The history of the empire of Russia: containing an account of all the most interesting events in that vast monarchy, from its earliest origin in the remote ages of barbarism to the present day ...

Front matter

-ill:

1 » / 4

THE HISTORY

Chapter I. Parentage And Bieth Of Eussia

PAGB

Primeval Russia. — Explorations of the Greeks. — Sotthian Invasion. — Character OF the Scythians. — ^SAEiiATiA. — Assaults upon the Eoman Empire. — Irruption of the Alains. — Conquests of Trajan. — The Gothic Invasion. — The Huns. — Their Character and Aspect. — The Devastations of Attila. — The Avars. — Results of Comminglings of these Tribes. — Normans. — Birth op the Russian Empire — The Three Sovereigns Ruric, Sineous and Truvor. —Adventures of Ascolod and Dir. — Introduction of Christianity. — Usurpation OF Oleg. — His Conquests. — Expedition against Constantinople 17

Chapter II. Growth And Consolidation Of Russia

Expedition to Constantinople. — Treaty with the EypEROR. — Last Days op 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. — Dsath op Oleg. — Flight op Yladimie. — Sxtpremacy of Yaropolk 8i

Chapter III. Reigns Of Yladimir, Taroslaf, Ysiaslaf And Ysevolod

Flight op Vladimir. — His Stolen Bride. — The March upon Kief. — Debauchery OF Vladimir. — Zealous 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. — His 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 S"

VUl - CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Yeaes Op Wae And Woe

PAGS

CnARACTEE OF YSEVOLOD. — StTCCERSION OF SviATOPOLK. — HiS DiSOOMFITUEE. — DE- PLORABLE Condition of Russia. — Death of Sviatopolk. — His Chakactee. — Accession of Monomaque. — Curious Festival at Kief. — Energy of Mono- MAQUE. — Alarm of the Emperoe at Constantinople.— Horrors of War. — Death of Monomaque. — His Eemarkable Character. — Pious Letter to his Children. — Accession of Mstislaf. — His Short but Stormy Eeign. — Struggles FOR THE Throne. — Final Victory of Ysiaslaf. — Moscow in the Province of Souzdal. — Death of Ysiaslaf. — Wonderful Career of Eostislaf. — EisiNQ PowEK of Moscow. — Georgievitch, Prince of Moscow 68

CHAP T EH V.

MSTISLAF AND ANDEE.

Centralization of Power at Kief. — ^Death of Eostislaf. — His Eeligious Chakactee. — Mstislaf Ysiaslavitch Ascends the Throne. — Proclamation of the King. — Its Effect. — Plans of Andre. — Scenes at Kief. — Eeturn and Death of Mstislaf. — War in Novgorod. — Peace Concluded Throughout Eussia. — Insult op Andre and its Consequences. — Greatness of Soul Displayed ey Andre, — Assassination of Andre. — Eenewal of Anarchy. — Emigration from Novgorod. — Eeign of Michel. — Ysevolod III. — Evangelization of Bulgaria. — ^Death of Ysevolod III. — His Queen Maria 85

CHAPTER YI.

THE GEAND PEINCES OF YLADIMIE, AND THE INVASION OP

GHENGHIS KAHN.

Accession of Georges. — Famine. — Battle of Lipetsk. — Defeat of Georges

His Surrender. — Constantin Seizes the Scepter. — Exploits of Mstislaf. — Imbecility of Constantin. — Death of Constantin. — Georges III. — Invasion of Bulgaria. — Progress of the Monarchy. — Eight of Succession. — Commerce of the Dnieper. — Ghenghis Khan. — His Eise and Conquests. — Invasion of Southern Eussia. — Death of Ghenghis Khan. — Succession of his Son Ougadal — March of Batl — Entrance into Eussia. — Utter Defeat of the Eussians. 04

CHAPTER YII.

THE SWAY OF THE TAETAE PEINCES.

Eetreat op Georges II. — Desolating March op the Tartars. — Captxtee of Yla- DEMiR. — Fall op Moscow. — Utter Defeat op Georges. — Conflict of Torjek. — March of the Taetae^ toward the South.— Subjugation of the Polov-

CONTENTS. IX

PAGB

TSi. — Captttre of Kief. — Httmtltation of Yaboslaf. — Overtheow op the Efssian Kingdom. — IIadgutiness of the Tartars.— Keign of Alexander. — Succession of Taroslaf. — The Eeign of Yassult. — State of Christianity. — Infamy of Andre. — Struggles with Dmitrl — Independence of the Pbincifalities. — Death of Andre 12]

CHAPTEE'YIII.

