Igor's campaign against the Polovtsians is a tragic page in Russian history. Ancient Russia and nomads

The Polovtsians (11th-13th centuries) are a nomadic people of Turkic origin, who became one of the main serious political opponents of the princes of Ancient Russia.

At the beginning of the 11th c. The Polovtsy moved out of the Trans-Volga region, where they had lived before, towards the Black Sea steppes, displacing the tribes of the Pechenegs and Torks along the way. After crossing the Dnieper, they reached the lower reaches of the Danube, occupying vast territories Great Steppe- from the Danube to the Irtysh. In the same period, the steppes occupied by the Polovtsy began to be called the Polovtsian steppes (in Russian chronicles) and Desht-i-Kypchak (in the chronicles of other peoples).

Name of the people

The people also have the names "Kipchaks" and "Kumans". Each term has its own meaning and appeared in special conditions. So, the name “Polovtsy”, generally accepted on the territory of Ancient Russia, came from the word “stripes”, which means “yellow”, and came into use due to the fact that early representatives of this people had light (“yellow”) hair.

The concept of "Kipchak" was first used after a serious internecine war in the 7th c. among the Turkic tribes, when the loser nobility began to call themselves "Kipchak" ("ill-fated"). The Cumans were called the Polovtsy in Byzantine and Western European chronicles.

History of the people

The Polovtsy were an independent people for several centuries, but by the middle of the 13th century. became part of the Golden Horde and assimilated the Tatar-Mongol conquerors, passing on to them part of their culture and their language. Later, on the basis of the Kypchan language (which was spoken by the Polovtsy), Tatar, Kazakh, Kumyk and many other languages ​​were formed.

The Polovtsy led a life typical of many nomadic peoples. Their main occupation was cattle breeding. In addition, they were engaged in trade. A little later, the Polovtsy changed their nomadic lifestyle to a more sedentary one, for separate parts the tribe was assigned certain land plots where people could run their household.

The Polovtsy were pagans, professed Tangerianism (worship of Tengri Khan, the eternal radiance of the sky), worshiped animals (in particular, the wolf was, in the understanding of the Polovtsy, their totem ancestor). Shamans lived in the tribes, who performed various rituals of worshiping nature and the earth.

Kievan Rus and Cumans

Polovtsy are very often mentioned in ancient Russian chronicles, and this is primarily due to their difficult relationship with Russians. Starting from 1061 and up to 1210, the Polovtsian tribes constantly committed cruelty, plundered villages and tried to seize local territories. In addition to many small raids, one can count about 46 major Polovtsian raids on Kievan Rus.

First major battle between the Polovtsy and the Russians took place on February 2, 1061 near Pereyaslavl, when the Polovtsian tribe raided Russian territories, burned several fields and robbed the villages located there. The Polovtsians quite often managed to defeat the Russian army. So, in 1068 they defeated the Russian army of the Yaroslavichs, and in 1078, during the next battle with the Polovtsian tribes, Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich died.

The troops of Svyatopolk, Vladimir Monomakh (who later led the all-Russian campaigns of Russia against the Polovtsy) and Rostislav also fell from the hands of these nomads during the battle in 1093. In 1094, the Polovtsy reached the point that Vladimir Monomakh was forced to leave Chernigov by force. However, the Russian princes constantly collected retaliatory campaigns against the Polovtsy, which sometimes ended quite successfully. In 1096, the Polovtsy suffered their first defeat in the fight against Kievan Rus. In 1103 they were again defeated by the Russian army under the leadership of Svyatopolk and Vladimir and were forced to leave the previously occupied territories and go to serve in the Caucasus to the local king.

The Polovtsy were finally defeated in 1111 by Vladimir Monomakh and the Russian army of many thousands, which launched a crusade against its longtime opponents and invaders of Russian territories. To avoid final ruin, the Polovtsian tribes were forced to go back across the Danube and into Georgia (the tribe was divided). However, after the death of Vladimir Monomakh, the Polovtsians were able to return again and began to repeat their early raids, but very quickly went over to the side of the Russian princes warring among themselves and began to take part in the permanent on the territory of Russia, supporting one or another prince. Participated in raids on Kyiv.

Another major campaign of the Russian army against the Polovtsy, which was reported in the annals, took place in 1185. In the well-known work The Tale of Igor's Campaign, this event is called a massacre with the Polovtsy. Igor's campaign, unfortunately, was unsuccessful. He failed to defeat the Polovtsy, but this battle entered the annals. Some time after this event, the raids began to fade away, the Polovtsians split up, some of them converted to Christianity and mixed with the local population.

