Units of History: The Druzhina - Knights of the Kievan Rus DOCUMENTARY

The Druzhina were the elite knights of the Medieval Kievan Rus! Click the link https://www.blinkist.com/invicta in my description to start your free 7 day trial with Blinkist and get 25% off of a Premium membership. This Units of History documentary explores the early history of Ukraine and Russia through the lens of the Elite Druzhina of the Kievan Rus. The video begins with the geography of eastern europe and the various peoples of early and late antiquity who came to occupy these lands. Among the most prominent of these were the Slavs who soon merged with the steppe and norse tribes that frequently entered their lands for trade and conquest. We cover the rise of the Kievan Rus under Prince Rurik and how his descendants came to carve out a vast domain with the help of their loyal bodyguards. It is these men who would eventually become the Druzhina that both served as the military and administrative backbone of the realm. The documentary next covers the equipment, organization, tactics, and service history of these Kievan Rus knights. Notable examples of their campaigns invovled the siege of Constantinople against the Byzantines, the Battle of Alta River agains the Pechenegs, and the Battle on the Ice against the Tutonic Order. Stay tuned for more episodes on the history of the Kievan Rus as a part of our ongoing exploration of the history of Ukraine and the history of Russia. What Units of History should we cover next? THE BYZANTINES Byzantine Flamethrowers and Grenadiers : https://youtu.be/Q40yMWRYt7U The Varangian Guard : https://youtu.be/0H2Gs87dTfU THE HELLENISTIC WORLD Macedonian Silver Shields : https://youtu.be/csw9uSRjUz8 Macedonian Companion Cavalry : https://youtu.be/bbLnrGGqyWY The Spartan Skiritai : https://youtu.be/MSsUYZBd414 The Spartan Royal Guard : https://youtu.be/pSIh_mTEy_o The Sacred Band of Thebes : https://youtu.be/xWsZwlN1j3c Mycenaean Chariots : https://youtu.be/-TyVh8PlnS4 Balearic Slingers : https://youtu.be/3uDtrwNY0Zk THE ROMANS Roman Cataphracts : https://youtu.be/NPdxGwyfy_Q Roman Army Spies : https://youtu.be/xpPY5yU9w7I Roman Army Scouts : https://youtu.be/EQIT0vP5pBg THE NORTHMEN The Jomsvikings Mercenaries : https://youtu.be/ry_J2IPAZoE Viking Berserkers : https://youtu.be/lVbjaoFDiFk Early Germanic Warriors : https://youtu.be/DK1c4Bz01MU THE AFRICANS Nubian Archers : https://youtu.be/qvO3_kYRRw8 The Sacred Band of Carthage : https://youtu.be/oX3y1GYcCEY Carthaginian War Elephants : https://youtu.be/hDSRHGFCWEo The Numidian Cavalry : https://youtu.be/3tv7EbkrX38 THE NEAR EAST The 10,000 Immortals : https://youtu.be/Rg1WpzDfyNM Sources and Suggested Reading: The Rus Primary Chronicle Armies of Medieval Russia by Osprey Publishing Credits: Research = Sophia Ware Writing = Sophia Ware Narration = Guy Michaels Artwork = Penta Limited #History #Ukraine #Documentary