Western Europe was seen as a tasty morsel even under Genghis Khan, but the campaign was organized only under his heir Ogedei, who equipped two talented military leaders for the daring military enterprise - Genghis Khan's grandson, Batu, and the commander Subedei. Consistently subjugating first the Polovtsians, and then the scattered principalities medieval Rus', after the defeat of Kyiv, Batu and his army set off on a campaign to the west, capturing along the way big cities Galich and Przemysl.
The campaign to Europe was carried out by the conqueror of Rus', Khan Batu
The further task of the Mongols was to capture Hungary, on whose territory there were many pastures and supplies for a large army. Another reason for choosing this particular direction was the fact that it was to Hungary that the remnants of the army of the Polovtsian Khan Kotyan, who miraculously escaped after the battle on the Kalka River in 1223, fled. A 30,000-strong army was sent to capture Hungary, and managed to freely cross the territory of Poland, winning a strategic victory in the battle near the Silesian town of Legnica over the united Polish-German army of Prince Henry II of Great Poland in 1241.
Source: mirror7.ru
After some time, Batu and Subedei, having crossed the Carpathians, invaded Moldova and Wallachia. By wisely saving the strength of their troops and creating numerous reserve detachments, at the end of spring the Mongols managed to defeat the troops of the Hungarian king Bela IV, who united with his brother, Prince Coloman of Croatia. After the battle on the Shajo River, the territory of Hungary was virtually defenseless against the large Tatar-Mongol army. However, King Bela IV managed to leave the country and turned for help to the Austrian ruler Frederick II the Warrior, who agreed to fight the Mongols in exchange for disposal of the surviving Hungarian treasury.
The reason for the Mongol invasion of Europe could have been revenge on the Polovtsian Khan
The prudent strategist Batu did not dare to enter into open confrontation with the united army of Austria and several principalities of the Holy Roman Empire. It is precisely this psychological circumstance that some historians explain the retreat of the Tatar-Mongols from Western Europe. There is also an assumption that European states saved from ruin by the sudden death of the Mongol Khan Ogedei and the upcoming kurultai to decide future fate huge empire. So, at the beginning of 1242, Batu’s army, having replenished food supplies, invaded Serbia and Bulgaria, and from there returned to the south of steppe Rus'.
Source: mirror7.ru
Historians are still arguing about the reasons for such a sudden retreat of the Tatar-Mongol army. As mentioned above, one of the reasons could be Batu’s desire to participate in the elections of the Great Khan. However, having returned to the conquered territories, Batu never reached the Mongol capital, remaining within the boundaries of his independent fiefdom - the ulus.
Abrupt climate change caused the Mongols to retreat
Among other reasons for leaving the borders of Europe, historians from archival materials named another explanation - sharply changed climatic conditions. The Tatar-Mongol army was led by wise and experienced commanders who always took into account the weather factor. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that the initial advance of the Mongols through Poland and Hungary was so successful. Having begun their rapid campaign in the spring of 1241, the large cavalry army of Batu and Subedei quickly regained their strength after transporting troops from devastated Rus', managing to secure abundant food for themselves. However, already in the autumn of 1242, a snowy winter unexpectedly set in, which greatly hampered the further advance of the army. If at first the army was able to cross the frozen Danube River to the other bank and besiege the fortresses of Bela IV, then in early spring with the thaw, Batu’s army was stopped when they captured the city of Szekesfehervar. The area became very swampy due to the rapidly melting ice, and the heavy mounted army became stuck in its advance and was forced to retreat from the city of Trogir.
Tatar-Mongol invasion radically changed the course of life in Rus'. Here are some of the important consequences it led to:
1. The backwardness of Rus' from the countries of Europe. After the Tatar-Mongol invasion, Rus' had to renew the cities it had built, as well as restore its way of life, while the countries of Europe had time to innovate in science, culture, etc.
2. One of the main negative consequences of the Tatar-Mongol invasion was the decline of the economy. For the most part, the main factor for this (besides the destruction) was that many Russians were killed during the battles and the Mongol takeover of territories. Because of this, crafts disappeared. The Mongols turned the surviving artisans into slaves and took them outside the territory of Russian soil. In addition, farmers began to move to the northern regions of the state away from the influence of the Mongols. These factors explain the disappearance of the Russian economy.
