The aforementioned persecution of Sultan Mohammed by the Mongols acquired important in Russian history: the first invasion of these barbarians into Rus' is associated with it. During this persecution, Jebe-Noyon and Subudai-Bagadur went far to the west, into the Caspian countries, and entered the Azerbaijan region. After the death of Mohammed, they received from Genghis Khan, along with reinforcements, permission to go from Azerbaijan further to the north to fight the countries lying beyond the Caspian and Urals, especially the Turkish people of the Kipchaks or Cumans (Cumans). The commanders crossed the Arake and Kur rivers, invaded Georgia, defeated the Georgian army and headed towards Derbent. From the ruler of Shamakhi they took ten guides who were supposed to show them the path through the Caucasus Mountains. The barbarians cut off the head of one of them, threatening to do the same to the others if they did not lead the army in better ways. But the threat had the opposite effect. The guides seized the moment and ran away at the exact time when the barbarians entered mountain gorges unknown to them. Meanwhile, some Caucasian peoples, notified of this invasion, especially the Alans and Circassians (Yas and Kasogs of the Russian chronicles), united with a detachment of Polovtsians, occupied the surrounding passes and surrounded the barbarians. The latter found themselves in a very difficult situation. But Jebe and Subudai were experienced, resourceful leaders. They sent to tell the Polovtsians that, being their fellow tribesmen, they did not want to have them as their enemies. (Turco-Tatar detachments made up the majority of the army sent to the west.) The envoys added rich gifts and a promise to share future booty to their flattering speeches. The treacherous Polovtsians were deceived and abandoned their allies. The Tatars defeated the latter and climbed out of the mountains to the northern side of the Caucasus. Here, on the steppe plains, they could freely deploy their cavalry and then began to plunder and destroy the vezhi of the Polovtsians themselves, who, relying on the concluded friendship, dispersed to their nomadic camps. They thus received a fitting retribution for their treachery.

The Polovtsians tried in vain to resist; they were constantly defeated. The Tatars spread horror and destruction to the very borders of Rus', or to the so-called Polovtsian Wall, which separated it from the steppe. In these battles, the noblest khans of Kipchak, Daniil Kobyakovich and Yuri Konchakovich, fell, who were related to Russian princes and, as we see, bore Russian names. Kotyan, who remained the oldest among the khans, with several others fled to Galich to his son-in-law Mstislav the Udal and began to beg him for help. The Galician prince was not such as to abandon military affairs, so as not to measure himself against a new, not yet tested enemy.

Winter came. The Tatars settled down to spend it in the southern Polovtsian nomadic camps. They took advantage winter time and in order to penetrate the Tauride Peninsula, where they took large booty and, among other places, destroyed the city of Sugdia (Sudak), flourishing with trade.

Meanwhile, at the request of Mstislav Mstislavich, the southern Russian princes gathered at the Diet in Kyiv in order to think in common council about the defense of the Russian land. The senior princes here were three Mstislavs: in addition to Udaly, the Kiev Grand Duke Mstislav Romanovich and Chernigov Mstislav Svyatoslavich. They were followed in seniority by Vladimir Rurikovich Smolensky. Probably, the fourth Mstislav (Yaroslavich), nicknamed Mute, the eldest of the Volyn princes, was also present here; at least he later participated in the militia. Kotyan and his comrades were also here.

The Polovtsian khans persistently asked the Russian princes to join them in taking up arms against the Tatars and gave the following argument: “If you don’t help us, then we will be beaten today, and you tomorrow.” They supported their requests with generous gifts, consisting of horses, camels, cattle and beautiful captives. One of the khans, named Basty, was baptized during the Sejm. Their most zealous intercessor was, of course, Mstislav Udaloy. “It is better to meet enemies in a foreign land than in our own,” he said. “If we do not help the Polovtsians, then they will probably go over to the side of the Tatars, and they will have even more power against us.” Finally he captivated the entire diet; a general campaign was decided. The princes dispersed to gather their regiments and meet together at the appointed places. They also sent to ask for help from the Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal Yuri Vsevolodovich. He did not refuse and sent the Suzdal squad with his nephew Vasilko Konstantinovich Rostovsky to the south. They also sent to the Ryazan princes, but for some unknown reason they did not give any help.

The campaign in the steppe, according to custom, began in the spring, in April. The main gathering place during such campaigns was near the right-bank town of Zaruba and the so-called Varyazhsky Island. Here they crossed the Dnieper on the way from Kyiv to Pereyaslavl, which lay nearby, on the other side. The cavalry came here by land, and the infantry sailed by ship. According to the chronicle, there were so many ships that the soldiers crossed them like dry land from one bank to the other. The princes of Kyiv, Smolensk, Chernigov, Seversk, Volyn and Galicia gathered here, each with his own retinue. Ambassadors from the Tatar military leaders came here to the Russian princes. The latter heard about the strong army and tried, according to their custom, to separate the allies through clever negotiations.

“We heard,” said the ambassadors, “that you are coming against us; we did not occupy your land, did not touch your cities and villages, and did not come against you, but against the Polovtsians, our slaves and grooms. Take peace with us: from us "There is no army with you. We heard that the Polovtsians are doing a lot of evil to you too. We beat them from here, and if they run to you, then beat them away from you and take their property." The trick used with the Cumans in the Caucasus Mountains was, without a doubt, already known to the Russian princes. The latter not only did not want to listen to the flattering Tatar speeches, but also, contrary to all customs, at the instigation of the Polovtsy, they ordered the ambassadors themselves to be killed. From Zarub, the militia, keeping to the right bank, moved further to the south and passed the rapids. Meanwhile, the Galician infantry, under the command of two governors, Yuri Domamirich and Derzhikrai Volodislavich, (according to the chronicler) descended down the Dniester into the sea in a thousand boats; then she climbed up the Dnieper, passed Oleshye and stopped near the rapids at the mouth of the Khortitsa River, “at the ford at the protolcha,” where she met the army; coming from above. The main Polovtsian army also arrived. The entire united militia almost reached one hundred thousand warriors. And it contained the color of the Russian tribe.

