Izyaslav talked thus to persuade Kief men to march against Yuri. They had insisted on peace, and declared that they could not raise hands against a son of Monomach. But, influenced by Izyaslav’s words, they at last consented to go, though unwillingly. Crossing the Dnieper, the Grand Prince met Yuri’s army, the advance troops being Polovtsi, and repulsed it. Then the two armies stood all day and night facing each other. In the night Yuri sent to his nephew this message: “Thou hast ravaged my country, thou hast taken seniority from me, but spare Christian [[75]]blood now. Let me seat a son in this city of Pereyaslavl, and rule thou in Kief. If not, let God judge between us.”
Izyaslav detained the envoy, and led out all his men to meet Yuri. Next morning the bishop, with tears in his eyes, begged thus of Izyaslav: “Make peace with thy uncle. If thou do so, thou wilt save the land from sore misery, and have great reward from God.” But the prince would not listen. The armies were face to face that day till evening, the river Trubej between them. At a council called by Izyaslav, some favored crossing the river: “God gives thee the enemy; seize him,” said these men. “Remain where thou art,” said others. “Thy uncle is wavering, he will vanish in the night. Let him go, do not touch him.” The first advice pleased the prince, and he crossed the river. Next day at noon the armies came very near fighting, but Yuri halted, and in the evening withdrew. Again there were two minds in Izyaslav’s council: “Thy uncle is fleeing,” urged one mind; “attack him before he escapes thee.” “Follow not,” urged the other; “there will be no battle; thou wilt have victory for nothing.” This time too Izyaslav took the first advice.
At daybreak next morning the battle began. It was resolute at the opening and venomous on both sides, but soon all of Izyaslav’s contingents from the Ros River fled. Seeing this, the sons of David and the Kief men fled also. Pereyaslavl, persuaded already by Yuri’s son, Rostislav, opened its gates without fighting, and thus the battle was ended.
Izyaslav had pierced an opposing regiment, but when in the rear of it he saw that all had deserted him, and knew that nothing save flight remained. He reached Kief with only two attendants, and went immediately to Volynia; but he withdrew to reopen the struggle.
On reaching Volynia Izyaslav sent to Poland, Bohemia and Hungary for aid. Aid was promised, but he wished aid itself, and not promises, hence he sent envoys a second time bearing rich presents, with the injunction to get what he asked for. Knowing now what it was to fight against his uncle when the people were indifferent or opposed to him, he sent these words to Yuri’s elder brother, Vyatcheslav: “Be my father and take the throne of Kief; if not I will ruin thy country.”
Vyatcheslav, alarmed by the threat, sent this message to Yuri: [[76]]“Make peace, defend my country, come hither thyself; we shall then see what to do. If thou come not, I must act as seems best to me.” Yuri set out at once with his troops, taking Polovtsi also. Izyaslav marched from Volynia against him. To Vyatcheslav came Rostislav and Andrei, sons of Yuri, and soon Yuri himself came. Vladimirko of Galitch moved to the boundary and thus checked Poles and Hungarians.
The Poles, greatly alarmed by news from their own land that Prussian tribes were attacking them, went home. Hence the allies sent these words to Yuri and Vyatcheslav: “Though ye are as fathers to Izyaslav, ye are now warring against him. As Christians and brethren we should all be united. Can you not arrange peace with your son and your brother? Ye might remain in Kief. Ye yourselves know who should be there. Let Volynia and whatever else is his go to Izyaslav. Let Yuri give back the Novgorod tribute.”
“God reward you,” replied Yuri and his brother. “Since ye ask for peace and wish well to us, let Izyaslav return to Volynia, and go ye to your own lands; we will discuss then with Izyaslav.” The allies withdrew, and the uncles proposed terms to their nephew. But the affair halted because Yuri’s eldest son and a nephew advised with great earnestness not to make peace with Izyaslav. Yuri took this advice all the more readily, since Izyaslav’s allies had gone to their own lands, and he thought it easy to force down his nephew. “I will expel Izyaslav and take his lands,” said Yuri, and he moved with his brother to do this.
Yuri and his forces invested Lutsk, and for many weeks fought around the city. The besieged lacked water greatly. Izyaslav strove to aid them, but Vladimirko of Galitch barred the way; he desired victory for neither side. Volynia, independent of Kief, was what he wished. Izyaslav sent to him, saying: “Reconcile me with my uncle Yuri.” Vladimirko was willing, in fact he was very glad to attempt this.
Andrei, Yuri’s second son, was for peace and counseled his father. “Give no ear to my brother or cousin,” said he. “Make peace, O my father, do not ruin thy possessions.” Vyatcheslav favored peace also. He had his own reasons for doing so. “Make peace,” said he to Yuri. “If not, and thou go, Izyaslav will destroy my country.” [[77]]