End of the Cuman tribe

The once strong tribe, which caused a lot of inconvenience to the Russian princes, ceased to exist as an independent and independent people around the middle of the 13th century. The campaigns of the Tatar-Mongol Khan Batu led to the fact that the Polovtsians actually became part of the Golden Horde and (although they did not lose their culture, but, on the contrary, passed it on) ceased to be independent.

The Polovtsy belonged to nomadic tribes. According to different sources, they also had other names: Kipchaks and Komans. The Polovtsian people belonged to the Turkic-speaking tribes. At the beginning of the 11th century, they expelled the Pechenegs and Torks from the Black Sea steppes. Then they went to the Dnieper, and having reached the Danube, they became the owners of the steppe, which became known as the Polovtsian. The religion of the Polovtsians was Tengrianism. This religion is based on the cult of Tengri Khan (eternal radiance of the sky).

The everyday life of the Polovtsy practically did not differ from other tribal peoples. Their main occupation was cattle breeding. By the end of the 11th century, the type of nomadism of the Polovtsy changed from tabor to more modern. For each separate part of the tribe, plots of land were attached - for pastures.

Kievan Rus and Cumans

Starting from 1061 and up to 1210, the Polovtsy made constant raids on Russian lands. The struggle of Russia with the Polovtsy lasted quite a long time. There were about 46 major raids on Russia, and this is without taking into account the smaller ones.

The first battle of Russia with the Polovtsy was on February 2, 1061 near Pereyaslavl, they burned the neighborhood and robbed the nearest villages. In 1068, the Polovtsy defeated the troops of the Yaroslavichi, in 1078 Izyaslav Yaroslavich died in a battle with them, in 1093 the Polovtsy defeated the troops of 3 princes: Svyatopolk, Vladimir Monomakh and Rostislav, and in 1094 they forced Vladimir Monomakh to leave Chernigov. In the future, several retaliatory campaigns were made. In 1096, the Polovtsy suffered their first defeat in the fight against Russia. In 1103 they were defeated by Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh, then they served in the Caucasus to King David the Builder.

The final defeat of the Polovtsy by Vladimir Monomakh and the Russian army of many thousands occurred as a result of crusade in 1111. To avoid final destruction, the Polovtsy changed their place of nomadism, moving across the Danube, and most of their troops, along with their families, left for Georgia. All these "all-Russian" campaigns against the Polovtsians were led by Vladimir Monomakh. After his death in 1125, the Polovtsy took Active participation in the internecine wars of the Russian princes, participated in the defeat of Kyiv as allies in 1169 and 1203.

The next campaign against the Polovtsy, also referred to as the massacre of Igor Svyatoslavovich with the Polovtsy, described in "The Lay of Igor's Campaign" took place in 1185. This campaign of Igor Svyatoslavovich was an example of one of the failed ones. After some time, part of the Polovtsy converted to Christianity, and a period of calm began in the Polovtsian raids.

The Polovtsy ceased to exist as an independent, politically developed people after the European campaigns of Batu (1236 - 1242) and amounted to most population of the Golden Horde, passing them their own language, which formed the basis for the formation of other languages ​​​​(Tatar, Bashkir, Nogai, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Kumyk and others).

Specific Prince Igor, heading Novgorod - Seversky Principality, a brave warrior, in 1185 made a campaign against the Polovtsians. Khan Konchak surrounded his regiments on the banks of the Kayala River and defeated them. The commander was taken prisoner, but managed to escape. About Igor's campaign against the Polovtsy in question in eminent secular literary work XII century "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". The main disaster of Russia was its weakness. "Word ..." supplements the annals with important details. From it we learn what happened in the south of Russia "when the plowmen rarely shouted to each other, but often the crows croaked, dividing the corpses." The author of the work describes the weapons, the movement of the troops, the tactics of battle.

