than 25 khans moved on the throne. From her they separated Khorezm, Zdneprovye, Astrakhan. In Malaya Asia and on the Balkan Peninsula, Turks-Ottomans began to host, breaking the path through the Black Sea Straits and significantly complicated world trade.

The next usurper, Mamay, who did not even belong to the genus of Genghisids, was defeated in the Kulikovsky battle.

The resulting disappearance of the Golden Horde was rapid. In 1395, the ruler of Samarkand Timur (Tamerlan) broke the Mongolian Khan Takhtamysh, invaded the Volga region and destroyed the Orda city, including the capital of Saraj-Berk. By this time, the Mongols were already expelled from China, where the National Ming Dynasty came to power.

So disappeared from the ground Mongolian superpower. The Golden Horde broke up into many small Hannies, most of which were alternately conquered by the Grand Princes and Kings of Moscow in the XV-XVI centuries. With the fall of the Kazan and Astrakhan Hangey under Ivan Grozny, the European part of the history of the Mongols actually ceased. Since then, the fate of Mongolia is the fate of a small country lying in the steppe and desert areas to the south of Lake Baikal, never once playing any noticeable role in world history.

Kurushin M.Yu.