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Beijing. The first half of the XIV century. Chinese emperor holds review of their troops. Equal ranks in front of the platform are foot and horse regiments. But what is it? Following the next regiment, consisting of narrow-eyed narrow-eyed Asians, there are tall, stocky, Rusogolovye warriors, overt Europeans! The emperor graciously smiles: this is one of its trusted regiments, and glorious olos serve in it (the so-called Russian in China) – the bravest of the brave, his hope and support throne, Russian guard of the Chinese emperor. Tale, fiction? Not it is worth rushing to conclusions. Horrible legacy of the Horde – “tax blood “A terrible disaster has become for the Russian principalities Tatar-Mongol invasion of 1237-1240. Going through fire and sword across the Russian lands, the Basurman hordes went back to their boundless steppes, leaving Russia a terrible legacy – annual payment of tribute. Every year princely people gathered on the subject of the prince lands farms, which bought the tranquility of cities and settlements. But not only furs, honey, wax, cattle sent Russia to the Horde. Besides other things, the Russian land had to pay the worst tax – blood tax. Under moaning and crying went to the distant Horde chasers and goldsmiths, skilled masons and embroiderers, gunsmiths and blacksmiths. Among others, forever young men said goodbye to their home and relatives. Waiting for them probably the bitter destiny is to replenish the ranks of the Mongol army. Foreign recruits in the Mongolian army No matter how strong there was a Mongolian army, its aggressive campaigns were by no means a pleasure walk. Destroyed by the Mongols Khorezm Empire, Volga Bulgaria, Naiman Khanate, Karakit Khanate, Abbasid caliphate, fell after stubborn resistance. IN during his many campaigns in the Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia and China, the Mongol army carried huge human losses. No matter how huge the Mongol army was, no matter how her khans were skillful in military affairs, not a single city assault, nor one battle, even a victory, was not without sacrifices. Be under the beginning of Genghis Khan only the Mongols, his army would melt in first hikes. Therefore, both Genghis Khan and his descendants, Genghisides constantly replenished their army with recruits from conquered peoples. Not Russian lands became an exception. Russians – to China First The Mongols carried out the “recruitment” in 1238, and it was not the last. Subsequently, the collection of tribute was entrusted to the Russian princes. What is it in what principle did they recruit in the Mongol army, we is unknown. Of course, first of all, they sent to the Horde troublemakers, it is possible that there were volunteers. But the main role most likely a village gathering was playing, deciding who would pay with his fate is a terrible tax for the community. 
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Recruits submitted to Mongolian discipline, at the heart of which collective responsibility lay (for one who escaped from the battlefield executed ten, for the runaway ten – a hundred) and sent to battle first. Fighters recruited from conquered peoples, the Mongols never not sent to fight against their fellow tribesmen, but sent to opposite ends of their empire so their opponents are peoples unfamiliar to them with an alien culture and an incomprehensible language. The vast remoteness from their homeland also reduced the risk of rebellion and desertions. So the young men from the Russian principalities ended up in distant China conquered by the Mongols. In a foreign land In Chinese “History of the Yuan Dynasty” we find information about the Russian regiment Beijing Guard dating back to 1330. Back in 1260, grandson Genghis Khan Khubilai accepted the title of Chinese Emperor and founded Yuan Dynasty. His grandson Tug-Timur formed the Russian regiment and included him in the Beijing Guard. The regiment was among the elite units controlled by the Supreme Military Council. Employees of the regiment lived on the lands granted to them north of Beijing as military settlers. In 1331, the regiment became one of the “closest Khan’s “and he was granted a silver seal. In the same year in the regiment arrived replenishment from Russia – 600 recruits, in the next – 2500 more, of which more than 100 were teenagers who were to learn how to be real warriors. In an effort not to create additional reasons for rebellion, the Mongols were striking tolerance, they did not interfere with those living in their territory Empire non-Mongols adhere to their religion and customs. P visited Mongolia in 1253-1255, the Franciscan monk Guilm Rubruk wrote that in the capital of the Mongols – the city of Karakorum Christians: Hungarians, Alans, Armenians, Georgians and others. In the city stood Orthodox churches, Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques. Further fate In 1368, the Mongols were expelled from China. Together with the Mongols, the Russians, the Ossetians who served them, also left Beijing. baptized Polovtsy and many others brought here by the Mongols from the countries they conquered. All of them were far from home. Part of them shared the fate of the Mongols, and went with them to Karakoram, part disappeared among the local population, some settled on the outskirts China. In the mid-14th century, a Portuguese traveler Mendes Pitu wrote that he met in Shanxi (northeast Province of China) descendants of Russian warriors. I paid an expensive price Russia for staying on the world map. While her sons fought as part of the Mongol forces in southern China, Burma and Java, in the distant Russian land they left, the monk wrote in chronicle: “… and there was great silence for 40 years, and the filthy ceased fight the Russian land, and Christians rested from the great languor and violence … ”
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