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The Mongol Invasion (trilogy)

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The Mongol Invasion (trilogy)
AuthorVasily Yan
Original titleНашествие монголов (трилогия)
LanguageRussian
GenreNovel (Historical novel)
Publication date
1934—1954
Publication placeSoviet Union
Pages1056
Original text
Нашествие монголов (трилогия) at Russian Wikisource

The Mongol Invasion is a historical trilogy written by Soviet writer Vasily Yan that explores the Mongol conquests, including the Mongol conquest of Central Asia and the Western Mongol campaign, as well as the resistance of the peoples living in Central Asia and Eastern Europe during the early 13th century.[1] This trilogy is considered the author's most renowned work and is comprised of the novellas "Genghis Khan" (1939), "Batu" (1942), and "To the “Last Sea”" (1955).[2]

Vasily Yan became interested in the theme of Genghis Khan's conquests in the early 20th century while serving in the Transcaspian region.[3] Vasiliy Yan was inspired to write after having a dream in which Genghis Khan attempted to defeat him. In 1934, after receiving a recommendation from Maxim Gorky, the publishing house Young Guard commissioned Yan to write a story about Genghis Khan.[4] However, due to various circumstances, the story was not published until 1939.

By February of 1940, the manuscript for the sequel "Batu" had already been submitted to Goslitizdat. Just two months later, the writer also offered a children's adaptation titled "Invasion of Batu" to Detgiz. As the Great Patriotic War unfolded in 1941, it became evident that his books were incredibly relevant to the current circumstances.[5] On July 21st of that year, Vasily Yan was officially admitted to the Union of Soviet Writers. Thanks to the recommendation of Alexander Fadeev, the writer was honored as the recipient of the prestigious Stalin Prize of the first degree for his work in 1941.

During the Great Patriotic War, the writer kept working on his project even while being evacuated in Uzbekistan. When he got back to Moscow, his third book, "The Golden Horde and Alexander the Restless", was officially announced in the April 22, 1945 edition of "Literaturnaya Gazeta". Excerpts from the highly anticipated book had already been published in various prominent publications. The author submitted the manuscript to Goslitizdat at the end of 1948, but faced opposition from archaeologist Artemiy Artsikhovsky and writer Alexei Yugov. This led to significant revisions to the text. The novel was eventually split into two parts in 1950, and published posthumously in 1955 after the writer passed away.

The trilogy garnered high praise from a wide range of experts such as historians specializing in Russian, medieval, and Oriental studies, as well as critics and literary scholars. As a result of the overwhelmingly positive feedback, the books gained immense popularity and were in constant demand, leading to numerous reprints.

Books

Genghis Khan

The novel starts near Gurganj in Khwarazm, with a beggar dervish named Haji Rahim encounters a robbed caravan in the desert and learns that the culprit is the notorious robber Kara Konchar. During a dust storm, he seeks refuge with a nomadic family along with a dervish and an injured merchant. They are unexpectedly joined by bey Jalal al-Din, the son of the ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire, Muhammad II of Khwarazm, who had gotten lost while hunting goitered gazelles. The group shares a meal together, including the bey's freshly caught prey, and the bey offers the dervish safe passage through his guard for his journey.

Haji Rahim arrived in Gurgandj to find out that his father and brother had died, leaving their family home abandoned. He struggled with doubts about his faith and went to Baghdad for refuge. Despite orders to execute prisoners in search of his son, a young boy named Tugan was spared. Tugan was rejected by his teacher but found acceptance with Haji Rahim, who treated him like a brother. With the help of a dervish, Haji Rahim's chains were turned into a dagger symbolizing his freedom. Merchant Mahmud-Yalvach, who had recovered from an injury, generously provided financial support for their journey.

The Shah of Khwarezm visits his mother who convinces him to name his young son as his heir and appoint Jelal ad-Din as governor of a distant region. The Shah keeps an eye on Jelal ad-Din and becomes intrigued by his three hundred and first wife, Gül-Jamal. A spy sent to extract secrets from Gül-Jamal fails to gain her trust and is thrown to a panther in a locked room. An unknown warrior bursts into the palace, kills the lion, and announces that he has been sent by the Shah with news of uprisings on the eastern borders of Khwarezm and killings of Kipchaks in Samarkand. The Shah leads his army eastward to confront the Mongols, who disappear suddenly.

