You may choose either side of the river which you please." Vsevelod did not condescend to make any reply to the rebellious prince.

Seizing his embassadors, he sent them as captives to Vlademer, a fortress some hundred miles east of Moscow.

He hoped thus to provoke Sviatoslaf to attempt the passage of the stream.

But Sviatoslaf was not to be thus entrapped.

Breaking up his camp, he retired to Novgorod, where he was received with rejoicings by the inhabitants.
Here he established himself as a monarch, accumulated his forces, and began, by diplomacy and by arms, to extend his conquests over the adjacent principalities.