The symbol of Russia, the name of Russia, the great commander Prince Alexander Nevsky was one of the most significant figures of Ancient Rus' of the 13th century.
He was famous both as a military leader and as a wise politician. His activities were of unsurpassed importance for the construction of the Russian state. He remained forever in people's memory. His contemporaries loved him, his descendants are proud of him. Immediately after his death, “The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky” appeared, describing the life and victories of this great man. The death of the prince was a big blow for everyone. He is canonized and officially canonized in 1547.
What are the merits of Alexander Nevsky? This noble prince, like all people, was not ideal. He had his advantages and disadvantages. But throughout the centuries, information has remained about him as a wise ruler, a valiant military leader, a merciful and virtuous person.
The 13th century is a time in the history of our people when there was no centralized power, feudal princes ruled their estates and fought internecine wars. All this made the Russian land helpless in the face of the impending danger in the face of the Tatar-Mongols. During this difficult time for Rus', in 1231, Alexander became the Grand Duke of Novgorod. But his father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, had real power, and Alexander took part in military campaigns with his father.
In 1236, when his father took the throne of Kiev, Alexander became the rightful ruler of Novgorod. He was 16 years old then. Already in 1237-1238, Batu’s hordes destroyed many Russian cities: Vladimir, Ryazan, Suzdal. It was not particularly difficult for the Tatar-Mongols to establish their power over the scattered Russian principalities. At the same time, Novgorod survived, and the main threat to it was represented by the Lithuanian and German knights attacking from the west, and the Swedes from the north. Already at the age of twenty, Alexander led the army in the battle with the Swedes on the Neva, which took place on July 15, 1240.
Before the battle, the prince prayed for a long time in the Church of St. Sophia, then received a blessing and said the following words to the soldiers: “God is not in power, but in truth. Some with weapons, others on horses, but we will call on the Name of the Lord our God!” So the young prince went into battle for truth, for Rus', for God and won a victory, which became the first in a long series of victories for the great commander. From that time on, Prince Alexander began to be called Nevsky. As a commander, he was rightfully considered great, since he did not lose a single battle.
But it was not only for his military services that he was loved by the people. His courage and military genius were combined with nobility: Alexander never once raised a sword against his Russian brothers and did not participate in princely showdowns. Perhaps this provided him with popular veneration and glory throughout the centuries. He knew how to say such a fiery word to his people, which united, instilled faith and lifted the spirit.
This prayer warrior proved himself to be a far-sighted and wise statesman. He defended the interests not only of the Novgorod principality, but also of all northeastern lands. Through his efforts, Rus' and its originality have been preserved to this day. After all, it was Alexander who built his domestic and foreign policies in such a way as to protect the Russian lands from destruction. To this end, he more than once acted as an ambassador to Batu Khan on behalf of all the Russian princes. He concluded corresponding peace treaties with both the Tatar-Mongols and the Norwegians. His clear mind, accurate calculations, and desire to create turned out to be extremely important for the future unification of Russian lands around the Moscow Principality.
The prince's campaigns in the Finnish land and trips to Sarai were useful not only for strengthening the external authority of Rus'. The bright word of the Gospel was brought to Pomerania itself, and a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in the capital of the Golden Horde. Thus, the prince was also a preacher who contributed to the spread of the Word of God on earth. The Christianization of the pagans of the East is now considered the historical mission of Rus'.
Prince Alexander never returned from his last trip. His death was compared to the sunset for the entire Russian land. He died on November 14, 1263, and was buried on November 23 in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery. Considering the prince’s services to the fatherland, Tsar Peter I in 1724 ordered his relics to be transferred to St. Petersburg, where they are kept in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.
After the death of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, he was canonized. But the glory of him, his military exploits and good deeds remained among the people forever.
Kruglova Polina
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Competition of essays dedicated to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
An essay about:
“Why Alexander Nevsky is revered among the Russian people”
Performed:
Student of grade 10a, GBOU school No. 489
Kruglova Polina
Supervisor:
history and social studies teacher
GBOU school No. 489
Moskovsky district of St. Petersburg
Boykova Victoria Yurievna
Poster for Sergei Eisenstein’s film “Alexander Nevsky”. 1938
Alexander Nevsky is a glorious hero, defender of the Russian land, noble prince, patron saint of St. Petersburg. No matter how many years pass, no matter how much water flows away, Alexander Nevsky is a hero for centuries, his memory is imperishable. Why does the Russian people love and honor him so much? For bravery? For love of the Fatherland? Maybe because of how selflessly he defended the Orthodox faith? Let's try to figure it out.
