CHAP. VI.] 



THE CRUSADES. 



187 



horsemen fled with their wives, their cattle, and their 

 valuables. The Russians under their princes gathered 

 a large army on the banks of the Dnieper, and in the 

 first skirmish were completely victorious over a detach- 

 ment of the enemy. This success is attributed to the 

 great skill and bravery displayed by the Russian archers 

 in the action. 



Elated by this victory the Russians crossed the river 

 and marched towards the enemy.^ At the end of nine 

 days the two armies met on the Kalka or Kaletz, near 

 Marioupole, in the government of Ekaterinoslaf, and 

 on the 31st May, 1223, a decisive battle took place, 

 which resulted in a complete victory for the Mongols, 

 caused pai'tly by the treachery of the Polovtsi refugees, 

 who deserted in the action, and slew their Russian allies 

 for the sake of plundering their horses and arms, and 

 partly by the great number and extraordinary skill and 

 activity of the Tartar cavalry. The Tartar historians say 

 that the Mongols drew the Russians by design, some 

 distance into an open desert, where they would be fully 

 exposed to the attacks of the mounted archers and 

 swordsmen, and where they would be obliged to fight for 

 several consecutive days.^ Russia had never sufiered such 

 a frightful disaster. The invaders pursued their success 

 with great vigour, and so great was the loss of the 

 fugitives, that a superb army, numerous and full of 

 valour, vanished like a shadow, one tenth part only 

 escaping." 



After this victory the Mongols disappeared for some 

 years, until in 1237 they again approached under the 

 command of Bati, the nephew of Octal, and having 

 defeated Youri, Prince of Rezan, and captured the city, 

 they won a victory over Vsevolod, at Kalomna, burnt 

 Moscow, and put the inhabitants to the sword. 



Vladimir, Gorodetz, Galitch, Rostof, and many other 

 cities were soon destroyed, the inhabitants being put to 

 death or dragged away into slavery ; and at last, in 1240, 

 after desperate struggles and brilliant displays of un- 

 availing valour, the splendid city of Kief was stormed 

 ' Karamsin, iii: 288, 289. ^ ibid. iii. 291. 3 ibid. iii. 289. 



