Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'
The Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' was one of the theatres of the numerous invasions and conquests undertaken by the Mongol Empire during the 13th century. With an opening salvo to gather intel, in the form of 1223's Battle of the Kalka River, a full-scale invasion of the Rus' by Batu Khan followed, lasting from 1237 until 1241. The end of the invasion came about due to the assassination of Ögedei Khan and subsequent Mongol succession process requiring Batu Khan's presence.[1]
History
Invasions
In 1223, Mongolian forces clashed with a coalition of several Rus' principalities on the banks of the Kalka river. After a decisive victory by the Mongol Empire, who had gathered intel by testing the Rus' armies, the invasors retreated.[1] Elbegdorj, a horse breeder and the father of Nergüi, was forced by Genghis Khan to join his army and did not survive this battle.[2]
Starting in 1237, Batu Khan and his army tore a path through Russia, swiftly conquering many of the Rus' principalities, leading them to choose between becoming vassals of the Mongol Empire or being destroyed. In the 1240s, Batu readied his army to march westward, seeking to continue his conquests into Europe. The Mongolian Brotherhood of Assassins then hatched a plan to stop Batu's advance: since they could not stop Batu with their strength alone, they decided to force his return to Mongolia by eliminating both Ögedei Khan and Chagatai Khan and leaving the Mongol Empire with no Khan and no ready successor. Nergüi was tasked with killing Ögedei, while Qulan Gal went to eliminate Chagatai, leading to Batu returning home until a new Khan was named.[3]
Aftermath
The defeat of the Rus' forces also diminished their morale, and was a major reason given by Grand Prince of Vladimir Alexander Nevsky for remaining a Mongol vassal decades later. Nevsky claimed that by following the commands given by the Mongols was an arrangement that kept his people alive, not wishing to see the Rus' fall like those that stood against the Mongols. Nevsky, however, did not remain completely submissive to his suzerains, having Batu Khan poisoned in 1255 for the assassination of his father, Yaroslav II of Vladimir, in 1246.[2]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Memories (first mentioned)
References
