by A. Toroptsev
Artists: I. Dzys’, I. Sabchenkov, A. Kapninskiy
Moscow, Rosmen, 2000, ISBN 5-257-00900-5
Overview
This book covers the primary events in the history of Rus’ after the acceptance of Christianity, about the well-known Russian serf princes, about the struggles between themselves and the campaigns against common enemies – the Polovtsi (Turkmen) and later, the Mongol Batiya. They complete the period of the civil wars in Sweden and Germany to the time of Prince Alexander Nevskiy. The information below is the translation of the captions from the book Kiev Rus'. The book is available from Gauntlet International (www.gauntletinternational.com).
Page 4. Consolidating power in Kiev, Vladimir set off on a campaign to the northwest against the Poles. It was successful.
Page 8-9. Siege of Korsuna (Hersones) by Vladimir Svyatoslavich
Page 8. left to right-Byzantine military commander, Byzantine heavy infantryman, Byzantine light infantryman. Inset-Reconstruction of the northwest part of the fortifications at Hersones to the tower of Zenon. In the city, the caption highlights the Ubarov Basilica.
Page 9. Left to right-a man from Varyag (Varangian) in Russian service, simple militiaman, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (on the horse), Prince’s knight. In the city, top to bottom-Vladimir’s fleet, embankment built by the Russians (to assist in the siege), and Vladimir’s camp (lager). Inset-inside of the courtyard of Uvarov Basilica, where Vladimir was baptized.
Page 12-13. Twelve knights of Vladimir toppled the idol of Perun, threw it down the hill and into the river. Vladimir’s soldiers get baptized en masse. The Embassy from Kiev questioned the Greek Episcopy on the Christian faith. In the Greek miniature is shown the palace in Constantinople.
Page 20-21. Battle of Yaroslav the Brave with Prince Mstislav at the village of Listven on the shore of the River Rudna in 1024 A.D.
Page 20. Left to right top-Varyag Knight of Prince Yaroslav, Yakun-Ally of Prince Yaroslav, and Prince Yaroslav. Bottom-Chernigovs.
Page 21. Left to right-Prince Mstislav and his knights. Inset-organization of the Rus’ conscripts X-XI centuries. Map-solid line is the border of the ancient Russian lands in the middle of the XI Century. The dashed lines are the trade routes.
Page 24-25. Destruction of the Pecheneg people by Prince Yaroslav the Brave at the walls of Kiev in 1036 A.D.
Page 24. Prince Yaroslav.
Page 25. left to right-one of Yaroslav’s knights and Pecheneg soldiers. Picture-Prince Yaroslav the brave. Inset-Reconstruction of Kiev’s Sofiya, erected by Yaroslav in honor of his victory - as it appeared in the X Century.
Page 28-29. Destruction of the Yaroslavs – Princes Izyaslav, Vsevolod, and Svyatoslav by the Polovtsi at the river Al’ta in 1068.
Page 28. Russians.
Page 29. Polovtsi. Map shows the location of the battle (pink circle). Upper right inset-Details of a Horse harness. 1-3. stirrups, 4-5. bits, 6-8. decorative harness, 9-10. belt-cutting clips, 11. belly-band buckle, 12. lash end, 13. lash. Lower inset-Polovtsi quivers.
Page 30-31. Destruction of the Polovtsi at the River Snov’ in 1069 A.D.
Page 30. Top left to right-Chernigovs and Chernigov Prince. Middle-Polovtsi (suffering). Inset-Stone figures of the Polovtsi XII-XIII Centuries.
Page 31. More Polovtsi (squashed underfoot). Chernigov Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavich immediately after the loss at Yalta gathered his knights and set off to destroy the Polovtsi at the battle of Snov’. The Russians had 3000 mounted knights, the Polovtsi had 12,000. A vicious attack by the Russians smashed the Polovtsi. The Russians took some prisoner, but the others were forced into the river where almost all of them drowned.
Page 34. Some knucklehead sniffing flowers instead of working.
Page 38-39. The knights of Prince Vasil’ko the Blind attack the Kiev knights in 1099.
Page 38. Left to right-The Knight Terebovl’chan and Prince Vasil’ko with the cross. Bottom (blue cloak) Kiev Prince.
Page 39. In 1098, the brother of Vasil’ko, Volodar’ Rostislavich laid siege to the city of Buzhsk, in which Prince David was hidden from retaliation. Volodar’ demanded his blind brother be freed in exchange for peace. David was afraid so he released Volodar’ for peace with the Rostislavich Princes. But soon after, they saw war – he seized and robbed Vsevolod and other of David’s cities. In 1099, the decisive battle occurred at Terebovl (shown on the map inset).
Page 42-43. Vasil’ko’s forces.
Page 44-45. Victory of the Combined Russian Forces under the command of Vladimir Monomakh over the Polovtsi, 26 March 1111 A.D. This battle was an epic struggle between the knights and invaders.
Page 44. Inset-Prince Vladimir Monomakh. From left to right-Russian cavalry. Russian foot militia.
Page 45. Prince Vladimir Monomakh (under the Russian banner). Polovtsi soldiers (with bow and underfoot).
More Kievan Rus' Excerpts from a New Book
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© Copyright 2001 by Craig Martelle Publications
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