DBWI: Mongols Conquer Kievan Rus?

[AltoRegnant]

Otl, the kievan rus were in the path of the mongol khans, but were able to largely survive the onslaught of the Khanates. But what if the Rus had fallen, exposing eastern europe to the hordes?

 

[HIM Dogson]

I'd be quite interested to see the effect on Russia. OTL the Russian Tsardom is one of the most powerful countries on earth, but if you look at the devastation suffered by, say, India at the hands of the Mongols, a Mongol invasion would have derailed that terribly.

 

[alexmilman]

Otl, the kievan rus were in the path of the mongol khans, but were able to largely survive the onslaught of the Khanates. But what if the Rus had fallen, exposing eastern europe to the hordes?

Then the Mongols would the Central Europe. Of course, you are talking not about the Kievan Rus, which ceased to exist many decades prior to the invasion but about Vladimir Rus (North-Eastern Russia) and Great Princedom of Galitz-Volynia (South-West).

In OTL the invasion was repelled mostly due to the lack of a competent leadership: Subotai died soon after the Mongols crossed Volga and campaign fall apart because the invading force had been left with a bunch of the quarreling young princes most of whom did not have any respect to Batu, who was a formal leader). So, if Subotai is still alive we can assume that he would conquer the North-Eastern Rus in a winter campaign (to avoid problems with the countless rivers, lakes and swamps) and then proceed through Galitz. Probably, to avoid congestion and resulting problems with supply, 5he Mongols would advance on a wide front from Poland to the Black Sea with the main force going to Hungary. If the Mongols decide to establish an operation base on the Hungarian Plain with the secondary bases in Podolia and on the lower Danube, then from these areas they would be able to raid the HRE, Bulgaria and Byzantine Empire. Not sure about the real submission but extracting tribute would be quite realistic. With the HRE situation could be tricky because there was a confrontation between the Emperor (Frederic II) and the Papacy and it’s allies. If Frederic manages to make an alliance with the Mongols, there could be a two-prong attack on the Italian states supporting the Papacy: Frederic attacking from the Naples and the Mongols from the North. Unlike the OTL, confrontation would end with the imperial power prevailing and the papal power greatly reduced.

Now, effect on the Russian states would be relatively limited. Of course, there would be initial looting and destruction but then they would be handled along the same lines as the Mongolian vassal states of Georgia and Armenia Minor: tribute, confirmation of the rulers by the Great Khan and supplying the contingents for Mongolian campaigns (and getting a share of the spoils).

 

[AltoRegnant]

I'd be quite interested to see the effect on Russia. OTL the Russian Tsardom is one of the most powerful countries on earth, but if you look at the devastation suffered by, say, India at the hands of the Mongols, a Mongol invasion would have derailed that terribly.

True, I doubt this Mother Russia would conquer and russify finland and most of sweden, much less expand into Korea on the other side of the old world