The Monarchies of Continental Europe. The Empire of Russia; from the remotest periods to the present time

Front matter

THE EMPIRE OF RUSSIA. THE MONARCHIES O F CONTINENTAL EUROPE. THE EMPIRE OF RUSSIA; FROM THE EEMOTEST PERIODS TO THE PRESENT TIME BT JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. NEW YORK: Jl A. S O N BROTHERS, 5 & T MERCER STREET. 1 8 fi 0 . Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by MASON BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BT T. B. SMITH & SON, 82 & S4 BEEKMAN-ST. PRINTED B\ O. A. ALVOR D, 15 VANDEWATER-BT.

Preface

. The world is now too busy to read voluminous history. The interminable details of battles, and the petty intrigues of courtiers and mistresses, have lost their interest. In this volume it has been our object to trace perspicuously the path which Russia has trod from earliest infancy to the present hour. The career of this empire has been so wild and wonderful that the historian can have no occasion to call in the aid of fancy for the embellishment of his narrative. The author has not deemed it necessary to incumber his pages with notes to substantiate his statements. The renowned Russian historian, Karamsin, who wrote under the patronage of Alexander I., gives ample authentication to all the facts which are stated up to the reign of that emperor. His voluminous history, in classic beauty, is unsurpassed by any of the annals of Greece or Rome.

It has been admirably translated into French by Messrs. St. Thomas and Jauffret in eleven imperial quarto volumes. In the critical citations of this author, the reader, curious in such researches, will find every fact in the early history of Russia, here stated, confirmed. There are but few valuable works upon Russia in the English language. Nearly all, which can be relied upon as authorities, are written either in French or G-erman. The writer would refer those who seek a more minute acquaintance with this entire, now rising so rapidly in importance, first of all to Karamsin. The " Histoire Philosophique et Politique de Russie Depuis les Temps les Plus Recules Jusqu'au Nos Jours, par J. Esneaux," VI

PREFACE.

. Paris, five volumes, is a valuable work. The " Histoire de Russie par Pierre Charles Levesque," eight volumes, is discriminating and reliable. The various volumes of Wil liam Tooke upon Russian history in general, and upon the reign of Catharine, contain much information. It is only since the reign of Peter the Great that Russia has begun to attract much attention among the enlightened nations of Europe. Voltaire's life of this most renowned of the Russian sovereigns, at its first publica tion, attracted much notice. Since then, many books have been written upon fragments of Russian history and individual reigns. From most of these the author has selected such events as have appeared to him most in structive and best adapted to give the reader a clear conception of the present condition and future prospects of this gigantic empire.

The path she has trod, since her first emergence into civilization from the chaos of barbarism, can be very distinctly traced, and one can easily count the concentric accretions of her growth. This narrative reveals the mistakes which have overwhelmed her with woe, and the wisdom which has, at times, secured for Russia peace and prosperity. Iu writing these histories of the monarchies of Conti nental Europe, the author has no wish to conceal his abhorrence of aristocratic usurpation. Believing in the universal brotherhood of man, his sympathies are most cordially with the oppressed masses. If the people are weak and debased, the claim is only the more urgent upon the powerful and the wise to act the part of elder broth ers, holding out the helping hand to those who have fallen. The author feels grateful for the reception whieh the first number of this series, the Empire of Austria, has received from the American public.

He hopes that this volume will not prove less interesting or instructive. In the course of a few months it will be followed by the History of Italy. 11 FE CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Parentage And Birth Of Russia

From 500 b. c. to a. d. 910. PAGE Primeval Russia. — Explorations of TnE Greeks.— Scythian Invasion. — Character of the Scythians. — Sarmatia.— Assaults upon the Roman Empire. — Irruption of the Alains. — Conquests of Trajan.— The Gothio Invasion. — Toe Huns — Their Character and Aspect. — The Devastations of Attila.— The Avars — Results of Comminglings of thesf. Tribes. — Normans. — Birth of the Russian Empire — The Three Sovereigns Ruric, Sineous and Truvor. — Adventures of Ascolod and Dir. — Introduction of Christianity. — Usur pation of Oleg. — His Conquests. — Expedition against Constantinople IT