The second time Tatar envoys appeared and said: “You listened to the Polovtsians, you killed our ambassadors and are going against us; but we did not touch you in any way; let God judge us.” This time the ambassadors were released.

Meanwhile, having heard about the proximity of the advanced Tatar detachments, Daniil Romanovich Volynsky and other young princes, accompanied by Yuri Domamirich, hastened with a light squad to cross the river and galloped into the steppe to look at hitherto unseen enemies. Returning to the camp, the youth said that the Tatars looked like the simplest people, so they were “more” (worse) than the Polovtsians. But Yuri Domamirich, experienced in military affairs, argued that these were good warriors and good shooters. He persuaded the princes not to waste time and rush into the field. Bridges of rooks were built, and the troops began crossing to the left bank of the Dnieper. Mstislav Udaloy was one of the first to cross. WITH forward detachment he attacked the enemy guard regiment, defeated it, chased it far and captured a lot of cattle. The Tatar governor Gemibek hid in one of those burial mounds that are so abundant in our southern steppes, but was found. The Polovtsians begged him from Mstislav and killed him. Encouraged by this victory, the Russian princes boldly went deeper into the steppes, following the usual Zalozny route, which led to the Sea of ​​Azov. The Tatars retreated, and only the guard detachments started minor clashes from time to time. After an eight or nine day steppe campaign, the Russian army approached the shores Sea of ​​Azov. Here the Tatars stopped and chose a convenient place for themselves across the Kalka River (a tributary of the Kalmius).

The first successes and retreat of the Tatars strengthened the self-confidence and certain carelessness that already existed among the Russian people: they began to look down on the enemy, who was obviously inferior to them in both numbers and weapons. But the unanimity of the princes, as usual, did not last long; Already during the campaign, rivalries and various bickering arose. There was no general boss; but there were several senior princes, and each of them disposed of his regiments separately, having little control over the others. The state of the Russian army and its weak sides, in all likelihood, did not hide from such experienced, skillful military leaders as Jebe and Subudai, who acquired great skill in fighting and managing a wide variety of peoples. It was not for nothing that they spent the winter in the Polovtsian nomads and, no doubt, found the opportunity to find out everything they needed to know in relation to Rus' and its leaders. There is no doubt that they tried to find defectors and traitors with gifts, affection and promises, as they did in other countries. At least our chronicle mentions a free squad of Russian wanderers who, with their governor Ploskiya, ended up on Kalka in the Tatar militia. There were probably especially many defectors among the Polovtsians. When deciding to accept the battle, the Tatar governors could most of all count on Russian discord, and they were not mistaken.

The main culprit of the disaster was the same Mstislav the Udaloy, who spent his entire life in military affairs and then enjoyed the glory of the first hero in Rus'. There is no doubt that the assembled princes would have temporarily recognized his seniority and submitted to his leadership if he had any political meaning and strength of character. But this arrogant grunt not only did not bother with any military precautions, but on the contrary, considering the Tatars to be a sure prey for his sword, he was afraid that someone else would take away the glory of victory from him. Moreover, at the most decisive moment, he managed to find himself in some kind of feud with his cousin Mstislav Romanovich of Kyiv. Without warning the latter, Udaloy, apparently leading the advanced or guard army, crossed Kalka with the Galician-Volyn regiments and a detachment of Polovtsians and began to advance on the Tatars, sending ahead of him Yarun with the Polovtsians and his son-in-law Daniil Romanovich with the Volynians. The Tatars, covering themselves with shields woven from brushwood, accurately hit the attackers with arrows. The Russians cheerfully continued their attack. Daniil Romanovich especially distinguished himself in this; he cut into crowds of enemies and in the heat of the moment did not feel the wound he received in the chest. Another of the young princes, Oleg Kursky, fought with him. One of the Volyn governors (Vasilko Gavrilovich), who fought in front, was knocked off his horse. Daniil Romanovich's cousin, Mstislav Nemoy, thought that it was his nephew who fell; despite his advanced years, he rushed to his rescue and also began to hit his enemies hard. Victory seemed close. But suddenly the Tatars quickly attacked the Polovtsians; the latter could not withstand their onslaught, rushed back to the Russian regiments and threw them into confusion. The skillful enemy took a moment to, without giving time to come to his senses, inflict a complete defeat on the Galicians and Volynians. And when they fled, the Tatars attacked other Russian detachments that had not yet had time to line up for battle, and crushed them piece by piece. The remnants of the defeated militia fled back to the Dnieper.

