Lipitskaya Battle (April 21 1216). Part 2
BATTLE
After receiving a call to fight, Mstislav Udatny immediately sent for Constantine. The princes - the allies discussed the situation and re-led Konstantin Vsevolodovich to the cross kissing on the fact that he did not change the persuasion and did not go to the brothers. After that, on the same night from 19 on 20 of April, the Novgorod and Smolensk regiments were removed from the camp and moved to Lipitsa. With their approach in the camp of the Rostov, cheers rose, they blew the pipes. This caused alarm among the Suzdal people - later, the Novgorodians even claimed that their enemies, for all their multiplicity, had almost fled from this night of confusion. In the morning of April 20, the Allied rati entered the Lipitskoye field in battle formation. But the enemy was not here.
Suzdalians also withdrew from the camp still dark. But, having reached the Lipitskaya Plain, they did not stop there, as it had been agreed, but crossed the forest and climbed a convenient for defense hill called the Avdova Mountain. Perhaps, having heard the fighting pipes of the Rostov citizens, Yuri and Vsevolod suspected their enemies in an effort to deliver a sudden night strike and defeat them on the march. One way or another, but, having climbed the Avdov Mountain, they strengthened their position with wattles and sticks (“they wrapped themselves together with a fence and punctured sticks”) and kept their warriors in battle order behind shields until dawn.
Having determined the location of the enemy, the allies, in their turn, took up positions on the Yurieva mountain, separated from Avdova by a deep overgrown ravine. At the bottom of this "jungle" flowed a small stream Tuneg. Vladimir Pskov and Belozertsy have not yet appeared, and therefore the Allies made an attempt to gain time by resuming negotiations. Three princes' husbands went from Aurova to Awdowa with words to Yuri: "Give peace and not give peace, then retreat further to the flat place and we will go to you, or we will retreat to Lipitsa, and you will go." But Yuri, fearing a dirty trick, replied: "I do not accept the world and will not retreat. You came here across our land a long way, so can you not pass through the wild flow through the small stream!"
It was impossible to wait further. Mstislav sent hunters from the squad "fry" to fight with the Suzdalians in the "wilds". The day was windy and cold, the warriors were tired of the night transition, so the skirmishes were slow. It is precisely to these fights that one of the stories about the exploits of Alexander Popovich, vividly reflecting the knightly manners of the time, is probably relevant. One of the Suzdal governors descended into a ravine to the stream and exclaimed in a “warlike voice”, causing the Rostov knight to a duel: “Chervlen shield, I'm going to sim”. Hearing this, Popovich sent a squire Torop to his Suzdal with his scarlet shield - "there is a fierce serpent written on it." Torop, showing the enemy the emblem of his master, asked: "What do you want from this shield?" "I want someone who goes after him," - answered the conqueror. The call has been accepted.
“And Toropets pushes to Oleksandr, he says:“ Tobi, gentleman, calls ”. And Oleksandr, seize the shield, come across the river and tell him:“ Ozedi. ”And Tacos scooted off. And Oleksandr express the governor from the saddle and step on him throat and turn weapon your, speak to him: "What do you want?" And he said: "Lord, the belly of the belly." And Oleksandr Reche: "Go, immerse yourself three times in the river and wake at me." And he plunged and came to him. And Oleksandr Reche: "Go to your prince and tell him:" Oleksandr Popovich tells you to cede the patrimony of the Grand Duke, or we will take it from you. Yes, bring me an answer, otherwise I will find you among the regiments! ”Suzdalets went to the top of Awdah Mountain and returned with refusal.
By dusk the struggles in the lowland subsided. The leaders of the Allied ratification discussed further actions and in the morning of April 21, the troops began to turn off the camp to speak directly to Vladimir. Noticing the movement in the camp of the enemy, the Suzdal regiments leaned forward menacingly, coming out of their field fortifications. It became clear that Yuri and Yaroslav would not miss the opportunity to strike the enemy in the rear, not allowing him to prepare for battle. The movement of troops was immediately stopped. At this time, the Belozeroists, led by Vladimir Mstislavich, finally arrived. His arrival pleased and encouraged the Allies. Novgorodtsev returned to their original positions to curb the rush of Suzdal rati, and the princes gathered for a meeting. Konstantin pointed out the danger of leaving the occupied positions: "When we go past them, they will take us to the rear, and my people are not impertinent to battle, they will disperse into the cities." Everyone was inspired by the words of Mstislav Udatny: "Brothers, the mountain will not help us and will not defeat us. Look at the power of an honest cross and the truth: let's go to them!" So it was decided to strike at the Suzdalans in the forehead, despite their numerical superiority and a convenient defense position.