Chapter II

. GROWTH AND CONSOLIDATION OF RUSSIA. Fbo.m 910 TO 973. Expedition to Constantinople. — Treaty with the Emperor. — Last Days of Oleg. — His Death. — Igor assumes the Scepter. — His Expedition to the Don. — Descent upon Constantinople. — His Defeat.— Second Expedition. — Pusillanimity of the Greeks. — Death of Igor. — Regency of Olga. — Her Character. — Succession of Sviatoslaf. — His Impiety and Ambition. — Conquest of Bulgaria. — Division of the EmpIre. — Defeat, Ruin and Death of Sviatoslaf.— Civil War.— Death of Oleg. — Flight of Vladimir.— Supremacy of Yaropolk

Chapter III. Reigns Of Vladimir, Yaroslaf, Ysiaslaf And Vsevolod

From 973 to 1092. Flight of Vladimir. — His Stolen Bride.— The March upon Kief.— Debauchery of Vladimir. — Zealcus Paganism. — Introduction of Christianity.— Baptism in the Dnieper.— Entire Change in the Character of Vladimir.— His Great Reforms.— His Death. — Usurpation of Sviatopolk the Miserable.— Accession of Yaroslaf.— JIis Administration and Death.— Accession of Ysiaslaf.— His Strange- Reverses— His Death.— Vsevolod Ascends the Throne. -His Two Flights to Poland.— Appeals to the Pope.— Wars, Famine and Pestilence. — Character of Vsevolod CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Years Op Wae And Woe

Feom 1092 to 1167. PAGE Character of Vsevolod.— Succession of Sviatopolk. — His Discomfiture.— Deplorable Condition of Russia.— Death of Sviatopolk.— His Character. — Accession of Monomaque.— Curious Festival at Kief.— Energy of Monomaque.— Alarm of the Emperor at Constantinople.— Horrors of Wap..— Death of Monomaque.— Hts Remarkable Character.— Pious Letter to his Children.— Accession of Mstislaf.— His Short but Stormy Eeig.n.— Stbuggles foe the Throne.— Final Victory of Ysiaslaf.— Moscow in the Province of Souzdal. — Death of Ysiaslaf.— Wonderful Career of Rostislaf. — Rising Power of Moscow.— Georgievitch, Prince of Moscow 6S

Chapter V. Mstislaf And Andre

From 1167 to 1212. Centralization of Power at Kief. — Death of Rostislaf. — His Religious Character.— Mstislaf Ybiaslavitch Ascends the Throne. — Proclamation of the King. — Its Effect. — Plans of Andre. — Scenes at Kief. — Return and Death of Mstislaf. — War in Novgorod. — Peace Concluded Throughout Russia. — Insult of Andre and its Consequences. — Greatness of Soul Displayed by Andre. — Assassination of Andre. — Rene5val of Anarchy. — Emigration from Novgorod. — Reign of Michel. — Vsevolod III. — Evangelization of Bulgaria. — Death of Vse5"OLOD III. — His Queen Maria 85

Chapter VI. The Grand Princes Of Vladimir, And The Invasion Of

G1IENGIIIS KAHN. Fkom 1212 TO 1238. Accession of Georges. — Famine. — Battle of Lipetsk. — Defeat of Georges. — His Surrender. — Constantin Seizes the Soepter. — Exploits of Mstislaf. — Imbecility "i" Constantin. — Death of Constantin. — Georges III. — Invasion of Bulgaria. — Progress of the Monarchy. — Right of Succession. — Commerce of the Dnieper. — Ghenghih Kuan. — His Rise and Conquests. — Invasion of Southern Russia. — Death <>f Ghknghis Khan. — Succession of iiis >-.»,- Ougadai. — March of Bati. — Entrance into Russia. — Utter Defeat of the Russians. 104 CHAPTER Y I I . THE SWAY OF THE TARTAR PRINCES. From 1233 to 1304. Retreat of Georges II. — Desolating March of the Tartars. — Capture of Vladlmir.— Fall of Moscow.— Utter Defeat of Georges.— Conflict of Torjek. — March of the Tartars toward the South.— Subjugation of the Polov- CONTENTS.