Let's fast forward to May 1221 in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, where the future national hero, Alexander Nevsky, had just been born. For his father, in those years the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, and his mother Rostislava (Feodosia), he became the second son and second child. In 1225, Alexander, three years old, underwent the rite of initiation into warriors, performed in the Transfiguration Cathedral by the Bishop of Suzdal, Saint Simon. Perhaps this event symbolically predetermined the heroic future of the Orthodox Prince Alexander Nevsky.
Alexander grew up and matured, and in the meantime the year 1236 was passing in Rus'. It was then that Yaroslav Vsevolodovich established himself and began to reign in Kyiv, and his son, Alexander Yaroslavovich, a fifteen-year-old youth, became the prince of Novgorod. It probably wasn’t easy for young Alexander to reign in Novgorod, to keep his line under constant control and pressure from the obstinate and power-hungry boyars. Meanwhile, in these complex relationships, Alexander’s character was formed and tempered like a steel sword. He was kind, warm-hearted, and attentive towards the common people. Reliable and demanding in relation to combatants. Irreconcilable, incorruptible, uncompromising with those willful and capricious boyars who, with crafty speeches and treacherous deeds, tried to make the young prince a slave puppet.
From a young age, Alexander showed diplomacy, extraordinary intelligence, management talent, foresight and fairness. These qualities were then necessary for the Russian prince. Specific fragmentation. The expansion of the Germans and Danes begins in the Baltic lands neighboring the Novgorod Boyar Republic. A terrible invasion is coming from the east and, starting in 1237, the Mongol-Tatar horde “devours” more and more Russian lands. Ryazan, Vladimir, Suzdal and other large cities were burned and destroyed, Russian squads and some princes were killed, the Mongol-Tatars destroyed women, children, and the elderly. The path to Novgorod is open - the Mongols have passed through Tver and Torzhok, and suddenly the darkness of the Mongol warriors turns back. Why? There are different versions in history. One of them recognizes in this event the significance of Alexander Nevsky’s diplomatic negotiations with the Mongols. The Mongols were paid a huge ransom: the Novgorod land is rich, but the Mongols cannot be allowed near it, since in the north-west, in the lands of the Livonians, the situation was not stable, and the Swedes, opponents of freedom of Novgorod trade, have long looked like kites at the ruined, fragmented Russian land . Already here we see Alexander’s foresight, the strategic nature of his plan.
The young prince's fears were justified. In 1240, the Germans approached Pskov, and the Swedes moved to Novgorod. This became a serious, difficult test for the land of Novgorod and for Alexander himself, who was aware of his share of responsibility as a military leader. Defend the land from the Swedes at all costs. On the night of July 15, Alexander suddenly attacked the Swedes when they stopped at a rest camp on the Neva, at the mouth of the Izhora, inflicted a complete crushing defeat on them and received his proud nickname “Nevsky”.
In 1241, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod and was enthusiastically greeted by the residents as a valiant and glorious defender of the Russian Land, a talented commander and a wise prince. But the Novgorod nobility did not like this. A strong and powerful prince, beloved by the people, created a threat to the established priority position of the boyars in the Novgorod land, as well as their mercantile interests. Alexander Yaroslavovich was expelled from the city.
“The fight of Alexander Nevsky with Jarl Birger” N.K. Roerich
It is surprising that such a strong military man, whom thousands of residents of the Novgorod land would most likely follow, returns to Pereyaslavl. Probably, humility took hold in Alexander’s heart, but along with it there was a terrible, aching pain for the Russian Land. He, brave and decisive, understanding the military-political situation, could save cities and people, but is forced to remain inactive. Meanwhile, the Germans take Izborsk, then Pskov. The danger of popular indignation forced the rulers of Novgorod to again call on Alexander Yaroslavovich. How would someone else behave in this situation? We see in the history of Rus' during the period of fragmentation many examples when princes, because of their ambitions, selfishness, pride and grievances, did not fulfill their duty towards the Motherland. But Alexander forgives the offenders in the name of love for God, the Motherland and his neighbors - his compatriots. He conquers Russian cities. Inspired by his successes, Nevsky advances on Estonia, but is defeated and retreats to Lake Peipsi for a decisive battle. On April 5, 1942, a battle called the “Battle of the Ice” took place, where the main forces of the Teutonic Order were defeated. In the same year, the Germans made peace with Novgorod, renounced all occupied lands, not only in Rus', but also in Letgolia, and an exchange of prisoners was carried out. Only in ten years will the Teutons risk attacking Pskov!