Defeat op Georges and the Tartars. — Indignation of the Khan. — Michel Summoned to the Horde. — His Trial and Execution. — Assassination op Georges. — Execution op Dmitri. — Eepulse and Death op the Embassadob OF the Khan. — Yengeance of the Khan. — Increasing Prosperity of Eussia. — The Great Plague. — Supremacy of Simon. — Anarchy in the Horde. — Plague and Conflagration.— The Tartars Eepulsed. — Eeconquest of Bulgaria. — The Great Battle op Koulikof. — Utter Eout of the Tartars 134

CHAPTER IX. dmitei, yassali, and the MOGOL TAMEELANE

Recovery op Dmitrl — ^Ne-w Tartar Invasion. — ^Thk Assattlt and Capture op Moscow. — New Subjugation of the Eussians.— Lithuania Embraces Christianity. — Escape of Yassali from the Horde. — Death of Dmitrl — Tamerlane — His Origin and Career. — His Invasion of India. — Defeat of Bajazet. — Tamerlane Invades Eussia. — Preparations for Eesistance. — Sudden Eeteeat of the Tartars. — Death of Yassali. — Accession of Yassali Yassilievitch. — The Disputed Succession, — Appeal to the Khan. — Eebellion op TouBi. — Cruelty op Yassall — ^Thb Eetribution 153

CHAPTER X.

THE ILLUSTEIOUS IYAN III.

Ivan III.— His Precocity and Eising Power.— T'iie Three Great Hordes. — Eussian Expedition against Kezan. — Defeat of the Tartars. — Capture op Constantinople by the Turks. — The Princess Sophia. — Her Journey to Eussia, and Marriage with Ivan III. — Increasing 'Eenown op Eussia.— New Difficulty with the Horde. — The Tartars Invade Eussia. — Strife on tbte Ban'ks of the Oka. — Letter of the Metropolitan Bishop. — Unprecedented Panic. — Liberation of Eussia 163

1* .

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI.

THE REIGN OF VASSILl.

FA.Ga

A.LLIANCE TTITH HUNGART. — A. TeAVELEK FROM GERMANY. — TREATY BETWEEN ECS-

siA AND Germany. — Embassage to Turkey. — Court Etiquette. — Death op THE Princess Sophia. — Death of Ivan. — Advancement of Knowledge. — Succession OF Vassili. — Attack Upon the Horde. — Eout of the Russians. — The Grand Prince Takes the Title of Empeuor. — Turkish Envoy to Moscow. — Efforts to Arm Europe Against the Turks. — Death op the Emperor Maximilian, AND Accession of Charles V. to the Empire of Germany. — Death OF Vassili 188

CHAPTER XII.

IVAN IV. — HIS MINORITY.

Vassilt at the Chase. — Attention to Distinguished Foreigners. — The Autooeacy. — Splendor op the Edifices. — Slavery. — Aristocracy. — Infancy of Ivan IV. — Regency of Helens. — Conspiracies and Tumults. — "War with SigiSMOND of Poland. — Death of Helene. — ^Struggles of the Nobles. — Appalling Sufferings of Dmitri. — Incursion of the Tartars. — Successful Conspie- ACY. — Ivan IV. at the Chase. — Coronation of Ivan IV ... 199

CHAPTER XIII.

THE REIGN OF IVAN IV.

The Title of Tzar. — Marriage of Ivan IV. — Virtues of His Bride. — Depraved Character of the Young Emperor. — Terrible Conflagrations. — Insurrections. — The Rebuke. — Wonderful Change in the Character of Ivan IV. — Confessions of Sin and Measures of Reform. — Sylvestre and Alexis Adachef. — The Code op Laws. — Reforms in the Church. — Encouragement TO Men of Science and Letters. — The E.mbassage of Schlit, — War with Kezan. — Disasters and Disgrace. — Immense Preparation for the Chastisement OF THE Horde. — The March. — Repulse of the Tauredians.— Siege of Kezan. — Incidents of the Siege 21C

CHAPTER XIY.

THE REIGN OF IVAN I V .— C N T I N U E D.

