«How the Germans Marvelled at the Tatar Arms»: What Weapon was the Chronicle Describing in the Episode of the Meet in the Pozsony and what is its Origin?

Abstract

The article, based on an episode of the Galician-Volynian chronicle about the meeting of the Galician-Volynian prince Danylo Romanovych with German allies at Pozsony in 1252, analyzes the eastern influences in the armament of the Galician-Volynian state caused by the Golden Horde. Based on the context of the types of weapons mentioned in the episode, the place of certain weapons and means of protection in the armament complex of Rus’ woriors is analyzed. The research is based on the principles of historicism, scientific and authorial objectivity, as well as on the use of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison) and special-historical (historical-typological, historical-systemic) methods. Listed comparison between the weapons described in the episode, was the chronicler called «Tatar», and items of Mongolian protective equipment and symbolic weapons, mentioned in a number of written sources of the XIII century. In addition, a comparison of written and archaeological sources was made. The author suggests that the gold-clad weapon of Prince Danylo mentioned in the text of the chronicle may have been given to him when the prince was included in the Horde’s hierarchy of power in 1245, but emphasizes the need to further clarify and revise this assumption. It is noted that the borrowing of Mongolian arms took place mostly in protective equipment.