Crusader

4-36

Authors: Ruslan B. Gagua

The present article is devoted to the research of the war, conducted Lithuanian Duke Vytautas against Duke Skirgaila from 1390 to 1392, and determining the role of the Teutonic Order in that conflict. The author considers that civil war in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1390–1392) possible to divide into three phases. The first phase of the conflict covers the period from January to April 1390. At that time, Vytautas does not own strategic initiative. He loses all his ownership in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including his residence in the Grodno. The Polish garrisons posted to the castles of the Duchy by King of Poland. The second phase of the civil war covers the period from August 1390 until September 1391. At this stage, Vytautas began to use the military and diplomatic support of the Teutonic knights, West European cavaliers and Samogitians. He successfully attacked the castles and territory, controlled by Duke Skirgaila. The third phase lasts since the autumn of the 1391 to the summer of 1392. Vytautas obtains control over the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania between the Neman River and the border of the Teutonic Order, protected by four powerful castles. The strategic initiative fully transferred into his hands. At fact, Skirgaila and Jagiello lost the war against Duke Vytautas and forced to sue for peace, making concessions. August 8, 1392 in the Manor Ostrov near Lida the Duke Vytautas conceded suzerainty of the King of Poland. This act put an end to the bloody war for legacy of the Duke Kęstutis. Vytautas got in possession his father’s patrimony Trakai and his former ownership – Lutsk, Brest and Grodno, becoming, along with Skirgaila one of the vicegerents of the Polish king in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Ostrov’s agreement became the first step towards the final approach Vytautas and Jagiello. This alliance united the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the ensuing fight against the Teutonic Order and made possible to win this one of the largest medieval spiritual and chivalrous corporation.

43-53

Authors: Nikolas W. Mitiukov

The work analyzes the Spanish chronicles «The Success and Progress of the Holy League». It is shown that the military efforts of the Moscow state in Spain was seen as secondary. The information that reaches to Spain is very eclectic, and probably only on the level of rumors. From what we can make the assumption that direct diplomatic relations between Spain and Russia were not within the specified period. Assessment of the Russian-language historiography of the Crimean campaigns of Kniaz Golitsyn as a distraction substantial Turkish forces from the main theaters of hostilities is clearly exaggerated. If it is a distraction and took place, the Spaniards did not notice him. Overlooked the first Crimean campaign. The author is recognized for their help in preparing the material Antonio Erse Lizarraga (Cadiz, Spain).

60-122

Authors: Merab Surguladze

This article addresses the military operations of the Georgian king David IV, as an ally to Western and Eastern Christians, against the Seljuk Turks. The author looks into the creation of crusade organizations across Georgia and the Caucasus. Among the materials utilized in writing the article are a number of medieval sources, some scholarly literature from the period between the 19th and 21st centuries, and several reference publications. In resolving the paper’s research objectives, the author employs both general scholarly methods (analysis and synthesis, concretization, and generalization) and traditional methods of historical analysis. The work utilizes the historical-situational method, which presupposes the study of historical facts within the context of the epoch under examination in conjunction with “neighboring” events and facts. This makes it possible to gain a thorough insight into the activity of the Georgian king David as an ally to Western and Eastern Christians. In the end, the author comes to the conclusion that during the First Crusade Georgia pursued an active domestic and foreign policy aimed at consolidation with Christians of the West and the East in their joint struggle against the Seljuk Turks. This war, which encompassed a vast territory and involved numerous nations, can be rightfully considered the first religious world war. Many historians believe it lasted up to the year 1700, at which point the struggle against the Ottoman Turks was taken over by Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire.

4-22

Authors: Viktor Muderevych, Inna Kubaj

The article is dedicated to the problems of military-political contacts between the Russian princes and Crusaders. In particular, it was considered the relationship of the princes with the Scandinavian, German, Czech and Polish parties of military campaigns on the Middle East. Chronologically, these symptomatic contacts were limited by the period of the first four crusades. The Rusychi did not participate in the Crusades, however, they had repeatedly entered into relationships with their participants. Often, for the sake of personal interests. Special attention is paid to the dynastic ties of princes with the European Crusaders, who played a fundamental role in the translation of crusading ideas into the territory of Kievan Rus. Due to this we are able to understand the reception of these ideas in the ancient social and cultural space. Of particular interest is the reflection of ancient chroniclers about the events related to the crusading movement.

39-49

Authors: Aleksei V. Korobeinikov

The article deals with the excerpts from the tract «Arab Archery» dedicated to the parameters of the arab bows and arrows. The attention is paid to the system of archers`gestures, ballistic parameters. The work has comments. The author came to the conclusion that among the archers, in all probability, there was a specialization: skillful direction (snipers) by the light arrows at high speed and a high degree of sharpening lethal hit the particularly important individual goals – armored commanders, signalers, communications, monitors, and so on. While the bulk of shooters cloud of arrows showered group goals: bezdospeshnuyu (or "lightly armored") infantry, and not caring about the accuracy of each of his shots.