Siege of Kolomna explained

Conflict:Siege of Kolomna
Place:Kolomna, modern Moscow Oblast
Partof:the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'
Date:December 1237–January 1238
Result:Mongol victory; Vladimir and Moscow besieged afterward
Combatant1:Mongol Empire
Combatant2:Vladimir-Suzdal
Strength1:At least one tumen (10.000) of nomad cavalry
Strength2:Several hundred cavalry, up to 15.000 militia on foot, some Ryazan survivors
Commander1:BurundaiKulkan
Commander2:Prince Vsevolod YuryevichPrince Vladimir YuryevichVoivode YeremeyPrince Roman Ingvarevich of Ryazan
Casualties1:Significant
Casualties2:Entire force

The Siege of Kolomna during December 1237–January 1238 was part of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'. Following the Battle of Voronezh River in December 1237, Yuri II of Vladimir sent both of his sons with "all his men"[1] and Voivode Yeremey to defend the fortress of Kolomna, which was on the border to the Wild Fields.

Battle

In Kolomna, the Vladimir-Suzdalian army met some of the Ryazan survivors from the Battle of Voronezh River led by Prince Roman Ingvarevich.[2] After some heavy fighting under the walls of Kolomna, the young princes Vsevolod and Vladimir retreated to Vladimir and Moscow, respectively.[3] The small Suzdalian force left in Kolomna was besieged and annihilated a few days after the destruction of Ryazan.[4] This left the capital, Vladimir, open for the next Mongol-Tatar onslaught.

Opposing forces

According to Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, the contemporary historian of the Ilkhanate, Kolomna was the fiercest battle of the entire campaign: Kulkan, son of Genghis Khan, died in battle.[5] Reasons for Mongol casualties, which were heavier than usual, might be:

Aftermath

According to The Tale of the Destruction of Ryazan, a few days after the fall of Kolomna, the main Mongol army was suddenly attacked "in the land of Suzdal".[7] On 11 January 1238, the last remnant of Ryazan defenders, 1700 men under Evpaty Kolovrat, made a last stand for their country. Though probably fictional, the tale of their sacrifice is "one of the greatest epics in the history of Russia".[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Никифоровская летопись. Никифорівський літопис. Том 35. Литовсько-білоруські літописи. litopys.org.ua. 2018-02-25.
  2. Web site: Новгородская летопись. krotov.info. 2018-02-24.
  3. Book: Michell, Robert. The chronicle of Novgorod, 1016-1471. Shakhmaton. A. A.. Forbes. Nevill. Beazley. C. Raymond (Charles Raymond). 1914. London, Offices of the society. University of California Libraries.
  4. Book: Grigorjevič., Jan, Vasilij. Batu-kan : istorijski roman. 1991. Prosveta. Lobačev, Đorđe., BIGZ). 8607005944. Beograd. 438360055.
  5. Book: ад-Дин, Рашид. Сборник летописей / Пер. с персидского О. И. Смирновой,редакция проф. А. А. Семенова. Издательство Академии Наук СССР. 1952. Т. 1, кн. 2. – С. 71.
  6. Book: Маевский, И. В.. Очерки по истории Коломенского края. Коломна: Тираж. 2004. 11.
  7. Book: Евпатий Коловрат // Советская военная энциклопедия.. Военное издательство Министерства обороны СССР. 1977. 282.
  8. Book: Likhachev, D. S.. "Великое наследие". Избранные работы в трех томах. 2.. Leningrad: Khudozh. Lit.. 1987. 244–263.