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Osprey Fortress #61
Medieval Russian Fortresses AD 862–1480
Using archaeological evidence and first-hand sources, Konstantin Nossov charts the history of the medieval Russian fortress from its early beginnings until the 14th century.
According to Russian legend, in AD 862, the Slav tribes of what is now European Russia invited a number of Scandinavian princes to rule over them. In AD 882, Prince Oleg united these kingdoms as the feudal state of Kievan Rus, by building a series of settlement and border fortifications, including the Zmievy Valy (Snake Ramparts), to protect against foreign invasion.
The rise of feudalism through the 11th century saw the development of individual fortified sites to the detriment of the extended border defenses. Consequently, Mongol hordes poured over the border, introducing the siege warfare techniques of the East, and heavily influencing the fortification styles thereafter.
The rise of Muscovy in the fourteenth century saw an enhanced role for Moscow and the Kremlin, which was rebuilt in stone reflecting its increased significance.
This book brings all these diverse strands together into a comprehensive volume on the fortifications of Russia from the early days of the Kievan Rus' until the foundation of the modern state in 1480.
According to Russian legend, in AD 862, the Slav tribes of what is now European Russia invited a number of Scandinavian princes to rule over them. In AD 882, Prince Oleg united these kingdoms as the feudal state of Kievan Rus, by building a series of settlement and border fortifications, including the Zmievy Valy (Snake Ramparts), to protect against foreign invasion.
The rise of feudalism through the 11th century saw the development of individual fortified sites to the detriment of the extended border defenses. Consequently, Mongol hordes poured over the border, introducing the siege warfare techniques of the East, and heavily influencing the fortification styles thereafter.
The rise of Muscovy in the fourteenth century saw an enhanced role for Moscow and the Kremlin, which was rebuilt in stone reflecting its increased significance.
This book brings all these diverse strands together into a comprehensive volume on the fortifications of Russia from the early days of the Kievan Rus' until the foundation of the modern state in 1480.
64 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 9, 2017
Lavishly illustrated, this thorough (if brief) study considers the wide variety of fortifications used by the Rus and Muscovites, relying on both archaeological and recorded evidence.
May 12, 2024
Let’s face it. As far as I know, at the present time, there is simply no other alternative way to get better information regarding Medieval Russian Fortresses. This is it. The books of Konstantin Nossov on this subject, although small, have so much extremely interesting information and analyses that simply eclipses every other attempt on the subject. There is another book regarding Russian fortresses from 1480 to 1682 by the same author.
This book focus on the Russian fortresses during the period of AD 862 – 1480, and those were interesting times indeed. From the rise of Kievan Rus, the omnipresent nomadic raids and the importance of the fortified settlements and border forts, the onslaught of the Mongol, conflict with Western powers and finally the ascent of the principality of Moscow. The author structured the book in a way that even someone without any knowledge of the complex power structure in medieval Russia can understand the basic geographic boundaries and particular challenges faced by the major principalities.
The layouts and construction methods of the fortifications are explained with clear text and pictures. The author is obviously aware of the target of this Osprey title, so pays particular attention to the differences between medieval Russian fortifications and their western counterparts, such as construction materials and techniques, tower positioning, asymmetrical design, the secret posterns (thin masonry that was supposed to break to allow a sally), the secret accesses to water sources, and other interesting particularities.
The effectiveness of the fortifications are also analyzed, along with the siege equipment used by the Russians and their foes. Some examples are detailed along with a more generic data study that clearly shows that the Russians weren’t inferior to their enemies in siege warfare.
The bibliography is slightly useless for a non-Russian speaker – almost all titles are in Russian. In fact this is the best English title I’ve read with information on Russian fortresses. A useful glossary is included; particularly interesting due to the fact that some expressions had different meanings throughout the years.
You'll find in this volume photos of impressive archeological remains of remarkable fortifications such as the Pskov Krom (including interior views of walls, Zakhab and loopholes), Porkhov fortress, Izborsk fortress, etc. and huge ramparts such as the ones found at Vladimir, Mstislav, Suzdal or Pereyaslavl, among many others. Detailed line drawings clarify aspects like fields of fire in towers, the construction of a rampart, the several different plans of Gorodishches or the methods of using the palisade Tyn over a rampart and its different forms.
Two color maps are provided; one with the locations of the fortified settlements mentioned in this work and another with the extension of the enormous fortified lines of the snake ramparts - Smievy Valy.
The color plates and illustrations by Peter Dennis are great, and include an amazing birds eye view of the following fortresses: Vladimir (12-13th Cent), Suzdal (13th cent), Ladoga (1114), Kamenets (late 13th cent), Mstislavl (early 13th cent), Citadel of Tustan fortress (14th cent), Porkhov (15th cent); other plates shows the construction of the Zmiev Val; the interior of a wooden log wall built in the Gorodni style; illustrations of defensive long narrow passage between walls (attackers would be under crossfire) - Zakhabs; a Tainik (secret stairs leading to underground source of water and a Tainichnaya bashnya (tower with a secret stairway leading to water sources); a dramatic battle scene of the siege of Vladimir by the Mongols (February 6, 1238); the Moskow Kremlin by 1339-1340 and several views of Kiev showing its gates in the 12-13th centuries.
