"Svyatoslav went to the Khazars"
"The capture of the Khazar fortress Itil by Prince Svyatoslav" V. Kireev
Khazar threat
The fight against the parasitic state of the Khazars was the most important strategic task of Rus'. The Khazar merchant and moneylender elite, having subjugated the Khazar tribal military nobility, controlled all the exits from Eastern Europe to the East. The Khazar state received huge profits by controlling the transit routes.
The Khazar Khaganate posed a serious military threat to Rus'. Archaeologists have discovered a whole system of stone fortresses on the right bank of the Don, Northern Donets and Oskol. One white-stone stronghold was located 10-20 kilometers from another. Outposts were located on the right, western and northwestern banks of the rivers.
Byzantine engineers played a major role in the construction of these fortresses. Thus, Sarkel (White Tower) on the banks of the Don was built by Byzantine engineers led by Petrona Kamateros. And the fortifications of Itil were made by the Byzantine Romans. The Khazar state played an important role in the military and political strategy of Constantinople, holding back Rus'.
Sarkel was the main Khazar fortress on the northwestern border of the state. It housed a permanent garrison of several hundred warriors. The fortresses solved not only defensive tasks, but also offensive, predatory ones. In fact, these were outposts, advanced forward, since they were located on the right (western) bank, and not on the left (eastern), which would have increased their defensive significance. These bridgeheads were used as covers for organizing attacks and retreats of Khazar troops. Small Khazar detachments also carried out predatory raids from them.
Russian epics preserved the memory of the Khazar attacks, for example, the epic “Fyodor Tyarynin” reports:
From the east was
From the king was Jewish,
From his power Yiddish
Arrived Kalena arrow.
Fortifications and settlements of the Khazar period in the Volga-Don interfluve. The largest settlements are indicated. Source: Koloda V.V. "Problems of urban formation in early medieval contact zones
Khazar “miracle-yudo”
The Khazars made campaigns and raids into the Slavic-Russian lands. The Arab geographer Al-Idrisi reported that the Khazar vassals regularly raided the Slavs with the aim of driving people away to sell them into slavery. These were not just spontaneous raids, from time to time, but a targeted predatory strategy on the part of the parasitic state.
Khazaria, in its essence – a parasitic, appropriative way of managing – resembled a later enemy of the Russian state – the Crimean Khanate. The Khazar nobility lived by parasitizing on trade routes and predatory raids on the surrounding lands. By capturing people and the slave trade (Crimea: predatory Crimean Khanate; Predatory Crimean Khanate. Part of 2).
In the Khazar state, power was seized by the Jews, representing the Radhanite caste. This caste of international traders controlled trade between the East and the West, including the Silk Road and other communications. Their influence extended as far as China and India. One of their main "commodities" were people. The clan of slave traders worshiped the "golden calf" and measured everything in gold.
The Khazars took tribute in people from some of the Slavic-Russian tribes they controlled. The Radziwill Chronicle reports that the Khazars took “on the white maiden from the smoke" (from a household, a large family). And next to it on the miniature, so that there would be no mistake, not to be taken for a slip of the pen, a group of girls and an elder bowing before the Khazar are depicted.
By the time of Prince Svyatoslav's reign, this tribute was almost no longer paid by people, as Rus' had united and grown stronger. However, the Khazars continued to take people captive to sell into slavery during their raids.
At the same time, the Khazar elite posed a threat to the very existence of Rus' - the Russian civilization. In Western Europe, Christian knights and mercenaries, incited by Rome and the Radhonites, fought for several centuries with the Slavic-Russian tribes in the lands of modern Germany and Austria. From there came the Varangians-Rus' led by Rurik the Falcon, the western branch of the superethnos of the Rus' (Germanic Rus').
Slavic warriors died in battle, and the invaders sold women and children wholesale to Jewish Radhonite merchants, who drove the “living goods” to the markets of the Middle East and beyond.
