Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263) defended the core of Rus' from the armed and spiritual aggression of geopolitical opponents of Rus' in the mid-13th century.
Alexander Nevsky won famous victories over the Swedes (Battle of Neva on July 15, 1240, hence the nickname) and knights Livonian Order (Battle on the Ice on Lake Peipus on April 5, 1242).
In 1237, the knights-monks of two orders - the Teutonic and the Sword-Bearers, united and created the powerful Livonian Order. In fact, a state was formed whose purpose of existence was to seize the Baltic states, advance to Rus' and forcefully Catholicize the conquered population.
The conquest that began was difficult. The Baltic states were then inhabited by the ancient Baltic peoples: Estonians, Lithuanians, Zhmud, Yatvingians and Prussians. All of them were in a state of homeostasis (equilibrium with natural environment), and the strength of these peoples was only enough to survive in their native landscape. Therefore, in the fight against the Livonian Order, the Balts limited themselves to defense. But since they defended to the last, surrendering only dead, the Germans initially did not have much success. The knights were helped by the fact that they were supported by a very warlike tribe - the Livs. In addition, the knights found a valuable ally - the Swedes, who subjugated the Finnish tribes Sumy and Em.
Gradually the Germans turned the Letts into serfs, but the Estonians refused to submit to them, having significant connections with the Russians. The existence of these connections is confirmed by the following fact: the cities that are now called Tallinn and Tartu (before the revolution, respectively: Revel and Dorpat) have Russian historical names Kolyvan and Yuryev (by Christian name the founder of this city, Yaroslav the Wise).
In 1240, the Swedish fleet entered the mouth of the Neva, approached the confluence of the Izhora River and landed troops, ready to launch an attack on Novgorod.
The people of Novgorod called for help from the young prince Alexander Yaroslavich, known to grateful descendants as Alexander Nevsky. At that time he was only twenty-two years old, but he was an intelligent, energetic and brave man, and most importantly, a true patriot of his homeland. Alexander was unable to gather large forces. With his small Suzdal detachment and a few Novgorod volunteers, Alexander reached the Neva with a forced march and attacked the Swedish camp. In this battle, the Novgorodians and Suzdalians covered themselves eternal glory. So, one Novgorodian named Gavrila Oleksich rushed onto a Swedish boat on horseback, fought with the Swedes on their ship, was thrown into the water, remained alive and again entered the battle. Alexander's servant Ratmir died heroically, fighting on foot with many opponents at once. The Swedes, who did not expect an attack, were completely defeated and fled at night on ships from the place of defeat.
Novgorod was saved by the sacrifice and valor of Alexander's comrades, but the threat to Rus' remained. Teutonic Knights in 1240-1241. intensified the pressure on Izborsk, striving to conquer Pskov. And in Pskov, a strong pro-German party emerged among the boyars. Relying on her help, by 1242 the Germans captured this city, as well as Yam and Koporye and again began to threaten Novgorod. In the winter of 1242, Alexander Nevsky with his Suzdal, or, as they said then, “Nizovsky” squads, with the support of the Novgorodians and Pskovites, attacked against the German detachment stationed in Pskov. Having liberated Pskov, he moved towards the main forces of the Livonians, who were retreating, bypassing Lake Peipsi. On west bank lake, at the Crow Stone, the Germans had to take the fight.
On ice Lake Peipsi(“on Uzmen, at the Raven Stone”) a battle took place, which went down in history as Battle on the Ice.
The knights were supported by foot mercenaries armed with spears and the allies of the order - the Livs. The knights lined up in a “pig” formation: the most powerful warrior in front, followed by two others, followed by four, and so on. The onslaught of such a wedge was irresistible to the lightly armed Russians, and Alexander did not even try to stop the blow German troops. On the contrary, he weakened his center and gave the knights the opportunity to break through it. Meanwhile, the reinforced Russian flanks attacked both wings of the German army. The Livs ran, the Germans resisted desperately, but since it was spring, the ice cracked and the heavily armed knights began to drown.