The regiments began to unfold for battle. The usual order of battle of the Russian rati was a three-part division into a large regiment (man) and flanking regiments of the right and left hand. In this case, the allies also did not depart from the traditions. In the center were the Novgorodians and the squad of Mstislav Udatny. On his right hand settled Smolensk Vladimir Rurikovich; on the left - Rostovites Konstantin, Belozertsy and Pskov Vladimir Mstislavich. A small detachment of Vsevolod Mstislavich merged with Novgorod. The left flank was also reinforced by the presence of Rostov heroes there.
The regiments of Vsevolodich, which came out because of their fortifications and somewhat descended along the slope of Avdovaya Mountain, also prepared for battle. Yuri led the Suzdaltsev became against Novgorod. The right flank, on the contrary the Rostovites and the Pskovites, was occupied by the “smaller brotherhood” - Ivan and Svyatoslav; Left - Yaroslav at the head of the united forces of Pereyaslavtsy, city dwellers, fordsmen, as well as Muromtsev Davyd Yurevich. In the shelves of Yuri played 60 pipes and tambourines; 40 pipes and tambourines were encouraged by the troops of Yaroslav.
Mstislav Udatny, circling the ranks of the warriors, held a speech: "Brothers! We entered the land strong. Look at God and become strong, not looking back; running will not leave. Forget, brothers, wives, children and our homes. Who should not die? And go to battle, who wants to, whether on foot or on horses. "
"We do not want to die on horses, we will fight peshes like our fathers on Koloksha!" - responded Novgorod. The battle, the memories of which they were so inspired, happened back in 1096 and in it, thanks to the actions of the Novgorod infantry Mstislav the Great, Udatny's great-grandfather, defeated his opponent Oleg Svyatoslavich. And now the people of Novgorod dismounted, threw off their boots and outerwear, and with a loud scream, they began to run down the slope of Yurova Mountain. The Smolensk citizens followed their example, although, as the Novgorod chronicler did not fail to answer, they nevertheless wrapped their legs around themselves. Smolyan led the voivode Ivor Mikhailovich, and the princes at the head of the cavalry detachments slowly followed them. Going down the steep hill was uncomfortable - the horse under Ivor stumbled and the governor rolled to the ground. But his peshchaks continued to attack, not waiting until he rises. Having gained speed, the Novgorodians immediately flew up to the slope of Avdovaya Mountain and hit the enemy, showered him with sulitsy at first, and then converging hand to hand "with cues and axes." Going down to the “jungle” and going up the hill, the Novgorodians took a little to the right and as a result their main blow fell on the shelves of the hated Yaroslav. Probably, the forces of Yaroslav were somewhat pushed forward from the general line of Suzdal rati - due to the peculiarities of the relief or greater haste when leaving the camp. With a terrible scream at the ranks of the enemy, the attackers pressed the enemy and even hooked one of the banners of Yaroslav. However, the Novgorodians had to fight, rising uphill, and resist the forces of both Yuri and Yaroslav at once. Therefore, after the first successful attack, their attack was rejected. However, they were backed by Smolenians from behind, and Ivor Mikhailovich, having caught up with his regiment, organized and led a secondary onslaught. With him, the Peschians reached the second Yaroslav's flag.
Seeing a desperate battle, Mstislav Udatny cried, turning to the horse-drawn warriors, who had already passed Tuneg: "God forbid, brothers, to give out these kind people!" - and led them to attack through the ranks of his own infantry. At the same time, the left flank of the Allied forces was set in motion. Konstantin and Vladimir Pskov fell upon the younger Vsevolodichs. The slope of Avdovaya Mountain was more gentle here, and the warriors of Ivan and Svyatoslav were less resistant. As a result, Konstantin and his knights crawled into the regiments of younger brothers, "they divided them and, knocking off their seats, turned to the Suzdalians." In this onslaught, Alexander Popovich fell out with the “insane boyar” Ratibor and he, despite all his boasting, was smitten by him in a duel. The same fate befell another Suzdal hero Yuryat.