This titanic and bloody battle lasted for several centuries. The Slavic-Russian civilization of Central Europe, which had hundreds of cities, developed crafts and arts, perished in fire and blood. The Slavic-Russians were partly exterminated, partly gradually assimilated, lost their language, faith and culture, and became "Germans". About this page stories in Europe they prefer not to remember. After all, a significant part of European civilization is built on the blood and bones of the Slavs ("Slavic Atlantis" in Central Europe).
The same fate threatened the eastern branch of the Rus superethnos, Eastern Rus. Byzantium threatened from the West, Rome was advancing, which would soon turn the western Polyans (Lyakhs, Poles) into enemies of Rus. Khazaria threatened from the southeast, and the Islamic civilization was advancing from the south. The well-armed detachments of Muslim mercenaries of Khazaria were a serious threat.
Only political centralization could save Eastern Rus. And the Sokol (Rarog-Rurik) dynasty coped with this role perfectly. This is very symbolic, because the falcon-rarog was the totem animal of the supreme god of the Slavic Rus - Rod (in the Christian tradition, the Savior Almighty, the One God).
All the first princes of the Rurik dynasty (Sokolov) fought against Khazaria. The Russian prince Oleg the Prophet was able to take Kyiv and remove the tribal union of the Polyans, who lived in the Middle Dnieper region (Kiev region), from the influence of the Khazars. There is a version that he became a victim of the Khazars. The image of the snake that killed Oleg is the Khazars.
During Igor's reign, Russian troops made a number of campaigns to the Caspian Sea. However, only Svyatoslav was able to solve the problem of liquidating Khazaria.
Miniature. Radziwill Chronicle: "...and the Khazars said: "Pay us tribute." The Poles thought about it and threw a sword from the smoke"
Who are the Khazars?
The Khazars are considered to be a Turkic-speaking people who appeared after the invasion of the Huns. However, there is simply no evidence of the "Turkic-speaking" Khazars. It was simply advantageous for the masters of "world classical history" to classify the Khazars as Turks. Just as the Vandals-Wends (a kind of Rus) were classed as Germans-Germans. And the Polovtsians and Horde - as Mongols.
Such tricks are also being performed in modern history, when an ethnic chimera – the “Ukrainian people” – was created from the southern part of the Russians (Little Russians).
Anthropological material from Khazar burial grounds shows that they were Europeans (representatives of the white race). Many ornaments and patterns resemble the traditions of Middle Eastern Assyria-Assur. "Assur" and "Khazar" are one ethnonym with different pronunciations.
Therefore, there is a version (Yu. Petukhov, "Rusy Evrazii") that the Khazar-Assur clans were refugees from the Middle East, from where they went north under pressure from Semitic tribes. Having settled in the Volga region, in the steppes between the Black and Caspian Seas, they found themselves under pressure from the Turks, who were already entering the historical arena. Here they drew a number of Slavic and Turkic tribes into their statehood. There was also a community of Jews, who for a short period gave their religion to the elite.
In religious terms, the Khazars professed different confessions. Some retained paganism, others adopted Christianity, others – Islam (there were many Muslim mercenaries, plus pressure from the Arab world), there was a community of Jews.
After the collapse of Khazaria, its population did not disappear without a trace. The surviving Khazars-Assurs became part of the Rus-Russians and the Volga Bulgars-Volgars. In particular, some of the Khazars became part of the military elite of the Rus: the epic about Mikhailo Kazaryanin (or Kozarin, Kazarin, Kazarinov).
Horseman of the Khazar Khaganate. Late 52th – early XNUMXth century. Based on materials by S. A. Pletneva, Dmitrievsky Archaeological Complex, Catacomb No. XNUMX. Reconstruction drawings by Oleg Fedorov
Army of Khazaria
Khazaria, although it had lost some of its power by the middle of the 10th century, was a tough nut to crack. The Khazars' vassals were the Burtases and Volga Bulgaria on the Middle Volga. The mouth of the Volga was controlled by the Khazar capital, Itil, which was well fortified under the leadership of Byzantine engineers. This major trade and political center was well protected.
