The health of Alexander broke down and he died upon his way home; his death being announced while the people were celebrating their victory. He at once became the national hero and it was recognized that by his victories over his enemies in the West he had at least given one glory to his country and had hindered her from despairing under the most cruel tyranny, material and moral, which the European people had ever suffered. His death occurred in 1262 in the midst of the darkest hour of national calamity, relieved only by his diplomacy on the one hand and his victories on the other.
The Mongol yoke, while heavy, had not suppressed altogether Russian institutions and, in fact, the Tartars did not introduce any direct political change. They left to each principality her laws, her courts of justice and her native chiefs, Andrew Bogolioubski continued to rule in Souzdal, and Daniel Romanovitch in Galitch, while the Olgovitches remained at the head of their people in Thcernigof. Novgorod, with its republican institutions, was allowed to continue to expel and recall princes, and the dynasties of the South were left to fight over the throne of Kief.
The Russians found themselves in the position of a tributary nation with their own local government practically undisturbed. The people continued in possession of their lands on which their nomad conqueror's encamped on the steppes, regarding such property with disdain. They cared only for herds of camels and buffalos, their droves of horses and flocks of goats. They wanted the grass but not the ground.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