The history of the two greatest battles in the Novgorod land is where every person begins their acquaintance with Alexander Nevsky. In these historical events, one can see not only the greatness of the commander’s talent, but also the high moral qualities of the person, the prince.
The 1938 feature film “Alexander Nevsky,” directed by Sergei Eisenstein, is dedicated to the events of 1242. Despite the fact that the film was shot in the Soviet anti-religious totalitarian state, Alexander is shown not only as a defender of the Russian land, a true patriot, but as a spiritual, deep, morally pure person.
“Battle on the Ice” V. A. Serov
Alexander's exploits cannot be forgotten, and they are not limited to the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice. In 1245, Alexander Nevsky liberated Torzhok and Bezhetsk, instilling fear and respect in the Lithuanians who attacked these cities.
There is information that ambassadors from the Pope from Rome came to Prince Alexander so that the prince could listen to their sermons. He, having thought, wrote the following answer: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of nations, from the confusion of nations to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of the Israelites through the sea, from the exodus of the children of Israel to the death of King David, from the beginning of the reign of Solomon until Augustus and before the birth of Christ, from the birth of Christ until his crucifixion and resurrection, from his resurrection and ascension into heaven and until the reign of Constantine, from the beginning of the reign of Constantine until the first council and the seventh - we know all this well, and from you the teachings We won't accept." The ambassadors had to return with nothing. This is explained by the fact that the prince was an Orthodox man, a deep and firm believer, he revered the priesthood and built his life according to the commandments of God.
It is known that Prince Alexander entered into diplomatic negotiations with the Mongols, wanting to improve the lot of the Russian people, tortured by tribute and the orders established by the Golden Horde. Why didn’t the prince oppose the Horde? Objectively, he would not have had enough strength for this. Negotiations were the only way. From the north-west there is one threat, from the east - another. I had to choose the lesser of two evils. The Mongols were smaller, because they did not set a goal to destroy the main spiritual core of the Earth, the Russian Orthodox faith. It is also known that the Horde feared and at the same time respected Alexander Nevsky, recognizing him as a great tactician and strategist.
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Time is inexorable, it goes by and takes its toll with every step. So Alexander’s time was running out. In 1262, Alexander went to the Horde to dissuade the khan from demanding a military levy from the Russian people. There Alexander is overtaken by illness, he leaves for Rus'. Just before his death, Alexander Nevsky accepted the schema and a new name in monastic vows - Alexy - and died on November 14, 1263.
Many years have passed since then, but we all remember and honor the son of the Russian Land, a glorious hero who gave his strength to serve the Fatherland.
It’s impossible to count how much good Alexander Yaroslavovich did for Rus': how many cities he rebuilt, how many churches he erected, how many unrest he settled!
It is no coincidence that in our time, when asked: “Who is your national hero?” - the majority have this answer: Alexander Nevsky: brave and smart, cruel to the enemy, but merciful to the unjustly offended - this is how his image has survived to this day. And how many more directors will immortalize him in their films? How many artists will depict him in paintings, how many books will be written?
Why do the Russian people revere Alexander Nevsky? In my opinion, the image of this national hero is multifaceted and each facet is a true virtue, recognized by Russian society for centuries. This is loyalty to the people and the fatherland, strength, courage, bravery - here we honor Alexander as the protector, thanks to whom we live in our native land. This includes statesmanship, diplomacy, and political foresight. Also, Alexander Nevsky defended not only the territory, but also the Orthodox faith, was a true believer and became a moral example for posterity. The blessed Prince Alexander is canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church and to this day is an intercessor and prayer book for us before God.
Alexander Nevsky - Novgorod prince and commander. Prince of Novgorod (1236-1240, 1241-1252 and 1257-1259), Grand Duke of Kiev (1249-1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1252-1263). Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Traditionally considered by Russian historians to be a Russian national hero, a truly Christian ruler, custodian of the Orthodox faith and freedom of the people.
