The Battle of the Stugna River (26 May 1093) was a battle between the princes of Kievan Rus (Sviatopolk II of Kiev, Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov) and the nomadic Cumans tribe (Turkic speaking peoples). The Kievan forces were defeated.
The Cumans raided Rus' soon after Vsevolod's death and sought to buy peace with the new great prince, Sviatopolk. However Sviatopolk incarcerated the Cumans ambassadors and the Cumans came in force to attack Kiev. Facing an enemy army of eight-thousand, Sviatopolk took the advice of counsel and called for help from Vladimir Monomakh, prince of Chernigov. Monomakh came with his troops and also called upon his only brother, Rostislav of Pereyaslav.
Monomakh insisted on peace with the Cumans while Sviatopolk wanted war. Union against Cumans was achieved and Sviatopolk released the ambassadors of Cumans. The armies of the three princes joined together and set out for the city of Trepol'. Approaching the Stugna River the princes were undecided, so they stopped to have a council. The Cumans were across the river. Monomakh (whose wife was a Cuman princess), continued to demand that they sue for peace, but the Kievan troops wanted battle. They crossed the river and met the Cumans in a valley at the rampart of Trepol'. Svyatapolk deployed on the right, Rostislav in the center and Vladimir on the left.
First Cumans attacked Sviatapolk's troops and after a bloody battle Sviatapolk's troops ran. Then Vladimir Monomakh was crushed and all the Kievan troops retreated. Sviatapolk took cover in Trepol', but Rostislav and Monomakh attempted to swim the Stugna River. Rostislav, in a heavy chain armour, drowned. Monomakh retreated to Chernigov and Sviatapolk retreated at night to Kiev.
The Kievan-Pechersky Paterick ascribed Rostislav's death to his own haughtiness. It is said that he refused to enter the church and pray for the battle's outcome. The young prince's death is also recalled in the Tale of Igor's Campaign:
- Not like that is the river Stugna - endowed with a meager stream, having fed therefore on other rills and runners, she rent between bushes a youth, prince Rostislav, imprisoning him. On the Dnieper's dark bank Rostislav's mother weeps the youth. Pined away have the flowers with condolement, and the tree has been bent to the ground with sorrow.
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