Old-Russian Principalities and their Nomadic Neighbours: Stereotypes of Chronicles and Diplomatic Practice of the Princes

Font, Márta (2005) Old-Russian Principalities and their Nomadic Neighbours: Stereotypes of Chronicles and Diplomatic Practice of the Princes. Acta Orientalia, 58 (3). pp. 267-276. ISSN 0001-6446

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Abstract

Throughout their existence, Kievan Rus' and the Old-Russian Principalities often had to face the incursions of their nomadic neighbours. Their relationship was characterised by many contradictions but down to the appearance of the Mongols no nomadic tribe or confederation meant a real menace for the political independence of Rus' and the Old-Russian Principalities. The present study is giving an analysis and evaluation of the ambivalent attitude of Old-Russian chronicles towards their nomadic foes. As the relationships between the different Old-Russian Principalities and the nomadic tribes were of various character, the standpoints of the chroniclers widely differ. For the early period one can gather information from the Povest' Vremennyh Let, for the later period the regional chronicle-writing, e.g. the Galician-Volhynian or Vladimir-Suzdalian chronicles, provide material. The summary of the conclusions drawn from these data is that there is a special duality in the chronicles as far as the evaluation of the steppe nomads is concerned. On the one hand, they have a negative approach based on the Christian-non-Christian antagonism, on the other, an attitude of tolerance can also be observed. The reason for the latter aspect lies in the interests of the courts of the princes that often entered into alliance with different groups of the nomads.

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