Childhood and youth
Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky was born in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander's father, was the Prince of Pereyaslavl at the time of his son's birth, and later the Grand Duke of Kyiv and Vladimir. Rostislava Mstislavna, the mother of the famous commander - Princess of Toropets. Alexander had an older brother Fedor, who died at the age of 13, as well as younger brothers Andrei, Mikhail, Daniil, Konstantin, Yaroslav, Afanasy and Vasily. In addition, the future prince had sisters Maria and Ulyana.
At the age of 4, the boy underwent the rite of initiation into warriors at the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral and became a prince. In 1230, his father put Alexander and his older brother in charge of Novgorod. But after 3 years, Fedor dies, and Alexander remains the only legal successor of the principality. In 1236, Yaroslav left for Kyiv, then to Vladimir, and the 15-year-old prince was left to rule Novgorod on his own.
First campaigns
The biography of Alexander Nevsky is closely connected with wars. Alexander took his first military campaign with his father to Dorpat with the goal of recapturing the city from the Livonians. The battle ended with the victory of the Novgorodians. Then the war for Smolensk with the Lithuanians began, victory in which remained with Alexander.
On July 15, 1240, the Battle of the Neva took place, significant in that Alexander’s troops, without the support of the main army, set up a Swede camp at the mouth of the Izhora River. But the Novgorod boyars were afraid of Alexander's increased influence. Representatives of the nobility, with the help of various tricks and incitements, ensured that the commander went to Vladimir to his father. At this time, the German army made a campaign against Rus', capturing the Pskov, Izborsk, and Vozh lands; the knights took the city of Koporye. The enemy army came close to Novgorod. Then the Novgorodians themselves began to beg the prince to return.
In 1241, Alexander Nevsky arrived in Novgorod, then liberated Pskov, and on April 5, 1242, the famous battle took place - the Battle of the Ice - on Lake Peipsi. The battle took place on a frozen lake. Prince Alexander used tactical cunning, luring knights dressed in heavy armor onto a thin layer of ice. The Russian cavalry attacking from the flanks completed the defeat of the invaders. After this battle, the knightly order abandoned all recent conquests, and part of Latgale also went to the Novgorodians.
After 3 years, Alexander liberated Torzhok, Toropets and Bezhetsk, captured by the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Then, solely with the help of his own army, without the support of the Novgorodians and Vladimirites, he caught up with and destroyed the remnants of the Lithuanian army, and on the way back he defeated another Lithuanian military formation near Usvyat.
Governing body
In 1247 Yaroslav died. Alexander Nevsky becomes Prince of Kyiv and All Rus'. But since Kyiv lost its strategic importance after the Tatar invasion, Alexander did not go there, but stayed to live in Novgorod.
In 1252, Andrei and Yaroslav, Alexander's brothers, opposed the Horde, but the Tatar invaders defeated the defenders of the Russian land. Yaroslav settled in Pskov, and Andrei was forced to flee to Sweden, so the Principality of Vladimir passed to Alexander. Immediately after this a new war followed with the Lithuanians and Teutons.
The role of Alexander Nevsky in history is perceived ambiguously. The Novgorod prince constantly fought battles with Western troops, but at the same time bowed to the khan of the Golden Horde. The prince repeatedly traveled to the Mongol Empire to honor the ruler, and especially supported the allies of the khan. In 1257, he even personally appeared in Novgorod with Tatar ambassadors to express support for the Horde.
In addition, Alexander exiled his son Vasily, who resisted the invasion of the Tatars, to the Suzdal land, and put 7-year-old Dmitry in his place. Such a policy of the prince in Russia itself is often called treacherous, since cooperation with the rulers of the Golden Horde suppressed the resistance of the Russian princes for many years to come. Many do not perceive Alexander as a politician, but they consider him an excellent warrior, and they do not forget his exploits.
In 1259, Alexander, with the help of threats of a Tatar invasion, obtained from the Novgorodians consent to a population census and payment of tribute to the Horde, which the Russian people resisted for many years. This is another fact from Nevsky’s biography that does not please the prince’s supporters.
Battle on the Ice
At the end of August 1240, the crusaders of the Livonian Order invaded the Pskov land. After a short siege, the German knights captured Izborsk. Then the defenders of the Catholic faith besieged Pskov and occupied it with the assistance of the traitor boyars. This was followed by an invasion of Novgorod land.