One part of the Tatar army set out to pursue the fleeing, and the other besieged the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav Romanovich. The latter is the second, after the Galician prince, to blame for the defeat. It is not clear that he was trying to maintain the importance of his oldest table and establish unanimity in the Russian militia. On the contrary, there is news that, relying on his own regiment, he indulged in carelessness and boasted of destroying his enemies alone. He settled down on the elevated rocky bank of the Kalka and, having fenced his camp with carts, fought off the attack of the Tatars here for three days. The barbarians resorted to the usual cunning. They suggested that the Grand Duke pay for himself and retire peacefully with his regiment. Voivode Brodnik Ploskiņa swore an oath on the cross to fulfill the treaty. But as soon as the Kyivians left the fortified camp, the Tatars attacked them and carried out a merciless beating. Mstislav Romanovich and the two who were with him junior princes were strangled and thrown under the boards on which the leaders of the barbarians sat for lunch. Chroniclers say that up to ten thousand Kievites alone died on Kalka; so great was our defeat.

The Tatars, dispatched to pursue the fleeing, also managed to beat up many people and, in addition, six or seven princes; including Mstislav Chernigovsky who fell. The rest of his regiment escaped with his nephew Mikhail Vsevolodovich (later martyred in the Horde). During his flight, Vladimir Rurikovich Smolensky managed to gather several thousand people around him, fought off his enemies and went beyond the Dnieper. The main culprit of the disaster, Mstislav Udaloy, also managed to reach the Dnieper crossing together with Mstislav Nemy and Daniil Romanovich; after which he ordered the boats to be burned and chopped down to prevent the Tatars from crossing to the other side. Residents of some border towns thought to appease the barbarians and came out to meet them with crosses, but were beaten.

The barbarians, however, did not go deeper into the borders of Rus', but turned back to the Polovtsian steppe. Then they headed to the Volga, passed through the land of the Kama Bolgars, whom they also managed to inflict a great defeat on, and through the Ural steppes, rounding the Caspian Sea, they returned to Asia to their master. Thus, the Mongol conquerors experienced the condition of Eastern Europe and the paths that led to it. And they will not hesitate to take advantage of this experience.

Meanwhile, how did the Russian princes take advantage of the same experience? Have they thought about taking more effective measures to protect Rus' in the future? Not at all. The same carelessness and arrogance that preceded the Kalka defeat followed it. This disaster did not disrupt the normal course of Russian life and inter-princely relations with their petty feuds and disputes about the volosts. The Tatars disappeared into the steppes, and the Russians thought that a thunderstorm had just happened to pass by. A modern chronicler naively noted that these barbarians “no one knows well what tribe they are and where they came from. Only wise men who were well-read in books knew: some called them Tatars, others Taurmen, others Pechenegs, others considered them the same people, who, according to Methodius of Patara, was driven by Gideon into the desert between the east and the north, and before the end of the world he will appear and captivate the entire earth from the East to the Euphrates, the Tigris and to the Pontic Sea." The extent to which Russian politicians of that time knew little about the great revolutions taking place in the depths of the Asian continent, and how little they feared for the future of the Russian land, is shown by the words of the same contemporary Suzdal chronicler about Vasilko Konstantinovich Rostov. This prince was late with his northern squad: when he reached Chernigov, news of the Kalka massacre arrived here. The people of Suzdal hastened to return home, and the chronicler is very happy about such a safe return of the prince. The simple-minded scribe, of course, did not foresee what a storm was gathering over Suzdal Russia itself and what a martyrdom awaited Vasilko at the hands of the same barbarians! The words and tone of this chronicler serve as an echo of the Northern Russian society itself, in the midst of which he lived. Only later, when the Tatars imposed their heavy yoke, our ancient scribes more appreciated the unfortunate Kalka massacre and began to decorate it with some legends, for example, about the death of seventy Russian heroes, including Dobrynya of the Golden Belt and Alexander Popovich with his servant Torop.

Full Collection Rus. chronicles. Especially the Ipatiev list, identical with it the Academic and Novgorod years. To Laurent. abridged, although obviously this is a story by the same author. V. Lavrent. and Acad. The Kalka battle is given under 1223, in Ipat. and Novgorod. - under 1224. Or rather, the first year. See Kunik "On the recognition of 1223 as the time of the Battle of Kalka." (Student of the Western Academic Sciences in the 1st and 3rd departments, vol. II, issue 5. St. Petersburg. 1854. Ibidem of his notes: “On the connection of the Trebizond-Seljuk War of 1223 with the first invasion of the Tatars on the northern Black Sea region.” About the transfer of the icon of Nicholas from Korsun to Novgorod in 1223,” “On the campaign of the Tatars according to the Neibourg Chronicle,” etc.) by him: Renseignements sur les sources et recherches relatives a la premiere invasion des Tatares en Russie (Melanges Asiatiques. Vol. II. Issue 5. S-Ptrsb. 1856).

The death of 70 heroes, or “braves,” was mentioned in later vaults (Voskresensky, Nikonovsky, Tver, Novgorod fourth). The main character of the legend about them is the same Rostov hero Alexander Popovich with his servant Torop, who distinguished themselves in the Battle of Lipitsa. The legend (placed in the Tver vault) goes like this: after the death of Konstantin Vsevolodovich of Rostov, this Alexander gathered other heroes and persuaded them, instead of serving different princes and beating each other in civil strife, to all go to Kiev and enter the service of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav Romanovich. Probably, not without connection with this heroic squad, the following boast of Mstislav Romanovich, said upon receiving the news of the Tatar invasion, is given: “While I am sitting in Kiev, then along the Yaiko and along the Pontic Sea, and along the Danube River, do not wave the (enemy) saber.” .

About the events of the South-West. Rus', see Volyn Chronicle according to Ipat. list. About the earthquake and solar eclipse see Lavrent.

The Battle of Kalka took place on May 31, 1223. The Battle of the Kalka River was the first battle between Russian troops and the Tatar-Mongols.

