by Mark Galeotti
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 96 pages. 2026.
Subtitle: Ivan the Terrible Breaks the Kazan Khanate
The Russian early Renaissance period is pretty much a complete mystery to me — a perfect topic for an Osprey Campaign volume. This certainly enlightened me.
The city of Kazan is about 500 miles east of Moscow and back then part of the territory that stretched towards Moscow and partway down the Volga River. Consider the Khanate one of the successor states to the Mongols, so battles and campaigns swirled around the neighborhood.
The first two sieges by the Russians failed, but the third proved a charm. Cannons battered and mining undermined the wooden walls. Troops swarmed in and after only a day, the city was captured by the Russians. The guerrilla war lasted years until additional Russian forces clamped that down.
The campaign didn’t end at Kazan. The Russians marched down the Volga and took Astrakhan as well. Then they ran into the Ottoman Empire, but that’s a campaign for another day.
Per usual, the format includes commanders, plans, weaponry, equipment, tactics, and an overview of military operations. It’s all well documented, such as the sources allow, and well told.
The booklet contains 24 black and white illustrations, 22 color illustrations, 21 color photos, five color maps, one black and white map, two 3D color maps, and three color two-page action illustrations.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