“And they chased them, beating them, seven miles across the ice.” According to Novgorod Chronicle, countless “chuds” and 500 German knights died, and 50 knights were captured. “And Prince Alexander returned with a glorious victory,” says the Life of the Saint, “and there were many captives in his army, and they led barefoot next to the horses of those who call themselves “God’s knights.”
The Battle of the Ice had great value for the fate of not only Novgorod, but all of Russia. Was stopped on the ice of Lake Peipsi crusading aggression Latin Rus' received peace and stability on its northwestern borders.
The Battle of the Ice, together with the Neva victory, gave complete triumph to Orthodoxy over the machinations against it by the Pope and for a long time stopped the offensive movements against Rus' of the Swedes and Germans in the most sorrowful and difficult years of Russian life
In the same year, a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod and the Order, according to which prisoners were exchanged and all Russian territories captured by the Germans were returned. The chronicle conveys the words German ambassadors, addressed to Alexander: “What we took by force without the prince, Vod, Luga, Pskov, Latygola - we are retreating from all of that. And what we captured your husbands - we are ready to exchange them: we will release yours, and you will let ours go.”
Having suffered defeat on the battlefield, the Roman Church decided to subjugate the Russian lands by other, diplomatic means. An extraordinary embassy from Pope Innocent IV arrived in Novgorod.
The Pope sent two of his noblest nobles, Cardinals Gold and Gement, to Alexander Nevsky with a letter in which he demanded that Alexander, together with his Russian people, convert to Latinism. The cunning cardinals, having handed Alexander a papal letter dated February 8, 1248, began, of course, in every possible way to persuade him to convert to Latinism, assuring him that only by renouncing Orthodoxy would he find help from Western sovereigns and thereby save both himself and his people from the Tatars. To this Alexander, outraged to the depths of his soul by such a proposal, menacingly answered them: “Hear, messengers of the pope and the most repentant maidens. From Adam and to the flood, and from the flood to the division of the language and the beginning of Abraham, and from Abraham to the coming of Israel through the Red Sea , and from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon to Augustus the king, and from the beginning of Augustus to the Nativity of Christ, and to the passion and to His Resurrection and entry into heaven, and to the reign of the Great Constantine, and to the first Council and to the seventh Council: we know all this well, but we do not accept teachings from you.”
In this answer, Alexander should not be seen as some kind of limitation. The reluctance to even enter into debates with the papal legates meant the moral, religious and political choice of the prince. He refused a possible alliance with the West against the Tatars, because, probably, he understood too well that in reality the West could not help Rus' in any way; the fight against the Tatars, to which he was called upon Holy See, could be disastrous for the country.
Alexander Nevsky rejected the Pope's proposal to accept Catholicism and the title of king and remained faithful to Orthodoxy (Daniil Galitsky, Grand Duke of Galicia-Volyn Rus', agreed to this).
The Pope announced crusade against ORTHODOXY AND Rus' (remember that, at the instigation of the pope, in 1204 the crusaders captured Orthodox Constantinople, which was subjected to terrible looting and destruction).
In 1247, Alexander Nevsky became the Grand Duke of Vladimir. To protect against external military and spiritual aggression, A. Nevsky concluded a strategic military-political union with the Golden Horde. He bound himself by oath of brotherhood with Batu’s son, Sartak (a Nestorian Christian). Batu, having become the adoptive father of Alexander Nevsky, helps the Russians repel the aggression of Catholicism. ORTHODOXY AND Rus' WERE SAVED. The armed forces of Catholicism were defeated. Aggression from the West has failed.
Batu's campaign from Aral Sea to the Adriatic, he gave all the power to the Mongols Eastern Europe, and it seemed that everything would be over with Orthodoxy. But circumstances developed in such a way that events flowed in a different direction. During the campaign, Batu quarreled with his cousins, Guyuk, the son of the most supreme khan Ogedei, and Buri, the son of the great guardian Yasa Chagatai. The fathers took the side of Batu and punished their presumptuous sons with disgrace, but when Ogedei died in 1241 and power fell into the hands of Guyuk’s mother, Khansha Turakina, the squads of Guyuk and Buri were recalled - and poor Batu found himself the ruler of a huge country, having only 4 thousand faithful soldiers with super-strained relations with the central government. There could be no question of forcibly retaining the conquered territories. Returning to Mongolia meant a cruel death. And then Batu, a smart and far-sighted man, began a policy of seeking an alliance with the Russian princes Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and his son Alexander. Their lands were not subject to tribute.