In the North Caucasus, the main stronghold of the Khazars was the city of Semender, the old capital. The fortress of Sarkel covered the western borders and controlled the Don. Tumantarkhan (Samkerts or Tamatarkha) controlled the Taman Peninsula. All the cities were well protected, especially Sarkel.
In Khazaria, there was a peculiar diarchy: the kagan (khan) had a sacred status, and the tsar owned the executive power. Tribal and tribal nobility exhibited well-armed cavalry. In later times, its strength fell to 10 thous. Horsemen. They were supported by well-armed Muslim mercenaries, the king’s guards. The riders were armed with spears and swords and had good armor. With a serious threat, each city could set up foot militias from the “black Khazars” - the common people.
The Khazars adopted the Arab tactics and attacked in waves and lines in battle. The first line consisted of skirmishers, mounted archers, usually from the "black Khazars" - commoners. They did not have heavy weapons and tried to scatter and weaken the enemy with projectiles - arrows and darts - to enrage and force him into a premature and poorly organized attack.
The second line consisted of well-armed cavalry - a squad of clan and tribal nobility. The "White Khazars" were well armed - iron breastplates, leather armor and chain mail, helmets, shields, long spears, swords, sabres, clubs, axes. The heavy cavalry was supposed to crush the enemy's already disordered ranks. If the enemy was strong, and the second line did not achieve success, it retreated to regroup.
The third line entered the battle - a large foot militia. The infantry's main weapons were spears and shields. It was difficult to overcome the wall of spearmen without serious losses, and at this time the cavalry was reorganizing and preparing for a new attack behind the infantry.
In extreme cases, the fourth line could enter the battle - a select guard of Muslim mercenaries. The line consisted of mounted, iron-clad, professional warriors. This line was led into battle by the king personally. However, it was rare for three or four lines to enter the battle. Usually, the Khazars themselves went on campaigns and raids, in which only mounted light archers and noble squads participated.
Alanian archer of the Khazar Khaganate, 55th – early XNUMXth century. Based on materials by S. A. Pletneva, Dmitrievsky archaeological complex, catacomb No. XNUMX
Russian army
Svyatoslav was a true warrior. The Russian chronicle describes him vividly: light in his movements, like a leopard, brave, he directed all his energy to creating a powerful squad:
The warriors began to gather, many and brave and walking lightly, like a leopard, making many wars. Walking, he did not carry a cart, nor a cauldron; nor did he cook meat, but he cut up horse meat, or beast, or beef, and baked it on the coals and ate it; he had no tent, but he laid a lining and a saddle at the head, and he led his other warriors in the same way.
(Complete collection of Russian chronicles. Vol. 1).
Svyatoslav's army was extremely mobile. In fact, in the future, such mobility and tactics would be demonstrated by the army of Alexander Suvorov. Russian squads moved on boats and horses. Svyatoslav's squad, as can be seen from the sources, could fight on horseback and on foot, depending on the situation. From the message of the Russian chronicler that Prince Svyatoslav and his warriors ate horse meat and had saddles, we can conclude that the squad was mounted, not on foot.
The battle between Svyatoslav's troops and the troops of the Khazar "Prince Khagan", which ended in victory for the Rus' (965). Miniature from the Radziwill Chronicle, late XNUMXth century
This is indirectly confirmed by the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon, who contradicts himself when he says that the Rus did not know how to fight on horseback, and at the same time reports on their horse attacks. But the squad also used boats to move along rivers where it was convenient (the Volga, Don, Dnieper and Danube), and could fight on foot, lining up for battle in several ranks. And the experience of warfare by previous Russian princes - Rurik, Oleg the Prophet and Igor the Old - shows that Rus had a powerful fleet, which could operate on rivers and at sea. At the same time, part of the army accompanied the ship's army on land on horseback.