At the call of Alexander Nevsky, troops from Vladimir and Suzdal arrived to help the Novgorodians under the command of Prince Andrey, the brother of the Novgorod ruler. The united Novgorod-Vladimir army launched a campaign against Pskov land and, cutting off the roads from Livonia to Pskov, took this city, as well as Izborsk, by storm.
After this defeat, the Livonian knights, having gathered a large army, marched to the Pskov and Peipsi lakes. The basis of the army of the Livonian Order was the heavily armed knightly cavalry, as well as infantry, which many times outnumbered the knights. In April 1242, a battle took place that went down in history as the Battle of the Ice.
For a long time, historians could not determine the exact location of the battle, because the hydrography of Lake Peipus often changed, but scientists later managed to indicate the coordinates of the battle on the map. Experts agreed that the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle more accurately describes the battle.
The “Rhymed Chronicle” states that Novgorod had a large number of shooters who were the first to take the blow of the knights. The knights lined up in a “pig” - a deep column starting with a blunt wedge. This formation allowed the heavily armed knightly cavalry to deliver a ramming attack on the enemy line and break battle formations, but in this case such a strategy turned out to be wrong.
While the advanced detachments of the Livonians tried to break through the dense formation of the Novgorod infantry, the princely squads remained in place. Soon the vigilantes struck the enemy’s flanks, crushing and confusing the ranks of the German troops. The Novgorodians won a decisive victory.
Some historians claim that the knightly units consisted of 12-14 thousand soldiers, and the Novgorod militia numbered 15-16 thousand people. Other experts consider these figures to be exorbitantly high.
The result of the battle decided the outcome of the war. The Order made peace, abandoning the conquered Pskov and Novgorod territories. This battle played a huge role in history, influenced the development of the region, and preserved the freedom of the Novgorodians.
Personal life
Alexander Nevsky married in 1239, immediately after the victory over the Lithuanians near Smolensk. The prince's wife was Alexandra, daughter of Bryachislav of Polotsk. The newlyweds got married in the Church of St. George in Toropets. A year later their son Vasily was born.
Later, the wife gave Alexander three more sons: Dmitry, the future prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslav and Vladimir, Andrei, who would be the prince of Kostroma, Vladimir, Novgorod and Gorodets, and Daniel, the first prince of Moscow. The princely couple also had a daughter, Evdokia, who later married Konstantin Rostislavich of Smolensk.
Death
In 1262, Alexander Nevsky went to the Horde to try to prevent the planned Tatar campaign. The new invasion was provoked by the murders of tribute collectors in Suzdal, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, Yaroslavl and Vladimir. In the Mongol Empire, the prince became seriously ill, and returned to Rus' already dying.
Upon returning home, Alexander Nevsky takes a solemn oath of Orthodox monks under the name Alexy. Thanks to this act, as well as due to the regular refusals of the Roman Papacy to accept Catholicism, Grand Duke Alexander became the favorite prince of the Russian clergy. Moreover, in 1543 he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a miracle worker.
Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263, and was buried in the Nativity Monastery in Vladimir. In 1724, the emperor ordered the relics of the holy prince to be reburied in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg. The monument to the prince was erected on Alexander Nevsky Square in front of the entrance to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. This monument is presented in photographs in historical publications and magazines.
It is known that part of the relics of Alexander Nevsky is located in the Temple of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia (Bulgaria), as well as in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir. In 2011, the image with a particle of the relics was transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Church in the Ural village of Shurala. The icon of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky can often be found in Russian churches.
- Prince Alexander won his main military victories in his youth. By the time of the Battle of the Neva, the commander was 20 years old, and during the Battle of the Ice the prince was 22 years old. Subsequently, Nevsky was considered a politician and diplomat, but more of a military leader. In his entire life, Prince Alexander did not lose a single battle.
- Alexander Nevsky is the only secular Orthodox ruler in all of Europe and Rus' who did not compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain power.
- After the death of the ruler, “The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander” appeared, a literary work of the hagiographic genre created in the 80s of the 13th century. It is assumed that the compilation of “The Life of Alexander Nevsky” was carried out in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vladimir, where the prince’s body was buried.