At the beginning of 1248, Guyuk died suddenly. Batu, who received the preponderance of forces, enthroned Tolui's son, Mongke, the leader of the Christian-Nestorian party, and Guyuk's supporters were executed in 1251. Immediately changed foreign policy Mongolian ulus. Attack on Catholic Europe was canceled, and instead the “Yellow Crusade” was launched, as a result of which Baghdad fell (1258). Batu, who became the de facto head of the empire, strengthened his position, tied new subjects to himself and created the conditions for the transformation of the Golden Horde into an independent khanate, which happened after the death of Mongke, when a new wave of unrest tore the Chinggisid empire apart. Nestorianism, associated with the princes of the Tolui line, turned out to be outside the Golden Horde.
This situation (the friendship and alliance of Alexander Nevsky and Sartak) continued until the death of Sartak in 1256, after which Berke Khan converted to Islam, but allowed the founding of a diocese in Sarai in 1261 and favored the Orthodox, relying on them in the war with the Persian Ilkhans.
Alexander Nevsky had to experience an incredible shock: his entire life was under threat. political line. In 1256, his ally Batu died, and in the same year Batu’s son Sartak was poisoned because of his sympathies for Christianity. And by whom? Batu's brother Berke Khan, who relied on Horde Muslims. Berke converted to Islam, massacred the Nestorians in Samarkand, poisoned his nephew, and established a Muslim dictatorship, although without further religious persecution. True to his principle of fighting for the interests of the Fatherland, Alexander Nevsky this time “laid down his soul for his friends.” He went to Berke and agreed to pay tribute to the Mongols in exchange for military assistance against the Lithuanians and Germans.
In 1261, in Sarai, through the efforts of Alexander Nevsky and Mongol khans Berke and Mengu-Timur opened a courtyard of an Orthodox bishop. He was not subjected to any persecution; It was believed that the Bishop of Sarsk was the representative of the interests of Rus' and all Russian people at the court of the Great Khan. If it began in Rus' princely strife, the khan sent the Sarsky bishop with the Tatar bek (necessarily a Christian), and they decided controversial issues at princely congresses. If someone didn't take into account by decision and tried to continue specific war, he was forced to peace with the help of the Tatar cavalry.
Relying on an alliance with Berke, Alexander decided not only to stop the German movement into Rus', but also to undermine its very possibility. He concluded an alliance with the Lithuanian prince Mindaugas, his peer, directed against the crusaders.
Alexander Yaroslavich was on the threshold of his second, no less significant than in the case of the Horde, diplomatic victory. But in 1263, in the midst of preparations for a joint campaign against the Livonian Order, returning from another trip to the Horde, the prince died. It can be assumed that Alexander Yaroslavich died, to put it modern language, from stress. Indeed, such complex diplomatic actions brilliant victories, the fight against compatriots demanded too much nervous tension which not everyone can do. However, it seems strange that Mindovg also died soon. The thought involuntarily suggests itself that the cause of Prince Alexander’s death was not stress; rather, in the death of Alexander and Mindaugas the efforts of Catholic agents should be seen operating in Rus' and Lithuania.
The military-political unification of Rus' with the Golden Horde in 1247 is undoubtedly. This unification occurred 9 years after Batu’s campaign. The Russian princes began to pay tribute only in 1258. Mamaia's coup in 1362 led to a break traditional union Rus' and the Golden Horde. Then Mamai entered into an alliance with Catholics to fight Orthodox Moscow. In 1380, during the Battle of Kulikovo, this alliance against Orthodoxy and Rus' was destroyed.
