Siege of Kiev (1240)

Siege of Kiev

Occupation of Kiev in 1240. Illustration of a Russian annal

Date	November 28-December 6, 1240
Location	Kiev
Result	Mongol victory; Kiev captured and plundered

Belligerents

Mongol Empire

Halych-Volhynia

Commanders and leaders

Batu Khan

Voivode Dmitr

Strength

Unknown; probably large

~1000

Casualties and losses

Unknown; not very heavy

~48 000 (including noncombatants) killed

The Siege of Kiev by the Mongols took place between November 28 and December 6, 1240, and resulted in a Mongol victory. It was a heavy moral and military blow to Halych-Volhynia and allowed Batu Khan to proceed westward into Europe.

In 1237, the Mongols began their invasion of Rus by conquering the northern principalities of Ryazan and Vladimir-Suzdal. In 1239, they advanced against southern Rus, capturing the cities of Pereyaslav and Chernihiv.

When the Mongols sent several envoys to demand the city's submission, they were executed by Michael of Chernigov and later Dmytro.

The next year, the Mongol general Batu Khan reached Kiev. At the time, the city was ruled by the principality of Halych-Volhynia. The chief commander in Kiev was Voivode Dmytro, while Danylo of Halych was in Hungary at that time, seeking a military union to prevent invasion. The number of defenders inside the city was only about 1,000.

The vanguard army under Batu's cousin Möngke came near the city. Möngke was apparently taken by the splendor of Kiev and offered the city terms for surrender, but his envoys were killed. The Mongols chose to assault the city. Batu Khan destroyed the forces of the Rus vassals, the Chorni Klobuky, who were on their way to relieve Kiev, and the entire Mongol army camped outside the city gates, joining Möngke's troops.

On November 28 the Mongols set up catapults near Kiev's Lech gates (today - vicinity of Maidan Nezalezhnosti), one of the three gates of old Kiev and where tree cover extended almost to the city walls The Mongols then began a bombardment that lasted several days. On December 6, Kiev's walls were breached, and hand-to-hand combat followed in the streets. The Kievans suffered heavy losses and Dmytro was wounded by an arrow.

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