The Tatar-Mongols, having conquered Transcaucasia, were going to move on and conquer the Polovtsians. The Mongols invaded Polovtsian steppes.

The Polovtsians, in the face of a strong enemy, had no choice but to turn to the Russian princes for help.

The Polovtsian khan turned to the Galician prince Mstislav, who was his son-in-law: “Today they will take away our land, and tomorrow they will take yours,” said the khan.

The South Russian princes gathered in Kyiv to decide what to do. As a result, the decision was made to meet the enemy on foreign soil, and not on our own. The Polovtsians bestowed rich gifts on the Russian princes, and Batu Khan even accepted the Orthodox faith.

The Mongols, having learned about the Russians' intention to help the Polovtsians, sent envoys who said that they were not going to touch Russian lands, and that they needed to take tribute from their Polovtsian slaves. The Russians killed the ambassadors, taking into account a similar unsuccessful experience of the same Polovtsians. The Polovtsians, several years earlier, betrayed the Alans, and the Mongol-Tatars, after the defeat of the latter, moved against the Polovtsians, despite their promises.

The number of Tatar-Mongol troops in the Battle of Kalka was about 20 thousand people. The chronicle does not contain data on the number of Russian troops, however, based on earlier data, during campaigns against the Swordsmen, we can conclude that there were from 12 to 20 thousand Russians. Mstislav Udaloy himself personally went on reconnaissance. Having examined the positions of the Tatar-Mongols, he ordered the army to prepare for battle. Russian troops successfully started the battle on the Kalka River.

The Mongol vanguard began to retreat, the Russians asked to give chase, and the formation was crushed. Having crossed the river, the Russians entered into battle with fresh forces of the Mongols, the Polovtsians fled from the battlefield. The Russian army could not withstand the onslaught, and part of it began to retreat. The second part fought bravely for three days. However, the Mongols promised, in case of surrender, to let all the princes and warriors go home. The Russian princes believed the Mongols, but they deceived them.

The Russians laid down their arms and were crushed under the boards, the victors feasted, and the Mongols took some of the soldiers into slavery. The Battle of Kalka was bloody. Only 10 parts of the Russian army survived. Many worthy men died. Rus' suffered heavy damage. However, the Battle of Kalka was only a slap in the face, a prelude to that terrible time and events that the Tatars - the Mongols brought to Rus'.

After the victory in the Battle of Kalka, the Mongols invaded Rus' and reached almost Kiev, however, upon learning that Vladimir’s army was approaching it, they turned back. The Russian princes did not learn the proper lesson from the Battle of Kalka and did not unite their forces in the face of a powerful enemy. In a few years, the Mongols will begin systematic campaigns against Rus', which will find itself under the Horde Yoke.

The Zaporozhye land is rich in great historical events. We will dwell on one of them in detail. This is the first battle of Russian soldiers with the Tatar-Mongols. The year of the battle on the Kalka River is 1223, the month is May. The place where it occurred cannot be considered precisely established. All that is known from the chronicles is that this is the Kalka River.

But where should we look for this river, the rocky place where the battle camp of Mstislav Romanovich, the Kyiv prince, was located? Zaporozhye local historians such as Arkhipkin and Shovkun are persistently looking for an answer to this question. The result of the research was the conclusions and assumptions outlined briefly in this article. After reading it, you will find out where the Kalka River is, according to these researchers.

Brief description of events leading up to the battle

The Russian princes, as they say in the chronicles, helped the Polovtsians in their fight against the Tatars, gathered their forces on the Dnieper, at the Protolche ford, and near the island of Khortitsa. Having defeated the main detachments of the Tatar-Mongols in this place, the Russian regiments went to the steppe, pursuing the retreating ones. Eight days later they reached the place where the Kalka River flowed. At that time, the main forces of the Tatar-Mongols were located here. It was in this place (the Kalka River) that the famous battle took place.

Unexpected Mongol invasion

Judging by the fourth Novgorod, the invasion of Rus' by the Mongols was unexpected. Russian chroniclers simply did not know at that time that 30 thousand people of Genghis Khan (the troops of Subede-Baghatur and Jebe-Noyon) bypassed the Caspian Sea from the south, destroyed the city of Shemakha, and took the city of Derbent.

Then moving to the northwest, they defeated the joint forces of the Polovtsians and Alans. The Polovtsian army under the command of Konchak’s son, Khan Yuri, was forced to retreat to the Dnieper along the Sea of ​​Azov. His part crossed to the right bank, into the possessions of Kotyan, the Polovtsian khan. The other part rushed to the Crimea, to its eastern regions, where the Tatar-Mongols penetrated after the Polovtsians. Here in 1223, in January, they destroyed the fortress of Surozh (today Sudak).

Strategic decision of the Russian princes

This year, in early spring, Kotyan rushed to Mstislav the Udal in Galich for help. Russian princes, on the initiative of Mstislav, gathered in Kyiv for a council. It was decided to go down the Dnieper, along its right bank, while bypassing the left-bank rivers, which were filled with spring waters at that time, which made movement very difficult. Then, with a quick march, move along the dried-out southern steppes, get to the Polovtsian Wall (that is, the dig), where they will fight the Tatar-Mongols on foreign soil.

Unexpected meeting

But due to feudal strife, there was no single leadership in the Polovtsian and Russian troops. They moved towards separately. The spring impassability delayed the troops of the northern princes. The Rus at Khortitsa, having met the Tatar ambassadors, killed the latter and moved down the river along the right bank. However, they were only able to reach Oleshya, where the Tatar-Mongols were already waiting for them.