Dangerous enemies of the Russian principalities - Polovtsy

In the XII century, the Polovtsians became the most dangerous enemies of the ancient Russian lands. This nomadic people dominated steppe zone, valleys of the rivers Dnieper and Don. This period was marked by constant attacks by nomads led by the energetic Khan Konchak. Russian chronicles call him "the cursed and godless destroyer."
Wars were common. Military campaigns were not only a way to expand their territory, but to raise authority and glory.
Prince Igor was 35 years old during the military campaign. He previously maintained friendly relations with Khan Konchak and used the Polovtsy in internecine wars with neighboring princes. In 1180, the prince and the Polovtsian khan together undertook a campaign against Kyiv, which ended in failure. Since 1183, Igor begins to fight with the Polovtsian Khan and carries out independent campaigns against the nomads. In the mentioned literary work, a brave and courageous prince appears before readers, but he is reckless and short-sighted, he cares more about his glory and honor than about his homeland.
A year before the famous tragic campaign, the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, together with the military forces of other princes, defeated the Polovtsian army. It seemed that the danger receded. Igor was unable to join the forces of the Kyiv prince, as the spring sleet prevented his cavalry from arriving on time.

Start of the hike

The beginning of the campaign dates back to the spring of 1185, the princes took part in it: Vsevolod Kursky (Igor's brother), Olgovich Rylsky (nephew), Vladimir Putivlsky (son). The ruler of Chernigov, Yaroslav, sent a detachment of Kuevs (semi-nomadic peoples who lived on the southern borders of the Chernigov principality), headed by the boyar Olstin Oleksich. Near the Russian borders, Russian soldiers saw an eclipse of the sun. But such a warning sign did not frighten the prince, he continued to move forward. Warriors sent to reconnaissance ("catching the tongue") reported about in large numbers Polovtsy and that the enemy is preparing for battle. The scouts told the princes that they had to hurry to attack the enemy or return home. Igor was sure that returning home would be a shame worse than death.
In May, a bloody battle with the Polovtsy began, culminating in the defeat of the troops of Prince Igor. In this battle as show historical sources, all known tribal groups of Polovtsians took part. The commander himself and other princes are captured, a small group of soldiers managed to break through the encirclement, the rest perished on the battlefield. Igor was able to get out of captivity. But his son remained in the hands of the Polovtsians. Vladimir had to marry Konchak's daughter. He later also returns from captivity.

3 day battle

On the first day of the clash with the Polovtsy, Igor managed to win. AT lunch time, on Friday, the Russian squad overtook the enemy. The nomads threw their tents and gathered on the opposite bank of the river Syuurliy. The Russians had six regiments: in the center was the regiment of Igor, on the right - Prince Vselovod, on the left - the nephew of Svyatoslav, these were the main forces. In front of them, the son Vladimir was with his soldiers and the Regiment of Chernigov, consisting of kuoi. The sixth regiment, standing in front, was a team, it included archers sent from all five detachments.
The prince called his army to battle. the warriors were protected by iron mail, red shields, stood under their banners that fluttered in the wind. when they approached Syuurliya, the Polovtsian archers rode towards them, fired their arrows at the Russians and started to run. Further from the river were the main forces of the Polovtsy, they fled. Svyatoslav and Vladimir with the soldiers and the archers chased the horde, Igor and his brother moved slowly, not disbanding their regiments. A lot of booty was captured in the enemy camp: gold, silk fabrics, various clothes, girls were captured.
Meanwhile, the Polovtsy managed to pull their hordes to the battlefield.
On Saturday at dawn, the offensive of a huge number of Polovtsian regiments began, Russian soldiers were surrounded. The princes decided to break through the encirclement. In order not to leave foot soldiers to the enemies, the vigilantes dismounted from their horses and began to retreat, fighting with the enemies. Vsevolod showed special courage. During the battle, Prince Igor was wounded in left hand. In the May heat, the warriors were cut off from the water, and people and horses had to suffer from thirst.
The battle continued for a whole day, many Russian soldiers were killed and wounded. On Sunday, the koui began to leave the battlefield. Igor rushed after them, trying to stop them, but he failed to do so. On the way back, the prince is captured. The best warriors remained to fight to the death, Prince Vsevolod showed an example to the soldiers with his courage. Igor was taken prisoner, he watched Vsevolod defend himself. It was hard for him to see his brother die.
This campaign, which was led by four princes, the eldest ruler was 35 years old, made a great impression in the Russian lands.
After the victory over Igor, the Polovtsians devastated the Russian lands. The princes at this time were busy with civil strife. The nomads advanced in two directions: to Pereyaslav and along the coast of the Seim. In Pereyaslav, the defense was headed by Vladimir Glebovich. The Kyiv prince sent help, the Polovtsy decided not to wait for a clash, they left the Russian territories, burning the city of Rimov.
The defeat of Prince Igor showed that one principality was unable to overcome the nomads. The reasons for the failures should be sought in the lack of unification of the forces of the Russian principalities. The unsuccessful battle with the Polovtsy left open the borders of Russia with the steppe, allowed the enemies to attack not only the border territories, but to invade deep into the Kievan state. The author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign ardently appeals to the Russian princes to unite, which remained relevant for a long time even after 1185.