3. Also important factor, which should be given a separate point, is the slowness of cultural development of the population of Russian lands. After the Tatar-Mongol invasion, for some time in Rus' they did not renew (burned) or build churches.
4. Termination of any contacts (for example, trade) with Western European countries. All foreign policy was strictly oriented after the Tatar-Mongol invasion of the Golden Horde. It was the horde that appointed princes, and also only it collected tribute from the Russian people. If any of the principalities disobeyed her, the Horde carried out punitive military campaigns that ended in massacres.
5. Among the controversial numerous consequences of the Tatar-Mongol invasion, Russian and Western researchers are still trying to figure out whether the political conservation of the divided Russian land gave impetus to the unification of the Russian people. Some scientists argue that it was because of the invasion that the people rallied against the Horde, while others say that it was precisely because of it that a split occurred.
6. Since after the attack of the Mongol-Tatar yoke many Russian soldiers were killed, military affairs naturally slowed down for decades. It took time. In addition, for the same reason, the acute problem of arranging life and economy for the Russian population became acute (usually, such matters in Rus' since ancient times were carried out exclusively by men).
Assessments of the Mongol-Tatar yoke in Rus'
In the first half of the 13th century, another invasion of nomads hit Asia and Europe. The Mongols conquered one country after another. And soon they approached the borders of Rus'.
It all started in 1206, when the Mongol nobility elected Genghis Khan as ruler. By that time, he already had great authority among the Mongols, and was not going to stop there. The new ruler united many tribes under his rule, among which one of the largest were the Tatars. That is why the aggressive campaign of Genghis Khan, and then his grandson Batu, is known as the Mongol-Tatar invasion.
By 1223, the nomads subjugated China and Transcaucasia. Having reached the Azov steppes, the Mongols entered into confrontation with the Polovtsy, who called the Russian princes for help. In May 1223, the united army met the enemy in Rusichi and suffered a simply catastrophic defeat: according to chroniclers, only one in ten survived. The road to Kyiv and other cities was open. But then the Volga Bulgars attacked the Mongols from the rear. Exhausted by the long march, the nomads decided not to start a new battle and went home. The Mongol-Tatar invasion was postponed.
The campaign against Rus' and its consequences
In 1227 Genghis Khan died. He was succeeded by his son Ogedei, who soon began thinking about new campaigns. In 1235, at the next kurultai (congress of the nobility), it was decided to go west. In the winter of 1237, the Mongol hordes were already standing at the borders of the Ryazan principality. Genghis Khan's grandson Batu, who led the campaign, demanded tribute from the Ryazan princes. They refused and began to prepare for battle. The forces were unequal, and the Mongols won. After a 6-day siege, Ryazan was taken by storm, but the Ryazan people themselves resisted the invaders for a long time, leading
There was no unity among the Russian princes. Even in the face of the enemy, they were unable to create any kind of coalition. This contributed to the victories of the Mongols, who were distinguished by iron discipline. Siege technology, borrowed from the Chinese, also played a significant role. Throughout 1237-1238, the Mongol-Tatar invasion only gained momentum. The Vladimir-Suzdal principality was defeated and captured, after which the conquerors turned south. Here they also had to put in a lot of effort. The small town of Kozelsk alone did not surrender to the enemy for 7 weeks. In the same year, the Mongols attacked the Polovtsian Khan, who was forced to retreat to Hungary.
In 1239, the nomads took over the southwestern Pereyaslav and Chernigov. The Mongols have not yet decided to approach Kyiv; instead, they attacked Crimea. Only a year later the nomads set off on a new campaign, this time to the capital of Rus'. In November 1240, Mongol troops were already standing under the walls of Kyiv. The siege began. Having made breaks in the fortifications with the help of battering machines, the Mongols broke into the city. Kyiv was taken.
The wave of invasion rolled to the west, leaving behind conflagrations. Having passed through Galicia and Volyn, the Mongols moved on. The nomads managed to capture Poland and Hungary. European kings were in panic. Having reached Italy, the Mongols decided to turn back. They did not have enough strength for further campaigns; moreover, Khan Ogedei died in December 1241. Therefore, Batu returned to Rus'.