Meanwhile, Mstislav Udatny, armed with a battle ax with a wrist strap, drove three times, “securing the people,” through the regiments of Yuri and Yaroslav, accompanied by Vladimir Rurikovich and selected warriors. The Nikon Chronicle claims that, in the heat of the battle, Mstislav collided with Popovich, who allegedly did not recognize the prince and almost cut him with the sword, but when he did, he gave him advice: "You shouldn't be bold at the Prince, but stand and see; head, you will be murdered, and what are the other things and where will they go? " But this episode should, undoubtedly, be attributed to the category of later conjectures. It is unlikely that such an experienced warrior as Popovich would not have recognized even in the heat of a fight of his own leader. And even more unbelievable is the advice “to stand and look” given to him by the prince - such behavior would be simply unthinkable for a prince of the thirteenth century, especially such as Mstislav Mstislavich, who became equally famous for his skill as a military leader and military courage.
The battle lasted from the morning almost until noon, and for some time its outcome remained unclear: "Byst the battle of evil, one before the other, he wanted to express his courage and defeat the enemy. Then he heard broken spears, moaning ulcers, horse tramp, behind which nothing war You can’t decide against each other, nor the governor’s orders, but you can see anything from the dust before you. Liaxia is bleeding everywhere and falling on both sides in a place there is just a lot that you don’t want to go further or back. Nobody wanted to give in. " .
Judging by the Novgorod chronicle, the outcome of the battle was decided by the stubborn onslaught of Novgorod with some support from Smolensk (the actions of the left wing of Constantine were not even mentioned there). The warriors of Yaroslav fluttered and fled, and looking at them, Yuri also "wda shoulder." However, a different picture emerges from the words of VN. Tatishchev, who transmitted the Rostov point of view. Apparently, the regiment of Konstantin and Vladimir of Pskov cut the opposing right wing of the hostile army and went into the flank and rear of the Suzdal Yuri. The Suzdalians, exposed from the front to the powerful onslaught of Mstislav Udatny, found themselves between two fires, and the soldiers of Yaroslav were already under the pressure of Novgorod and Smolensk. The result was a general flight of rati Vsevolodich, accompanied by its mass beating. Experienced Mstislav, however, was aware that the battle was not over and that the enemy could well prevail using his numerical superiority. Therefore, he loudly ordered his triumphant warriors: "Brothers, do not rush on the train, and beat them.
They will come back - they will sweep us away! "Novgorodtsev did not have to persuade the massacre to continue, but Smolensk, as the Novgorodian chronicler did not miss," attacked the goods and died deadly. "However, the Suzdal regiments covered in panic and deprived of command could no longer stop. As usual, medieval battles, the main losses the losing army bore exactly during the flight. Of the running Suzdalians "mnosi wasted in the river, and the injured were injured." The cries of the wounded and the slain were heard in Yuryev. Novgorod did not give the enemy any mercy. Yaroslav himself escaped from prosecution.To facilitate the escape, he threw off the hawk coat and his family gilded helmet with the chased image of the Holy Archangel Michael in the nearest thickets of Hazel, while he himself sped off towards Pereyaslavl. Yuri, who jumped into Vladimir by noon, did the same the same day, when the finishing of his ratification had just ended on Lipitsa. He rushed to his capital "on the fourth horse, and three souls, in the first sorochitsi, and turned the lining off."
The winners got the whole wagon train, all the banners, battle tubes and tambourines of Vsevolodich, but only 60 people were prisoners. The death toll was enormous, although it is difficult to determine. Annals news are very unreliable. According to them, the entire 5 of Novgorod and 1 of Smolensk fell in this fierce battle ("Novgorod pledged at the pitch of Dmitry Pskovichin, Anton Kotelnik, Ivanka Pryoprynytsya Oponnyk. And in the pen Ivanka Popovitsya, Shmyuna Petrylylovitsya, Trsky dannik"); the enemies lost the killed 9 233 man. The late Nikon chronicle gives allies losses in 550, and Suzdalt losses in 17 200 people, stipulating in both cases: "except for the Peschians". VNTatishcheva has side casualties in 2 550 and 17 250 people, respectively, and he adds that most of the killed and wounded were among the Smolensk citizens, because where they advanced, the mountain was steep and uneven. The late number of 17200 is obviously unreliable and one can quite believe Novgorodians regarding 9 233 killed enemies. But the losses of the allies, of course, could not be limited to the number of people in 6, and here more likely a number close to that of the killed 2 called Tatishchev 550.
