This thesis argues that in the chronicles, bookmen propagated attitudes toward and about the Mongols that evolved over time due to the interconnected nature of political developments and the privileged status of the Church. Chapter one argues that bookmen explain the invasion as a result of Russian sins and use themes of suffering and martyrdom to explain the invasion. In doing so, the bookmen were providing a stricken population with spiritual consolation. Chapter two argues that these sentiments evolved to notions of defense and resistance in order to inspire the preservation of Orthodoxy, Kievan traditions such as the rota system, and Rus’ control of the land. Finally, chapter three articulates the bookmen’s theme of outright anti-Mongol ideology used to prop up the legitimacy and political authority of Moscow. Because religion and politics were intertwined throughout Medieval Europe, the attitudes toward the Mongols evolved reciprocally as the political climate changed, in tandem with one another.Bachelor of Art