The Mongol-Tatar invasion and its consequences became a heavy blow for the Russian lands. Mass destruction, the decline of trade and crafts threw Rus' back for a long time. The princes became vassals of the Golden Horde khans and were obliged to pay them tribute and help them in their campaigns. Without a khan's label (letter), none of them could govern their principality. According to historians, the consequences of the Mongol-Tatar invasion were deeper for Rus' than just destruction and human casualties. This event changed the development path of a significant part of the Russian lands, which was now more Asian than European. The destruction of cities weakened the role of the urban population in the life of the country and led to the persistence of serfdom for a longer period than in European countries. The situation was not the best in agriculture, which has been natural for a long time.
The Tatar-Mongol invasion of Rus' began in 1237, when Batu’s cavalry invaded the territory of the Ryazan lands. As a result of this attack, Rus' found itself under the yoke of two centuries. This interpretation is set out in most history textbooks, but in reality the relationship between Russia and the Horde was much more complicated. In the article, the yoke of the Golden Horde will be considered not only in the usual interpretation, but also taking into account its controversial issues.
Beginning of the Mongol-Tatar invasion
For the first time, the squads of Rus' and the Mongol hordes began to fight at the end of May 1223 on the Kalka River. Russian army was headed by the Prince of Kiev Mstislav, and the Horde was commanded by Jebe-noyon and Subedei-bagatur. Mstislav's army was not only defeated, but practically completely destroyed.
In 1236, the Tatars began another invasion of the Polovtsians. In this campaign they won many victories and by the end of 1237 they came close to the lands of the Ryazan principality.
Mongol conquest Rus', which took place from 1237 to 1242, is divided into two stages:
- 1237 – 1238 – invasion of northern and eastern territories Rus'.
- 1239 – 1242 – campaign in the southern territories, which led to further yoke.
Chronology of events up to 1238
The Horde cavalry was commanded by Khan Batu (Batu Khan), the grandson of the famous Genghis Khan, who had about 150 thousand soldiers under his command. Together with Batu, Subedei-Baghatur, who fought with the Russians earlier, took part in the invasion. The invasion began in the winter of 1237, it exact date unknown. Some historians claim that the attack occurred in late autumn of the same year. Batu's cavalry moved at high speed across the territory of Rus' and conquered cities one after another.
The chronology of Batu’s campaign against Rus' is as follows:
- Ryazan was defeated in December 1237 after a six-day siege.
- Before the conquest of Moscow, Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich of Vladimir tried to stop the Horde near Kolomna, but was defeated.
- Moscow was conquered in January 1238, the siege lasted four days.
- Vladimir. After an eight-day siege, it was conquered in February 1238.
Capture of Ryazan - 1237
At the end of the autumn of 1237, an army of about 150 thousand under the leadership of Batu Khan invaded the territory of the Ryazan principality. Arriving at Prince Yuri Igorevich, the ambassadors demanded tribute from him - a tenth of what he owned. They were refused, and the Ryazan residents began to prepare for defense. Yuri turned to Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich of Vladimir for support, but received no help.
At the same time, Batu defeated the vanguard of the Ryazan squad and in mid-December 1237 besieged the capital of the principality. The first attacks were repulsed, but after the invaders used battering rams, the fortress, which held out for 9 days, was defeated. The Horde invaded the city, carrying out a massacre.
Despite the fact that the prince and almost all the inhabitants of the fortress were killed, the resistance of the Ryazan residents did not stop. Boyar Evpatiy Kolovrat gathered an army of about 1,700 people and set off in pursuit of Batu’s army. Having caught up with her, Kolovrat’s warriors defeated the rearguard of the nomads, but later they themselves fell in an unequal battle.
Battle of Kolomna, capture of Moscow and Vladimir - 1238
After the fall of Ryazan, the Tatars attacked Kolomna, a city that at that time was an important strategic center. Here was the vanguard of the troops of Prince Vladimir, commanded by Vsevolod. Having entered into an unequal battle with Batu’s troops, the Russians suffered a crushing defeat. Most of them died, and Vsevolod Yuryevich with the surviving squad retreated to Vladimir.
Batu reached Moscow in the third decade of 1237. At this time, there was no one to defend Moscow, since the base of the Russian army was destroyed near Kolomna. At the beginning of 1238, the Horde burst into the city, completely destroyed it and killed everyone, young and old. Prince Vladimir was taken prisoner. After the defeat of Moscow, the invading troops set off on a campaign against Vladimir.
