Siege of Moscow (1238)

Siege of Moscow (1238)
Part of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'
Date15–20 January 1238
Location55°45′20.999″N 37°37′4.001″E / 55.75583306°N 37.61777806°E / 55.75583306; 37.61777806
Result Mongol victory
Belligerents
Mongol Empire Vladimir-Suzdal
Commanders and leaders

Batu Khan

Subutai
Voivode Filip Nyanka 
Prince Vladimir Yuryevich (POWExecuted
Strength
At least one tumen (10,000) of nomadic cavalry Few hundred militia
Casualties and losses
Moderate
  • Heavy
  • Survivors enslaved
Siege of Moscow (1238) is located in European Russia
Siege of Moscow (1238)
Location within European Russia

The siege of Moscow in January 1238 was part of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'.

Prelude

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After the destruction of Ryazan on 21 December 1237, Grand Prince Yuri II sent his sons Vsevolod and Vladimir with most of Vladimir-Suzdal army to stop Mongol invaders at Kolomna. There, the Suzdalian army was defeated, and survivors scattered and fled North, to Vladimir and Moscow.

Siege

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After destruction of Kolomna in January 1238, Prince Vladimir, younger son of Yuri II of Vladimir, fled to Moscow with a small force of survivors.[1] "And the men of Moscow ran away having seen nothing",[2] according to The Chronicle of Novgorod. At the time Moscow was but a fortified village, a trading post "on a crossroads of four rivers".[3] The small, wooden fort was taken after five days of siege.

Aftermath

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Prince Vladimir was captured and executed two weeks later, before the eyes of the defenders of Vladimir.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Никифоровская летопись. Никифорівський літопис. Том 35. Литовсько-білоруські літописи". litopys.org.ua. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  2. ^ Michell, Robert; Shakhmaton, A. A.; Forbes, Nevill; Beazley, C. Raymond (Charles Raymond) (1914). The chronicle of Novgorod, 1016-1471. University of California Libraries. London, Offices of the society.
  3. ^ Grigorjevič., Jan, Vasilij (1991). Batu-kan : istorijski roman. Lobačev, Đorđe., BIGZ). Beograd: Prosveta. ISBN 8607005944. OCLC 438360055.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Новгородская летопись". krotov.info. Retrieved 2018-02-25.