In other words, Alexander Nevsky recognized the sovereignty of the Khan of the Golden Horde, and this happened in the very year when the pope declared a crusade against Orthodox Rus'. The obvious interconnection of these events gives the right to understand the Rus'-HORDE situation as a military-political alliance. The Grand Duke of Vladimir becomes an ally of the Khan of the Golden Horde. It was the Russian troops that formed the basis Mongol troops, which conquered Persia and Syria, captured Baghdad in 1258.
The union of the Horde and Rus' was realized thanks to the patriotism and dedication of Prince Alexander Nevsky. In the conciliar opinion of his descendants, the choice of Alexander Yaroslavich received the highest approval. Behind unprecedented feats in the name of native land The Russian Orthodox Church recognized the prince as a saint.
The Golden Horde gave the Russians Orthodox Church special shortcuts that any defamation of the Orthodox faith was punishable by death.
The dominant behavior formulated by Alexander - altruistic patriotism - determined the principles of the structure of Rus' for several centuries to come. The traditions of alliance with the peoples of Asia laid down by the prince, based on national and religious tolerance, until the 19th century, peoples living in adjacent territories were attracted to Russia. And finally, it was the descendants of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky who built on the ruins of the ancient Kievan Rus new Rus'. At first it was called Moscow, and from the end of the 15th century it began to be called Russia. The youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniil, received a tiny town in the wilderness - Moscow - as his reign.
On December 6, the Church honors the memory of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. A great feat fell to the lot of Saint Alexander - to save Russia, he had to simultaneously demonstrate the valor of a warrior and the humility of a monk. The feat of military glory awaited the prince on the banks of the Neva and on the ice of Lake Peipsi: knights Catholic orders they sought to enslave Rus' and desecrate the shrines of Russian Orthodoxy. Feeling with all his soul the “pillar and foundation of Truth” in the Church, understanding the fateful significance of this Truth of Christ in Russian life, Saint Prince Alexander took upon himself the heavy cross of the sovereign defender of the purity of faith, the guardian and guardian of the spiritual fullness of Russian statehood.
A feat of humility awaited him in his relations with the arrogant and satiated Mongol Horde. Khan Batu sent to tell the prince: God has conquered many nations to me: are you the only one who doesn’t want to submit to my power? Seeing in what happened God's permission and punishment for the sins of internecine princely enmity, Saint Alexander decided to recognize the seniority of the khan, not wanting to torment his Fatherland with the horrors of another war.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body,” declares the Word of God. Moreover, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna (Matt. 10:28). The soul of Russia has always lived and breathed the grace of the Church. Mongol slavery did not threaten her, bringing death only to the state body of the fragmented specific Rus'. But heretical Latinism threatened Russian life with mortal harm.
Having relied on the truths of the Law of God and the Commandments of Christ, Saint Alexander was the first to lead Rus' onto that path, following which it grew and strengthened year by year, turning as a result from a community of small warring principalities into the great Orthodox Kingdom, the protector and custodian of Ecumenical Orthodoxy.
“God is not in power, but in truth.” Many people know this wonderful saying, which has long become a proverb, but few know who it belongs to. It belongs to the holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, whose memory the Russian Church celebrates on December 6 (the day of his funeral service). And again - September 12 (the day of the transfer of his holy relics from the city of Vladimir to the reigning city of St. Peter).
The reign of Alexander Nevsky (1236-1263) coincided with one of the most difficult and tragic periods of Russian history: they came from the east Mongol hordes, knightly hordes of “crusaders” (Swedes and German knights Livonian Order).
The horror of this situation was expressed in the fact that, on the one hand, the threat of invasion of the steppe nomads - the Mongols - loomed over the Russian lands, which certainly led to enslavement, in best case scenario, and to destruction at worst. On the other, Baltic side best option promised the Russian people a renunciation of the Christian faith and kneeling before the banners of Western Catholicism.
Rus' was weakened by those who overwhelmed her internecine wars. Each principality tried to exist in its own way. Brother went at brother. Everything was used: murder, joining family ties with authoritative foreign families, incest, intrigue, flirtation and simultaneous cruelty with the townspeople. Historical conditions the period in which the princes were appointed pushed them to take certain actions.
Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky became central figure new, reborn from the ruins of the petty princely appanages of Rus', and it was to him that eyes were turned as to the defender and unifier of the lands in the face of the Golden Horde threat and Catholic invaders.
In 1241, Alexander appeared in Novgorod and cleared his region of enemies, and in next year Together with his brother Andrei, he moved to help Pskov, where the German governors were sitting.
Alexander liberated Pskov and from here, without wasting time, moved to the border of the Livonian Order, which ran along Lake Peipsi.
Blessed Alexander is one of our most famous fellow countrymen. His name has never left the lips of the Russian people from the days of his reign to our time. Even in Soviet period the name of the holy prince was not forgotten, despite the atheism prevailing in the country - so great were his services to the country.
Prince Alexander was born on May 30, 1220 in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Here, in the Transfiguration Cathedral, he received holy baptism. In 1223, Alexander's parents - Prince Yaroslav Vsevlodovich and Princess Theodosia - transported him to Novgorod, where Yaroslav was invited to reign. It did not last long, and in the same year Yaroslav returned.
The townspeople again turned to the Pereslavl prince in 1226. This time he did not go himself, but sent his sons with the boyars - nine-year-old Theodore and eight-year-old Alexander. But the boyars also failed to control the Novgorodians, and in 1229 they and the young princes had to flee.
Story " complicated love" of Novgorodians and Alexander continued throughout his life. In 1230 he returned to the city. From now on he formally Novgorod prince. In 1239 he married Alexandra, daughter of the Polotsk prince.
The beginning of his independent reign - time Tatar invasion to Rus'. However, Batu’s hordes did not reach Novgorod. North-Eastern Rus' was devastated and imposed with the heaviest tribute, the great fortresses of Vladimir, Suzdal, Ryazan fell; the flower of the Russian principality perished.
In these circumstances, Alexander's surviving father becomes Grand Duke. Sensing the weakening of Rus', enemy forces from the north-west become more active. Sweden begins an attack on the lands of the Finnish tribe of Tavasts, who were in the zone of Novgorod influence, and in 1240 invades directly into the lands Novgorod Republic. Swedish ships enter the Neva, and soldiers camp at its tributary Izhora.
“God is not in power, but in truth!” - with these words, twenty-year-old Alexander gathers an army and, without waiting for his father’s help, sets off on a campaign. On the morning before the battle, the elder of the Izhors, Pelgusius, who had previously informed the prince about the Swedish landing, was standing on patrol, and saw a boat floating on the waters, and Boris and Gleb shining in it. The elder heard the words: “Brother Gleb, tell us to row, and let us help our relative, Prince Alexander.” Before the outcome of the battle, the prince forbade him to tell the soldiers about this, but he himself rejoiced in his heart.
After many years, the sexton who spent the night in the temple will see how candles were lit near the shrine with the relics of the saint and two elders approached her from the altar with the words: “Get up, Alexander, and hasten to the aid of your great-grandson Demetrius, the prince, who is being overcome by foreigners...”. And at that same moment the saint rose from the shrine as if alive and all three disappeared. It was the night before the Battle of Kulikovo.
The battle ended in complete victory for the Russians. After this, the young prince received the nickname “Nevsky” for the rest of his life, although this was far from the last of his battles.
In 1241, the prince and his court left for Pereslavl after another conflict with the Novgorodians, but in the same year they again persuaded the prince to return - the troops of the Livonian Order of the Swords approached the city, taking Izborsk and Pskov after Alexander’s departure.
The prince recaptures the cities and on April 5, 1242, a famous battle took place on the ice of Lake Peipus, called the “Battle of the Ice” by chroniclers. The Germans and Estonians, moving in a wedge (in Russian - “pig”), penetrated the leading Russian regiment, but were then surrounded and completely defeated. “And they chased them, beating them, seven miles across the ice,” the chronicler testifies. About 500 German soldiers were killed and 50 were taken prisoner, not counting the killed and captured Chud soldiers. Among the Germans, 20 were killed and 6 captured full members Orders - the elite of the army. The Order makes peace with Novgorod, prisoners are exchanged and Russian territories are returned.