At the beginning of February 1238, an army of nomads approached the walls of Vladimir. The Horde attacked him with three sides. Having destroyed the walls using battering devices, they burst into the city. Most of the residents were killed, including Prince Vsevolod. And the eminent townspeople were locked in the Church of the Virgin Mary and burned . Vladimir was plundered and destroyed.
How did the first invasion end?
After the conquest of Vladimir, almost the entire territory of the northern and eastern lands came under the power of Batu Khan. He took cities one after another: Dmitrov, Suzdal, Tver, Pereslavl, Yuryev. In March 1238, Torzhok was taken, which opened the way for the Tatar-Mongols to Novgorod. But Batu Khan decided not to go there, but sent his army to storm Kozelsk.
The siege of the city lasted seven weeks and ended only when Batu offered to surrender to the defenders of Kozelsk in exchange for saving their lives. They accepted the conditions of the Tatar-Mongols and surrendered. Khan Batu did not fulfill his word and gave the order to kill everyone, which was done. Thus ended the first invasion of the Tatar-Mongols on the lands of Rus'.
Invasion of 1239 – 1242
A year and a half later, in 1239, a new campaign of troops under the command of Batu against Rus' began. This year the main events take place in Chernigov and Pereyaslav. Batu did not advance as quickly as in 1237, due to the fact that he was actively fighting against the Polovtsians in the Crimean lands.
In the fall of 1240, Batu leads the army directly to Kyiv. The ancient capital of Rus' was unable to hold out resistance for long, and in early December 1240 the city fell under the onslaught of the Horde. There was nothing left of him; Kyiv was actually “wiped off the face of the earth.” Historians speak of particularly brutal atrocities committed by the invaders. The Kyiv that has survived to this day, has absolutely nothing in common with the city destroyed by the Horde.
After the destruction of Kyiv, the Tatar troops were divided into two armies, one headed for Galich, and the other for Vladimir-Volynsky. After capturing these cities, the Tatar-Mongols set off on a European campaign.
Consequences of the invasion of Rus'
All historians give an unambiguous description of the consequences of the Tatar-Mongol invasion:
- The country was divided and was completely dependent on the Golden Horde.
- Rus' paid tribute to the Khanate every year (in people, silver, gold and furs).
- The state stopped its development due to the difficult situation.
The list can go on and on, but big picture what is happening is already clear.
In short, this is exactly how the period of the Horde yoke in Rus' is presented in the official historical interpretation found in textbooks. Next, we will consider the arguments given by L.N. Gumilyov, a historian-ethnologist and orientalist. A number of critical issues, giving an understanding of how much more complex the relationship between Russia and the Horde was than is commonly believed.
How did nomads conquer half the world?
Scientists often raise the question of, how a nomadic people, who just a few decades ago lived in a tribal system, were able to create a huge empire and conquer almost half the world. What goals did the Horde pursue in its campaign against Rus'? Historians claim that the purpose of the invasion was to plunder the lands and subjugate Rus', and they also say that the Tatar-Mongols achieved this.
But in reality this is not entirely true, because in Rus' there were three very rich cities:
- Kyiv is one of the largest European cities, the capital of ancient Rus', captured and destroyed by the Horde.
- Novgorod is the largest trading city and, at that time, the richest. It did not suffer at all from the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols.
- Smolensk, like Novgorod, was a trading city, and in terms of wealth it was compared with Kiev. He also did not suffer from the Horde.
It turns out that two of the three most major cities ancient Rus' did not suffer in any way from the Golden Horde.
Explanations of historians
If we consider the historians' version - to destroy and plunder as the main goal of the Horde's campaign against Rus', then there is no logical explanation. Batu captures Torzhok, the siege of which takes two weeks. This is a poor city, its main task was the protection and defense of Novgorod. After the capture of Torzhok, Batu he is going not to Novgorod, but to Kozelsk. Why do you need to waste time and energy besieging an unnecessary city, instead of just going to Kozelsk?
Historians give two explanations:
- Heavy losses during the capture of Torzhok did not allow Batu to go to Novgorod.
- The move to Novgorod was prevented by spring floods.
