[The Empire of Russia by John S. C. Abbott]@TWC D-Link bookThe Empire of Russia CHAPTER VI 2/40
Eager partizans rallied around the two aspirants.
Constantin made the first move by burning the town of Kostroma and carrying off the inhabitants as captives.
Georges replied by an equally sanguinary assault upon Rostof.
Such, war has ever been. When princes quarrel, being unable to strike each other, they wreak their vengeance upon innocent and helpless villages, burning their houses, slaying sons and brothers, and either dragging widows and orphans into captivity or leaving them to perish of exposure and starvation. In this conflict Georges was victor, and he assigned to his brothers and cousins the administration of the provinces of southern Russia. Still the ancient annals give us nothing but a dreary record of war.
A very energetic prince arose, by the name of Mstislaf, who, for years, strode over subjugated provinces, desolating them with fire and sword. Another horrible famine commenced its ravages at this time, caused principally by the desolations of war, throughout all northern and eastern Russia.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|