IX PAGE tsi. — Capture of Kief. — Humiliation of Yaroslaf. — Overthrow of the Russian Kingdom. — Haughtiness of the Tartars.— Reign of Alexander. — Succession of Yaroslaf. — The Reign of Vassult. — State of Christianity. — Infamy of Andre. — Struggles with Dmitri. — Independence of the Principalities. — Death of Andre 121

Chapter VIII. Resurrection Of The Russian Monarchy

From 1304 to 1380. Defeat of Georges and the Tartars. — Indignation of the Khan. — Michel Summoned to the Horde. — His Trial and Execution. — Assassination of Georges. — Execution of Dmitri. — Repulse and Death of the Embassador of the Khan. — Vengeance of the Khan. — Increasing Prosperity of Russia. — The Great Plague.— Supremacy of Simon. — Anarchy in the Horde. — Plague and Conflagration.— The Tartars Repulsed. — Reconquest of Bulgaria. — The Great Battle of Kgulikof. — Utter Rout of the Tartars 136

Chapter IX. Dmitri, Vassali, And The Mogol Tamerlane

From 1380 to 1462. Recovery of Dmitri. — New Tartar Invasion. — The Assault and Capture of Moscow. — New Subjugation of the Russians.— Lithuania Embraces Christianity. — Escape of Vassali from the Horde. — Death of Dmitri. — Tamerlane — His Origin and Career. — His Invasion of India. — Defeat of Bajazet. — Tamerlane Invades Russia.— Preparations for Resistance.— Sudden Retreat of TnE Tartars. — Death of Vassali. — Accession of Vassali Vassilievitch. — The Disputed Succession. — Appeal to the Kuan. — Rebellion of Youri. — Cruelty of Vassall — The Retribution 152

Chapter X. The Illustrious Ivan III

From 1462 to 14S0. Ivan III.— Hts Precocity and Rising Power. — The Three Great Hordes. — Russian Expedition against Kezan. — Defeat of the Tartars. — Capture of Constantinople by the Turks — The Princess Sophia. — Her Journey to Russia, and Marrtage with Ivan III.— Increasing Renown of Russia. — New Difficulty with the Horde. — The Tartars Invade Russia.— Strife on the Banks of the Oka.— Letter of the Metropolitan Bishop. — Unprecedented Panic — Liberation of Russia 168 1* CONTENTS. X

Chapter XI. The Reign Of Vassili

Feom 1430 TO 1533. PAGE Alliance with Hungary.— A Traveler from Germany— Treaty Between Russia and Germany.— Embassage to Turkey.— Court Etiquette.— Death of the Princess Sophia.— Death of Ivan.— Advancement of Knowledge— Succession of Vassili. — Attack Upon the Horde. — Rout of the Russians.— The Grand Prince Takes the Title of Emperor.— Turkish Envoy to Moscow- Efforts to Arm Europe Against the Turks.— Death of the Emperor Maximilian, and Accession of Charles V. to the Empire of Germany.— Death of Vassili "S

Chapter XII. Ivan IV

— HIS MINORITY. From 1533 to 1546. Vassili at the Chase. — Attention to Distinguished Foreigners. — The Autocraoy. — Splendor of the Edifices. — Slavery. — Aeistocract. — Infancy of Ivan IV. — Regency of Helene.— Conspiracies and Tumults. — AVar with Sigismond of Poland. — Death of Helene. — Struggles of the Nobles. — Appalling Sufferings of Dmitri. — Incursion of the Tartars. — Successful Conspiracy. — Ivan IV. at the Chase. — Coronation of Ivan IV — 199

