From a long chain of nationally original works of Russian literature - “military” stories of the 11th-17th centuries. - the best ones were selected, combining the skill of depicting battle paintings with an understanding of the socio-political meaning of the events described. “The Tale of the Devastation of Ryazan by Batu in 1237,” arbitrarily compiled by I.I. Sreznevsky from various lists, was published in 1867 and then reprinted in various anthologies. The text of “Tales about the Battle of Kulikovo...” was reconstructed by V.P. Adrianova-Peretz based on the most authoritative list of the State Historical Museum with corrections for the other five lists. "The Tale of the Capture of Azov..." was first published by M.M. Shcherbatov in 1771, but the critical edition was carried out by A.S. Orlov in 1906. For this publication, the texts of the stories underwent new archaeographic study and reconstruction from handwritten sources. Only their Old Russian text is given, without translation into modern Russian. CONTENTS: The Tale of the Ruin of Ryazan (prepared for publication by D.S. Likhachev) Volokolamsk copy of the 16th century. (7). List of the Chronograph of 1599 (21). Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo by Zephanius of Ryazan (Zadonshchina) (prepared for publication by V.P. Adrianova-Peretz) (33). Stories about the capture of Azov and the siege in 1637 and 1642 . (prepared for publication by A.N. Robinson) (41). “Historical” story about the capture of Azov in 1637 (45). “Poetic” story about the Azov siege in 1642 (57). “Fairy-tale” story about Azov capture and siege (83).AppendicesAfterword (V.P.Adrianova-Peretz) (115).The story of the destruction of Ryazan by Batu (D.S.Likhachev) (119).Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo by Zephanius of Ryazan (V.P.Adrianova -Peretz) (143).Tales of the capture of Azov and the siege (A.N.Robinson) (166).Archaeographic commentary (compiled by D.S. Likhachev, V.P. Adrianova-Peretz and A.N. Robinson) ( 244).Options (267).I. The story of the destruction of Ryazan by Batu (prepared for publication by D.S. Likhachev) (267). II. A word about the Battle of Kulikovo by Zephaniah of Ryazan (Zadonshchina) (prepared for publication by V.P. Adrianova-Peretz) (269). III. “Historical” story about the capture of Azov and the siege (prepared for publication by A.N. Robinson) (272). IV. “Fairy-tale” story about the capture and siege (prepared for publication by A.N. Robinson) (274). Geographical and historical commentary (284). I. The story of the ruin of Ryazan by Batu (compiled by D.S. Likhachev) (284). II. A Word about the Battle of Kulikovo by Zephaniah of Ryazan (Zadonshchina); (compiled by V.P.Adrianova-Peretz) (296).III. “Historical” story about the capture of Azov (compiled by A.N. Robinson) (306). IV. “Poetic” story about the Azov siege (compiled by A.N. Robinson) (314).V. “Fairy-tale” story about the capture of Azov and the siege (compiled by A.N. Robinson) (330). Bibliography (332). Name index (336). Geographical index (341). Dictionary (345). List of illustrations (355).