WHO LOST KHAZAR?

(By B. Artemova and M. Magomedova. )

It is believed that the campaign of Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev against the Khazar Kaganate in 965-967 years ended in complete defeat Khazar.

But is this true?

At the dawn of the Middle Ages in Russia has been a lot of enemies - the Avars, Varangians, Pechenegs, Polovcy . . . But for some reason, none of these tribes is not such a hot debate as the Khazars. In the light of ancient scholars dispute this kanuvshaya in antiquity problem is very ambiguous. Perhaps because the Khazars were the first to present a serious external enemy of the Kievan Rus. So serious that the issue was the fact of its existence.

In the middle of VII century AD, when the Eastern Slavs had not been a single state on the ruins of the Turkic Kaganate in the Lower Volga and the eastern part of the North Caucasus emerged Khazar Kaganat.

Hazara, the descendants of ancient Indo-European population of Western Eurasia, representing the Turkic and Finno-Ugric partially branch to III century occurred in the lower reaches of Terek. In III century they conquered the Sarmatians from the coast of Caspian Sea (Khazar Terskey and Volzhskaya). In IV-V centuries have served on the Great Turkic Kaganate and fought against the Byzantine Empire and Iran. They are charged with the tribute and other neighbors - the Slavs.

However, the role of a permanent source of tribute, and "live goods" for the Khazar not satisfied Slavic tribes. Their war with the Hazara, and until they were Jewish, the vspyhivaya, the zatuhaya, with varying success. At the turn of VIII-IX centuries the princes Askold and Dir freed from Khazar Dani field. In the year 884, Prince Oleg had the same for Radimichi. Severe fighting Kaganate conducted and father Svyatoslav - Igor.

Well aware of the power and influence of the enemy, Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev in 964 year led to the Khazars strong, well armed and trained troops from different tribes: a field and northerners, drevlyan and Radimichi, Krivichi and dregovichey, and found tivertsev, speech and vyatichey. To establish such an army, take many years of effort. The trip began with a land vyatichey - ancestors of modern-day Moscow, tveryakov, Ryazantsev, who paid tribute Kaganate and not under the authorities of Kiev prince.

Climbing on the Desna northerners through the land, are subject to Kiev, Sviatoslav spring 964 years passed in the upper Oka. On the road to Hazar, he was able to demonstrate military power and diplomacy to win bloodless victory over vyatichami. They help cut down on the Oka to guard a rook and in the spring of next year, with the support of Pechenegs, which brought huge Prince herd of horses, Svyatoslav went to the Wild field.

In the horse-guards took all those who knew how to stay in the saddle. Desyatnikov and centurion accustom recruits to Ratne order. Prince also sent to Hazara Gonta with succinct message: "I go on You!"

First Russa walked to the Khazars on the Don and the Sea of Azov. Now the army came to the pedestrian ladyah of Oka. She had a long and difficult path to the lower reaches of the Volga, where the islands had fortified stone walls Khazar capital of Itil. Horse guards went straight through, via Pechenezke steppe. On the way to the adjoined Pechenezke princes.

The first fell under the sword of Svyatoslav allegiance Hazara Volga Bulgaria, its army was defeated and dispersed, the capital of Bulgar and other conquered cities. The same happened to the Allied Hazara burtasami. Now the boundary Kaganate from the north was opened. In July, 965 years, Russian troops appeared on the northern borders of Khazar possessions.

The decisive battle took place near the Khazar capital - Itilya with throat Volga River, which flows into the Caspian Sea. At the head of troops toward Svyatoslav went himself Kagan Joseph. He shows his subjects only in exceptional cases. And this case was precisely this.

His army was based on the Arab model - in four lines. The first line - "Morning Psovaya ла� starts the battle, the enemies of scree arrows to upset their ranks.

Photo — «Who Lost Khazar?»

Sign in black Khazars were not armor, so as not to embarrass the movements, and were armed with bows and light darts. They were white Khazars - iron man-at-arms in the bib, coat of mail and helmets. The long spears, swords, sabers, club and battle axes were their weapons. This choice heavy cavalry second line, entitled "Day Care" hit mixed by shower of arrows the enemy ranks. If the strike fails, horse spreads to the sides and avoid a third forward line - "A Night of shock. " According to a team of foot soldiers dropped to one knee and covered by boards. Copies of the flagpole, they depend on the ground, directing the tip towards the enemy. The fourth line - behind, in a certain distance. This reserve - hired horse-guards Kagan called Znamya Prophet. " 12 thousand zakovannyh in sparkling armor arsiev Muslims engage in exceptional cases where it was necessary to reverse the course of battle. As the city prepared to fight on foot militia, for the first time realizes that the authorities do not need their money and their lives. And in the case of defeat they would not either . . .

However, Arabic is not a tactic helped Joseph. Ax Russians cut down almost under the root and Psovaya barking, "and everything else. Plain walls, under Itilya was littered with corpses and wounded. Kagan Joseph in a dense ring of horse arsiev rushed for a breakthrough. Having lost most of the guards, he escaped from the chase in the steppes of the night . . .

Slavs burned fallen and celebrate the victory! The enemy has been defeated, Russian army devastated the capital Kaganate at the mouth of the Volga and mined the rich booty.