Biege of Kez.^n. — Artifices of War. — The Explosion of Mines. — The Final Assault. — Complete Subjugation of Kezan. — Gratitude and Liberality of the Tzar. — Return to Moscow. — Joy of the Inhabitants. — Birth of an Heie TO the Ceown. — Insueeection in Kezan. — The Insurrection Quelled. — Con-

CONTENTS. Xi

PA.GK QFEST OF ASTBITCHAN. — ThE ENGLISH EXPBDITIOK IN SEARCH OP A NoETH-EaST

Passage to India. — The Establishment at Akchangel. — Commercial Eela- TiONs Between France and Eussia. — Eussian Embassy to England, — Extension of Commerce 233

CHAPTEE XV.

THE ABDICATION OF IVAN IV.

Terror op the Horde in Tatteide. — "War -with Gxtstavus Vasa op Sweden.— Political Punctilios. — The Kingdom op Livonia Annexed to Sweden. — Death of Anastasia. — Conspiracy Against Ivan. — His Abdication. — His Ee-

SUMPTION OP THE CrOWN. — INVASION OF EUSSIA BY THE TARTARS AND TURKS,

— Heroism of Zebrinow. — Utter Discomfiture op the Tartars. — Eelations Between Queen Elizabeth of England, and Eussia. — Intrepid Embassage, — New War with Poland. — Disasters op Eussia. — The Emperor Kills His Own Son. — Anguish op Ivan IV 251

CHAPTER XYI.

THE STOEMS of HEEEDITAET SUCCESSION.

Anguish and Death op Ivan IV. — His Character. — ^Feodor and Dmitri. — Usttb- PATiON OP Boris Gudenow. — The Polish Election. — Conquest op Siberia. — Assassination of Dmitri. — Death op Feodor. — Boris Crowned King. — Conspiracies. — Eeappeaeance op Dmitri.— Boris Poisoned. — The Pretender Crowned. — Embarrassments of Dmitri. — A New Pretender. — Assassination op Dmitri.— Crowning op Zuski. — Indignation op Poland. — Historical Eo-

MANCE ^ 268

CHAPTER XYII.

A CHANGE OP DYNASTY.

Conquests by Poland. — Sweden in Alliance with Eussia, — Grandeur op Poland. — Ladislaus Elected King of Eussia. — Commotions and Insurrections. — Rejection of Ladislaus and Election of Michael Feodor Eomanow, — Sorrow of His Mother. — Pacific Character of Eomanow. — Choice op a Bride. — Eudochia Streschnew. — The AKcnBisiioP 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 Eussia and Poland , 285

Xll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XYIII.

TUE REGENCY OF SOPHIA.

From 1680 to 1G97.

AnMrniSTRATioN OP Fkopor. — ^Death of Feodor. — Inoapaoitt of Ivan.— Succession OF PkTER. — USURPATIOX OF SOPIMA. — INSURRECTION OF THE StRRLITZKS.

— Massaokk in Moscow. — Success of the Insurrection. — Ivan and Peter De--

CLAREn SOVKREIONS UNDER THE KeGENCY OF SOPIIIA. — GENERAL DISCONTENT.— CoNSriRACY AGAINST SoiMUA. — IIeR FuOllT TO THE CONVENT. — TlIE CONSPIR- ACY QuEi.i.Ei>. — New Conspiracy. — Knekoy of Peter.— He AssuMF.STnE Crown, — SopuiA Banished to a Convent. — Commencement of tuk Keign of Peter,. 801

CHAPTER XIX.

PETER THE GREAT.

YoiTNO RiTSSiAira Sknt to Foreign Countries. — The Tzar Decidbs Upon a. Tour of Ouservation. — lira Plan op Travel. — Anecdote.— Peter's Mode of Life in Holland. — Characteristic Anecdotes. — The Present.vtion of thb Embassador, — The Tzar Visits England. — Life at Pepteord. — Illustrious Foreioneks Engaged in His Service. — Peter Visits Vienna. — The Game of Landlord. — Insurrection in .Moscow. — Ueturn of the Tzar, and Measures OF Severity. — War with Sweden. — Disastrous Defk.vt op Narva. — Efforts TO Sbours tub Suorss of the Baltic. — Designs Upon tub Blaok Sea 816

CHAPTER XX.

CONQUESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PETER THE GREAT.

