This catchphrase can serve as an epigraph to the fate of Vladimir Monomakh, the Grand Duke of Kiev, "the winner of the Polovtsian steppe."
Shield for the Russian land
Monomakh was the name of Vladimir's grandfather, the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomakh. Yes, Monomakh's hat was really heavy, since Prince Vladimir (1053 - 1125) devoted his entire long life to the unification of the Russian lands. And he also showed himself to be an excellent military leader in battles with the Polovtsy, who constantly circled near the borders of the Russians. The raids of the steppe inhabitants were numerous. From the winter of 1061 to 1110 alone, the Polovtsians made 46 large predatory raids on Russia. It was especially hard for those Russians who lived in the borderland Pereyaslavl land. Namely, the Pereyaslavl principality was received at a very young age in the appanage reign of Vladimir Monomakh. There were 19 Polovtsian attacks, and it was the Pereyaslavians who covered almost half of Russia.
12 high-profile victories glorified Vladimir Monomakh as a prince and leader of the defenders of the borders of the Russian lands. In parallel with the reflection of the danger posed by an external enemy, Vladimir Monomakh had to cope with another, not an easy task: ending civil strife that weakened the Russian state, making it easy prey for invaders. It should be noted that Monomakh had good diplomatic skills. Many princes agreed with his arguments, but if Monomakh did not find understanding among his neighbors, he, in alliance with those who supported his policy, punished the disobedient. It was the unification of the Russian principalities that made it possible to make many joint campaigns against the Polovtsians. The most famous were long trips to the Wild Field in 1103, 1107, 1111.
Battle of the Molochnaya River
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Monomakh studied his opponent well. He suggested that his comrades-in-arms go to the steppe in early spring, when the Polovtsian horsemen - the main part of the Polovtsian forces, had not yet gained strength, and not wait for the summer when the enemy was already stronger. Monomakh realized that it was better to forestall enemy raids and fight not on the borders, but on the lands of the Polovtsians themselves.
Monomakh undertook the first major campaign in 1103, taking Svyatopolk of Kiev as his allies. To the island of Khortytsya, the horse forces of the two princes walked along the coast, and the foot ones sailed along the river on boats. Already Khortytsya is behind, in front of the steppe, in front of the enemy, mobile, well-organized.
The battle took place on the Molochnaya River, which flows into the Sea of Azov. The foot warriors took on a heavy load, they "pulled" on themselves the main forces of the enemy. And then the "wings" entered the battle - princely squads on the flanks. The battle was hot. The enemy fled. The importance of the battle is evidenced by the fact that the Russians killed 20 noble steppe khans in this battle.
The farthest hike
The enemy came to his senses only three years later. But he did not draw any conclusions from his defeat, because the khans Bonyae and Sharukan appeared in the vicinity of Pereyaslavl in May 1107. Rusichi again gave a worthy rebuff to the enemy, he was taken by surprise. The chroniclers wrote about this battle - "there was a great victory."
1111 was remembered by the fact that Monomakh and his associates undertook the most distant campaign in order to finally defeat the enemy on his own land. Moreover, to inflict such damage on him that he would never again take military action against the Russians. In May, Russian soldiers came to the bank of the Seversky Donets. The Polovtsian cities of Sharukan and Sugrov were taken. Many captives, languishing in the dungeons of the Polovtsi, happily greeted their liberators.
last fight
The enemy realized that the danger looming over the Polovtsian land was very, very serious. Polovtsian tribes attempted to unite. But that didn't help them. The last battle, historians write, took place on the banks of the Don. The Polovtsians brought here everyone who could only sit on a horse, who survived in previous battles with the Russians. Here Monomakh showed his best leadership qualities. The enemy was still very strong, and it was possible to defeat him not so much by number as by skill. Monomakh built his army in two lines.
And now an avalanche of Polovtsian horsemen struck the first line of Russian soldiers. “Horses, people mingled in a heap …” The tightness on the battlefield was incredible. Polovtsian archers could not turn around, which means they could not fight back. The enemy's attack began to decline. And then Monomakh entered the second line into battle. The Polovtsians did not expect this at all. Their defeat was crushing.
The surviving Polovtsian forces migrated across the Danube. Some of the soldiers went to Georgia. The long-term danger receded from the borders of the Russian land. The steppe was completely free. In the annals about Monomakh they wrote - “the winner of the Polovtsian steppe”. Monomakh lived a long life for those times - 78 years. Of course, he did a lot to make the Russian land breathe freely. 83 campaigns - this is the "track record" of the warrior prince. And his main merit is the deliverance of the homeland from the warlike nomads, who brought many troubles to Ancient Russia.