- Feature films are often made about Alexander Nevsky. In 1938, the most famous film was released, called “Alexander Nevsky”. The film was directed by, and the Soviet composer created the cantata “Alexander Nevsky” for the choir and soloists with an orchestra.
- In 2008, the “Name of Russia” competition took place. The event was organized by representatives of the state TV channel “Russia” together with the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Public Opinion Foundation.
- Internet users chose the “Name of Russia” from a ready-made list of “five hundred great figures of the country.” As a result, the competition almost ended in scandal, because it took the leading position. Organizers said that “numerous spammers” voted for the communist leader. As a result, Alexander Nevsky was named the official winner. According to many, it was the figure of the Novgorod prince that should have satisfied both the Orthodox community and Slavophile patriots, as well as simply lovers of Russian history.
Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1220 - November 14, 1263), Prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslavl, Grand Duke of Kiev (from 1249), Grand Duke of Vladimir (from 1252).
Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the ranks of the faithful under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Council in 1547. Commemorated on December 6 and September 12 according to the new style (transfer of the relics from Vladimir-on-Klyazma to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (from 1797 - Lavra) on August 30, 1724).
: just the facts
– Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich was born in 1220 (according to another version - in 1221) and died in 1263. At different years of his life, Prince Alexander had the titles of Prince of Novgorod, Kyiv, and later Grand Duke of Vladimir.
– Prince Alexander won his main military victories in his youth. During the Battle of the Neva (1240) he was at most 20 years old, during the Battle of the Ice - 22 years old.
Subsequently, he became famous more as a politician and diplomat, but he also periodically acted as a military leader. In his entire life, Prince Alexander did not lose a single battle.
– Alexander Nevsky canonized as a noble prince.
This rank of saints includes lay people who have become famous for their sincere deep faith and good deeds, as well as Orthodox rulers who managed to remain faithful to Christ in their public service and in various political conflicts. Like any Orthodox saint, the noble prince is not at all an ideal sinless person, but he is, first of all, a ruler, guided in his life primarily by the highest Christian virtues, including mercy and philanthropy, and not by the thirst for power and not by self-interest.
– Contrary to popular belief that the Church canonized almost all the rulers of the Middle Ages, only a few of them were glorified. Thus, among the Russian saints of princely origin, the majority were glorified as saints for their martyrdom for the sake of their neighbors and for the sake of preserving the Christian faith.
–Through the efforts of Alexander Nevsky, the preaching of Christianity spread to the northern lands of the Pomors.
He also managed to promote the creation of an Orthodox diocese in the Golden Horde.
– The modern idea of Alexander Nevsky was influenced by Soviet propaganda, which spoke exclusively about his military merits. As a diplomat building relations with the Horde, and even more so as a monk and saint, he was completely inappropriate for the Soviet government. That’s why Sergei Eisenstein’s masterpiece “Alexander Nevsky” does not tell about the prince’s entire life, but only about the battle on Lake Peipsi. This gave rise to a common stereotype that Prince Alexander was canonized for his military services, and holiness itself became something of a “reward” from the Church.
– The veneration of Prince Alexander as a saint began immediately after his death, and at the same time a fairly detailed “Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky” was compiled.
The official canonization of the prince took place in 1547.
The Life of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky
Portal “Word”.
Prince Alexander Nevsky is one of those great people in the history of our Fatherland, whose activities not only influenced the destinies of the country and people, but largely changed them and predetermined the course of Russian history for many centuries to come. It fell to him to rule Russia at the most difficult, turning point that followed the ruinous Mongol conquest, when the question was about the very existence of Rus', about whether it would be able to survive, maintain its statehood, its ethnic independence, or disappear from the map, like many other peoples of Eastern Europe , who were invaded at the same time as her.
He was born in 1220 (1), in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and was the second son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, at that time the Prince of Pereyaslavl. His mother Feodosia, apparently, was the daughter of the famous Toropets prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny, or Udaly (2).
Very early, Alexander became involved in the turbulent political events that unfolded around the reign of Veliky Novgorod - one of the largest cities of medieval Rus'. It is with Novgorod that most of his biography will be connected. Alexander came to this city for the first time as a baby - in the winter of 1223, when his father was invited to reign in Novgorod. However, the reign turned out to be short-lived: at the end of the same year, having quarreled with the Novgorodians, Yaroslav and his family returned to Pereyaslavl. So Yaroslav will either make peace or quarrel with Novgorod, and then the same thing will happen again in the fate of Alexander.
