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Reposted by Martin Sauerbrey

Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

1223 AD: The Battle at the Kalka River - Harbinger of Death

In the year 1223 AD a combined army of Rus Princes and Cumans clashed with a Mongol host. The Mongols crushed their enemies and vanished back into the steppes. For now.

[Thread] ⬇️

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

"This evil happened on May 31, on Saint Eremei's Day. And the Tartars turned back from the river Dnieper, and we know not whence they came, nor where they hid themselves again; God knows whence he fetched them against us for our sins."

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

All in all six Rus princes died in the battle of the Kalka, their armies slaughtered.

The Rus defeat was due to the superior tactics of the Mongol leaders and armies but also due to their internal strife. The Mongols moved on to plunder Novgorod-Seversk and then vanished into the steps again.

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

Mstislav was betrayed by one of his nobles and delivered to the Mongols.

The Mongols then suffocated the captive Princes while putting them under boards they sat on while holding their victory feast.

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

for they had not had time to form into order against [the Mongols] and they were all thrown into confusion, and there was a terrible and savage slaughter." Mstislav made a stance above the Kalka for three days while the Mongols hunted down the other princes. In the end

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

The Novgorodian Chronicle gives a bit different account with the Cumans sent in front of the Rus host.

The Cumans though fled before the Mongols and "the Polovets men ran away back, having accomplished nothing, and in their flight they trampled the camp of
the Russian Knyazes,

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

"But other regiments engaged them, and because of our sins the regiments of Rus' were defeated. [...] since the [Mongol] bowmen were showering them relentlessly with arrows, [...] all the princes of Rus' were defeated as they had never been before."

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

strenght of the Mongols he returned to his troops to ready his men. But he also did not alarm his fellow princes: The Hypatian Codex: "Mstislav did not inform the out of jealousy, for there was great discord between them."

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

started the Mongols withdrew over the Kalka with Prince Mstislav ordering Prince Danilo and Cumans to follow with their regiments. Mstislav himself went with a small attachment on reconnaissance. As he realized the real

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

before them. Eight days later the Mongol army made a stance at the Kalka River. The battle that ensued now ended in a disaster for the Rus. The Rus Princes - vain and bickering among them - fell for the Mongols feigned retreat and went right into the trap. When the battle

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

"Since you have listened to the Polovets men, and have killed all our envoys, and are coming against us, come then, but we have not touched you, let God judge all."

After crossing the Dnipro the Rus quickly conquered some Mongol outposts and advanced further driving the mongols

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

Their pleas were successful as some of the Rus princes formed a coalition that set out to meet the Mongols. Learning of the Rus advance the Mongols sent envoys who were duly slaughtered by the Rus. The Mongols then told them:

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

They said: "Our land they have taken away today; and yours will be taken tomorrow," The Rus Prince Mstislav told his brethren: "If we, brothers, do not help these, then they will certainly surrender to them, then the strength of those will be greater."

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

against the Rus and Europe that culminated in the Mongol victory at Liegnitz in 1241 and the withdrawal of the Mongols afterwards.

After being defeated by the Mongols the Cumans fled to their once arch-enemies the Rus and implored them to form an alliance against the Mongols.

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

Bolars, and Rarals. [He made] Sübe’etei-ba’atur cross the great waters [of the] Idil and the Jayaq Rivers and go as far as Kiwa Menkermen [Kyiv]."

The leader of this campaign was Sübe’etei, one of the most accomplished Generals of the Great Khan who also led the later campaigns

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

The "Secret History of the Mongols" also mentions the western campaign:
"[Genghis Khan] sent Sübe’etei-ba’atur northwards to attack the lands and peoples [of] the following eleven tribes: the Kanglins, Kibcha’uts, Bajigits, Orusuts, Majarats, Asuts, Sasuts, Serkesüts, Keshimirs,

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

of those who were killed, escaped [to Rus], Kotyan with other Knyazes, while Danil Kobyakovits and Gyurgi were killed, and with them a quantity of the Polovets people."

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

And many [Polovcians] were slaugthered, [fleeing] to the river Dnieper." That´s the first account of the Mongols that appears in Rus chronicles - here the Hypatian Codex. This event is echoed in the Novgorodian Chronicle which writes "And the cursed Polovets people, the survivors 🔽

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

"(1223) 6732 (1224). An enemy, hitherto unknown, appeared: the godless [...] Tatars [Mongols] attacked the Polovcians [Cuman] land. When the Polovcians went forth to meet them in battle, Jurij Koncakovic, the senior [prince] of all the Polovcians, could not oppose them and fled.🔽

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

Lithuanians and people that migrated through the Asians steppes like the Cumans. In 1223 though the banners of a new enemy crested the horizons. The Mongols had arrived.🔽

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

Wars of succession always plagued the Rus and in 1097 the Rus princes met in Liubech and - although it aimed at unifying the princes - resulted in cementing the fragmentation. Recurrent struggles plagued the Rus while they were also threatened by outside enemies like the 🔽

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

In the beginning 13th century the golden times of Volodimir the Great and Jaroslav the Wise were long gone. In the two centuries since the Rus grew in prosperity but at the same time it splintered into rivaling principalities, each led by a descended of Volodimir.🔽

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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 17h

1223 AD: The Battle at the Kalka River - Harbinger of Death

In the year 1223 AD a combined army of Rus Princes and Cumans clashed with a Mongol host. The Mongols crushed their enemies and vanished back into the steppes. For now.

[Thread] ⬇️

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Reposted by Martin Sauerbrey

Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 4d

The Love for Authoritarianism - The Dark Side of Men

Democracy is fighting a rearward battle. Even in previously stable democracies people have a tendency to vote for persons or parties who have strong authoritarian tendencies and goals.

Why?

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P.S.: Read to end for fun

a man with a mustache wearing a shirt and tie

ALT: a man with a mustache wearing a shirt and tie

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Martin Sauerbrey

Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 4d

Die Liebe zum Autoritarismus – Die dunkle Seite des Menschen

Demokratie kämpft auf verlorenem Posten.
Selbst stabile Demokratien sehen, wie Menschen zunehmend autoritäre Parteien wählen.

Warum?

🧵

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