In the south, the land dried out faster, which gave the enemy troops the opportunity to leave the Crimea, after which they moved through the Polovtsian steppe to the north and positioned the main forces before the arrival of Russian troops on the right bank of the Kalka. The plan adopted at the council of princes (to fight on foreign soil) was thus thwarted.

Mstislav Udaloy, the Galich prince, without warning the others about his appearance, crossed the Kalka River together with the Polovtsians and began the battle with the Tatars. Overturned by the enemy's onslaught, the Polovtsians retreated.

Repelling the attack by the troops of Mstislav Romanovich

Mstislav Romanovich's squads were hastily forced to build a fortification around their camp and fought off enemy attacks for three days. Armed with melee weapons (clubs and axes), Russian soldiers inflicted heavy losses on the Tatar-Mongols. In particular, Tossuk, the eldest son of Genghis Khan (the latter’s image is presented below), Batu’s father, was killed.

Some Mongols remain on Kalka

On the third day of the unsuccessful battle, the Tatars offered the Russians to make peace, but they themselves broke it. Having given the opportunity, according to the agreement, for Russian troops to go to Rus', they attacked the squads retreating to the Dnieper and killed many. Mstislav the Udaloy, having crossed the river with the remnants of his troops, ordered the boats to be burned. Leaving a camp on Kalka near the battle site with goods looted in the Crimea, as well as sick and wounded nukers, the Tatars, in three thinned tumens, went north along the left bank of the Dnieper River.

Kalka is a river where part of the Russian army also remained, which took refuge in the thickets of floodplains, impassable for cavalry. Having suffered heavy losses when meeting fierce resistance, the Tatars were still able to reach Pereyaslav. However, they suddenly turned back when they reached Kyiv, main goal, was just a stone's throw away.

Opinions about where Kalka was located

It is widely believed that the battle on the Kalka River took place in the area of ​​the so-called Stone Graves. It is located in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, 5 kilometers south of Rozovka. Also, many believe that Kalka is a river, today known as a tributary of Kalmius (Kalchik River).

However, it is difficult to believe that, having emerged from the Crimea and moving north, the Tatar-Mongols turned from Oleshya to what they had devastated in order to position themselves for battle with Russian troops near a drying up steppe river. It is also unlikely that walking along the Dnieper down the right bank, Russian army crossed at Oleshya to the left and moved without a convoy into the steppe on foot.

In addition, an analysis of the ancient names of various rivers led to the idea that Kalka (river) is an ancient Slavic transcription of the name Kalkan-Su (Polovtsian), meaning “water shield” in translation. In Tatar it was called Iol-kinsu, which means “horse water”.

Yuan Shi, a Chinese chronicler of the 13th century, wrote that the battle with the Tatar-Mongols of the Russian army took place near the A-li-gi river. Literally translated, this means “horse watering hole.” That is, we can assume that the current Konka is that mysterious Kalka, the river near which the famous battle took place. And the hill that rises on its right bank, two kilometers from the village of Yulyevki, is that very “rocky place.”

Finds indicating that the Battle of Kalka could have taken place near the village of Yulyevka

It was impossible to imagine best place for the camp of Mstislav Romanovich. At the top of the hill, at the narrow entrance, mountains of stones were discovered - the remains of fortifications. Perhaps this is evidence that the battle on the Kalka River took place in this place.

The interesting thing is that this is a pear-shaped mountain, the height of which is more than 40 meters, and the width is 160 at its widest point. The "pear" is connected to the mainland by a "tail". Its width is only 8-10 meters. This is a small peninsula, washed from the south and east by the waters of the Konka River, and from the west surrounded by the impassable and swampy Gorodysskaya Balka. Local old-timers call this hill Saur-Mogila. Arrowheads and pieces of rusty iron are often found near it, and once an iron anchor was dug up on the shore. 12 meters from the foot, on the southern slope of Saur-Mogila, a sword hilt was found, as well as several arrows and a bronze seal with an image of a lion.

Today in the Kakhovka Sea, west of railway bridge, drawn through Conca, a small group of islands is visible. They are the remains of the Great Kuchugurs, which were flooded by the reservoir.

Traces of the medieval city remain in almost all of them. Various names give him various sources. During the Battle of Kalka it was called Samys (Turkic-Polovtsian name), and the Slavs called the population of these places Bulgarians. Here, along with many silver and different periods, arrowheads, keys, locks, stirrups, fragments of chain mail, bronze breastplates (icons), neck torcs, remains of horse harness and other items from the times of Kievan Rus were found.

Military and household items were also found: fragments of arrowheads, daggers, and sabers from the times of the Golden Horde. All this gives reason to assume that the city was connected with the battle that took place on Kalka.

Bulgarians in chronicles

In the thickets of floodplains, inaccessible to the Tatar cavalry, the remnants of the Russian troops gathered. When, after the battle, the horde moved north, together with the Bulgarians, residents of Samys, they attacked the camp left by the Mongol-Tatars and destroyed it. On the way to the city of Pereyaslav, the Tatars received news of this from messengers.

Realizing that the weakened Tumens could not take Kyiv, the Temniks decided to return to Kalka in order to take revenge for the daring raid on the Rus and take away from them the goods looted in the Crimea. The chronicles say that, turning back, the Tatars went against the Bulgarians (1223, Kalka River). This people was mistaken in later studies for the Volga Bulgarians.

Today, the Battle of the Kalka River (1223) is considered by historians as strategic intelligence in battle. However, it was also a battle in which the brotherhood of different nations was sealed with blood. Ancient Rus'.