Chapter XIII. The Reign Of Ivan IV

From 1546 to 1552. The Title of Tzar. — Marriage of Ivan IV. — Virtues of nis Bride. — Depraved Character of the Young Emperor. — Terrible Conflagrations. — Insurrections. — The Rebuke. — WoNnr.p.FrL Change in the Character of Ivan IV. — Confessions of Sin and Measures of Reform. — Sylvestre and Alexis Adachef. — The Code of La"ws. — Reforms in the Church. — Encouragement to Men of Science and Letters. — The Embassage of Schlit. — TV ar with Kezan. — Disasters and Disgrace. — Immense Preparation for TnE Chastisement of TnE Horde. — TnE March. — Repulse of the Tauredians.— Siege of Kezan. — Incidents of the Siege 216

Chapter XIV. The Reign Of Ivan IV

.— C ONTINUED. From 1552 to 1557. Sifce of Kezan. — Artifices of War. — The Explosion of Mines. — The Final Assault. — Complete Subjugation of Kezan. — Gratitude and Liberality of the Tzar. — Return to Moscow. — Joy ofthe Inhabitants. — Birth ..f an Heir to the Crown. — Insurrection in Kezan. — The Insurrection Quelled. — Con- CONTENTS. XI PAGE quest of Astruchan. — The English Expedition in Search of a North-East Passage to India. — The Establishment at Archangel. — Commercial Rela tions Between France and Russia. — Russian Embassy' to England. — Extension of Commerce 233

Chapter XV. The Abdication Of Ivan IV

From 1557 to 1532. Terror of the Horde in Tauride. — "War with Gustavus Vasa of Sweden. — Political Punctilios. — The Kingdom of Livonia Annexed to Sweden. — Death of Anastasia.— Conspiracy Against Ivan. — His Abdication.— His Resumption of Tnn Crown. — Invasion of Russia by the Tartars and Turks. — Heroism of Zebrinow. — Utter Discomfiture of TnE Tartars. — Relations Between Queen Elizabeth of England, and Russia. — Intrepid Embassage. — New "War with Poland. — Disasters of Russia. — The Emperor Kills His Own Son. — Anguish of Ivan IV 251

Chapter XVI. The Storms Of Hereditary Succession

From 1582 to 160S. ANGUisn and Death of Ivan IV. — His Character. — Feodor and Dmitri. — Usurpation of Boris Gudenow. — The Pouisn Election. — Conquest of Sirerta. — Assassination of Dmitri. — Death of Feodor.— Boris Crowned King. — Conspiracies. — Reappearance of Dmitri. — Boris Poisoned. — The Pretender Crowned. — Embarrassments of Dmitri. — A New Pretender. — Assassination of Dmitri. — Crowning of Zuski.— Indignation of Poland. — Historical Romance 263

Chapter XVII

A CHANGE OF DYNASTY. From 1603 to 16S0. Conquests by Poland. — Sweden in Alliance wiTn Russia. — Grandeur of Poland.— Ladislaus Elected King of Russia.— Commotions and Insurrections. — Rejection of Ladislaus and Election of Michael Feodor Romanow. Sorrow of His Mother.— Pacific Character of Romanow.— Choice of a Bride.— Eudociita Streschnf.w.— The Archbishop Feodor. —Death of Michael and Accession of Alexis. — Love in the Palace. — Successful Intrigue. — Mobs in Moscow. — Change in the Character of the Tzar. — Turkish Invasions. — Alliance Between Russia and Poland ., CONTENTS.