'Peter takes Lake Lagoda and the Neva. — Found.a.tion of St. PETERSBTjRa.— Conquest of Livonia. — Marienburg taken by Storm. — The Empress Catharine. — Extraordinary Efforts' in Building St. Petersburg. — Threat of Charles Xll. — Deposition of Ai'Gustus. — Enthronement of Stanislaus. — Battle of Pultowa. — Flight of Charlf.s XII. to Turkey. — Increased Renown OF Russia. — Dis.vstrous Conflict with the Turks. — Marriage of Alexis. — His Character, — Death of his "Wife. — The Empress Acknowledged.

— CONQUBST OF FINLAND. — ToUR OF THE TzAB TO SOUTHERN EuROPK. 882

CHAPTER XXI.

THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF ALEXIS, AND DEATH OP

THE TZAR.

Thr Tzar's Second YraiT to Holland. — Reception in France. — Description o» Cathakiniw — Domestic Grief.— Conduct of ALKsra. — Letters From His Father. — Flight to Germany. — Thence to Naples, — Envoys Sent to Bring lluf coNTEN^fs. xiii

PAoa

Baok. — Alkxw Excluded From tub SucoESsroN. — lira Trial fok Trbasoh.— Condemnation AND Unexpected Death. — New Ekkorts of the Tzar for tub Welfare of Russia. — Sickness of Peter. — IIi.s Death. — Succession or the Em-

CHAPTER XXII.

THE EEIGN3 OF CA.TIIARINE I., ANNE, THE INFANT lYAN ANP

ELIZABETH.

Enbrobtto REifly of CATnARiNE.— TIrr Suddkx DBATn. — Brief Eeion of Peteb II. — Difficulties of Hereditary Succession. — A Republic Contemplated.— Anne, Daughter of Ivan. — The Infant Ivan Proclaimkd Kino. — Hls Terrible Doo-M. — Elizahetii, Daughter of Peter the Great, Enthroned. — Character of Elizaheth. — Alliance with Maria Theresa. — Wap^ with Prussia. — Great Reversks of Frederic of Prussia. — Desperate Condition op Frederic, — Dbatu of Elizabeth.— Succession of Peter III 864

CHAPTER XXIII.

PETER III. AND HIS BRIDE.

Linbagb of Peter III.— Chosen rt Elizabeth as Her Successor. — The Brtdb Chosen for Peter. — Her Lineage. — The Courtship. — The Marriage. — Autobiography of Catharine. — Anecdotes of Peter. — His Neglect of Catharinh AND His Debaucheries. — Amusements of the Russian Court. — Military Execution of a Rat. — Accession of Peter III. to the Throne. — Supremacy of Catharine. — Her Repudiation Threatened. — The Conspiracy. — Its Successful Accomplishment 879

CHAPTER XXIY.

niE CONSPIRACY; AND ACCESSION OF CATHARINE II,

Peter III. at Oranienbaum. — Catharine at Peterhop. — ^The Successful Accomplishment of the Conspiracy. — Terror op Peter. — His Vacillating and Feeble Character. — Flight to Cronstadt. — Repui^se. — Heeoio Counsel of Munich. — Peter's Return to Oranienbaum. — His Suppliant Letters to Catharine.— His Arrest. — Imprisonment. — Assassination. — Proclamation of tub Emprr.ss. — Her Complicity in the Crime. — Energy of Catharine's Administration. — Her Expansive Views and Sagacious Policy. — Contemplated Mab- BiAOB with Count Orlop 894

XIV CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXY.

EEIGN OF CATHAEINE II.

Feom 1765 TO 1T74.

PAGH

Eneegy of Catharine's Administeation. — ^Titles of Honoe Deceeed to Hee. — Code of Laws Instituted. — ^The Assassination of the Empbess Attempted. — Encotteagement of Learned Men. — Catharine Inoculated foe the Small- Pox. — New "War with Turkey. — Capture of the Ceimea. — Sailing of the EussiAN Fleet.— Great Naval Victory. — Visit of the Prussian Princk Henry. — The Sleigh Eide. — Plans for the Paetition of Poland. — The Hermitage. — Marriage of the Grand Duke Paul. — Coeeespondence with Vol-

TAIEE AND DiDEEOT 409

CHAPTER XXVI.

EEIGN of CATHAEINE II.

