Pages: 223-232 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp245223323

The article studies the trips of Russian princes to the headquarters of nomadic rulers in the 1250s, when peaceful relations of citizenship were established with the conquerors. The features of the relationship between Prince Alexander Nevsky and Sartak are considered. It is established that there is no direct evidence of a personal meeting between Prince Alexander and Sartak in early (synchronous events) accounts. The details of Prince Gleb Belozersky’s trip to the “Cana of the Earth” to the “Caesar” are investigated. The analysis of indirect evidence shows that the trip should be associated with the need to accompany Sartak as part of his service in the guard of Genghisid the heir. Matchmaking/marriage was not the purpose of this visit.
The chronology of Prince Alexander’s trip to Berke in 1262—1263 is reconstructed. It is noted that Berke and Hulagu carried out a serious mobilization at this time. It is known that Berke ordered the conscription of 8 men out of each ten. Such mobilization would cause serious damage to the demographic and economic resources of Russia: fulfilling the requirement to offer such a number of people into service would lead to the mobilization of 7 to 16% of the population and from 20 to 32% of the adult male population of the Russian principalities. Undoubtedly, attracting such a large number of people of working age to military operations would have a negative impact on farming and population growth — it would be an economic and demographic disaster.

Keywords: Horde, Russian princes, Horde yoke, Alexander Nevsky, Sartak, Berke, Gleb Vasilkovich

Information about author:

Yuriy Seleznev (Voronezh, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Voronezh State University. Universitetskaya Sq., 1, Voronezh, 394006, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-8224-445X