, image = Sernä_animal_style_mask.jpg , alt = , caption = Moksha lion

Animal style Animal style art is an approach to decoration found from China to Northern Europe in the early Iron Age, and the barbarian art of the Migration Period, characterized by its emphasis on animal motifs. The zoomorphic style of decoration was used ...

decoration from the site. Guilded bronze. , map_type = Russia Penza Oblast#European Russia , map_caption = Location of the site within Russia , map_alt = , map_size = 250 , location =

Penza Oblast Penza Oblast (russian: Пе́нзенская о́бласть, ''Penzenskaya oblast'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Penza. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 1,386,186. Geogr ...

, Russia , region = Murunza , coordinates = , type = city , part_of = , length = , width = , area = 140,000 m2 , height = , builder = , material = wood , built = c.200 AD , abandoned = 1242 , epochs =

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

, cultures =

Saltovo-Mayaki Saltovo-Mayaki or Saltovo-Majaki is the name given by archaeologists to the early medieval culture of the Pontic steppe region roughly between the Don and the Dnieper Rivers, flourishing roughly between the years of 700 and 950. History Saltovo- ...

, dependency_of = Khazar Khaganate (since 8th c.) , occupants = , event = Mongol Destruction in 1242 , excavations = 2000 , archaeologists = :ru:Белорыбкин, Геннадий Николаевич, Gennady Belorybkin , condition = In ruins , ownership = , management = Penza Oblast Authority , public_access = , website = geosmi.ru/2022/01/19/золотарёвское-городище/ , notes = Sernya ( mdf, ςερνια, ςερνεσ, Sernä, Sernes, Golden, The Golden, russian: Золотарёвское городище, Zolotaryovskoye gorodishche, Zolotaryovka settlement) is a site of medieval city ruins in Middle Mokshaland (modern

in Russia) that was razed by Mongols in 1242 battle. The city was founded c. third century AD. Total settlement area covers 14 hectares which is comparable to the cities of the Rus' principalities in 12-13th centuries. The city fortress area is 2,5 hectares (Moscow fortress 0,8-1,5 hectare appeared in 1150s).

History

The legendary Mokshas, Moksha city ruins were first discovered by Russian archeologist Fedor Chekalin on 22 December, 1893, but excavations started only in 2000. Askizi (Yenisei Kyrgyz) and Volga Bulgar traders stayed in the city. The city was famous for its jewelers.

Battle of Sernya

The city and its fortress were seized by Subutai in 1242 on return from the Mongol invasion of Europe as revenge to Mokshas that earlier joined the Mongol army. The Mokshan Puresh, King Puresh and his men were fed up with fighting and suffered heavy losses during their European campaign. They planned to shift sides and had secretly discussed with Henry II the Pious that they would join Silesian army in the early morning of 9 April 1241 before the Battle of Legnica. Subutai discovered the plot and many Moksha warriors were shot dead in their sleep while they were waiting for new weapons to come inside the Mongol camp. Defending forces used caltrops against the cavalry. Sernya's wooden walls were attacked with Chinese catapults; the Mongols used human fat for setting fire to the fortress. All defendants were killed and civilians were slaughtered during the siege. Puresh's daughter, Narchat, Queen Narchat, fled with her men out of the burning fortress and headed to Mukhsha, Noronshasht where they could hide away in Skanda caves, but they all were slain as Mongols chased them.

References

Notes

Sources

* * * * * Based on British Library MS Royal 14.C.XIII Fol. 225r-236r and thus ends prematurely. * Penza Oblast Ruins in Russia Razed cities Archaeological parks Moksha people Khazars Medieval Russia Defunct towns in Russia Forts in Russia Geography of Penza Oblast Former populated places in Russia Archaeological sites in Russia Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Penza Oblast {{Fort-stub

History

Battle of Sernya

See also

References

Notes

Sources