The Shah of Khorezm was betrayed by three merchants working for Genghis Khan, leading to the invasion of Khorezm. A peasant named Kurban-Kyzyk flees to Iran after witnessing the devastation caused by the Mongols, but later decides to rebel against a tyrannical ruler to protect his loved ones. The Shah is left isolated on an island as punishment for his betrayal, while Timur-Melik renounces violence and commits to peace. Genghis Khan's cruelty is highlighted through his humiliation of the Shah's mother, showing the consequences of betrayal.

Jelal ad-Din bravely led a resistance against Genghis Khan, but conflicts over war spoils weakened their defenses. Jelal ad-Din escaped by jumping into a river with his horse. Dervish Hadji Rahim and his brother remained loyal to Mahmud-Yalvach, an advisor to Genghis Khan. Despite being captured by the Kara-Konchar group, Dervish eventually becomes a mentor to Batu, the son of Juchi Khan, and regains his freedom after Juchi Khan's death.

Genghis Khan sent his generals Subutai and Jebe on a mission to find Muhammad and cause trouble in Iran, but they were unable to locate him. They then traveled to Georgia, Sudak, and Kharkiv before strategically withdrawing and defeating Kipchak warriors and Russian troops. The Kiev regiment, led by Mstislav Romanovich, put up a strong defense but was ultimately slaughtered by the Tatars. Despite attempts by new Russian troops to fight back, they were also defeated. After celebrating their victory, the Mongols received orders from Genghis Khan to return home. At the celebration, all captured princes were executed by being crushed under planks.

During this time, Genghis Khan fought a battle in India against Jalal ad-Din, seeking to conquer the country and defeat the son of the previous Shah of Khwarazm. His wife convinced a counselor to persuade Genghis Khan to return home due to his failing health. In his pursuit of immortality, Genghis Khan met with a Taoist named Qiu Chuji who explained that immortality was not achievable. Genghis Khan eventually died, and Ögedei Khan succeeded him. Batu, the grandson of the former Khwarazm ruler, later became known as Khan Batu.

In the epilogue, we learn that Tugan survived and joined the Mongol warriors. He goes to Khwarazm to find his brother Hadji Rahim, who is imprisoned and facing death. Tugan saves his brother by giving him pills to feign death and then rescues him under the cover of night.

Batu

This is a story told by Hadji Rahim, who starts off by describing his own rescue. He then goes on to talk about how he served as a scribe, and one night he took in a runaway in fancy clothes who claimed to be a messenger from the great vizier Mahmud-Yalvach. Rahim didn't recognize his former student - Batu Khan - in the runaway; besides an old faqīh, the runaway was accompanied by an orphan named Yulduz, who lived with the respected Nazar-Kyarizek - the groom of the Kipchak Khan Bayander. Even as a fugitive, Batu shows exceptional qualities of being smart, ruthless, and confident in his guiding star as a warrior. After facing dangers and twists of fate, he becomes a threat to others and, following the advice of his great grandfather, decides to conquer the entire universe to its edge - the last sea. The Chinggisid princes are preparing for the Mongol invasion of Europe, with Nazar-Kyarizek asking for horses for his sons. Before leaving, he sells Yülduz to Khan Bayander's harem, causing his son Musuk to disown him. Musuk finds shelter with Arabsha after being robbed, while Yülduz is chosen to accompany Batu on the campaign. She earns the nickname "hardworking, black wife" from Khan Bayander.

