A prisoner names Batu's generals, and Guyuk
Editorial contextDuring the siege of Kiev the defenders captured a Tatar named Tovrul, who told them who was in Batu's army. The list matches Batu's Chinggisid relatives and generals known from Persian and Mongol sources. The chronicler adds that Guyuk turned back on hearing of the Great Khan's death and became khan himself, though (he believed) not of the khan's family but his first general.
They captured among them a Tatar named Tovrul, and he told them all their strength; these were his brothers, strong commanders: Urdiui, Baidar, Biriui, Kaidan, Bechak and Mengu and Kiuiuk (who returned on learning of the khan's death and became khan, though not of his family, but he was his first commander), Sebediai the Bogatur and Burundai the Bagatyr
Working translation
Original wording
Яша же въ нихъ Татарина, именемъ Товрулъ, и тъ исповѣда имъ всю силу ихъ; се бяху братья его силный воеводы: Урдюй, Байдаръ, Бирюй, Кайданъ, Бечакъ и Меньгу и Кююкъ (иже вратися увѣдавъ смерть канову и бысть каномъ, не отъ роду же его, но бѣ воевода его перьвый), Себѣдяй Богатуръ и Бурунъдай Багатырь
About Batu's commanders: Urdiui (Orda), Baidar, Biriui, Kaidan, Bechak, Mengu (Mongke), Kiuiuk (Guyuk), Subutai, Burundai
Keep in mind
Guyuk was in fact a grandson of Chinggis Khan; the chronicler's remark about his descent is mistaken.
Batu at Kiev: creaking carts, bellowing camels, walls battered day and night
Editorial contextIn his introduction Sreznevsky quotes the Hypatian (Galician-Volhynian) Chronicle's famous account of Batu's siege of Kiev to show the old Russian epic style. The Tatar host was so large that nothing could be heard in the city for the creaking of carts, the bellowing of camels and the neighing of horses. Batu set up siege engines by the Polish Gate and battered the walls day and night until they fell. It shows the Horde as a besieger of cities, with engineers and machines.
Batu came to Kiev in heavy force... And Batu was at the city, and his warriors besieged the city, and nothing could be heard for the creaking of his carts, the bellowing of his many camels and the neighing of his herds of horses... Batu set up siege engines against the city by the Polish Gate … The engines battering without cease day and night broke down the walls.
Working translation
Original wording
Приде Батый Кыеву въ силѣ тяжьцѣ... И бѣ Батый у города, и отроци его обсѣдяху градъ, и не бѣ слышати отъ гласа скрипанія телѣгъ его, множества ревѣнія вельблудъ его, и рьжанія отъ гласа стадъ конь его... Постави же Батый порокы городу подлѣ вратъ Лядьскыхъ … Порокомъ же беспрестани бьющимъ день и нощь, выбиша стѣны.
About Mongols of Batu (called Tatars)
Keep in mind
The chronicle was compiled in Galicia-Volhynia some decades after 1240; Sreznevsky quotes it only as a stylistic parallel.
The church vaults that collapsed under the refugees
Editorial contextWhen the Tatars broke through, the townspeople threw up a last ring of defences around the Church of the Mother of God (the Tithe Church, Kiev's first stone church, built by Prince Vladimir about 990). Next day, as people crowded onto the church and its vaults with their goods, the walls gave way under the weight, and the city fell. The chronicler credits the building to Rus princes and its ruin to the siege.
Next morning they came against them, and there was a great battle between them; and as the people ran up onto the church and onto the church vaults, with their goods, from the weight the church walls fell down with them, and so the city was taken by the warriors.
Working translation
Original wording
Наутрѣя же придоша на нѣ, и бысть брань межи ими велика; людемъ же узбѣгшимъ на церковь и на комары церковныя, и съ товары своими, отъ тягости повалишася съ ними стѣны церковныя, и пріятъ бысть градъ сице воими.
About Tatars (Mongols); the people of Kiev
Keep in mind
The church is not named in this sentence; the identification with the Tithe Church comes from the preceding line and from archaeology.
Kiev besieged: you could not hear for the carts and camels
Editorial contextBatu came to Kiev 'in heavy strength' and ringed the city. The chronicler's famous line: inside the walls people could not hear each other for the creaking of Batu's carts, the bellowing of his camels and the neighing of his herds of horses. Batu then set up siege engines by the Liadskie (Polish) Gate, where the ravines came close, and battered the walls day and night.
Batu came to Kiev in heavy strength, with a great multitude of his forces, and surrounded the city, and the Tatar force hemmed it in, and the city was under great siege. And Batu was at the city and his men besieged the city, and one could not hear for the noise of the creaking of his carts, the multitude of the bellowing of his camels, and the neighing of the herds of his horses
Working translation
Original wording
Приде Батый Кыеву въ силѣ тяжьцѣ, многомъ множьствомъ силы своей, и окружи градъ и остолпи сила Татарьская, и бысть градъ во обдержаньи велицѣ. И бѣ Батый у города и отроци его обсѣдяху градъ, и не бѣ слышати отъ гласа скрипанія телѣгъ его, множества ревѣнія вельблудъ его, и рьжанія отъ гласа стадъ конь его
About Tatars (Mongols under Batu)
Continue in this sourceThe Hypatian Chronicle: Kiev, Galicia and the Horde852 to 1292 · 13 passages