Siege of Kiev (1240)
Batu Khan and the Mongols began their invasion in late 1237 by conquering the northeastern Rus' Principality of Ryazan. Then, in 1238 the Mongols went south-west and destroyed the cities of Vladimir and Kozelsk. In 1239, they captured both Pereyaslav and Chernigov with their sights set on Kiev. The Mongol envoys sent to Kiev to demand submission were executed by Grand Prince Michael of Chernigov. The Mongol capture of Chernigov caused Michael to flee to Hungary in 1239 or 1240. The Smolensk prince Rostislav II Mstislavich seized the opportunity to claim Kiev for himself, but was in turn soon driven out by Daniel of Galicia-Volhynia (Danylo Romanovych). This series of rapid conquests left the region vulnerable and set the stage for a final assault on the capital.
Grand Prince Michael of Chernigov fled to Hungary after his envoys were killed during the Mongol advance. The Smolensk prince Rostislav II Mstislavich tried to seize control of Kiev but failed quickly. Daniel of Galicia-Volhynia drove Rostislav out and took command of the city. Danylo Romanovych was not present when Batu Khan's army arrived in November 1240 because he was in Hungary seeking a military union to prevent invasion. Voivode Dmytro served as the chief commander inside Kiev while Danylo remained abroad. These power struggles weakened the defense before the Mongols even began their siege operations.
Möngke led the vanguard army near the city and offered terms for surrender that were rejected. His envoys were killed, so the Mongols chose to assault the city directly. Batu Khan destroyed the forces of the Rus vassals known as the Chorni Klobuky who were trying to relieve Kiev. The entire Mongol army camped outside the city gates joining Möngke's troops. On the 28th of November, the Mongols set up catapults near one of the three gates where tree cover extended almost to the walls. They bombarded the defenses for several days until the 6th of December when the walls finally breached. Hand-to-hand combat followed in the streets and Dmytro was wounded by an arrow during the fighting.
When night fell on the final day, the Mongols held their positions while the Kievans retreated to central parts of the city. Many people crowded into the Church of the Tithes seeking safety from the attackers. The next day the church balcony collapsed under the weight of standing people crushing many inside. After winning the battle, the Mongols plundered Kiev and massacred most of the population. Out of 50,000 inhabitants before the invasion about 2,000 survived. Most of the city burned down leaving only six out of forty major buildings standing. Dmytro received mercy for his bravery despite leading the defense.
After their victory at Kiev the Mongols forced both Galicia and Volhynia to submit to Batu Khan's suzerainty. They were free to advance westward into Hungary and Poland without resistance. The Mongol advance halted in September 1242 when Batu Khan heard news that Ögedei Khan had died. Batu needed to attend the quriltai where a successor would be chosen. Soon after the new Mongol regime began collecting tributes through a Darughachi in Kiev and elsewhere. Fra Giovanni da Pian del Carpine observed this tribute system during his travels in the 1240s.
The Galician, Volhynian Chronicle gives the fullest description of the siege written in Old Ruthenian completed in the 1290s. It mentions defenders capturing a Mongol soldier named Tovrul who provided names of all enemy officers. The Pskov Chronicles claim the siege engines took ten weeks to break through fortifications but scholar Alexander Maiorov concluded this version is entirely fictitious. The Novgorod First Chronicle and Laurentian Rostov continuation offer different accounts with conflicting dates. A letter by a Hungarian bishop written between 1239 and 1242 provides indirect evidence suggesting they waited until mid-November for the Dnieper river to freeze over. Giovanni da Pian del Carpine wrote about the siege in Latin just after visiting Kiev in 1246 though questions remain about whether he described actual events or heard rumors from others.
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Common questions
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.
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.