The Rus and Hungarians on the Lower Danube in 943

Abstract

Russian chronicles give different dates of Igor's second campaign against Byzantium. Researchers adhere to the dating of The Tale of Bygone Years (Povest' vremennykh let) - 944; however, 943 seems to be the most possible, since Igor's contract with the Greeks was preceded by difficult, and therefore long negotiations, which resulted in Igor's agreement with the Greeks in 944. Earlier in 943, the Hungarians passed through Bulgaria, having confirmed the agreement on the tribute by the “empire of the Romans.” Those who support that Igor's second campaign against the Greeks shoud be dated 943 try to link it with the military action of the Hungarians, having no serious grounds for this. Until 970, the Hungarian leaders did not enter into military alliances with the Kievan princes, since their robber raids were directed mainly to the west, while their invasions of the Balkans became more frequent after their defeat in Germany in 955. Nevertheless, setting off in a raid on Byzantium in the spring of 943, the Hungarians learnt about Igor's military preparations from the Eastern Slavs from Transcarpathia, who had close contacts with the Tivertsy, Igor's allies in his summer campaign of 943. To achieve their goals, the Hungarians skillfully took advantage of the news that a more significant army had been assembled in Russia to march to the Balkans. In his turn, Igor benefited from the fact that the Hungarians had already sown fear in Byzantine society before his arrival on the Lower Danube, saying that Bulgaria did not prevent “northern barbarians” from passing through its territory.