Fig. 2. The scheme of the Lipitskoy battle
Fig. 3. Place Lipitskoy battle and moving troops
RESULTS
Mstislav Udatnyy did not order to pursue the runners, which the chronicler attributes to his Christian philanthropy. Otherwise, in his opinion, "Prince Yuri and Yaroslav did not leave. And the city would have been driven out of Vladimer." Instead, the allies stood all day at the site of the massacre. It was necessary to collect trophies, to assist the wounded, to put in order their own rati. In any case, there was nowhere to hurry: the deed was done, the enemy suffered a crushing defeat, and it was not in the custom of Mstislav Udatny to finish the defeated.
Yaroslav rushed to Pereyaslavl on the fifth horse, having driven four. Anger strangled him - "more blood hasn’t been filled yet." On the move, he ordered to throw all the Novgorodians and Smolensk citizens into the cellars close to him, "his ilk have entered as a guest." As a result, until 150, Novgorodians were suffocated to death in the torture chamber and only 15 Smolyan, who were detained in the grid room, survived. This senseless and cruel reprisal adds one more bright touch to the understanding of the character of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich.
Yuri, noticing from the walls of Vladimir, the townspeople took the victory for the princely herald first. But then, with horror, they recognized their prince in a lonely half-rider, who rode along the walls and shouted: "Proclaim the city!" There was general confusion and crying. By evening, the surviving warriors, wounded and naked, began to flock to Vladimir.
The next morning, 22 of April, Yuri called a meeting, calling on the “Vladimir brothers” to shut up in the city walls and get ready for a fight. “Prince, Yuri!” The townspeople answered him. “Who are you going to shut up? Our brothers are beaten, others are captured, and those that came running are unarmed. With whom will we fight?” The dejected prince asked them at least not to give him out to either Mstislav or Konstantin, promising to leave the city himself.
On Sunday, April 22, the Allied army approached Vladimir and besieged it. On the very first night of the siege a fire broke out in the city. Novgorodians wanted to take advantage of this and go on the attack, but the knightly Mstislav kept them. On another night, the fire repeated itself and burned until dawn. The Smolnyans were eager to attack now, but Vladimir Rurikovich followed the example of Mstislav and forbade it to them. The princes did not consider, apparently, that the mayhem of the city, after the victory had already been won, would bring them any honor. In addition, they still had to establish on the Vladimir throne of Constantine, and the city burned and looted during the storming was a bad gift to an ally. Moreover, Yuri did not try to resist. On Wednesday, he sent a messenger with the words: "Do not proceed now to the city, tomorrow I will get out of it." On Thursday, 28 April, he and his brothers Ivan and Svyatoslav left the city gates and, appearing before the princes-allies, said: "Brothers! I will beat you, give you life and bread, and my brother Constantine in your will." He brought with him rich gifts and received peace. Konstantin solemnly entered Vladimir, and Yury was given possession of Radilov-Gorodets. Having plunged with the family on the boats and heads, Yuri Vsevolodovich went down the river, exclaiming in the cathedral at the father’s coffin for the last time: "God, judge my brother Yaroslav, he brought me to this."
Yaroslav, unlike his brother, did not wait for the enemy to approach his city. He came to Konstantin 3 camp on May on the outskirts of Pereyaslavl and humiliated for intercession: "Brother and lord, I am in your will, do not pass me on to my Mstislav or Vladimir, feed me bread." Other prince and Novgorod Yaroslav sent rich gifts. Mstislav Udatny did not even want to see his son-in-law, only by demanding that he return his daughter. Later, Yaroslav "many times raw with a prayer to Mstislav, asking his princess: Prince Mstislav did not give him." The surviving Novgorod prisoners finally got their freedom.
The war is over. The allies dispersed to their cities. Novgorod once again defended his liberties; Mstislav Udatny and his brothers gained honor and glory by defeating the strongest enemy and defending the offended; Constantine restored justice in the inheritance of power in the Zalessky land, and the Rostovites once again showed the strength of their "suburb" Vladimir. However, it took only a few years and the results of the grand battle faded away, as if it had never happened.
