Several versions of why Batu did not go to Novgorod

The active policy of seizing new lands in the 12th-13th centuries was promoted by the growth of nomadic cattle breeding and the desire to seize the mythical untold wealth of neighboring more developed countries. But Baty's campaign to Novgorod did not take place. Since the nomads did not produce anything other than food for their own needs, they were given luxuries either in the process of trading, or (which happened more often) in the process of robbery and robbery. In the neighboring countries of Mongolia, there was a decline and internal strife, the chances of launching a war of conquest were ideal. Let's figure out why Baty did not go to Novgorod.

The size of the possessions of Genghis Khan in the 13th century

The troops of the Great Khan captured the following territories:

• Central and Middle Asia.
• Southern Siberia.
• The Khorezm Shah.
• North Caucasus.
• Defeated Georgian-Armenian troops and Alans.
• Priazovye.
• Defeated Russian-Polovtsian associations on the river. Kalka.

After the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, the possessions of the Mongol Empire were divided into several uluses. The rulers were his sons and grandsons.

The decision of the Mongols to go to the West

The decision to conquer the Russian territory was made by the general meeting of the Mongolian nobility (kurultai) in 1235. Mongolia thoroughly prepared for war. Several princes, the best warlords and nukers of the Mongols took part in these long-standing military operations. Since the western possessions of the nomadic empire were taken by Batu, the grandson of Genghis Khan, he led a campaign into these rich lands. His goal was Eastern Europe.

The beginning of the invasion of Batu

In order to protect their rear, Batu first defeated the Polovtsian tribes, then destroyed the Volga Bulgaria. This state ceased to exist. In 1237 the nomadic army went to North-Eastern Russia. The Mongols during the invasion burned and severely ravaged the following cities:

• Ryazan fell after a week's siege.
• Burned the cities of Kolomna, Tver, Pereyaslavl, Moscow.
• After 4 days, the siege was stormed and Vladimir burnt.
• He resisted heroically for two weeks, but then Torzhok fell.

A huge number of large and small settlements of the North-East of Russia were destroyed along with the inhabitants during the autumn-winter time of 1237-1238. The arrival of spring, rains and the inability to move heavy wagons along the soggy earth became one of the reasons why Batu did not go to Novgorod. The Mongols did not reach the city some 100 km.

The second invasion of Batyev's troops

Military seizures continued one year later, again in autumn-winter. The Crimea was captured, and Kiev, Galich, Vladimir-Volynsky, and other cities in the south and west of Russia fell and were burned. Then Batu divided his army. Part went to Poland and Hungary, the other - to the Baltic coast.

Why Batu did not go to Novgorod? Because his troops moved in a different direction. Captured Sandomierz, Lublin, Krakow, Wroclaw. Polish and German knights were defeated. The Mongolian hordes captured Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Dalmatia, the Czech Republic, approached Vienna, approached Venice. The victorious capture of Europe Batu interrupted, having received information about the death of Khan Udegeya in Karakorum. However, not returning to Mongolia, Khan Batyi founded the State on the lower Volga called the Golden Horde. Its borders stretched from the Danube to the Irtysh.

And what about Novgorod?

The question of when Batu captured Novgorod, has one answer: this did not happen. The second invasion of the Mongolian troops was not a single campaign. Batu led the seizure of territories by scattered series of attacks. Khan, demonstrating the military power of his army, called on the cities to submit to his nukers. Only persistently resisting settlements were destroyed.

Voluntarily surrendered settlements paid the khan's contribution to horses, food, fodder. In addition, the army of nomads with livestock and carts could not fight normally in ravines, forests, rivers and marshes. So the swamps and spring mudslide canceled Baty's campaign to Novgorod for the second time and helped the great city to remain unapproachable.

At the same time, Novgorod called for protection from the Livonian knights who invaded the North-West of Russia, Alexander Nevsky. Perhaps the presence of this young commander and his squad also played a role in saving the city from a nomadic raid.

Another version of the answer to the question about why Baty did not go to Novgorod, says that after the winter season in Russian villages, there is almost no stock of animal feed. Raging villages, taking hay harvested by peasants for the winter, the nomads fed their horses and oxen. They had to stop military operations on this territory, because there was nothing to feed the cattle.