Chapter XVIII. The Regency Of Sophia

From 1680 to 1697. PAGB Administration op Feodor.— Death of Feodor. — Incapacity of Ivan. — Succession of Peter. — Usurpation of Sophia.— Insurrection of the Strelitzes. — Massaore in Moscow. — Success of the Insurrection.— Ivan and Peter Declared Sovereigns under the Regency of Sophia.— General Discontent. — Conspiracy against Sophia. — Her Flight to the Convent.— The Conspiracy Quelled.— New Conspiracy. — Energy of Peter.— He Assumes the Crown. — Sophia Banished to a Convent. — Commencement of the Reign of Peter.. 301

Chapter XIX. Peter The Great

From 1697 to 1702. Young Russians Sent to Foreign Countries. — The Tzar Decides Upon a Tour of Observation. — His Plan of Travel. — Anecdote — Peter's Mode of Life in Holland. — Characteristic Anecdotes. — The Presentation of the Embassador. — The Tzar Visits England.— Life at Deptford. — Illustrious Foreigners Engaged in His Service. — Peter Visits Vienna. — TnE Game of Landlord. — Insurrection in Moscow. — Return of the Tzar, and Measures of Severity. — War with Sweden. — Disastrous Defeat of Narva. — Efforts to Secure the Shores of the Baltic. — Designs Upon the Black Sea. 318

Chapter XX. Conquests And Achievements Of Peter The Great

From 1702 to 1718. Peter takes Lake Lagoda and the Neva. — Foundation of St. Petersburg. — Conquest of Livonia. — Marienburg taken by Storm. — The Empress Catharine. — Extraordinary- Efforts in Building St. Petersburg. — Threat of Charles XII. — Deposition of Augustus. — Enthronement of Stanislaus. — Battle of Pultowa. — Flight of Charles XII. to Turkey. — Increased Renown of Russia. — Disastrous Conflict with the Turks. — Marriage of Alexis. — His Character. — Death of nis Wife. — The Empress Acknowledged. — Conquest of Finland. — Tour of the Tzar to Southern Europe 332

Chapter XXI. The Trial And Condemnation Of Alexis, And Death Of The

TZAR. From 1713 to 1725. The Tzar's Second Visit to Holland. — Reception in France. — Description of Catharine. — Domestic Grief.— Conduct of Alexis. — Letters From His Father. — Flight to Germany. — Thence to Naples. — Envoys Sent to Rrino Him CONTENTS. XIII PAGE Back. — Alexis Excluded From the Succession. — His Trial for Treason, — Condemnation and Unexpected Death. — New Efforts of the Tzar for the Welfare of Russia.— Sickness of Peter. — His Death. — Succession of the Empress Catharine.— Epitaph to the Emperor 349

Chapter XXII The Reigns Of Catharine

I., ANNE, THE INFANT IVAN ANL* ELIZABETH. From 1725 to 1762. Energetic Reign of Catharine. — Her Sudden Death. — Brief Reign of Peter II. — Difficulties of Hereditary Succession. — A Republic Contemplated. — Anne, Daughter of Ivan. — The Infant Ivan Proclaimed King. — His Terrible Doom. — Elizabeth, Daughter of Peter the Great, Enthroned. — Character of Elizabeth. — Alliance with Maria Theresa. — Wars with Prussia. — Great Reverses of Frederic of Prussia. — Desperate Condition of Frederic. — Death of Elizabeth. — Succession of Peter III 364

Chapter XXIII. Peter III

AND HIS BRIDE From 1728 to 1762. Lineage of Peter III. — Chosen by Elizabeth as Her Successor.— The Brtdf. Chosen for Peter. — Her Lineage.— The Courtship.— The Marriage.— Autobiography of Catharine.— Anecdotes of Peter.— His Neglect of Catharine and His Debaucheries, — Amusements of the Russian Court.— Military Execution of a Rat. — Accession of Peter III. to the Throne.— Supeemai y of Catharine.— Her Repudiation Threatened.— The Conspiracy.— Its Successful Accomplishment 579

Chapter XXIV. The Conspiracy

; AND ACCESSION OF CATHARINE IT. From 1762 to 17C5. Peter III. at Oranienbaum.— Catharine at Peterhof.— TnE Successful Accomplishment of the Conspiracy.— Terror of Petee.— His Vacillating and Feeble Character.— Flight to Cronstadt.— Repulse.— Heroic Counsel of Munich— Peter's Return to Oranienbaum.— His Suppliant Letters to Cathakine.-His Arrest.— Imprisonment.— Assassination.— Proclamation of the Empress.— Her Complicity in the Crime.— Energy of Catharine's Administration.— Her Expansive Views and Sagacious Policy.— Contemplated Marriage -with Count Orlof ■"*** CONTENTS