During this period, the Russian army consisted of several parts: 1) the senior and junior squads of the prince; 2) squads of boyars and princes' henchmen; 3) "warriors" - urban and rural militia; 4) allies and mercenaries (Varangians, Pechenegs, Polovtsians, etc.).
Druzhinas usually comprised heavily armed cavalry. Under Svyatoslav, it was reinforced by light cavalry of the Pechenegs, they were armed with bows, had spears for throwing (darts-sulitsy) and striking and a three-sided double-edged sword, protected by chain mail and helmets. "Voi"-militiamen comprised the infantry of the Russian army. For long campaigns, boats (lod'ya) were built, which lifted from 20 to 60 people each. They could act not only on rivers, but also at sea, were not only transports, but also entered into battle with enemy ships.
The senior squad consisted of "princely men", or boyars. In peacetime, it formed a council under the prince and participated in governing the state. The younger squad ("youths", "children") was the prince's personal guard. The squad was the core of the army.
The city fielded a "thousand", divided into hundreds and tens (by "ends" and streets). The "thousand" was commanded by a tysyatsky elected by the veche or appointed by the prince. "Hundreds" and "tens" were commanded by elected hundred and ten officers. "Warriors" made up the infantry, divided into archers and spearmen. In battle, the infantry formed a "wall" like the ancient Greek phalanx. Archers fired at the enemy, scattering his formation. Spearmen covered themselves with shields as tall as a man and put out spears. In close combat, they used swords, axes, maces and "boot" knives.
Protective equipment consisted of chainmail armor, a pointed helmet with a chainmail mesh on the face and shoulders, and large, often full-length, wooden shields. Quality weapons and armor depended on the wealth of the warrior. The main weapons were usually stored in the prince's warehouses and were issued before setting out on a campaign.
Since ancient times, the Rus had banners, triangular and red, and military music. The rhythm of the music helped to enter a state of battle trance, a special state of the psyche. Troops lined up and fought around their banners. "To set up a banner" meant to line up or prepare for battle.
Russian troops were distinguished by high discipline. The army gathered at the assembly point and organized campaign. In the march in front was the watchman, who led the reconnaissance of enemy paths and forces, mined "tongues" and protected the main forces from a sudden attack. The main forces were moving behind the watchmen. During the camps they put up a “guard” - escort, the place itself was surrounded by carts or a palisade, sometimes dug round.
The battle order of the Russian army was traditional: the middle (infantry) and two cavalry wings (left and right). The battle was started by archers, who were in front in loose formation. Russian compound bows were a terrible weapon. The main (central) regiment took the enemy's attack, stopped it, the cavalry squads on the flanks tried to encircle the enemy or prevented the more numerous enemy from encircling the Russian army.
Envelopment and bypassing of flanks, ambushes and luring the enemy with a deliberate retreat were used very often; this was the most ancient traditional tactic for the Scythians and their successors, the Rus.
Stone car (Russian vices). Arabic manuscript drawing
Russian armies successfully stormed cities. They tried to take them by surprise - "at the spear", or by trickery. If that didn't work, they began a siege. The city was surrounded from all sides, deprived of food supplies, and water conduits were sought to force the garrison to capitulate.
If the garrison persisted, a proper siege was conducted - the troops were located in a fortified camp, the city was surrounded by an earthen rampart, cutting it off from the outside world and narrowing the possibilities for sorties. Under cover of large plank shields, they approached the walls, cut down the palisade (tyn), filled in the ditch in places, if the walls and towers were wooden, they tried to set them on fire. A large embankment was made near the wall, an earthen backfill, which could be climbed, assault ladders were prepared. Underground passages were dug to destroy the wall and penetrate the city. Siege towers, battering rams and stone throwers were also used.
Vladimir Kireev. "Prince Svyatoslav"
To be continued ...
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