In the 12th century, the Polovtsy were considered the most dangerous enemies for the population of Ancient Russia. They led a nomadic lifestyle and occupied the steppe territories in the valleys of the Don and Dnieper. Khan Konchak led the raids of the Polovtsians. In Russia, he was called "the godless, cursed destroyer."

For Russian princes, military campaigns were not only a way to expand their possessions, but also to raise their own authority.

In 1185 Prince Igor went on a campaign against the Polovtsy.

Prerequisites

Quite a lot of information about Prince Igor Svyatoslavovich in "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". In that ancient source weapons and the way of squads, battle tactics are described.

First stage Prince Igor's campaign against the Polovtsy fell in the spring of 1185. By this time, the prince was 35. Previously, Igor had maintained rather friendly relations with Konchak. The Polovtsians were often involved in internecine wars for neighboring territories. In 1180, the prince, together with the Polovtsian khan, went to Kyiv. However, the campaign was unsuccessful.

Already 3 years later, an active struggle against the Polovtsians began. Quite often, Igor acted independently: he attacked enemies only with his squad, without turning to neighboring princes for help.

AT a story about a campaign against the Polovtsians Prince Igor characterized as a courageous and brave warrior. However, he was short-sighted and reckless. He aspired to glory and did not care much for his land.

One year before unsuccessful campaign of Prince Igor against the Polovtsy, the nomads were defeated by the joint army of Svyatoslav and neighboring princes. In Russia, it was considered that the nomads would no longer attack the country. However, everything turned out to be wrong.

The beginning of the path of the Russian rati

Except Prince Igor, on a campaign against the Polovtsy his brother, nephew and son participated. The first was Vsevolod Kursky, the second - Olgovich Rylsky, the third - Vladimir Putivlsky. Yaroslav (ruler of Chernigov) sent a detachment of Kuevs to Igor. They were semi-nomadic peoples who lived in southern territories Chernihiv land. At the head of this detachment was Olstin Oleksich.

Having reached the borders, the Russian soldiers saw solar eclipse. This was considered a warning sign. However, they did not take it into account and continued to move. After a while, several warriors went in search of the "language". Returning, he told about a large number of nomads preparing for battle. It was necessary to make a decision: either quickly attack the enemy, or turn back. Igor could not go for the second option, otherwise it would have been a shame worse than death.

Short description

The bloody battle began in May 1185. According to sources, all tribal groups of nomads went to the battle. Several Russian princes, including Igor, were captured. A small group of Russian soldiers was able to break out of the encirclement of the Polovtsians. All the rest were killed.

Prince Igor managed to get out of captivity. However, his son remained with the Polovtsians. Vladimir was forced to marry the Khan's daughter. Subsequently, he nevertheless returned to his homeland.

Course of events

On the first day of the battle, Prince Igor managed to win. By lunchtime, the squad overtook the Polovtsians. The nomads abandoned their tents and moved to the other side of the river. Syuurliy.

AT Prince Igor's campaign against the Polovtsy 6 regiments participated. In the center were his warriors, on the right - Vsevolod, on the left - his nephew. These shelves were the main ones. Before them stood Igor's son with a detachment of Kuevs from Chernigov. Another regiment was prefabricated. It included archers from all other units.

Igor called the regiments to battle. The warriors were protected by chain mail and shields; Russian flags fluttered in the wind. Approaching the river, the soldiers saw the Polovtsian archers. The latter fired arrows at the Russians and began to run away.

Further down the river were the main Polovtsian regiments. They also took to flight. Vladimir and Svyatoslav with soldiers began to pursue the nomads. Igor and his brother walked slowly, not disbanding the detachments. A lot of booty was captured in the camp of nomads: gold, fabrics, clothes. Polovtsian girls were also captured.

At this time, the nomads pulled their ranks to the battlefield.

Environment

It started at dawn. The Polovtsy began to advance in great numbers from all sides. The princes decided to leave the encirclement. The warriors got down from their ends and began to fight with the nomads.