Peace with Turkey.— Couet of Cathaeine II. — Hee Personal AppearakOb AND Habits. — Conspiracy and Eebellion. — Df^feat of the Eebels.— Magnanimity OF Catharine II. — Ambition of the Empress. — Court Favorite.— Division of Eussia into Provinces. — Internal Improvements. — New Partition OF Poland. — ^Death of the Wife of Paul. — Second Marriage of the Grand Doke. — Splendor of the Eussian Court. — Eussia and Austria Begretly Combine to Drive the Turks out of Europe. — The Empeeoe Joseph II • , • ,. 425

CHAPTER XXYII. teemination of the eeign of cathaeine II.

Statue of Peter the Great. — Alliance Between Austria and Eubsia. — ^Independence OF the Crimea — The Kuan of the Crimea. — ^Vast Preparations foe "War. — ^National Jealousies. — Tolerant Spirit of Catharine. — Magnificent ExcuESioN to the Crime a.^Commencement of Hostilities. — Anecdote OF Paul. — Peace. — New Partition of Poland. — Treaty with Austria and France.— Hostility to Liberty in France. — Death of Catharine. — ^Hbr Character 43S

CHAPTER XXYIII.

THE EEIGN OF PAUL I.

Accession of Paul I to the Theone. — Influence of the Heeeditaey Transmission OF PowEE, — ^Extravagance of Paul. — His Despotism. — The Hoesb Court Martialed. — Progress of the French Eevolution. — Feaes and Violence of Paul. — Hostility to Foreigners. — Eussia Joins the Coalitiob

CONTENTS. XV

FAOK AGAINST y«ANCE. — MaECU OP SXT-WAKROTV. — CnARACTEE OP SUWARROW. — BAT- TLE ON THE Adda. — Battle op Novi. — Suwaeeow Marches to the Ehine. — 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.

Assassination op Paul I. — Implication op Alexander in the Conspiracy. — Anecdotes. — Accession of Alexander. — The Frexch Eevolution. — Alexander Joins the Allies against France. — State of Eussia. — Useful Measures of Alexander. — Peace op Amiens. — Eenewal of Hostilities. — Battle op AusTERLiTZ. — Magnanimity of Napoleon. — New Coalition. — Ambition op Alexander, — Battles of Jena and Eylau. — Defeat of the Eussians 469

CHAPTER XXX.

EEIGN of ALEXANDER I.

The Field of Eylatt. — ^Letter to the King op Prussia. — Renewal op the Wab. —Discomfiture of the Allies. — Battle of Friedland. — The Eaft at Tilsit. — Intimacy of the Emperors. — Alexander's Designs upon Turkey. — Alliance Between France and Russia. — Object of the Continental System, — Perplexities op Alexander. — Driven by the Nobles to War. — Eesults op the Eussian Campasgn. — Napoleon Vanquished. — ^Last Days op Alexander. — His Sickness and Death 485

CHAPTER XXXI.

NICHOLAS.

Abdication of Constantine. — Accession of Nicholas. — Insurrection Quelled. — Nicholas and the Conspirator. — Anecdote. — The Palace of Peterhof.— The "Winter Palace. — Presentation at Court. — Magnitude of Eussia. — Dbscrtption of the Hellespont and the Dardanelles. — The Turkish Invasion. — Aims of Russia. — Views op England and France. — "Wars op Nicholas. — The Polish Insurrection. — "War op the Crime.v. — Jealousies op the Leading Nations. — Encroachments • 501

XVI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE CEIMEAN WAR.

PAGE

Causes of the CRrsrEAN "War. — Schemes of Nicholas. — Embarrassments OF the Sultan. — Loss of the Turkish Fleet. — Declaration OF War. — Storming of the Malakoff. — Treaty of Peace 515

CHAPTER XXXIII.

DEATH OF NICHOLAS, AND ACCESSION OF ALEXANDER U.