Chapter XXV. Reign Of Catharine II

From 1765 to 1774. PAGE Energy of Catharine's Administration. — Titles of Honor Decreed to Her. — Code of Laws Instituted.— The Assassination of the Empress Attempted. —Encouragement of Learned Men. — Catharine Inoculated for the Small- Pox. — New War with Turkey.— Capture of TnE Crimea.— Sailing of the Russian Fleet.— Great Naval Victory.— Visit of the Prussian Prince Henry-. — The Sleigh Ride. — Plans for the Partition of Poland. — The Hermitage.— Marriage of the Grand Duke Paul.— Correspondence with Voltaire and Diderot 409 CHAP TER XX VI . REIGN OF CATHARINE II. From 1774 to 1781. Peace wnn Turkey. — Court of Catharine II. — Her Personal Appearance and Habits. — Conspiracy and Rebellion. — Defeat of the Rebels.— Magnanimity of Catharine II. — Ambition of the Empress. — Court Favorite. — Division of Russia into Provinces.— Internal Improvements. — New Partition of Poland. — Death of the Wife of Paul. — Second Marriage of the Grand Duke. — Splendor of the Russian Court. — Russia and Austria Secretly Combine to Drive the Turks out of Europe. — The Emperor Joseph II 425

Chapter XXVII. Termination Of Tiie Reign Of Catharine II

From 1751 to 1736. Statue of Peter the Great. — Alliance Between Austria and Russia. — Independence of the Crimea — Tin: Kuan of the Crimea. — Vast Preparations for "War. — National Jealousies. — Tolerant Spirit of Catharine. — Magnificent Excursion to the Crimea. — Commencement of Hostilities — Anecdote of Paul. — Peace.— New Partition of Poland.— Treaty with Austria and France.— Hostility to Liberty in France. — Death of Catharine. — Her Character 439

Chapter XXVIII. The Reign Of Paul I

From 1796 to 1801. Accession of Paul I. to TnE Throne.— Influence of the Hereditary Transmission of Power.— Extravagance of Paul. — His Despotism.— TnE Horse Court Martialed. — Progress of the French Revolution. — Fears and Violence of Paul. — Hostility to Foreigners.— Russia Joiss the Coalition CONTENTS. XV page AGAINST FBANCE. — MARCH OF SUWARROW. — CHARACTER OF SUWARROW. — BAT TLE on tiie Adda. — Battle of Novi. — Suwarrow Marches to the Rhine. — His Defeat and Death.— Paul Abandons the Coalition and Joins France. — Conspiracies at St. Petersburg 454

Chapter XXIX Assassination Of Paul And Accession Of Alexander

From 1S01 to 1S07. Assassination of Paul I. — Implication of Alexander in the Conspiracy. — Anecdotes. — Accession of Alexander. — The French Revolution. — Alexander Joins the Allies against France. — State of Russia. — Useful Measures of Alexander. — Peace of Amiens. — Renewal of Hostilities. — Battle of Austerlitz. — Magnanimity of Napoleon. — New Coalition, — Ambition of Alexander. — Battles of Jena and Eylau.— Defeat of the Russians 469

Chapter XXX. Reign Of Alexander

I. From 1807 to 1825. The Field of Eylau. — Letter to the King of Prussia. — Renewal of TnE "War. — Discomfiture of the Allies. — Battle of Friedland. — TnE Raft at Tilsit. — Intimacy of the Emperors. — Alexander's Designs upon Turkey'. — Alliance Between France and Russia. — Object of the Continental System. — Perplexities of Alexander. — Driven by* the Nobles to War. — Results of the Russian Campaign. — Napoleon Vanquished. — Last Days of Alexander. —His Sickness and Death 4S5

