A Modern View of the European Vector of the Military Development of Ukrainian Lands in the 13th–14th Centuries: Prospects for Future Historiographical Studies

Abstract

Given the widespread dissemination of Russian mythologies about Rus and its history, the examination of different phases in Ukraine's military history has become a crucial undertaking in our contemporary era. The primary objective of the research paper was to scrutinise the manifestations of European military culture within the trajectory of Ukrainian lands' development during the 13th and 14th centuries, with a particular focus on the Galician-Volhynian state. The analytical framework employed in this study encompassed methods such as content the analysis, the genetic-historical method, and synthesis. The scientific novelty of the work also consisted in an attempt to overcome stereotypes and refute false statements with the help of objective historical sources. The results of the analysis revealed robust connections between the military developments in 13th and 14th century Rus and the principles of European chivalry. A meticulous examination of specific chronicle events illuminated conspicuous indications of chivalric practices embedded within the Rus’ian elite. Noteworthy among these manifestations was the deliberate adoption of mounted shock combat, a strategic approach mirroring European methods prevalent in the 13th century. It was imperative to underscore that Rus’ian princes and boyars demonstrated parity with their European counterparts in both military proficiency and the quality of their equipment. The Battle of Yaroslav in 1245 exemplified this parity, illustrating the effective resistance of the Rus’ian elite against the formidable Polish and Hungarian knights of that era. The mastery of mounted shock combat necessitated skill and training, suggesting that the Rus’ian military elite underwent analogous chivalric education. In conclusion, this study posited that during the Middle Ages, the military elite wielded substantial political influence in Rus, indicative of protracted and significant interactions with the European sphere. This challenges antiquated Soviet notions characterising the political system of Rus as "closed" and contradicts contemporary Russian narratives perpetuating myths surrounding the enduring dependence of Ukrainian lands on Moscow.