Crimson Dragon Boyars

Created in 15.08. 997 after a disatrous defeat on river Nava, Tsar Ivan decreed that every noble family must send one of their sons to Crimson boyars to counter strong Skitai cavarly. Crimson Dragon boyars are also known as the flower of belgorodian nobility because of their military skills and experience that only few boyar military groups can rival. One feature that distinguishes them from other cavarly units are their dragon wings that are attached on the back of their armor, first introduced in 1001. by lieutenant Stefan Bayanovsky. Their first engangement was against Duke Boris Angelovich who rebelled against Tsar Svyatoslav after trying to assassinate the newly crowned Tsar. On the fields of Orsha 1002. Dragon Boyars managed to defeat rebel cavarly on the left flank led by Duke s son Dushan but suffered significant losses that Svyatoslav wanted to disband them and return to old system but was persuaded by his advisors to give them another chance. Their chance finally came in 1006. when 3 Skitai tribes united by chief Arupad attacked Belgorod and started pillaging villages around city of Tvernik. Initially, Tsar Svyatoslav hesitated to send Dragon Boyars to battle but after 3 days he finally relented to his advisors gave them command to join the main army. However, the leader of the army assembled to stop the Skitai invaders, duke Boleslaw of Workuta decided to attack instead of waiting for reinforcements, believing that he had advantage in the coming battle. On November 12th, 1006. NE Belgorodian army was decisively defeated at the village Marica losing 4000 men in just 9 hours, with duke Boleslaw among the killed. When Dragon Boyars arrived at village Satrapovo, they found around 200 survivors of the battle who told them that the entire army was obliterated an hour ago. Boyars morale dropped and wanted to return to their Counties to protect their families, but lieutenant Bayanovsky instead ordered to move and attack the enemy who is probably exhausted and doesnt expect a counterattack. Half an hour later, they arrived on the hill sothwest of village where majority of exhausted Skitai warriors were resting from difficult battle. Losing no time, Bayanovsky ordered general charge of all Boyars and sounde his horn and 1200 Boyars charged downhill. Skitai warriors were caught completely off-guard some even fell asleep after previous battle. Boyars quicky crushed this several companies of Skitai and managed to save some of belgorodian soldiers that were hiding in the village. Hearing the sounds of battle behind them Skitai warriors stopped chasing the enemy and return to village, only to be charged by dragon-winged horsemen of Belgorod. Although outnumbered 20 to 1, Skitai companies were too much spread out and lost cohesion. Boyars would charge into one company and crush them and then retreating before other companies could arrive and then charge at another company. Battle lasted one hour and ended in Boyars victory. Seeing their fellow tribesmen being crushed by this winged riders Skitai started to retreat. Arupad tried to gather his outstretched army so his started waving his personal banner to so his troops can locate him. Unfortunately, one company of Boyars spotted and attacked chief and his personal bodyguard. Arupad was slain and after seeing his personal guard fleeing the battlefield, the remaining companies fled. Boyars lost around 250 men while Skitai lost around 6000-7000 warriors. Although still a formidable force, the coalition soon dissolved and Skitai retreated to the steppes, being constantly harrased by boyrs and light cavarly. This battle, which became known as the Miracle at Marica, made Boyars famous in Belgorod and surrounding kingdoms.