Chapter XXXI. Nicholas

From 1825 to 1S55. Abdication of Constantine. — Accession of Nicholas. — Insurrection Quelled. — nicholas and the conspirator. — anecdote. — tlie palace of peterhof. — The "Winter Palate. — Presentation at Court. — Magnitude of Russia. — Description of the Hellespont and the Dardanelles. — The Turkish Invasion. — Aims of Russia — Views of England and France.— Wars of Nicholas. — Tin: Polish Insurrection. — War ofthe Crimea. — Jealousies of the Leading Nations. — Encroachments. — Death of Nicholas. — Accession of Alexander II :

Chapter I. Parentage And Birth Op Russia

From 500 b. c. to a. d. 910. Primeval Russia. — Explorations of the Greeks. — Scythian Invasion. — Character of the Scythians. — Sarmatia. — Assaults upon the Roman Empire.— Irruption of the Alains. — Conquests of Trajan.— The Gothic Invasion.— The Huns. — Their Character and Aspect. — The De5*-astations of Attila. — The Avars. — Results of comminglings of these tribes. — normans. — blp.tit of tiie russian empire.— The Three Sovereigns Rurik, Sineous and Truvor.— Adventures of Ascolod and Die. — Introduction of Christianity. — Usurpation of Oleg. — His Conquests. — Expedition against Constantinople. THOSE vast realms of northern Europe, now called Russia, have been inhabited for a period beyond the records of history, by wandering tribes of savages. These barbaric hordes have left no monuments of their existence.

The an nals of Greece and of Rome simply inform us that they weie there. Generations came and departed, passing through life's tragic drama, and no one has told their story. About five hundred years before the birth of our Saviour, the Greeks, sailing up the Bosphorus and braving the storms of the Black Sea, began to plant their colonies along its shores. Instructed by these colonists, Herodotus, who wrote about four hundred and forty years before Christ, gives some information respecting the then condition of interior Russia. The first great irruption into the wastes of Russia, of which history gives us any record, was about one hundred years before our Saviour. An immense multitude of conglomerated tribes, taking the general name of Scythians, with their wives and their children, their flocks and their herds, and their war riors, fiercer than wolves, crossed the Volga, and took posses- THE EMPIUK OF EUSSIA. sion of the whole country between the Don and the Danube.

These barbarians did not molest the Greek colonies, but, on the contrary, were glad to learn of them many of the rudi ments of civilization. Some of these tribes retained their an cestral habits of wandering herdsmen, and, with their flocks, traversed the vast and treeless plains, where they found ample pasture. Others selecting sunny and fertile valleys, scattered their seed and cultivated the soil. Thus the Scythians were divided into two quite distinct classes, the herdsmen and the laborers. The tribes who then peopled the vast wilds of northern Europe and Asia, though almost innumerable, and of different languages and customs, were all called, by the Greeks, Scy thians, as we have given the general name of Indians to all the tribes who formerly ranged the forests of North America. The Scythians were as ferocious a race as earth has ever known.

They drank the blood of their enemies; tanned their skins for garments ; used their skulls for drinking cups ; and worshiped a sword as the image or emblem of their favorite deity, the God of War. Philip of Macedon was the first who put any check upon their proud spirit. He conquered them in a decisive battle, and thus taught them that they were not invincible. Alexander the Great assailed them and spread the terror of his arms throughout all the region between the Dnnube and the Dnieper. Subsequently the Roman legions advanced to the Euxine, and planted their eagles upon the heights of the Caucasus. The Roman historians seem to have dropped the Scythian name, and they called the whole northern expanse of Europe and Asia, Sarmatia, and the barbarous inhabitants Sarmatians. About the time of our Saviour, some of these fierce tribes from the banks of the Theiss and the Danube, commenced their assaults upon the frontiers of the Roman empire.