However, militant fervor in relations with the West was not the principled position of the holy prince. Yes, he fixed it diplomatic relations with Norway, signed trade agreements with Gotland, Lübeck and nearby German cities. However, the prince's attention was forced to move to the east. The Nevryuev army marched to Rus'.
The prince builds relations with the Horde completely differently. In 1246, his father Grand Duke Yaroslav died, and Alexander and his brother Andrei went to Karakorum, the capital Mongol Empire to confirm his princely powers. Having followed to the very heart of the indestructible empire, which subjugated half the world, the faithful Alexander understands that all the pathos of the Russian princes is nothing in comparison with this military machine. With such decline and fragmentation, Rus' simply has nothing to oppose to the Empire. The only way out- this is a submissive vassalage with the accumulation of strength for a future breakthrough.
After visiting the imperial capital and receiving the nominal title of "Grand Duke of Kyiv" (the city was almost wiped off the face of the earth by the Mongol invaders), the saint receives the ambassadors of Pope Innocent IV. They offer the coronation of a prince from papal hands and military assistance in exchange for the transfer of the Russian Church to the rule of Rome. The prince was not seduced by this proposal, realizing that the East is greedy only for Russian money, which can be accumulated more, and the West thirsts for a soul, damaging which any successes and conquests will be meaningless. He answered the pope in a letter: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of languages,... from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord... from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first council, from the first council to the seventh - we know all this well, and from you the teachings We don’t accept.” The ambassadors returned to Rome empty-handed.
In 1252, during the saint’s stay in the Horde, the khan sent punitive detachments to Rus' against the Grand Duke Andrei of Vladimir. Rus' in Once again was ruined, Prince Andrei fled to Sweden.
Saint Alexander Nevsky becomes the Grand Duke of Vladimir. In his relations with the Horde, the prince tries as much as possible to ward off new military campaigns against Rus', regularly paying tribute and bringing the rebellious cities and princes into submission to the Horde. During this period, the prince tries to strengthen the Russian lands as much as possible and military force, and spiritual labors, erecting fortresses and temples.
“The two feats of Alexander Nevsky - the feat of warfare in the West and the feat of humility in the East,” wrote the greatest historian of the Russian Abroad G.V. Vernadsky, “had one goal: the preservation of Orthodoxy as the moral and political force of the Russian people. This goal was achieved: the growth of the Russian Orthodox kingdom took place on the soil prepared by Alexander.”
During his next trip to the Mongols in 1262, undertaken due to the Novgorod and Rostov uprisings, the prince fell ill. In the summer of 1263 he returned to Rus', already dying. In Gorodets, feeling the approach of death, Alexander took monastic tonsure with the name Alexy and died on November 14. His body was transported to Vladimir and buried on November 23. As one of the chroniclers would later say, Prince Alexander “worked hard for Novgorod and for the entire Russian land.”
His relics rested in Vladimir, in early XVIII centuries were transferred by Peter I to St. Petersburg to the monastery founded in his honor - the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where they rest to this day.