Later, the city and burned dograbili Pechenegs. Surviving remnants of the troops and the townspeople fled to the desert island of the Caspian Sea. But the winners were not up to them. Army Svyatoslav went to the south - to the ancient capital Kaganate, Semenderu (near modern Makhachkala). A local ruler had his own army. Svetoslav army is defeated and scattered, captured the city, and the ruler of associates were forced to flee to the mountains.

From there, as always, are scattered throughout patrols, tracking spies to suppress news of his movement, led the army commander in the boundless steppes of Kuban. And announced it on the Black Sea. In the underside of the Caucasian mountains, subdued the iron hand of jars and kasogov, with the move took Khazar fortress Semikara. And soon came to the cities, locking Sea of Azov - Tmutarakan and Korce (Taman and Kerch). Rusich took the city, destroying the Khazar governors, not too revered citizens. Thus were laid the future of Russian Tmutarakanskoe principality.

Then Svetoslav turned north, leaving the home front intact Byzantine possession in the Crimea. He went to Sarkel - White Vezhe, or White Town, whose walls, composed of large bricks, have been designed Byzantine engineers.

Two Towers, the highest and powerful behind the inner wall of the citadel.

Low point, which was located Sarkel, with three sides washed by the waters of the Don, but the fourth - east side - were proryty two deep pit filled with water. After the defeat of Itilem Kagan Joseph ran it here.

Waiting for the approach of Russian druzhinnikov, Pechenegs surrounded the fortress, and a ring made of straps and carts have been waiting for - because they are not able to carry the fortress. The autumn of 967 years to Sarkel by Don podplyla at numerous army ladyah Svyatoslav. The assault was sudden and quickest . . . According to Kagan Joseph rushed to the towers of the citadel, so as not to fall into the hands of the enemy. Sarkel was burned, and then literally razed to the ground.

Adding in the occupied lands of small retinue, Sviatoslav returned to Kiev. Thus ended his three-Khazar campaign. A final defeat of the Khazar Kaganate Prince Vladimir was completed at the end of X century.

That′s the way - and this is the view of many modern historians - and developments. But there are other studies.

Photo — «Who Lost Khazar?»

According to Murad Magomedov, professor, doctor of historical sciences and head of the Department of History of Daghestan Daghestan State University, no defeat Khazar prince Svyatoslav was not. Of scientific discovery, has long been recognized abroad, domestic long silent archaeologists. Yes, Svetoslav made numerous trips, including in Byzantium, but the professor Magomedov proves that the Khazar prince of Kiev not to destroy.

He believes that the Russian chronicles confirm capture of Kievan prince only the fortress on the Don, which is called Sarkel. That′s all. Scientists believe that Svyatoslav never reaches the Khazar capital - the city of Itil, which until the beginning of XIV century, continued to be the largest shopping center, which received goods from Europe, the Middle East and even China.

According to Professor Magomedova and some other specialists, Khazar Kaganat until XIII century and has played a huge role not only in history when it entered its peoples, but also Russia and even Europe as a whole, not ceased to exist in the X century.

As you know, first there was the Turkic Kaganat, spread in the vast territory from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. He then split into two parts - East and West. Of the many written sources, it follows that the Khazars were the rulers of the Western Turkic Kaganate. And when it began fighting, they left the territory of Dagestan of the seaside and created their nation - Khazar Kaganat. The latter also held the vast territory, the northern boundary of which took place in the modern Voronezh region, in an area Mayatskogo hill.

At that time, Russia as a unified state did not exist, and the Russian princes constantly enmity with one another, all fought against all. Many of them have quite a long time to pay tribute to Hazara. Even under the name of running in those places the river Potudan - that is, on the other side of Dani "- shows that it is the boundary between the Slavs living south of the river, the Khazars, and north of it, honor is not paid. Yet it is Khazars, Arabs fighting a hundred years old, stopped their movement to the North, and probably covered Russia and Europe from the Arab invasion.

Khazars War with the Arabs began with the mid-VII, and lasted until mid-VIII century, it is known from numerous written sources. Then the Khazars under the onslaught of the Arabs were forced to withdraw to the Volga and beyond. But Khazar Kaganat as the State continues to exist, and the disintegration of his only start since mid X century.

Khazar ebbed, then Svyatoslav and captured the fortress White Tower. But more, he thinks Professor Magomedov, not gone. Kaganat continued to exist until the middle of XIII century, when the capital Itil due to increasing the level of the Caspian in the 10 meters was on the seabed. After that, Khazars settled partly in the North Caucasus, the Crimea . . .

When excavation began in Seaside Daghestan, was found many Khazar graves, objects of material culture (weapons, utensils, coins, pottery), and even the remains of walls Semendera who once dragged from the slopes of Mount Tarko-Tau to the seashore. Now the fact of detection of Khazar cities already recognized throughout the scientific world, including the Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences.

As for Itilya it, according to the scientist, was in the area of the island′s Net Bank in the northern Caspian. And today, with a bird′s-eye view you can see the remains of walls and buildings under water. Professor argues that today are known all Khazar capital, especially the material and spiritual culture Kaganate. There are many indications that the Khazar peacefully co-exist and Christianity, and Judaism, and Islam, covering the general field of pagan beliefs . . .

One way or another, but a study by Professor Magomedova, if not denied a brief history of the Khazars, that led many scientists to think about the sanctity of the full version of the defeat of Hazar in the X century.