About six months after leaving Sighnaq, in late fall, the Mongol army showed up at the banks of the Volga River. Musuk got injured during a meeting with a group led by the former Grand Duke of Principality of Ryazan, Gleb Vladimirovich. They were accompanied by Babila, a slave owned by the soothsayer Gazuk. Musuk's years of experience as a fisherman came in handy for crossing the river. In the fall of 1237, Batu-Khan set up camp at Urakova Mountain near Yeruslan. Gleb Vladimirovich offered to be Batu's main adviser and guide in Russian territories, and Batu agreed, making him a nöker. One night, Gleb Vladimirovich approached Batu and told him a story about Attila, after which it was said that Batu would be the guiding star of the Mongols. In Olden Ryazan, Prince Yuri met with Mongol envoys, including a Bulgar merchant familiar with the city. When asked to pay a tithe, Prince Yuri sought help from other Russian principalities. The details of the discussions between the Tatar envoys and Prince Georgy remain unknown.

During winter, Batu Khan was stationing in an oak grove by the Voronezh River when some Russian ambassadors showed up with gifts. Batu was not impressed with the gifts he received, but he did like some horses and kept one for himself. Prince Fyodor Yurievich did not show respect to Batu, so his people were treated poorly at a party. When Fyodor was leaving, Batu ordered a massacre. The Khan consulted with his advisors on which route to take for the campaign. Princess Evpraksiya was devastated by her husband's death and took her own life. Subutai's son was captured and revived by a witch named Opalenikha. She refused a reward, showing compassion for him despite his pagan beliefs: “We have mercy on sick cattle. He is a pagan, but his soul is still human...”, she said.

Despite Ryazan's brave resistance without help from other Russian lands, it is ultimately destroyed by Mongolian forces. Khan Batu quickly moves on to Kolomna, where Genghis Khan's son Kyulkan Khan dies in a failed attempt to capture the city. Moscow (Mushkaf) and Vladimir suffer the same fate. But, the Russian princes aren't backing down and decide to secretly gather a united army led by Eupaty Kolovrat to take on the Mongols. Unfortunately, a traitor tips off the Khan, and the Mongolian forces attack before the Russians can come together. After conquering Kozelsk, Batu-khan decides to head south towards the Kipchak steppes. He brings along the Chinese architect Li Tun-po to build a campaign palace at the Ura mountain. Yulduz insists on sending Nazar-Kyarizek with him, despite their past grievances. Arapsha banishes the traitor Gleb into the steppe after he completes his treacherous task.

The ending of "Batu" perfectly coincided with the challenging military year of 1942, highlighting a stark contrast between two key chapters. The first chapter depicted the sound of axes chopping away at Perun's Forest in "And Russia is being rebuilt again!", while the following chapter, "In a distant homeland", painted a somber picture with mournful songs replacing expected triumph. Old Nazar-Kyarizek's return to his native yurt symbolized the heartbreaking loss of his sons who had fallen in the campaign to Russia, bringing back four horses with empty saddles.

To the “Last Sea”

In the beginning of the book, a skilled seal carver and trusted advisor to the Caliph of Baghdad, Duda the Just, announces the arrival of Abd al-Rahman I, a noble descendant of Abd al-Rahman I who conquered Spain. They decide he should travel north to seek help from Batu Khan to protect Iraq from the Tatar threat. Duda becomes his secretary and chronicler. They sail by ship from the Iron Gates to Xacitarxan, owned by Islam-Aga who has the Byzantine princess Daphne captive. Daphne, described as stirring intense emotions, was taken by pirates on her way to marry a Georgian tsarevitch. Daphne is eventually brought to the Mongol Khan, while Abd-ar-Rahman is spared under Yassa (Genghis Khan's laws). The Arab ambassador meets Bibi-Günduz, a wise fortune-teller, who reveals that he seeks fame over wealth. He then joins a caravan of Arab merchants heading to Batu Khan's base.

The story takes place in a grand palace built in the Volga steppe by Chinese architect Li Tun-po. Musuk, a taiji, serves the young and ambitious Khan Batu, who is determined to fulfill his destiny as a divine ruler and spread Genghis Khan's laws. After feeling unwell, Batu's wives and relatives attend to him, leading to a scandal. In a gesture of goodwill, Batu gifts his wives to his commanders and settles Princess Dafnia with his brother Ordu. During a meeting with Ambassador Abd-ar-Rahman, Batu declares the formation of a new state called the Blue Horde, inspired by the mercy of historical conquerors towards their conquered peoples.