Priest Alexander Satomsky,
press secretary of the Yaroslavl diocese, rector of the Epiphany Church in Yaroslavl
7 Labors of Alexander Nevsky 1. Neva massacre The first feat for which Alexander Yaroslavovich received his nickname was the legendary Neva Massacre. Nevsky's squad defeated the Swedes at the mouth of the Izhora River. The prince personally participated in the battle and “put a seal on the face of the king himself with his sharp spear,” that is, he inflicted serious injuries on the Swedish leader Birger with a spear. It is believed that the victory of Nevsky prevented Russia from losing its shores Gulf of Finland and stopped Swedish aggression to the Novgorod-Polotsk lands. It is worth recognizing that the battle was not large-scale; rather, it was a special operation in which the prince’s squad seized a strategic and tactical advantage, unexpectedly attacking the Swedes. 2. Alexander vs the Germans After returning from the Battle of the Neva, Alexander returned to Novgorod, but quarreled with the boyars and was forced to leave for Pereslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, the Germans showed extraordinary aggression, taking Izborsk, Pskov, the land of the Vozhans and Koporye. When the adversaries approached Novgorod, it was time to turn to Yaroslav for help. Yaroslav wanted to send his youngest son Andrei to help, but the Novgorodians insisted on Alexander’s candidacy. In 1241 Alexander cleared Novgorod lands from the Germans. in 1242, having waited for help from Vladimir (led by Andrei), he liberated Pskov. 3. Battle of the Ice The decisive battle against the Livonian Order took place on Lake Peipsi in the winter of 1242. Historically important battle, in which Nevsky’s troops won a decisive victory, stopped German aggression. The details of this clash are described in detail, every schoolchild knows about how the Germans walked like a pig and knights, dressed in heavy armor, went under the ice of Lake Peipsi. According to legend, the Russians chased the Germans across the ice for 7 miles. Under the terms of peace, the Order abandoned all recent conquests and ceded part of Latgale to the Novgorodians. 4. Nevsky vs Lithuanians In 1245, the Lithuanian army under the leadership of Mindaugas attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Alexander s Novgorod army took Toropets, where he killed almost ten Lithuanian princes. After the capture of Toropets, Alexander sent the Novgorodians home and on his own (with the forces of his court and squad) caught up with and completely destroyed the Lithuanian troops at Lake Zhitsa. On the way back, Nevsky defeated another Lithuanian detachment along Usvyatoy. Nevsky's squad was formidable force, the mere mention of him instilled fear in his enemies. Such glory could not fail to reach the Great Khan. Nevsky's father, Yaroslav, was sent to Karakorum, and Nevsky was "summoned" to the Horde to Batu. 5. Nevsky vs Catholics Alexander Nevsky was canonized not so much for his military exploits and repeated manifestations of devotion to the interests of Rus', but for the fact that he stopped the attempt of Catholics to instill their faith. Pope Innocent IV sent his cardinals to Nevsky, who, as a result, left Nevsky without a slurp, having listened to a fiery speech, not devoid of rhetorical turns: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of languages, from the confusion of tongues to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham until Israel passed through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the children of Israel until the death of King David, from the beginning of Solomon's kingdom until Augustus the king, from the beginning of Augustus until Christmas Nativity, from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension into heaven, from the Ascension into heaven to the kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first council, from the first council to the seventh - we know all this well, and from you We don’t accept the teaching.” 6. Nevsky the diplomat Alexander Nevsky was not only a successful commander, but also a good diplomat who concluded important agreements. Around 1251, Alexander concluded an agreement between Novgorod and Norway to settle border disputes and differentiate the collection of tribute from huge territory, where Karelians and Sami lived. Between 1259 and 1262, Alexander concluded a treaty of trade with the "Gothic Coast" (Gotland), Lübeck and German cities. This agreement played important role in the history of Russian-German relations and turned out to be very durable (it was referred to even in 1420). 7. Nevsky Saint Except his own feats of arms, Nevsky also performed spiritual feats. He strengthened Orthodox faith, actively contributed to the spread of Orthodoxy to the North, among the Pomors. After the terrible devastation of Nevryuev, Nevsky took care of the restoration of the destroyed Vladimir and other Russian cities. The prince “erected churches, rebuilt cities, gathered dispersed people into their homes,” testifies the author of the prince’s Life. The prince showed special concern for the Church, decorating churches with books and utensils, rewarding them with rich gifts and land
The history of our country contains many glorious battles. Some of them have gained particular fame. For example, almost any person in a conversation about famous battles will mention Battle of the Neva And Battle on the Ice. It is not surprising, because thanks to these events, Rus' was once able to maintain and protect its borders. But both the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice could have ended more pitifully if not for great commander, who led our troops - Alexander Nevskiy.
short biography
began on May 13, 1221. His father was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, and his mother was Rostislava Mstislavna. The boy spent his childhood in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, but it did not last long. Already at the age of nine, Alexander was sent to rule Novgorod along with his brother Fedor. In 1233, Fedor died, and three years later Yaroslav Vsevolodovich left for Kyiv.