Sickness of Nicholas. — Death-bed Scene. — Grief of the Empress. — Alexander II. —His Character. — His Marriage, and Domestic Habits.— Emancipation of the Serfs 629

Chapter I. Parentage And Birth Of Russia

Pkimeval Extssia. — Explorations of the Greeks.— Sottiiia-n Intaston.— Charactkb OP THE Scythians.— Sarmatia. — Assaults upon the Eoman Empire.— Irruption OF THE Alains. — Conquests of Trajan.— The Gothic Invasion.— The Huns. — Their Character AND Aspect. — The Devastations of Attila. — The Avars. — Results of Comminghngs of these Tribes. — Normans. — Birth of the Russian Empire. — The Three Sovereigns Eurik, Sineous and Truvor.— Adventures of Asoolod AND DiR. — Introduction of Christianity. — Usurpation op Olbg. — 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 annals of Greece and of Rome simply inform us that they were 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 con(xlomerated tribes, taking the general name of Scythians, with their Avives and their children, their flocks and their t^erds, and their warriors, fiercer than wolves, crossed the Yojga, and took posses* 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 rudiments of civilization. Some of these tribes retained their ancestral 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, Scythians, 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 throuQjhout all the resiion between the Danube 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 Sarraatians. 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 Csesars. The Roman

PARENTAGE AND BIBTH OF BUSSIA. 19

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 ferocity 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, Traip sylvan ia, 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 rushinor over the wide arena, with the howlinsf 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 death 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 of 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 the 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 mundation 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 Romau empire as merciless as wolves, and the Csesars turned pale at the recital of their deeds of blood.

It is indeed a revolting picture which contemporaneous history gives us of these barbarians. In their faces was concentrated 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. N^early all their lives they passed on horseback. "Wandering incessantly over tho vast plains, they had no fixed habitations, but warmly clad in the untanned skins of beasts, like the beasts they sle^^t wherever the night found them. They had no religion nor laws, no conception of ideas of honor; their language was a 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 historians. The Goths struggled against them in vain. They vrere crushed and subjugated. The king of the Goths, Hermanric, in chagrin and despair, committed suicide^ that he might es-

PARENTAGE AND BIKTH OF EUSSIA. 21

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 decadence, could not drive them back, and they obtained a permanent foothold there. The Huns thus attained the supremacy 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 which the Huns attained was precarious, and not distinctly defined.

The terrible Attila ere long appears as the king of these 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. Whereever 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. He even invaded Gaul, and upon the plains of Chalons was defeated in one of the most bloody battles ever fought in Europe. Contemporary historians record that one hundred and six thousand dead were left upon the field. With the death of Attila, the supremacy of the Huns vanished. The irruption of the Huns was a devastating scourge, which terrified the world. Whole nations were exterminated in their march, until at last the horrible apparition disappeared, almost as suddenly as it arose.

With the disappearance of the Huns, central Russia presents to us the aspect of a vast waste, thinly peopled, with the wrecks of nations and tribes, debased and feeble, living upon the cattle they herded, and occasionally cultivating the soil. And now there comes forward upon this theater of violence and of blood another people, called the Sclavonians, more energetic and more intelligent than any who had precedea them. The origin of the Sclavonians is quite lost in the haze of distance, and in the savage wilds where they first appeared. The few traditions which have been gleaned respecting them are of very little authority.

From about the close of the fifth century the inhabitants of the whole region juow embraced by European Russia, were called Sclavonians ; and yet it appears that these Sclavonians consisted of many nations, rude and warlike, with various distinctive names. They soon began to crowd upon the Roman empire, and became more formidable than the Goths or the Huns had been. Wading through blood they seized province after province of the empire, destroying and massacring often in mere wantonness. The emperor Justinian was frequently compelled to purchase peace with them and to bribe them to alliance.

And now came another w^ave of invasion, bloody and overwhelming. The Avars, from the north of China, swept over Asia, seized all the provinces on the Black Sea, overran Greece, and took possession of most of the country between the Volga and the Elbe. The Sclavonians of the Danube, however, successfully resisted them, and maintained their independence. Generations came and went as these hordes, wild, degraded and v/retched, swept these northern wilds, in debasement and cruelty rivaling the wolves which howled in their forests. They have left no traces behind them, and the ^ew records of their joyless lives which history has preserved, are merely the gleanings of uncertain ti'adition. The thinking mind pauses in sadness to contemplate the spectacle of these weary ages, when his brother man was the most ferocious of beasts, and when all the discipline of life tended only to sink him into deeper abysses of brutality and misery. There is here a problem in the divine government which no human wisdom can solve. There is consolation only in the announcement that w^hat we know not now, we shall know i,.i»ii.K-^AGE AND BIRTH OF RUSSIA. 2?