Rus'-Cuman wars

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Rus'-Cuman Wars

Russian attack on the Cuman nomads. Miniature from the Radziwiłł Chronicle
Date1054/1055 – 1223
Location
Mostly Southern Rus' and steppes of the northern Black Sea shores
Belligerents
Cuman–Kipchak confederation Kievian Rus'
Commanders and leaders
Cuman khans:
Iskal 
Sharukan
Tugorkan 
Boniak
Urusoba 
Altunopa 
Könchek
Hzak
Kobyak
Togly and others.
Rus' princes:
Izyaslav Yaroslavich 
Roman Svyatoslavich 
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich
Rostislav Vsevolodovich 
Vladimir Monomakh
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich
Roman Mstislavich
Igor Svyatoslavich and others.

Rus'-Cuman Wars was a series of military conflicts that lasted for approximately half a century between Kievian Rus' and Polovtsian tribes. They were caused by the collision of economic interests of the sedentary Eastern Slavs and the Turkic nomads of the Black Sea steppes. The conflict can be divided into two phases:

  • From Cuman arrival to the Black Sea steppes in 1054/1055 to the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125. During this phase, Cumans would raid Rus' territories, with the Rus' eventually launching counterattack under Vladimir Monomakh and defeating Cumans.
  • From the death of Vladimir Monomakh to the Mongol conquests in 1240. This phase would start with relative peace secured by the Vladimir Monomakh and Sviatopolk II of Kiev, although eventually Cumans would restart their raids and they would be greatly employed by the Rus' princes against each other in the internecine feuds amidst the dissolution of the Kievian Rus'. The Mongol conquests would put an end to the warfare between Cumans and the Rus' principalities, with them allying against the common Mongol threat.