Vsevolod showed special courage on the battlefield. Prince Igor was wounded in the arm. The weather was hot, people and horses, who were in the ring of nomads, were cut off from the river. Everyone was thirsty.

The battle lasted all day. Many Russian soldiers were killed and wounded. The next day, the Kui began to flee from the battlefield. Igor tried to stop them, but could not. On the way back to the battlefield, he was taken prisoner.

The best combatants remained in the center of the battle and fought to the death. Captured, Igor watched his relatives die, saw the death of Vsevolod.

Consequences of defeat

Failed Igor's campaign against the Polovtsy was a real shock to the Russian people.

Having won, the nomads began the ruin of ancient Russian cities. The invasion was successful, including because of the tense internecine war. None of the princes wanted to help their neighbors. Everyone tried to separate themselves. Moreover, the attacks of the princes on each other were frequent. They sought to seize territories and expand their principality.

The nomads who won the battle began to move in spirit directions. First of all, they went to Pereyaslav. The second part went along the bank of the Seim. The defense in Pereyaslav was held by Vladimir Glebovich. The regiments of the Kyiv prince were sent to help him. The Polovtsy, in turn, deciding not to engage in a collision, turned back. On the way to their steppes, they burned the city of Rimov.

findings

The defeat of Igor in the battle with the Polovtsy clearly showed that the principality alone was unable to cope with the invasion of nomads on its own. The reason for the failure of the campaign is the lack of unity on Russian soil.

After the defeat from the Polovtsy, the borders of Russia from the side of the steppe became open. This allowed the nomads to freely penetrate Russian soil, devastate cities, and take people into captivity. Moreover, the Polovtsy raided not only the border lands, but also went deep into the Old Russian state.

The internecine war of the Russian princes lasted a very long time. Principalities passed from one hand to another. The common people suffered the most from this. If the warriors received at least some income from the battles in the form of captured booty, then the people who worked on the land, after each raid or collision, were left without a harvest.

Conclusion

Many states wanted to seize Russian lands. However, nomads have always posed a particular danger to the population. They had strong and cruel rulers who managed to unite all the scattered tribes into one horde. Their unity was their strength. In addition, they were mobile, sat perfectly in the saddle, showed courage in battles, felt good in field conditions, often went to the trick.

The lack of unity of the Russian principalities led to very deplorable consequences. The state did not have time to recover from constant raids. As a result, over the principalities for a long time hung Tatar-Mongol yoke. And it was possible to get rid of him only after the unification of the princes and their squads and the beginning of civil strife in the Horde itself.

	The end of the XI - the middle of the XIII centuries.
	Mostly Southern Russia and the steppes of the northern Black Sea region
	Moving the struggle to the Polovtsian steppe (except for the participation of the Polovtsians in civil strife in Russia)
Territorial changes:	Capture of the Tmutarakan Principality and Belaya Vezha by the Polovtsians
Opponents
	Kievan Rus and Russian principalities
Commanders
Khans Tugorkan†, Bonyak, Sharukan, Konchak and others.	Russian princes: Izyaslav Yaroslavich†, Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, Roman Mstislavich and others.

A series of military conflicts that lasted for about a century and a half between Kievan Rus and the Polovtsian tribes. It was another clash of interests between the ancient Russian state and the nomads of the Black Sea steppes. Another side of this war was the intensification of contradictions between the fragmented Russian principalities, whose rulers often made the Polovtsy their allies.

As a rule, three stages of hostilities are distinguished: the initial (second half of the 11th century), the second period associated with the activities of the famous political and military figure Vladimir Monomakh (the first quarter of the 12th century), and the final period (until the middle of the 13th century) (it was part the famous campaign of the Novgorod-Seversky prince Igor Svyatoslavich, described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign).

The situation in Russia and in the steppes of the northern Black Sea region at the beginning of the clashes

By the middle of the XI century. A number of important changes have taken place in the region under consideration. The Pechenegs and Torks, who ruled for a century in the "Wild Steppe", weakened by the struggle with their neighbors - Russia and Byzantium, failed to stop the invasion of the Black Sea lands by newcomers from the Altai foothills - the Polovtsians, also called Cumans. The new masters of the steppes defeated the enemies and occupied their camps. However, they had to take upon themselves all the consequences of being close to neighboring countries. Long years clashes between the Eastern Slavs and the steppe nomads developed a certain model of relations, into which the Polovtsians were forced to fit.