The fourth part of the narrative is told from the perspective of Hadji Rahim, who continues his "Travel Book". Batu-khan is worried about the independent nature of Veliky Novgorod and orders captives to gather information for him. Arapsha is chosen for this task and learns about Yaroslav II of Vladimir and his son Alexander Nevsky. Batu gives Alexander the rank of thousandman and appoints Arapsha as an ambassador to Novgorod. Gavrila Olexich successfully ransoms Russian prisoners and avoids humiliation. He is sent back to Novgorod with Emir Arapsha. Gavrila's wife almost enters a monastery due to rumors about him being involved with a Tatar woman, but he convinces her to stay with him.

During the lead-up to the campaign out West, Batu Khan gets pretty ticked off by the resistance from the Chingizids. Even Yulduz suggests he should spare Kiev and make it a second capital. Later, his brother Ordu complains about his Greek concubine being taken by Iesun-Nokhai, who ends up being the troublemaking son of Tatar Khan. Batu and Subudai set a trap for him and assign him to the "wild" squad, made up of all sorts of characters like the Kurdish hunter Utboy. There's a mix-up with a horse blanket made from a concubine's skin, which leads to some drama with Iesun and Mengu Khan. The story then moves to Khan Kotyan's camp, where a Hungarian monk named Julian delivers a message from Batu to the king. Abd-ar-Rahman reports back to Baghdad throughout the events.

The reader meets Vadim, who dreamed of becoming an icon painter and ended up in the entourage of Alexander Nevsky's wife. After he depicted the princess with blue eyes instead of the Virgin Mary, Father Makari accused him of demonic temptation, and Vadim fled to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, hoping to find a worthy mentor and heal his sorrow. He made some initial progress in his chosen art, but was forced to take up arms and fall during the Siege of Kiev (1240), as the city stood in the way of the Mongols' path to the Western Sea. The King of France is preparing to receive a martyr's crown, while the German Emperor is fleeing to Palestine. But after the massacre in Eastern Europe, Batu hesitates to move on, his army depleted and weary from intense battles. At home, Batu receives sad news: his noble wives have borne him a "black" child, but his favorite, Yulduz, is mourned by loyal intellectuals, Hadji Rahim and Lee Tun-po. The city grows and thrives, a new powerful state born in the bloody pains of war, shaping the destinies of its neighbors for many centuries to come. In closing his narrative, Haji Rahim expressed his hope that his future readers would not have to endure the devastating impact of a brutal and irrational war.

Language

The debate over whether Vasily Yan's extensive fiction works should be classified as novels or not raged on, with his trilogy The Invasion of the Mongols serving as a focal point. While the author was adamant that all of his extensive works of fiction were novellas and not novels, critics and literary scholars argued otherwise, labeling works such as "Genghis Khan", "Batu", and "To the “Last Sea”" as novels. In the realm of literary analysis, Vasily Yan was identified as a key figure in the Soviet historical novel genre, known for his depiction of pivotal moments in history and prominent historical figures. Larisa Alexandrova noted the unique aspect of Yan's writing, pointing out that his protagonists often portrayed negative historical figures. Ultimately, the classification and interpretation of Vasily Yan's works continued to spark discussion and debate within literary circles.

The trilogy is seen as a cohesive whole by both the author and critics, characterized by consistent literary techniques and methods of portraying historical events. Vasily Yan found valuable insights into the life of the Tuvans in the 1920s while working on historical novels about the Mongols. The character of Baba Opalenikha in the novel "Batu" was based on a real resident of Uyuk.[6]

A central theme in "Genghis Khan" is the strained relationship between father and son, specifically the conflict between the great kagan and his eldest son Jochi, who governs in Khorezm. Jochi is portrayed as a distorted reflection of Genghis Khan, sharing his father's intimidating presence and penetrating gaze. The father sent his eldest son to the furthest corner of the kingdom, suspecting him of being a rival. This decision was influenced by the pervasive theme of violence and cruelty that had started in the "Lights on the Mounds" and had infiltrated even the family's habits in the tyrant's inner circle. As a result, Jochi u Yan was brutally killed by mercenaries sent by his father, with his spine broken according to Mongolian tradition.[7] In this regard, Vasily Yan did not shy away from straightforwardness and, while carrying out the super-task of exposing the tyrant, he presented deliberately accusatory descriptions. Even the appearance of Genghis Khan is unaesthetic and repulsive: when he is happy, he claps "big hands on his heavy belly", and his mouth stretches "into a semblance of a smile", and his laughter resembles the howl of "a big old wolfhound". In anger, he orders to feed the swift dog "with the heart of a boy" - the son of the defeated Jalal ad-Din, and when "the Mongol executioner, smiling proudly from ear to ear", brings him "a little smoking heart", he grunts, "like an old boar".[8]

