They were, however, barbarians, and as even in the nineteenth century the slave trade is urged as a means of evangelizing the heathen of Africa, war was urged with all its carnage and woe, as the agent of disseminating Christianity through pagan Bulgaria.

The motive assigned for the war, was to serve Christ, by the conversion of the infidel.

The motives which influenced, were ambition, love of conquest and the desire to add to the opulence and the power of Russia.
Vsevelod made grand preparations for this enterprise.

Conferring with the warlike Sviatoslaf and other ambitious princes, a large army was collected at the head waters of the Volga.

They floated down the wild stream, in capacious flat-bottomed barges, till they came to the mouth of the Kama.