This was the signal for that war of centuries, which terminated in the overthrow of the throne of the Cæsars. The- Roman PAEENTAGE and bieth op eussia. Senate, enervated by luxury, condescended to purchase peace of these barbarians, and nations of savages, whose names are now forgotten, exacted tribute, under guise of payment for alliance, from the proud empire. But neither bribes, nor alliances, nor the sword in the hands of enervated Rome, could effectually check the incursions of these bands, who were ever emerging, like wolves, from the mysterious depths of the North. In the haze of those distant times and remote realms, we catch dim glimpses of locust legions, emerging from the plains and the ravines between the Black Sea and the Caspian, and sweeping like a storm cloud over nearly all of what is now called Russia.

These people, to whom the name of Alains was given, had no fixed habitations ; they conveyed their women and children in rude carts. Their devastations were alike extended over Europe and Asia, and in the fero city of their assaults they were as insensible to death as wild beasts could be. In the second century, the emperor Trajan conquered and took possession of the province of Dacia, which included all of lower Hungary, Transylvania, Moldavia, Wallachia and Bessarabia. The country was divided into Roman provinces, over each of which a prefect was established. In the third century, the Goths, from the shores of the Baltic, came rushing over the wide arena, with the howling of wolves and their gnashing of teeth. They trampled down all opposition, with their war knives drove out the Romans, crossed the Black Sea in their rude vessels, and spread conflagration and deatli throughout the most flourishing cities and villages of Bythinia, Gallacia and Cappadocia.

The famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, these barbarians committed to the flames. They overran all Greece and took Athens by storm. As they were about to destroy the precious libraries of Athens, one ot their chieftains said, " Let us leave to the Greeks their books, that they, in reading them may forget the arts of war ; and that we thus may more easily be able to hold them in subjection." These Goths established an empire, extending from thc Black Sea to the Baltic, and which embraced nearly all of what is now European Russia. Towards the close of the fourth century, another of these appalling waves of barbaric inundation rolled over northern Europe. The Huns, emerging from the northern frontiers of China, traversed the immense intervening deserts, and swept over European Russia, spreading everywhere flames and desolation.

The historians of that day seem to find no language sufficiently forcible to describe the hideousness and the ferocity of these savages. They pressed down on the Roman empire as merciless as wolves, and the Cæsars turned pale at the recital of their deeds of blood. It is indeed a revolting picture wliich contemporaneous history gives us of these barbarians. In their faces was con centrated the ugliness of the hyena and the baboon. They tattooed their cheeks, to prevent the growth of their beards. They were short, thick-set, and with back bones curved almost into a semicircle. Herbs, roots and raw meat they devoured, tearing their food with their teeth or hewing it with their swords. To warm and soften their meat, they placed it under their saddles when riding. Nearly all their lives they passed on horseback.

Wandering incessantly over the vast plains, they had no fixed habitations, but warmly elad in the untanned skins of beasts, like the beasts they slept wherever the night found them. They hayl no religion nor laws, no conception of ideas of honor ; their language wasa wretched jargon, and in their nature there seemed to be no moral sense to which compassion or mercy could plead. Such were the Huns as described by the ancient histori ans. The Goths struggled against them in vain. They were crushed and subjugated. The king of the Goths, Hermanric, in chagrin and despair, committed suicide, that he might es- PARENTAGE AND BIRTn OF RUSSIA. cape slavery. Thousands of the Goths, in their terror, crowded down into the Roman province of Thrace, now the Turkish province of Romania. The empire, then in its deca dence, could not drive them back, and they obtained a per manent foothold there.

The Huns thus attained the suprem acy throughout all of northern Europe. There were then very many tribes of diverse names peopling these vast realms, and incessant wars were waged between them. The domination whieh the Huns attained was precarious, and not distinctly defined. The terrible Attila ere long appears as the king of theso Huns, about the middle of the fifth century. This wonderful barbarian extended his sway from the Volga to the Rhine, and from the Bosphorus to the shores of the Baltic. Where ever he appeared, blood flowed in torrents. He swept the valley of the Danube with flame and sword, destroying cities, fortresses and villages, and converting the whole region into a desert. At the head of an army of seven hundred thousand men, he plunged all Europe into dismay. Both the Eastern and Western empire were compelled to pay him tribute.