Meanwhile, the process of disintegration started in Russia - the princes began to wage an active and ruthless struggle for inheritances and at the same time resort to the help of strong Polovtsian hordes to fight competitors. Therefore, the appearance new strength in the Black Sea became ordeal for the people of Russia.

The balance of forces and the military organization of the parties

Not much is known about the Polovtsian warriors, but they military organization contemporaries considered quite high for their time. The main force of the nomads, like any steppe dwellers, were detachments of light cavalry armed with bows. Polovtsian warriors, in addition to bows, also had sabers, lassoes and spears. Wealthy warriors wore chain mail. Apparently, the Polovtsian khans also had their own squads with heavy weapons. It is also known (since the second half of the 12th century) about the use of heavy crossbows and "liquid fire" by the Polovtsians, borrowed, perhaps from China, from the time they lived in the Altai region, or more later times the Byzantines (see Greek fire). The Polovtsy used the tactics of surprise attacks. They operated mainly against weakly defended villages, but rarely attacked fortified fortresses. In the field battle, the Polovtsian khans competently divided forces, used flying units in the forefront to start the battle, which were then reinforced by the attack of the main forces. Thus, in the face of the Cumans, the Russian princes faced an experienced and skillful enemy. No wonder the old enemy of Russia - the Pechenegs were utterly defeated by the Polovtsian troops and scattered, practically ceasing to exist.

Nevertheless, Russia had a huge superiority over its steppe neighbors - according to historians, the population of the ancient Russian state in the 11th century was already over 5 million inhabitants, while there were several hundred thousand nomads. The successes of the Polovtsy were due, first of all, to the disunity and contradictions in the camp of their opponents.

The structure of the Old Russian army in the era of fragmentation has changed significantly compared to more early period. Now it consisted of three main parts - the princely squad, personal detachments of aristocratic boyars and city militias. The military art of the Russians was at a fairly high level.

The first period of wars (second half of the 11th century)

Immediately after the death of Yaroslav the Wise (1054), the Polovtsy invaded the Principality of Pereyaslav, but made peace with Vsevolod Yaroslavich. In 1059, Vsevolod, and in 1060, all three senior Yaroslavichs, in alliance with Vseslav of Polotsk, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Torks in the steppes. The first clash between Russians and Polovtsians dates back to 1061. The Pereyaslav Principality became a victim of the nomads. Since then, the nomads began to make frequent raids within the borders of Russia.

One of the largest Polovtsian invasions of Russia took place in 1068. The Polovtsy were opposed by the forces of Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavich, who together owned all of Russia at that time. However, this army suffered a crushing defeat on the Alta River. Izyaslav Yaroslavich refused to give the people of Kiev horses and weapons from his arsenal for the second time in order to fight the Polovtsy, and on the left side of the Dnieper, Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavich of Chernigov on November 1, with 3,000 soldiers, was able to stop the advance of 12,000 Polovtsy in the battle on the Snova River, and the Novgorod First Chronicle reports the capture Sharukan is captured. An uprising took place in Kyiv, forcing Izyaslav to flee to Poland.

For the first time, the Polovtsians were used in Russian civil strife not against the central government, but by the central government:

After the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich in the reign of Kiev in 1076, Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to Kyiv, and Vsevolod Yaroslavich kept Chernigov. Svyatoslavichs Roman and Oleg, in alliance with the Polovtsians, began a struggle for the former possessions of their father, which led to the death in 1078 in the battle on Nezhatinnaya Niva of Izyaslav Yaroslavich and Oleg's ally Boris Vyacheslavich. In 1079, Roman Svyatoslavich was also killed by the Polovtsy.

In 1078, Vsevolod Yaroslavich reigned in Kyiv and left his son Vladimir as governor in Chernigov. A new powerful onslaught on the Russian lands, led by khans Bonyak and Tugorkan, was timed to coincide with the illness of Vsevolod of Kyiv in 1092. AT next year Vsevolod died, and Tugorkan laid siege to the city of Torchesk. The united Kiev-Chernigov-Pereyaslav army, headed by Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir and Rostislav Vsevolodovichi, respectively, came to the aid of the defenders, as well as 25 years before, but was defeated in the battle on the Stugna River, and Rostislav died during the retreat in stormy from the rain waters of the river. Torchesk fell, and Svyatopolk was forced to make peace with Tugorkan by marrying his daughter.

