Sviatoslav I vs Wuqimai

Sviatoslav led a campaign against the Khazar Khaganate, capturing the fortress of Sarkel and sacking the capital, Atil. This destroyed the Khazar state, ending its dominance over the steppes and opening the Volga trade route to Rus control.

Sviatoslav invaded the First Bulgarian Empire at the request of the Byzantine Emperor. He defeated the Bulgarian army, occupied much of the country, and established his capital at Pereyaslavets on the Danube, threatening Byzantium.

After a three-month siege by Byzantine forces under Emperor John I Tzimiskes, Sviatoslav's army was defeated at Dorostolon. He was forced to surrender, renounce claims to Bulgaria, and withdraw from the Balkans.

Returning to Kiev, Sviatoslav was ambushed and killed by the Pechenegs at the Dnieper Rapids. The Pecheneg chief Kurya made a drinking cup from Sviatoslav's skull. His death ended his expansionist campaigns.

Wuqimai, as regent for Aguda, negotiated the Alliance Conducted at Sea with the Northern Song dynasty. The alliance agreed to jointly attack the Liao dynasty, with the Jin taking the Liao capitals and the Song recovering the Sixteen Prefectures.

After the fall of the Liao, Wuqimai launched a two-pronged invasion of the Northern Song dynasty. The Jin army besieged Kaifeng, forcing the Song emperor to sue for peace and pay heavy indemnities.

Wuqimai's forces captured Kaifeng, the Song capital, and seized Emperor Qinzong and his father Huizong. The two emperors were taken north as captives, ending the Northern Song dynasty and beginning the Southern Song.