Russian Ancient History

short versionshort version

Timeline

• Vikings RuleZ (IX-XIII centuries)– Kicked out of your own country? Not a problem. Establish a new one.

(advices from Rurik)

– How to fend off annoying admirers? (advices by Saint Olga) – How to become a saint? (advices by Saint Vladimir)

• Tatar-Mongolian Yoke (XIII-XV centuries)– How to win any medieval war? (advices by Genghis Khan & Batu Khan)– How to defeat heavy knights with a bunch of peasants?

(recommendations by Saint Alexander Nevsky)– How the absence of the professional referee caused thousands of dead.

(memoirs of prince Dmitry Donskoy)– How to win in the stalemate? (advices by tsar Ivan III)

Vikings aka Varangians

Sverige (swe) - > Variagi (rus) -> Varangi (gre) -> Varangian (eng)

Varangians (Vikings) arrival to northern Russia (862 A.D.)

Rurik (Rørik, ~ 830 – ~879 )

• Probably, the same person as Rørik of Dorestad who was stripped of his land possessions at 860.

• In 862 Rurik with his Varyagian mercenary force arrived as to Ladoga town to “settle an internal dispute”.

• Rurik establish the town of Holmgarðr (Novgorod)• First the he shared the power with his brothers, after

their death he took full control.

Kievan Rus’ in X century

Oleg (Helgi, ? - 912 or 922)

Kievan Rus’ in X century

Igor (Ingvar, 878-945 )/Sveneld(?)

• Sveneld was most likely the actual ruler as he used Igor as a puppet king.

• Two raids on Byzantine Empire in 941 and 944.

• Igor was executed by Drevlyans for his greed (torn apart between two trees).

Olga (Helga, ? - 969)

How to get rid of annoying admirers?

(by St. Olga)

1) Bury those admirers alive…

2) Invite their relatives to a party and burn them in sauna…

3) Go to the city where they lived, ask for noble citizen to participate in the ceremony of giving respect to the dead… and make them dead.

4) Tell to the scared citizens that they are forgiven and burn the city.

Do you think it is atrocious?

No way! Look! There is a nimbus there!

Svyatoslav(942-972)/Sveneld(?)

• Raid on Khazarian Kaganate

(965-966) • Attack on Bulgaria (968) (deal

with Byzantium Empire)• Attack by Pechenegs on Kiev

(968)• Khazarian Kaganate is

devastated (968-969)• War with Byzantium Empire

and Bulgaria (969-972)

Kievan Rus’ in X century

Vladimir I (~960-1015)

How to become a saint? (by St. Vladimir)

1) Kill your brother to seize the power.

2) Sacrifice Christians to the pagan god during your coronation.

3) Have sex with at least 800 women, including married and very young.

4) Drink a lot of alcohol.

5) Accept Christianity for the marriage purpose.

6) Make the Christianity a state religion and execute anyone who disagree.

Achievements of Vladimir I

• Christianity as state religion• First coins• Become first Tsar (Caesar)

of the whole Rus’• Become a source of all the

Russian myths and legends• Instead of collecting tribute

made his people govern the provinces.

• Successful military campaigns against all the neighbors.

Mythical heroes

Mythical foes

Feudal Partition Period

Tataro-Mongolian Yoke (1237-1480)

How to win any medieval war

Temujin aka Genghis Khan

Ultimate solution:A) All horse archers army

– Spare horses– Tons of arrows

B) No direct enemy contact until the final blow

Mongolian Khanates

Great Novgorod and German Knight Orders

Battle on the IceHow to win the battle with militia vs. heavy knights?

(by St. Alexander Nevsky, ~1220-1263)

1) Fight on the ice

2) Pack them hard

3) Let them drown

Grand Prince of Moscow Dmitri “Donskoy” (1350-1389)

1) Started consolidation of lands around Moscow

2) Won the political struggle for tribute collection for the Golden Horde against Grand Prince of Vladimir

3) Had the first success against Mongolians

Battle on the Kulikov field

Peresvet vs. Cheluhbey

Battle on the Kulikov Field

First Tsar of All Rus’ Ivan III

How to win in the stalemate?

1) Stay along the river and wait the enemy

2) Use cannons to prevent building bridges

3) Use primitive firearms to prevent crossing by swimming

4) Be closer to army suppliers (better logistics)

5) Send the part of the army to burn their capital while they are busy here

6) Make the enemies of your enemies keep your enemy allies occupied

7) Be patient

The End (of Tataro-Mongolian Yoke, 1480)