In 1094, Oleg Svyatoslavich with the Polovtsians laid siege to Vladimir Vsevolodovich in Chernigov. After a long siege, Vladimir openly left the city ( do not brag about the wicked), having passed between the enemy forces without a fight, but the strife continued in the northeastern lands - Rostov and Murom, during which Monomakh's son Izyaslav (1096) died. Taking advantage of the absence of the forces of Svyatopolk and Monomakh in southern Russia, two Polovtsian armies attacked the Russian principalities on both banks of the Dnieper. Khan Bonyak appeared near Kyiv itself, and Tugorkan and Khan Kurya laid siege to Pereyaslavl. The last and waited for the first major defeat from the Russians. On July 19, 1096, on the Trubezh River, the army of princes Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and Vladimir Monomakh defeated the enemy. Upon learning of the defeat of Tugorkan, Bonyak, who had already managed to plunder the environs of Kyiv and burned Caves monastery, hastily left for the steppe. A year earlier, Monomakh killed two khans, Itlar and Kitan, during negotiations in Pereyaslavl.

Second period of wars (first quarter of the 12th century)

The blow inflicted on the Polovtsy at Trubezh was very painful for the nomads. The largest Polovtsian commander Tugorkan died in the battle. But the power of the steppes was still great. In 1097, at the Lyubech Congress of Princes, a decision was made let each one keep his own(The Svyatoslavichi received their father's inheritance), and Monomakh managed to convince the Russian princes of the need for retaliatory campaigns against the Polovtsy and the transfer of the fight against them deep into the steppes.

In 1103, in early spring, the allied army of Russian princes moved into the steppes. The calculation was made to weaken the Polovtsian cavalry. After long winter the horses had not yet had time to gain strength, while the Russian army included, in addition to the princely squads, large forces of "pedestrians" - infantrymen. The foot army moved along the Dnieper on boats, the cavalry marched in parallel. Then the army turned deep into the steppes. The decisive battle of the campaign took place on April 4 near the town of Suten. Monomakh and Svyatopolk defeated the Polovtsy, Khan Urusoba and 19 other princes were killed in this battle.

Four years later, the nomads went on the offensive again. In May, Khan Bonyak with his horsemen invaded the borders of the Principality of Pereyaslavl and besieged the city of Luben. Monomakh was again forced to defend his patrimony. Together with Svyatopolk, he came to the aid of the besieged and attacked the Polovtsians. This time, Bonyak and his soldiers did not resist for long: they fled, leaving the convoy and booty. Once again, peace was concluded, sealed by two dynastic marriages: the daughters of Khan Aepa were married to the son of Vladimir Yuri and the son of Oleg Svyatoslavich Svyatoslav.

The truce did not last long. Polovtsy prepared new blow in Russia, but this time Monomakh forestalled them. Thanks to a sortie to the steppe under the command of governor Dmitry, having found out that several Polovtsian khans were gathering soldiers on a big campaign against Russian lands, the Pereyaslavl prince suggested that the allies attack the enemy themselves. This time they performed in the winter. On February 26, 1111, Vladimir Monomakh and Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, at the head of a large army, moved deep into the Polovtsian pastures. The army of princes penetrated as far into the steppes as never before - all the way to the Don. The Polovtsian cities of Sharukan and Sugrov were captured. But the main forces of Khan Sharukan brought out from under the blow. On March 26, hoping for the fatigue of the Russian soldiers after a long campaign, the Polovtsians attacked the allied army on the banks of the Salnitsa River. In a bloody and fierce battle, the victory again went to the Russians. The enemy fled, the prince's army returned home without hindrance.

After Vladimir Monomakh became the Grand Duke of Kyiv, Russian troops made another major campaign in the steppe (led by Yaropolk Vladimirovich and Vsevolod Davydovich) and captured 3 cities from the Polovtsians (1116). AT last years of life, Monomakh sent Yaropolk with an army beyond the Don against the Polovtsy, but he did not find them there. The Polovtsy migrated away from the borders of Russia, to the Caucasian foothills.

The third period of wars (until the middle of the XIII century)

With the death of Monomakh's heir Mstislav, the Russian princes returned to the practice of using the Polovtsy in civil strife. One by one, the Polovtsian khans returned to the Don nomad camps. So, Yuri Dolgoruky five times brought the Polovtsy under the walls of Kyiv during the wars with Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich. Other princes did the same.

