Battle of the Stugna River

Battle of the Stugna River

The Battle of the Stugna River (26 May 1093) was a battle between the princes of Kievan Rus (Sviatopolk II of Kiev, Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov) and the nomadic Cumans tribe (a Turkic peoples). The Kievan forces were defeated.

The Cumans raided Rus' soon after Vsevolod's death and sought to buy peace with the new great prince, Sviatopolk. However Sviatopolk incarcerated the Cumans ambassadors and the Cumans came in force to attack Kiev. Facing an enemy army of eight-thousand, Sviatopolk took the advice of counsel and called for help from Vladimir Monomakh, prince of Chernigov. Monomakh came with his troops and also called upon his only brother, Rostislav of Pereyaslav.Monomakh insisted on peace with the Cumans while Sviatopolk wanted war. Union against Cumans was achieved and Sviatopolk released the ambassadors of Cumans. The armies of the three princes joined together and set out for the city of Trepol'. Approaching the Stugna River the princes were undecided, so they stopped to have a council. The Cumans were across the river. Monomakh (whose wife was a Cuman princess), continued to demand that they sue for peace, but the Kievan troops wanted battle. They crossed the river and met the Cumans in a valley at the rampart of Trepol'. Svyatapolk deployed on the right, Rostislav in the center and Vladimir on the left.

First Cumans attacked Sviatapolk's troops and after a bloody battle Sviatapolk's troops ran. Then Vladimir Monomakh was crushed and all the Kievan troops retreated. Sviatapolk took cover in Trepol', but Rostislav and Monomakh attempted to swim the Stugna River. Rostislav, in a heavy chain armour, drowned. Monomakh retreated to Chernigov and Sviatapolk retreated at night to Kiev.

The Kievan-Pechersky Paterick ascribed Rostislav's death to his own haughtiness. It is said that he refused to enter the church and pray for the battle's outcome. The young prince's death is also recalled in the "Tale of Igor's Campaign":

:"Not like that is the river Stugna - endowed with a meager stream, having fed therefore on other rills and runners, she rent between bushes a youth, prince Rostislav, imprisoning him. On the Dnieper's dark bank Rostislav's mother weeps the youth. Pined away have the flowers with condolement, and the tree has been bent to the ground with sorrow."

External links

* [http://www.xenophongi.org/rushistory/rulers/svyatopolk2.htm Svyatopolk biography] . Includes description of events.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Battle of the Alta River — The Battle of Alta River was a 1068 [ [http://gatchina3000.ru/brockhaus and efron encyclopedic dictionary/002/2342.htm Alta article] in Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary ru icon] clash on the Alta River between Polovtsy nomads on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Stuhna River — Infobox River river name = Stuhna, Стугна caption = origin = Ukraine mouth = Dnieper River basin countries = Ukraine length = 68 km elevation = discharge = watershed = Stuhna ( ua. Стугна) is a minor river in Ukraine, a right tributary of Dnieper …   Wikipedia

  • Cuman people — Historical coat of arms of Kunság. The coat of arms now are used as the general coat of arms of the Cumans Cuman Kipchak confederation in Eura …   Wikipedia

  • Cumans — ( bg. Кумани [Златарски, В. История на Българската държава през средните векове, Притурка 13: Известия за куманите] , Byzantine: Kuman or Cuman [Encyclopædia Britannica Online [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article 9045588/Kipchak Kipchak ] ] , hu …   Wikipedia

  • List of battles (geographic) — This list of battles is organized geographically, by country in its present territory. For other lists of battles, see List of battles. Angola* Battle of Mbwila 1665 * Battle of Quifangondo 1975 * Battle of Cassinga 1978 * Battle of Cuito… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Belarus-related topics — This is a list of topics related to Belarus. Those interested in the subject can monitor changes to the pages by clicking on Related changes in the sidebar.Belarus* Belarus * Belarusian diplomatic missionsCommunications in Belarus* Communications …   Wikipedia

  • List of battles 601–1400 — List of battles: before 601 601 1400 1401 1800 1801 1900 1901 2000 2001 current 7th century * 603 Battle of Degsastan Northumbrian king Aethelfrith defeats Scots under Áedán mac Gabráin * 612 ** Battle of Yodong fortress Korean Goguryeo defeat… …   Wikipedia

  • Vsevolod I of Kiev — Vsevolod I Yaroslavich (Ukrainian and Russian: Всеволод I Ярославич), (1030 ndash; 13 April 1093) ruled as Grand Prince of Kiev from 1078 until his death. Early lifeHe was the fourth and favourite son of Yaroslav I the Wise by Ingigerd… …   Wikipedia

  • 11th century — As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century is the period from 1001 to 1100 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era. In the history of European culture, this period is considered the early part of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Kipchaks — Kipchak–Cuman confederation Desht i Qipchaq Khaganate ←   …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”