This is an excellent title from a “c(k)onstantly” excellent author (pun intended).
This book focus on the Russian fortresses during the period of AD 862 – 1480, and those were interesting times indeed. From the rise of Kievan Rus, the omnipresent nomadic raids and the importance of the fortified settlements and border forts, the onslaught of the Mongol, conflict with Western powers and finally the ascent of the principality of Moscow. The author structured the book in a way that even someone without any knowledge of the complex power structure in medieval Russia can understand the basic geographic boundaries and particular challenges faced by the major principalities.
The layouts and construction methods of the fortifications are explained with clear text and pictures. The author is obviously aware of the target of this Osprey title, so pays particular attention to the differences between medieval Russian fortifications and their western counterparts, such as construction materials and techniques, tower positioning, asymmetrical design, the secret posterns (thin masonry that was supposed to break to allow a sally), the secret accesses to water sources, and other interesting particularities.
The effectiveness of the fortifications are also analyzed, along with the siege equipment used by the Russians and their foes. Some examples are detailed along with a more generic data study that clearly shows that the Russians weren’t inferior to their enemies in siege warfare.
The bibliography is slightly useless for a non-Russian speaker – almost all titles are in Russian. In fact this is the best English title I’ve read with information on Russian fortresses. A useful glossary is included; particularly interesting due to the fact that some expressions had different meanings throughout the years.
You'll find in this volume photos of impressive archeological remains of remarkable fortifications such as the Pskov Krom (including interior views of walls, Zakhab and loopholes), Porkhov fortress, Izborsk fortress, etc. and huge ramparts such as the ones found at Vladimir, Mstislav, Suzdal or Pereyaslavl, among many others. Detailed line drawings clarify aspects like fields of fire in towers, the construction of a rampart, the several different plans of Gorodishches or the methods of using the palisade Tyn over a rampart and its different forms.
Two color maps are provided; one with the locations of the fortified settlements mentioned in this work and another with the extension of the enormous fortified lines of the snake ramparts - Smievy Valy.
The color plates and illustrations by Peter Dennis are great, and include an amazing birds eye view of the following fortresses: Vladimir (12-13th Cent), Suzdal (13th cent), Ladoga (1114), Kamenets (late 13th cent), Mstislavl (early 13th cent), Citadel of Tustan fortress (14th cent), Porkhov (15th cent); other plates shows the construction of the Zmiev Val; the interior of a wooden log wall built in the Gorodni style; illustrations of defensive long narrow passage between walls (attackers would be under crossfire) - Zakhabs; a Tainik (secret stairs leading to underground source of water and a Tainichnaya bashnya (tower with a secret stairway leading to water sources); a dramatic battle scene of the siege of Vladimir by the Mongols (February 6, 1238); the Moskow Kremlin by 1339-1340 and several views of Kiev showing its gates in the 12-13th centuries.
This is an excellent title from a “c(k)onstantly” excellent author (pun intended).
June 19, 2014
Osprey's Fortress series is quite interesting, as it tackles all sorts of subjects I had not thought about (nor seen anything else on), as well as more familiar ground. For example, I'm used to seeing quite a bit about western European castles (which probably are siege engineering at its most interesting), and I know how much of that was borrowed from what was in already developed in the Near East, but, there's almost nothing outside of that.
This volume is a very good, and dense, introduction to the fortifications of the Medieval 'Rus, and shows off a number of features not seen in the more familiar west. Most fortifications were simply earthen ramparts with wooden walls on top (stone fortifications generally came much later than elsewhwere). The Kievan state built 'snake ramparts' that ran for over 500 miles to protect the southern borders. The common forms of all of these and these are explained in some detail, with common features and styles gone into.
In all, the book suffers most from having to be crammed into the standard Osprey page count, but still manages to give a pretty good look at most everything, and as usual, illustrations and photographs go a long way towards making everything clear.
This volume is a very good, and dense, introduction to the fortifications of the Medieval 'Rus, and shows off a number of features not seen in the more familiar west. Most fortifications were simply earthen ramparts with wooden walls on top (stone fortifications generally came much later than elsewhwere). The Kievan state built 'snake ramparts' that ran for over 500 miles to protect the southern borders. The common forms of all of these and these are explained in some detail, with common features and styles gone into.
In all, the book suffers most from having to be crammed into the standard Osprey page count, but still manages to give a pretty good look at most everything, and as usual, illustrations and photographs go a long way towards making everything clear.
November 12, 2011
A pretty dry offering for an Osprey book, but I suppose that's to be expected given the subject matter. Even so, the placement of text and pictures could have been improved - often the author will attempt to explain some fairly technical term several pages before a corresponding illustration clarifies it. Also, too much focus seems to have been placed upon the surviving state of these fortifications, rather than their actual building and use.
Get it for the illustrations, and file under "a picture is worth a thousand words."
Get it for the illustrations, and file under "a picture is worth a thousand words."
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews