Crusader

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.