The first version seems logical only at first glance. If the Mongols suffered heavy losses, then it was advisable to leave Rus' to replenish the army. But Batu goes to besiege Kozelsk. There he suffers colossal losses and quickly leaves the lands of Rus'. The second version is also difficult to accept, since in the Middle Ages, according to climatologists, in the northern regions of Rus' it was even colder than it is now.
Paradox with Kozelsk
An inexplicable and paradoxical situation has developed with Smolensk. As described above, Khan Batu, after the conquest of Torzhok, goes to besiege Kozelsk, which at its core was a simple fortress, a poor and small town. The Horde tried to capture it for seven weeks, suffering thousands of losses. There was absolutely no strategic or commercial benefit from the capture of Kozelsk. Why such sacrifices?
Just a day of riding on horseback and you could find yourself at the walls of Smolensk, one of the richest cities of ancient Rus', but Batu for some reason does not go in this direction. It's strange that all of the above logical questions ignored by historians.
Nomads do not fight in winter
There is another one interesting fact, which orthodox history simply ignores because it cannot explain it. Both one and the other Tatar-Mongol invasions Ancient Rus' were committed in winter or late autumn. Let's not forget that Batu Khan's army consisted of nomads, and they, as you know, began their military campaigns only in the spring and tried to finish the battle before the onset of winter.
This is due to the fact that the nomads rode horses, which needed food every day. How was it possible to feed tens of thousands of Mongolian horses in the snowy winter conditions of Rus'? Many historians call this fact insignificant, but it cannot be denied that the success of a long campaign directly depends on the supply of troops.
How many horses did Batu have?
Historians say that the army of nomads ranged from 50 to 400 thousand cavalry. What kind of support should such an army have?
As far as we know When going on a military campaign, each warrior took with him three horses:
- a sled on which the rider constantly moved during the campaign;
- a pack on which weapons, ammunition and warrior’s belongings were transported;
- combat, which went without any load, so that at any time the horse with fresh strength could enter the battle.
It turns out that 300 thousand horsemen equal 900 thousand horses. Plus horses used in transporting rams and other weapons and provisions. That's over one million. How snowy winter, during small ice age Is it possible to feed such a herd?
What was the number of nomads?
There is conflicting information about this. They talk about 15, 30, 200 and 400 thousand people. If we take a small number, then it is difficult to conquer a principality with such a number, the squad of which includes 30 - 50 thousand people. Moreover, the Russians resisted desperately, and many nomads died. If we talk about large numbers, then the question of provision of food arises.
Thus, apparently, things happened differently. The main document used to study the invasion is the Laurentian Chronicle. But it is not without flaws, which was recognized by official history. Three pages of the chronicle describing the beginning of the invasion were changed, which means they are not original.
This article examined conflicting facts, and suggested that you draw your own conclusions.
Battle of Kalka.
At the beginning of the 13th century. There was a unification of the nomadic Mongol tribes, which began their campaigns of conquest. The tribal union was headed by Genghis Khan, a brilliant commander and politician. Under his leadership, the Mongols conquered Northern China, Central Asia, steppe territories stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
The first clash between the Russian principalities and the Mongols occurred in 1223, during which a Mongol reconnaissance detachment descended from the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains and invaded the Polovtsian steppes. The Polovtsians turned to the Russian princes for help. Several princes responded to this call. The Russian-Polovtsian army met the Mongols on the Kalka River on May 31, 1223. In the ensuing battle, the Russian princes acted uncoordinatedly, and part of the army did not participate in the battle at all. As for the Polovtsians, they could not withstand the onslaught of the Mongols and fled. As a result of the battle, the Russian-Polovtsian army was completely defeated, the Russian squads suffered heavy losses: only every tenth warrior returned home. But the Mongols did not invade Rus'. They turned back to the Mongolian steppes.
Reasons for the Mongol victories
The main reason for the victories of the Mongols was the superiority of their army, which was well organized and trained. The Mongols managed to create the best army in the world, which maintained strict discipline. The Mongol army consisted almost entirely of cavalry, so it was maneuverable and could cover very long distances. The Mongol's main weapon was a powerful bow and several quivers of arrows. The enemy was fired at from a distance, and only then, if necessary, selected units entered the battle. The Mongols made extensive use of military techniques such as feinting, flanking, and encirclement.
Siege weapons were borrowed from China, with which the conquerors could capture large fortresses. Conquered peoples often provided military contingents to the Mongols. The Mongols attached great importance to reconnaissance. An order was emerging in which, before the proposed military actions, spies and intelligence officers penetrated into the country of the future enemy.