Thus, Alexander became the sole ruler of Novgorod at the age of 15.
Personal life
In 1239, the prince found family happiness in Toropets with Princess Alexandra of Polotsk. The wedding took place in the Church of St. George. This marriage resulted in the birth of several children:
- Vasily - 1240;
- Dmitry - 1250;
- Andrey - 1255;
- Daniel - 1261;
- Evdokia.
Battle of Neva
Alexander began to be called Nevsky, thanks to battle on the Neva. This battle brought the prince worldwide fame. The Battle of the Neva took place in 1240 on the banks of the Neva River. The battle was fought against the Swedes, who wanted to capture Pskov and Novgorod. It is noteworthy that Alexander’s army, without the support of the main army, was able to defeat the enemy. Before the battle, the prince came out to the troops with words of support, which have survived to this day thanks to chronicles.
These words inspired the warriors, and they were able to win a confident and crushing victory. The Swedes suffered huge losses and were forced to retreat.
Despite successful outcome of the Battle of the Neva, Alexander had a conflict with the Novgorodians, and the prince was forced to leave the city. But in 1241, the Livonian Order, consisting of German and Danish troops, invaded the territory of Novgorod. Novgorodians were forced to turn to the prince for help. Alexander did not disappoint - having arrived with his army, he liberated the cities captured by the Livonian Order, and then led his troops to the enemy border. There, on Lake Peipus, it took place decisive battle.
Battle on the Ice
April 5, 1242 on the ice of Lake Peipus The troops of Alexander Nevsky and the Livonian Order met. Thanks to the prince's cunning tactics, the enemy troops were surrounded on the flanks and defeated. The remnants of the troops tried to escape from the battlefield, running away across the frozen lake. They were pursued for 7.4 km princely troops.
There are several versions about this chase. There is very popular information that the warriors of the Livonian Order were dressed in heavy armor. The thin ice of Lake Peipsi could not support their weight and cracked. Therefore, most of those enemies who survived drowned. However, Wikipedia mentions that this information only appeared in later sources. But in the records made in the coming years after the battle, nothing is said about this.
Anyway, The Battle of the Ice had crucial . After it, a truce was concluded and there was no longer a threat to the cities of Rus' from the Order.
Years of reign
Alexander became famous not only for his victories in famous battles. He understood that battles alone were not enough to protect the country. Therefore, in 1247, after the death of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander went on a visit to the Horde Khan Batu. The negotiations were successful, so the prince received control Principality of Kiev, and his brother Andrey - Vladimirskoye.
In 1252, Andrei renounced the Vladimir principality and fled. This almost provoked new conflict with the Tatar-Mongols, but Alexander again paid a visit to the Horde. Thus, he achieved the ability to manage and Principality of Vladimir.
Subsequently, Alexander continued to adhere to the same line of behavior. This policy is perceived in two ways by society. Many considered and consider Nevsky practically a traitor, not understanding why he was constantly in contact with the Horde. In addition, Nevsky not only visited the khans, but also contributed in every possible way to the implementation of their plans. For example, in 1257, Alexander helped the Horde conduct a census of the population of Rus', which the entire people were against. And in general, in relations with the Tatar-Mongols, he showed humility and paid tribute without stint.
On the other hand, thanks to this policy, he was able to free Rus' from the obligation to provide troops to the Horde for military campaigns and saved the country from Tatar-Mongol raids. The main thing for him was survival, both his own and that of the entire people. And he successfully coped with this task.
Death
During his next visit to the Tatar-Mongols, which took place in 1262, Prince Alexander Nevsky became very ill. By the time he returned home, his condition was very serious. Before his death, the prince managed to convert to Orthodoxy under the name Alexy. His life ended on November 14, 1263, the funeral took place in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery.
Curious facts
