Rus'–Byzantine War (941): Difference between revisions

| conflict = Siege of Constantinople by the Rus

| image = [[File:Greekfire-madridskylitzes1.jpg|rightcenter|300px]]

| caption = Greeks using their lethal fire, from the [[John Skylitzes|Madrid Skylitzes manuscript]].

| partof = [[Rus'–Byzantine War (disambiguation)|Rus'-Byzantine Wars]]

| date = 941–944<ref>Mauricio Borrero. Russia: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present. 2004. P. 389: "'''941–944''': Igor leads expedition on Constantinople".</ref><ref>James Stuart Olson, Lee Brigance Pappas, Nicholas Charles Pappas. An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. P. 767: "'''944''': Igor ends his expedition against Constantinople".</ref>

| place = [[Constantinople]]<br />(modern-day [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]])

{{Unreferencedmore citations needed section|date=DecemberMay 20172024}}

The Byzantines thus managed to dispel the Rus' fleet but not to prevent the pagans from pillaging the hinterland of Constantinople, venturing as far south as [[Nicomedia]]. Many atrocities were reported: the Russian Primary Chronicle said that the Rus’ used their victims for target practice and to haveor drivendrove nails into their heads.<ref> ''Повесть временных лет''. Том 1. По лаврентьевской летописи (The Tale of Bygone Years [also known as the Russian Primary Chronicle], Volume 1, The Laurentian Chronicle), Dmitry S. Likhachev, et al., eds. (Moscow and Leningrad: Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, 1950), p. 33.</ref> Several Byzantine historians (probably the Russian Primary Chronicle’s source for the information), provide additional detaildetails that the Rus’ crucified some of their captives and staked out others on the ground.<ref>John Skylitzes, ''A Synopsis of Byzantine History'', Chapter 10, Section 31, John Wortley, ed. and trans.(Cambridge: University Press, 2010), p. 221. </ref> <ref>The the Chronicle of George Hamartolos;, in Jacques Paul Migne, ed., ''Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Graeca'', vol. 110, cols. 1179-1182 .</ref>

[[Igor of Kiev|Igor]] was able to mount a new naval campaign against [[Constantinople]] as early as 944/945.<ref>Janet Martin. Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia. Cambridge University Press, 2004. P. 115-116</ref> Under threat from an even larger force than before, the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] opted for diplomatic action to circumvent invasion. They offered tribute and trade privileges to the [[Kyivan Rus'|Rus']].<ref>Janet Martin. Medieval Russia, 980-1584. Cambridge University Press, 2007. P. 19</ref><ref>Vilhelm Ludvig Peter Thomsen. The Relations Between Ancient Russia and Scandinavia, and the Origin of the Russian State. Cambridge University Press. 2010. P. 25</ref><ref>Alexander A. Vasiliev. History of the Byzantine Empire, 324–1453. University of Wisconsin Press. P. 322</ref> The Byzantine offer was discussed between Igor and his generals after they reached the banks of the [[Danube]], eventually accepting them.<ref>Alexander A. Vasiliev. History of the Byzantine Empire, 324–1453. University of Wisconsin Press. P. 322</ref> The [[Rus'–Byzantine Treaty (945)|Rus'–Byzantine Treaty of 945]] was ratified as a result.<ref>Janet Martin. Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia. Cambridge University Press, 2004. P. 115-116</ref> This established friendly relations between the two sides.<ref>Alexander A. Vasiliev. History of the Byzantine Empire, 324–1453. University of Wisconsin Press. P. 322</ref>

== References ==

=== NotesCitations ===

*{{cite journal |last=MosinMošin |first=V.Vladimir Aleksijevič |year=1931 |title=Les KhazarsKhazares et les Byzantins d'apres l'Anonyme de Cambridge |journal=Revue des Études ByzantinesByzantion |volume=6 |pages=309–325 |url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/44167814}}