The composition of the trilogy was based on the chronicle of the Mongol campaign to the West. Consequently, the culmination and finale of the first book is the death of the "Shaker of the Universe". In the second part, his grandson Batu acts, with whom his grandfather had hopes of continuing the great cause. The plot of the trilogy is determined by the history and geography of the conquering campaigns of Genghis Khan and Batu. In the two parts of the trilogy, a harmonious unity of content and form was achieved, based on a deep knowledge of historical reality. For example, when Subutai and Jebe send a messenger to Mongolia after the Battle of the Kalka River, not knowing how to write, they compose a message in the form of a song and make the messenger sing it "nine times nine", because the number nine was a sacred number for the Mongols. Similarly, describing the first appearance of the young Batu-khan, Yan notes that three arrows with red feathers were sticking out of his quiver, given to him according to his rank.

Valentin Oskotsky believed that the most compelling aspect of this novel was the vivid depiction of Batu Khan's campaign "when the sun goes down", where Kiev defiantly stood against the Mongol forces, refusing to surrender like other cities that had fallen to the Tatars.[9] Vasily Yan aimed to contrast Batu Khan's aggressive tactics with Alexander Yaroslavich's cautious approach, as the latter strategically avoided direct conflict with the Horde despite his victories over the Swedes and Livonian knights. In the artistic world created by Vasily Yan, Genghis Khan and Batu Khan symbolized destruction, while Alexander Nevsky represented creation through his military prowess and governance. Although the author's attempt to juxtapose these contrasting figures may not have been completely successful, the novel effectively showcased their divergent qualities and ideologies.

Criticism

Valentin Oskotsky, a literary critic, thought that Vasily Yan's trilogy of "main books" had some success but also had some hurdles when it came to getting published because of their controversial themes. It took five years to publish "Genghis Khan," even with support from Maxim Gorky, because it was risky to criticize tyranny in the 1930s. But once World War II started, things changed, and the novel became a groundbreaking work in Soviet literature that challenged the norms of the time.[10]

The early reviews of "Genghis Khan" from 1939-1940 weren't great. Critics like Georgy Schtorm thought Vasily Yan focused too much on traditional exoticism in the East, while Zoya Kedrina liked the colorful language but felt the plot lacked cohesion. Sergei Khmelnitsky was especially tough, saying Yan oversimplified historical events despite knowing his stuff.[11]

During the war years, the reissued novel received more positive reviews. Critics such as Leonid Volynsky and Valery Kirpotin praised Vasily Yan's novels for bringing the past to life and showing his passion for modernity and historical truth. Zoya Kedrina also complimented the writer's skill and accuracy in her review of the second novel in the trilogy. The overall message was in line with official Soviet evaluations, with A. Fadeev stating in 1942 that Yan's novels inspired patriotism and national pride in the Soviet people. Other critics agreed, emphasizing the relevancy and significance of Yan's works during that time.[12] Lev Razgon praised Yanchevetsky as a writer who carried on the compassionate traditions of Russian literature, instilling a sense of dignity and resilience in his readers.[13] Igor Kondakov observed a peak in interest for Yan's work during the tumultuous years of the 1980s-1990s, when individuals grappling with the aftermath of the empire sought solace and guidance in Yan's novels.[14]

Sergei Petrov, a Soviet literary scholar and critic, had some thoughts on the novel Genghis Khan. He mentioned how the author switches between a descriptive style and a more analytical one. On the other hand, Larisa Alexandrova liked how Vasily Yan used documentation in the novel, comparing it to Alexander Pushkin's The Captain's Daughter.[15] Yan's incorporation of historical quotes as chapter epigraphs gives the text a sense of authenticity and unity. The character of chronicler Haji-Rahim is seen as a trustworthy narrator in the trilogy, adding credibility to the events in the story.

