Battle of the Sula river

During the Cuman raid on the Principality of Pereyaslav, the Rus' princes Sviatopolk II of Kiev, Oleg I of Chernigov and Vladimir II Monomakh assembled an army of at least few thousand men, largely cavalrymen, in order to confront the Cuman intruders. The exact size of the Cuman army is unknown, but is believed to have been large.^[1]

The battle begun on 12 August, near Lubny, after Rus' forces crossed the Sula river, with Rus' troops calling out to Cumans and taking them by surprise. Cumans were too shocked to be able to organise an efficient resistance and instead begun a chaotic retreat, with many fleeing on foot and abandoning their caravan with loot in the process.^[1] The Cumans were pursued by Rus' cavalry all the way to Khorol river, located 40–50km from Sula, leading to heavy losses among Cumans, as they, together with their leaders, were getting mauled by Rus' cavalry.^[1][2][3]

The battle resulted in Rus' victory. The losses among Rus' forces were light, while the Cumans suffered heavy losses, as their khan Taz [uk; ru] was killed and their khan Sugr [uk; ru] was captured alongside his brothers. However, Cuman chieftains Boniak and Sharukan [uk; ru] managed to escape.^[1][2][3] In 1110, Cumans again launched an attack on the Principality of Pereyaslav, but were repulsed.^[1] In 1111, Cumans would suffer another heavy defeat against the Rus' princes at the Battle of the Salnitsa river.^[3]