When did Batu Khan's army arrive to begin the siege of Kiev in 1240?
Batu Khan's army arrived at Kiev on the 28th of November 1240. The Mongol forces set up catapults near one of the three gates where tree cover extended almost to the walls.
Questions about Siege of Kiev (1240)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who commanded the defense inside Kiev during the Mongol invasion of 1240?
Voivode Dmytro served as the chief commander inside Kiev while Danylo Romanovych remained abroad seeking a military union in Hungary. Dmytro was wounded by an arrow during the fighting but received mercy for his bravery after the battle.
How many people survived the massacre of Kiev after the Mongols breached the city walls?
Out of 50,000 inhabitants before the invasion about 2,000 survived the Mongol attack. Most of the city burned down leaving only six out of forty major buildings standing.
Why did Daniel of Galicia-Volhynia not participate in the final assault on Kiev in 1240?
Danylo Romanovych was not present when Batu Khan's army arrived because he was in Hungary seeking a military union to prevent invasion. His absence left the power struggles that weakened the defense before the Mongols began their siege operations.
What happened to the Church of the Tithes during the fall of Kiev in December 1240?
Many people crowded into the Church of the Tithes seeking safety from the attackers until the church balcony collapsed under the weight of standing people crushing many inside. The next day the Mongols plundered Kiev and massacred most of the population.