In 2016, Russian writer Dmitry Bykov casually talked about how Vasily Yan winning the Stalin Prize was a big deal, saying his novels about the Mongol horde were like a blueprint for Stalin's empire.[16] Bykov wasn't a fan of Yan's fancy writing style, saying it was old-fashioned and lacking in new ideas. But despite that, Yan's books were a hit in both the USSR days and modern Russia. Another literary scholar, Wolfgang Kazak, mentioned in his book that Yan's novels, which focused on fighting against a stronger enemy and fighting for liberation, were super relevant before the war, which is why he got the Stalin Prize.[17]

References

  1. ^ Favereau, Marie (2021). The Horde: How the Mongols Changed the World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv322v4qv. ISBN 978-0-6742-7865-3. JSTOR j.ctv322v4qv.
  2. ^ Ян, Василий (1979). Избранные произведения: В 2 т. / Вступ. статья Л. Разгона; Худож. И. Спасский (1 ed.). Москва: Художественная литература. p. 516. ISBN 5-277-01611-2.
  3. ^ Morrison, Alexander (2008). Russian Rule in Samarkand 1868-1910: A Comparison with British India. Oxford. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-19-954737-1.
  4. ^ Stalin and the Literary Intelligentsia, 1928-39. Springer. 27 July 2016. ISBN 978-1-349-21447-1.
  5. ^ Hill, Alexander (2016). The Red Army and the Second World War. UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 34–44. ISBN 978-1-107-02079-5.
  6. ^ Верещагина, Т. "Михаил Янчевецкий: я сделал в жизни главное — выполнил свой сыновний долг". Центр Азии. №18 (27 апреля—3 мая 2001). ООО Редакция газеты «Центр Азии».
  7. ^ Ян, В. (1989). Собрание сочинений : В 4 т. / Под ред. пред. Комиссии по литературному наследию В. Яна Н. Т. Федоренко; сост. М. В. Янчевецкого. Москва: Правда. p. 560.
  8. ^ Ян, В. (1989). Собрание сочинений : В 4 т. / Под ред. пред. Комиссии по литературному наследию В. Яна Н. Т. Федоренко; сост. М. В. Янчевецкого. Москва: Правда. pp. 35–37.
  9. ^ Оскоцкий, В.Д. (1980). Роман и история (Традиции и новаторство советского исторического романа). Москва: Художественная литература. p. 384.
  10. ^ Оскотский, В.Д. (1980). Роман и история (Традиции и новаторство советского исторического романа). Художественная литература. p. 384.
  11. ^ Лобанова, Т.К. (1979). Исторические романы Василия Яна : АН Узб. ССР, Ин-т языка и литературы им. А. С. Пушкина. Москва: Наука. p. 191.
  12. ^ Янчевецкий, М. В. (1977). Писатель-историк В.Ян. Очерк творчества. Москва: Детская литература. p. 192.
  13. ^ Разгон, Лев (1994). Плен в своем отечестве. Москва: Книжный сад. ISBN 5856760255.
  14. ^ Кондаков, И.В. Ян Василий Григорьевич // Русские писатели 20 века: Биографический словарь / Гл. ред. и сост. П.А. Николаев. Москва: Большая Российская энциклопедия; Рандеву. p. 800.
  15. ^ Александрова, Л.П. (1987). Советский исторический роман (типология и поэтика). Киев: Вища школа. p. 160.
  16. ^ Быков, Д.Л. "Василий Ян. «Батый». Сто лет — сто лекций Дмитрия Быкова. Выпуск № 43". Tvrain.ru. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  17. ^ Козак, В. (1996). Ян. Лексикон русской литературы XX века = Lexikon der russischen Literatur ab 1917 / [пер. с нем.] Москва: РИК «Культура». p. 492. ISBN 5-8334-0019-8.

Bibliography

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