Found burials

The presence of burials can indicate where the Kalka River is located, as well as where the exact location of the battle between the Polovtsians and Mstislav the Udaly was. On the way to Komishuvakha, 7 km from Savur-mogili, on the slopes there are many humps, the origin of which is unknown. Perhaps this is the answer...

The corpses of the Tatars were burned, according to custom. The remains of three ovens are preserved at a nearby site. These are pits with burnt walls, up to 3 meters in diameter, and up to 4 meters deep. Several pieces of bronze were found in the ashes. Perhaps it was belt buckles or arrows stuck in the body.

Conclusion

So, the battle on the Kalka River took place in 1223. Unfortunately, historians today have still not been able to prove its exact location. However, a comparison of written sources, weapons, as well as the supposed place where the battle took place, gives reason to believe that the battle on Kalka is an event that took place on the banks of the Konka in a camp, the remains of which today are located in the Zaporozhye region, near the village of Yulievka.

The Battle of Kalka ended with the defeat of the Russian troops. They managed to escape. There were many wounded and killed in this battle, only a tenth of the army survived. And the Tatar-Mongols marched across the entire Chernigov land to Novgorod-Seversky. The cruel men of Subadei and Jebe commanded these regiments. They hated the Russians and destroyed everything in their path, causing destruction and death all around. People hid in the forests, fearing these attacks, in order to at least save their lives.

The Mongols were actively moving towards Europe. The Russian princes understood that a clash with the troops of Genghis Khan would happen sooner or later. The first meeting between Russians and Mongols took place in 1223 - it was the Battle of Kalka. This battle marked the beginning of the confrontation between Rus' and the future Golden Horde.

The Battle of Kalka took place on May 31, 1223. The battle showed the powerlessness of the Russian army in front of the Mongolian army. The princes wanted to launch a preemptive strike. But they miscalculated badly. In the battle on the Kalka River they turned out to be outsiders. They could not defeat a well-coordinated army. This happened, first of all, due to disagreements within the Russian army. The princes were unable to agree on the balance of power. In addition, the Russian militia included Polovtsians. They, too, could betray and retreat at any time.

Causes of the Battle of Kalka

Genghis Khan and his people instilled great fear in all states. This led to the Polovtsians coming with gifts to the Russians. They proposed to unite and attack the Mongols before they themselves attacked. The Russian princes also understood that this decision was not the worst. In addition, the Polovtsians could surrender to the mercy of Genghis Khan. And the Russians will definitely not be able to defeat their united army.

So the battle on the Kalka River did not happen spontaneously. She prepared carefully. And each participant pursued his own goals. There is no data on the number of troops from the Mongols and the combined Russian-Polovtsian army. Not all princes provided support. Only four squads deployed their troops:

1. Principality of Smolensk;
2. Galicia-Volyn principality;
3. Principality of Kiev;
4. Principality of Chernigov.

But, despite this, the united Russian-Polovtsian army was superior to the Mongolian one.

Progress of the Battle of Kalka

The Kalka River is a small river that flows into the Sea of ​​Azov. The Battle of Kalka became a grandiose battle. Although no one imagined that such a small river would play an important role in the history of Ancient Rus'. The Russians were located on the left bank, the Mongols on the right. Mstislav Udaloy was the first to go to cross Kalka. He himself examined the site of the future battle. And then ordered the others to cross the river.

The Battle of Kalka began early in the morning. Ours pressed the Mongols, they retreated. But the success was short-lived. The disunited actions of the Russian princes had a decisive effect in the battle. The Mongols were able to seize the initiative. Mstislav Udaloy and Daniil Romanovich went on the run. The remnants of the army in the Battle of Kalka were besieged by the Mongols. This action lasted three days. The Mongols demanded the Russians surrender. They promised not to kill anyone. The Russians agreed, but the Mongols killed everyone. They consider it a shame to surrender. Thus ended the battle on the Kalka River. The first meeting of the Mongols with the Russians.

Many chronicles describe in detail the course of the battle. What happened after the battle, chroniclers do not like to mention this.

The consequences of the battle are different. For the first time, the Russians saw what Genghis Khan's army was like. The Russians did not really need this battle. It’s more likely that the Polovtsy persuaded them not to get involved. They brought gifts to the princes and actually bribed them. The Battle of Kalka had a great influence on the size of the Russian army. We lost ninety percent of our warriors. In addition, the Mongols killed many Russian princes:

1. Mstislav the Old
2. Mstislav Svyatoslavich
3. Mstislav Glebovich
4. Izyaslav Ingvarevich
5. Svyatoslav Yaroslavich
6. Andrey Ivanovich

These were the consequences. The Battle of Kalka finally plunged Rus' into a period of fragmentation. This further divided our princes. Soon a descendant of Genghis Khan will come to Russian lands. Dad will force Russian state on for a long time will become dependent on the Mongol power. Will pay tribute. And it will be freed only by the end of the 15th century.

On May 31, 1223, a battle took place on the Kalka River between the Russian-Polovtsian regiments and the Tatars. This was the first clash between Russian squads and the troops of Genghis Khan's power. The difficult battle ended in the most severe defeat of the Russian-Polovtsian troops.