Konstantin died already in the 1219 year, having bequeathed the Vladimir throne to all the same Yuri Vsevolodovich. Mstislav Udatny left Novgorod already in 1218, having gone to the south to “search for Galich”, and so remained there. Soon he had to suffer the first in his life and the most terrible defeat - in Kalka, from the Tatars unknown to no one else. The Rostov knights, Alexander Popovich and the Dobrynya Golden Belt, after the death of their patron, Constantine, drove off to Kiev, fearing Yury’s revenge, and also died on Kalka together with all the former warriors there, covering the withdrawal of the broken Russian army. Tysyatsky Yarun accompanied Mstislav Udatny in his further campaigns and commanded the Polovtsian cavalry on Kalka. Vladimir Rurikovich Smolensky also fought and survived there. Yury Vsevolodovich did not participate in this unlucky campaign, but the Tatars overtook him in his own possessions - he fell in the winter of 1238 in the battle of the City, along with his eldest son, his rival brother, Rostov Prince Vasily Konstantinovich. At that time, Stepan Tverdislavich, once a prisoner of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, was the posadnik of Novgorod the Great. Yaroslav, the most repulsive personality of the Lipitskaya epic, survived all his contemporaries. After the Tatar ruin, he became the Grand Duke of Vladimir, the first of all Russian princes to bow to Batyi’s headquarters, took the label for reigning from Khan’s hands and died on the way back from Karakarum in 1246. Alexander Nevsky and Daniel of Moscow were among his sons. The descendants of it, eventually, inherited all of Russia.
Fig. 4-5. Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and his helmet
Literature
Information about the Battle of Lipitsk is contained in the chronicles: Novgorod I, Novgorod IV, Nikonovskaya, Vologda-Perm, Tver, Voskresenskaya, as well as in "Stories Russian "V.N. Tatischeva, who used the lost chronicle sources.
PSRL, T. 3, 4, 7, 10, 15.
Tatishchev V.N. History of Russia. - KN.3, 4. - ML., 1963.
Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich. Ser. "Lit. Monuments". - M., 1974. (in the appendix to the publication of epics, there are excerpts from the chronicles containing references to both heroes).
The description and analysis of events related to the battle, the characteristics of the participants and the locations and settlements mentioned in the description are contained in a number of historical works, beginning with N. M. Karamzin:
Karamzin N. M. History of the Russian State. - T. 3.
Solovyov SM The history of Russia since ancient times. - Prince. 2.
Kostomarov N. I. Russian history in the biographies of its main figures. - Vol. 1. The domination of the house of St. Vladimir.
Slavic chronicles. Comp. A.I. Tsepkov. - SPb., 1996.
Romanov B. A. People and manners of ancient Russia. - M., 1990.
Leontyev A.Ye. Sarskoe hillfort. - M., 1975.
Averin I. "Those who despise death" // Homeland. 1997. No. 9. C. 34-36. (the work is dedicated to roamers)
Fennel D. Crisis of Medieval Russia. 1200-1304 - M., 1989.
A review of military affairs and characteristics of the weapons of the period described, taking into account the data of archeology, are contained in well-known works:
Kirpichnikov A.N. Old Russian weapons. - Issue.1. Swords and sabers IX-XIII centuries. - SAI E1-36. - M., 1966.
Kirpichnikov A.N. Old Russian weapons. - Issue.2. Spears, sulitsy, battle axes, maces, tassels X-XIII centuries. - SAI E1-36. - M., 1966.
Kirpichnikov A.N. Old Russian weapons. - Issue.3. Armor, a complex of military means IX-XIII centuries. - SAI E1-36. - M., 1966.
Kirpichnikov A.N. Military science in Russia in the XIII-XV centuries. - M., 1976.
Medvedev A.F. Novgorod the Great Arms. - MIA No. 65. - M., 1959.
Medvedev A.F. Hand throwing weapon (bow, arrows, and crossbow). VIII-XIV cc. - SAI E1-36. - M., 1966.
Helmet of the Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich // ZRAO. T. IX. Issue 1-2. 1899.
Concerning primary sources about the Lipitskoy battle, see also:
Lurie Ya.S. The Story of the Battle of Lipica 1216 in the chronicle of the XIV-XVI centuries. // TODRL, t. XXIV. - L., 1979. - S. 96-115.
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