The Mongols quickly dealt with any disobedience, brutally suppressing any attempts at resistance. Using the policy of “divide and rule,” they sought to fragment the enemy forces in the conquered states. It was thanks to this strategy that they managed to maintain their influence in the occupied lands for a fairly long period of time.
Batu's campaigns in Rus'
Batu's invasion of North-Eastern Rus' (Batu's 1st campaign)
In 1236, the Mongols undertook a grandiose campaign to the west. The army was led by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu Khan. Having defeated Volga Bulgaria, the Mongol army approached the borders of North-Eastern Rus'. In the fall of 1237, the conquerors invaded the Ryazan principality.
The Russian princes did not want to unite in the face of a new and formidable enemy. The Ryazan people, left alone, were defeated in a border battle, and after a five-day siege, the Mongols took the city itself by storm.
Then the Mongol army invaded the Principality of Vladimir, where it was met by a grand ducal squad led by the son of the Grand Duke. In the battle of Kolomna, the Russian army was defeated. Taking advantage of the confusion of the Russian princes in the face of impending danger, the Mongols successively captured Moscow, Suzdal, Rostov, Tver, Vladimir and other cities.
In March 1238, a battle took place on the Sit River between the Mongols and the Russian army, gathered throughout North-Eastern Rus'. The Mongols won a decisive victory, killing the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri in battle.
Then the conquerors headed towards Novgorod, but, fearing to get stuck in the spring thaw, they turned back. On the way back, the Mongols took Kursk and Kozelsk. Kozelsk, called the “Evil City” by the Mongols, offered especially fierce resistance.
Batu's campaign against Southern Rus' (Batu's 2nd campaign)
During 1238 -1239. The Mongols fought with the Polovtsians, after whose conquest they set off on a second campaign against Rus'. The main forces here were sent to Southern Rus'; In North-Eastern Rus', the Mongols captured only the city of Murom.
The political fragmentation of the Russian principalities helped the Mongols quickly seize the southern lands. The capture of Pereyaslavl and Chernigov was followed by the fall of the ancient Russian capital, Kyiv, on December 6, 1240, after fierce fighting. Then the conquerors moved to the Galicia-Volyn land.
After the defeat of Southern Rus', the Mongols invaded Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and reached Croatia. Despite his victories, Batu was forced to stop, since he did not receive reinforcements, and in 1242 he completely recalled his troops from these countries.
In Western Europe, which was awaiting imminent ruin, this was perceived as a miracle. The main reason for the miracle was the stubborn resistance of the Russian lands and the damage suffered by Batu’s army during the campaign.
Establishment of the Tatar-Mongol yoke
After returning from the western campaign, Batu Khan founded a new capital in the lower reaches of the Volga. The state of Batu and his successors, covering lands from Western Siberia to Eastern Europe, was called Golden Horde. All the surviving Russian princes who were at the head of the devastated lands were summoned here in 1243. From the hands of Batu they received labels - letters of authorization for the right to govern one or another principality. So Rus' fell under the yoke of the Golden Horde.
The Mongols established an annual tribute - “exit”. Initially, the tribute was not fixed. Its supply was monitored by tax farmers, who often simply robbed the population. This practice caused discontent and unrest in Rus', so in order to fix the exact amount of tribute, the Mongols conducted a population census.
The collection of tribute was monitored by the Baskaks, supported by punitive detachments.
The great devastation caused by Batu, subsequent punitive expeditions, and heavy tribute led to a protracted economic crisis and the decline of the Russian land. During the first 50 years of the yoke, there was not a single city in the principalities of North-Eastern Rus', a number of crafts disappeared in other places, serious demographic changes occurred, the area of settlement of the Old Russian people decreased, and the strong Old Russian principalities fell into decay.
Lecture 10.
The struggle of the peoples of North-Western Rus' against the aggression of Swedish and German feudal lords.
Simultaneously with the Tatar-Mongol invasion of the Russian people in the 13th century. had to wage a fierce fight against the German and Swedish invaders. The lands of Northern Rus' and, in particular, Novgorod attracted invaders. They were not ruined by Batu, and Novgorod was famous for its wealth, since the most important trade route connecting Northern Europe with the countries of the East.