Background

At the beginning of the 13th century in East Asia appeared new empire– its creator was the talented commander and wise manager Temujin (Genghis Khan). He subjugated significant amount tribes and peoples, became the conqueror of Northern and Central China, defeated Khorezm. In 1220, Genghis Khan received information that Khorezmshah Muhammad was gathering forces on the banks of the Amu Darya. To defeat it, he sent three tumens (“darkness” - a 10 thousand-strong cavalry corps) under the command of his best commanders - Jebe, Subedei and Tohuchar. Subsequently, Tohuchar's corps was recalled. The pursuit of the Khorezmshah resulted in a long reconnaissance campaign. Having defeated Azerbaijan and Georgia, Tatar troops in 1222 crossed the Derbent Pass and invaded the North Caucasus. Here they encountered the combined forces of the Alans and Cumans. After the opponents could not be defeated in battle, a military stratagem was used - the Polovtsians were promised peace and generously rewarded. The Polovtsians abandoned their allies. The Tatars defeated the Alans. And then in the decisive battle on the Don they defeated the Polovtsian detachments. Khans Yuri Konchakovich and Danila Kobyakovich died in the battles, and the remnants of their tribes fled to the west and united with the horde of Kotyan Sutoevich, who roamed between the Dnieper and Dniester.

At the beginning of 1223, the Tatars invaded Crimea and plundered it; the city of Sudak (Surozh) was captured. Khan Kotyan turned to his son-in-law, the Galician prince Mstislav Mstislavich the Udal (he was glorified as a successful commander) and to other Russian princes, asking them for help against a new formidable enemy: “Today they took our land, tomorrow yours will be taken.” It should be noted that the Polovtsians were not only opponents of Rus' in the south, but often also allies in the struggle of various Russian princes among themselves, or were used against external enemies. So, in the spring of 1221, Mstislav, with the help of the Polovtsians, recaptured Galich from the Hungarians. Russians and Polovtsians were connected by trade, dynastic marriages. Therefore, Kotyan's request is not surprising.

In Kyiv, a council of princes of the southern Russian lands was assembled, headed by three great princes - Mstislav Romanovich (Kyiv), Mstislav Mstislavich (Galich) and Mstislav Svyatoslavich (Chernigov). After much debate and persuasion, Kotyan and Mstislav the Udaly decided: “If we don’t help them...then the Polovtsians will stick to the enemies, and their strength will become greater.” The princely council decides to gather troops and meet the enemy on the borders of Rus'.

Hike

The gathering of troops was scheduled at Zaruba, near Varyazhsky Island (the island was located opposite the mouth of the Trubezh River). More than 20 princes and their squads took part in the campaign. The most powerful troops were those of the prince of Kyiv and Chernigov with his assistant princes, and the Galician prince Mstislav (under his command was the Volyn prince Daniil Romanovich). In total, the Russian-Polovtsian army numbered approximately 40-45 thousand people (they call the figure 80-100 thousand soldiers, but this is unlikely). These were mainly professional cavalry squads of princes and boyars; the most powerful Kiev army had a foot militia.

The size of the Tatar army is also unknown. Two tumens - Subedei and Jebe, had 20-30 thousand horsemen, this was the battle-hardened core of the army. In addition, there were a certain number of various vagabonds, robbers, adventurers and booty seekers who joined the army along its route (like wanderers).

The Russian princes made a number of serious mistakes even before the battle. They will decide the outcome of the battle. The princes were unable to agree on a unified command. In fact, there were three troops, decisions were made collectively. The first army (Kyiv) was led by the Grand Duke of Kiev Mstislav Romanovich, the formal head of the campaign. It included the Kiev regiment, the squads of his son Vsevolod Mstislavsky and son-in-law Prince Andrei Ivanovich (Prince of Turov), Prince Svyatoslav Ingvarevich of Shumsky, Prince of Nesvizh Yuri Yaropolkovich, Prince of Dubrovitsky Alexander Glebovich, Prince of Ovruch Vladimir Rurikovich and other princes. The second army (Chernigov-Smolensk) was led by the Prince of Chernigov Mstislav Svyatoslavich. Subordinate to him were the squads of the Pereyaslavl prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich, the Kursk prince Oleg Svyatoslavich, the princes of Putivl Izyaslav Vladimirovich and the Trubchevsky Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. The third army (Galician-Volynian-Polovtsian) was under the command of the initiator of the campaign, the Galician prince Mstislav Udaly (or Udatny). His troops included the forces of the Galician principality, the squads of the Volyn prince Daniil Romanovich, the Lutsk prince Mstislav Yaroslavich the Mute, the Dorogobuzh prince Izyaslav Ingvarevich, the Polovtsian forces led by the governor Yarun.

Yuri Vsevolodovich, the Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus' did not set out on the campaign, formally sending his nephew Rostov Prince Vasily Konstantinovich to the aid of the Russian army, who, however, did not have time to come to the start of the battle.

In Zaruba, Tatar ambassadors arrived to the Russian princes, they offered them an alliance against the Polovtsians. The princes considered this to be a trick and, at the request of the Polovtsians, killed the envoys. Subedei and Jebe sent a new embassy, ​​which declared war on Rus': “You listened to the Polovtsy, but killed our ambassadors; if you go against us, then go; We didn’t touch you, let God be the judge of everyone.” This embassy was sent home. Mstislav Udaloy insisted on active action - to cross the Dnieper and strike the enemy in the steppe. Mstislav Romanovich the Old proposed to give battle to the enemy on the Dnieper and prepare for defense. Apparently, given the lack of unity in the army, this was the right strategy. The Chernigov prince Mstislav Svyatoslavich adopted a wait-and-see attitude, not supporting either the proposal of the Galicians or the people of Kiev.