The resumption of campaigns of Russian princes in the steppe (to ensure the security of trade) is associated with the great Kievan reign of Mstislav Izyaslavich (1167-1169).

In the 70s of the XII century, in the steppe expanses from the Don to the southern borderlands of Russia, a large association of Polovtsian tribes arose, headed by Khan Konchak. The environs of Kyiv, Chernigov, Pereyaslavl again became victims of more frequent raids by newcomers from the steppes. In 1177, the Polovtsians defeated the Russian troops near Rostovets.

In 1183, the forces of the coalition of South Russian princes, led by Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Kyiv, moved into the nomads of the Polovtsians. A strong Russian army defeated near the river. Aurely a large detachment of Polovtsian horsemen, capturing 7 thousand people, including Khan Kobyak, who then died in a Kyiv prison. On March 1, 1185, Konchak himself was defeated on the Khorol River. After that, Svyatoslav left for the northeastern lands of the Chernigov principality, gathering go to the Don on the Polovtsians for the whole summer, and Prince Igor Svyatoslavich of Novgorod-Seversky undertook a separate campaign in the steppe (this time unsuccessful, unlike the campaign of the previous year).

The army of the Seversky prince set out on a campaign on April 23, 1185. On the way to Igor, his son Vladimir Putivl, his nephew Svyatoslav Rylsky, Igor's brother, Prince Vsevolod of Chernigov and the Chernigov kovui joined with squads: a total of 5 regiments. Also in this campaign, the sixth regiment, consisting of archers from all regiments. The first meeting with the Polovtsy took place on the banks of the river. Syuurli was successful for the Russians. Rich booty was captured, part of the Russian forces (except for the regiments of Igor and Vsevolod) participated in the pursuit of the defeated enemy. The next day, the princely regiments clashed with the main forces of Khan Konchak. On the banks of the river Kayaly broke out bloody battle. The cavalry squads could have fled, but chose not to black people, dismounted and began to make their way to the Donets. Having been wounded, Igor got back on his horse. The whole day Igor's warriors held back the onslaught of superior enemy forces, but at the dawn of the next day they faltered. The prince's army was defeated, Igor himself and his son Vladimir were captured.

The Polovtsy invaded Russia, laid siege to Pereyaslavl, took Rome. Svyatoslav of Kyiv and his co-ruler Rurik Rostislavich managed to build a defense, and when they learned that they had crossed the Dnieper, Konchak lifted the siege from Pereyaslavl and went into the steppe. Novgorod-Seversky prince, who later escaped from the Polovtsian captivity, managed to take revenge on the enemies: he made several victorious campaigns against the nomads. After 1185, the Polovtsy invaded Russia only as allies of one of the coalitions of Russian princes fighting each other. At the same time, the largest campaigns in the steppe were undertaken by Vsevolod the Big Nest in 1198 (the Polovtsy migrated south to avoid a collision), Roman Mstislavich in 1202 (for which he was awarded a comparison by the chronicler with his great ancestor Monomakh) and 1203.

In the first half of the 13th century, both Russians and Polovtsy became victims Mongol conquests. At the first appearance of the Mongols in Europe in 1222-1223, the Russian princes joined forces with the Polovtsian khans, although the Mongol ambassadors suggested that the Russian princes act together against the Polovtsians. The battle on the Kalka River ended unsuccessfully for the allies, but the Mongols were forced to postpone the conquest of Eastern Europe for 13 years. Western campaign of the Mongols 1236-1242, also referred to in Eastern sources Kipchak, that is, Polovtsian, did not meet the joint resistance of the Russian princes and Polovtsian khans.

The results of the wars

The results of the Russian-Polovtsian wars were the loss of control by the Russian princes over the Tmutarakan principality and Belaya Vezha, as well as the cessation of the Polovtsian invasions of Russia outside the framework of alliances with some Russian princes against others. At the same time, the strongest Russian princes began to undertake campaigns deep into the steppes, but even in these cases, the Polovtsy preferred to retreat, avoiding a collision.

The Ruriks intermarried with many Polovtsian khans. The Polovtsy were married in different time Yuri Dolgoruky, Svyatoslav Olgovich (Prince of Chernigov), Rurik Rostislavich, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (Prince of Vladimir). Christianity became widespread in the Polovtsian elite: for example, of the four Polovtsian khans mentioned by Russian chronicles under 1223, two wore Orthodox names, and the third was baptized before a joint campaign against the Mongols.