At this time, a Tatar reconnaissance detachment appeared off the banks of the Dnieper. Mstislav Udaloy decided to attack - together with Daniil Romanovich he crossed the river and hit the enemy. The Tatars were defeated and fled. This victory dispelled all doubts - the majority of princes and boyars advocated offensive actions. Mstislav Chernigovsky stopped hesitating and agreed to the crossing. As a result, another prerequisite for defeat appeared - the Russian command overestimated its strength and underestimated the practically unknown enemy. The Tatars used their traditional battle tactics - luring the enemy under the attack of the main strike forces.

On May 23, Russian-Polovtsian troops crossed the Dnieper and moved into the Polovtsian steppes. The troops marched for eight days. They stretched out a lot. Polovtsian detachments and squads marched forward under the command of the Galician prince Mstislav the Udal, followed by the forces of the Chernigov prince Mstislav Svyatoslavich, and the entire column was closed by the detachments of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav the Old. On the way, the Russians and Polovtsians were met by Tatar patrols, which at the first clash took flight and lured them. The army marched joyfully, the enemy fled. They killed abandoned cattle and ate well. They regretted that they would not be able to overtake the enemy and take away the huge booty that the Tatars captured in the plundered lands. The feeling of superiority over the enemy captured everyone and relaxed the warriors. Another mistake was poor intelligence - the princes did not know about the readiness of the main enemy forces for battle.

Battle

On May 31, 1223, Russian-Polovtsian troops reached the Kalka River. In a fierce battle, the advanced Russian forces drove the Tatar guard units to the other side. Mstislav Udaloy did not wait for the main forces to arrive and, having crossed the river, struck the first line of the enemy army (he did not know about the main forces of the enemy). He did not inform the Kyiv and Chernigov princes about his plans, which angered them (it seemed that the Galician prince wanted to take all the glory for himself). Prince of Kyiv did not cross the river on the move and ordered the establishment of a fortified camp.

The most experienced Tatar commanders Subedei and Jebe immediately took advantage of this fatal mistake Russian princes: the enemy himself exposed himself to attack and allowed himself to be broken into pieces. The Polovtsians and the regiments of Mstislav the Udaly faced a powerful army ready for a fierce battle. The Russian-Polovtsian forces pushed back the enemy vanguard, but then encountered the main forces of the enemy. The Galician prince realized the depth of his mistake, but it was too late. The attack of the Russian-Polovtsian advanced forces was stopped, and then they were simply crushed. The Polovtsians were the first to flee, their wave disrupted the order of the still fighting Russian squads. The Chernigov army generally found itself in a situation where the advanced squads had already entered the battle, and other units were just crossing the river. The Chernigov regiments were crushed and could not do anything; the flight became almost general. Individual resisting units could not change the outcome of the battle. In this massacre, the hero Dobrynya Ryazanich Zlat Belt (one of the prototypes of the epic Dobrynya Nikitich) also laid down his head. Some units did not know and did not participate in the battle at all, falling behind the main forces. They were caught up in the general flow of those running and pursuing.

The regiments of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav Romanovich the Old remained aloof from this battle. A number of researchers believe that the timely entry of his troops into battle could have changed the outcome of the battle. But, apparently, the situation was already irreparable; the Polovtsy, Galician and Chernigov armies were defeated and fled. Part of the Tatar army pursued them. This was already a massacre, not a battle. Only a small part managed to escape. Some of the Polovtsians left, but Mstislav Udaloy and Daniil Romanovich were able to escape with groups of warriors. Another part of the Tatar army besieged the Kiev camp. The first assault attempts were repulsed. Mstislav Romanovich of Kiev and his troops repelled the enemy’s onslaught for another three days. The Tatars could not take the fortifications, but destroy a large number of I didn't want warriors. Then they resorted to a trick: they sent the ataman of the Brodniks (predecessors of the Cossacks) Ploskin to Mstislav and his henchmen, who promised life in exchange for surrender and ransom. This was not surprising - the Polovtsians more than once released Russian princes for ransom. The princes believed and surrendered. We must also take into account the fact that the troops ran out of water. After this, the princes were tied up and handed over to the Tatars, and the disarmed warriors were attacked. Another bloodbath occurred. The Tatars themselves placed the princes under a wooden platform and arranged a “feast on bones” on it.

Results and significance of the battle

The main reason for the defeat was the lack of unity of the Russian army. If the Russian army operated in the traditional Russian style of combat: in the center there was infantry (the Kiev militia reinforced by other units), on the wings there were heavy princely cavalry squads (on the right Galician-Volyn, on the left Chernigov-Smolensk), leaving the Polovtsians in reserve, the chances of winning were There were practically no Tatars. They entered the battle in parts, unorganized; a significant part of the army did not participate in the main battle at all. Management errors of the command, underestimating the enemy, led to the fact that the Tatars almost gave up victory, allowing themselves to be broken up piece by piece.

This was one of the most severe defeats of the Russian troops in their entire history. Southern Rus' was drained of blood by the loss of thousands of its best warriors. According to chronicles, nine out of ten warriors who went on the campaign died. Among them were 12 princes, including the princes of Kyiv and Chernigov. Until the invasion of Batu's troops, the southern Russian lands will not be able to restore their combat potential. The Tatars apparently also suffered significant losses, since they were unable to invade Kyiv lands and soon suffered a heavy defeat from the forces of Volga Bulgaria.

The reconnaissance campaign of the Tatars revealed the main weak point of Rus' - the lack of unity. No wonder Subedei will become right hand and the actual commander in the Western campaign of Batu (1236-1242).