This was explained simply: the Novgorodians needed a strong prince from North-Eastern Rus' close to them so that he could protect the city from external enemies. However, such a prince ruled Novgorod too harshly, and the townspeople usually quickly quarreled with him and invited some South Russian prince to reign, who did not annoy them too much; and everything would be fine, but he, alas, could not protect them in case of danger, and he cared more about his southern possessions - so the Novgorodians had to again turn to the Vladimir or Pereyaslavl princes for help, and everything was repeated all over again.
Prince Yaroslav was again invited to Novgorod in 1226. Two years later, the prince again left the city, but this time he left his sons - nine-year-old Fyodor (his eldest son) and eight-year-old Alexander - as princes. Together with the children, the boyars of Yaroslav remained - Fyodor Danilovich and the princely tiun Yakim. They, however, were unable to cope with the Novgorod “freemen” and in February 1229 they had to flee with the princes to Pereyaslavl.
For a short time, Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, a future martyr for the faith and a revered saint, established himself in Novgorod. But the southern Russian prince, who ruled remote Chernigov, could not protect the city from outside threats; In addition, severe famine and pestilence began in Novgorod. In December 1230, the Novgorodians invited Yaroslav for the third time. He hurriedly came to Novgorod, concluded an agreement with the Novgorodians, but stayed in the city for only two weeks and returned to Pereyaslavl. His sons Fyodor and Alexander again remained to reign in Novgorod.
Novgorod reign of Alexander
So, in January 1231, Alexander formally became the Prince of Novgorod. Until 1233 he ruled together with his older brother. But this year Fyodor died (his sudden death happened just before the wedding, when everything was ready for the wedding feast). Real power remained entirely in the hands of his father. Alexander probably took part in his father’s campaigns (for example, in 1234 near Yuryev, against the Livonian Germans, and in the same year against the Lithuanians). In 1236, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich took the vacant Kiev throne. From this time on, sixteen-year-old Alexander became the independent ruler of Novgorod.
The beginning of his reign came at a terrible time in the history of Rus' - the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars. The hordes of Batu, who attacked Rus' in the winter of 1237/38, did not reach Novgorod. But most of North-Eastern Rus', its largest cities - Vladimir, Suzdal, Ryazan and others - were destroyed. Many princes died, including Alexander’s uncle, Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich and all his sons. Alexander's father Yaroslav received the Grand Duke's throne (1239). The catastrophe that occurred turned the entire course of Russian history upside down and left an indelible imprint on the fate of the Russian people, including, of course, Alexander. Although in the first years of his reign he did not have to directly confront the conquerors.
The main threat in those years came to Novgorod from the west. From the very beginning of the 13th century, the Novgorod princes had to hold back the onslaught of the growing Lithuanian state. In 1239, Alexander built fortifications along the Sheloni River, protecting the southwestern borders of his principality from Lithuanian raids. In the same year, an important event occurred in his life - Alexander married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav, his ally in the fight against Lithuania. (Later sources name the princess - Alexandra (3).) The wedding was held in Toropets, an important city on the Russian-Lithuanian border, and a second wedding feast was held in Novgorod.
An even greater danger for Novgorod was the advance from the west of the German crusading knights from the Livonian Order of the Swordsmen (united in 1237 with the Teutonic Order), and from the north - from Sweden, which in the first half of the 13th century intensified its attack on the lands of the Finnish tribe Em (Tavasts), traditionally included in the sphere of influence of the Novgorod princes. One might think that the news of Batu’s terrible defeat of Rus' prompted the rulers of Sweden to transfer military operations to the territory of the Novgorod land itself.
The Swedish army invaded the Novgorod borders in the summer of 1240. Their ships entered the Neva and stopped at the mouth of its tributary Izhora. Later Russian sources report that the Swedish army was led by the future famous Jarl Birger, the son-in-law of the Swedish king Erik Erikson and the long-time ruler of Sweden, but researchers are doubtful about this news. According to the chronicle, the Swedes intended to “capture Ladoga, or, simply put, Novgorod, and the entire Novgorod region.”
Battle with the Swedes on the Neva
This was the first truly serious test for the young Novgorod prince. And Alexander withstood it with honor, showing the qualities of not only a born commander, but also a statesman. It was then, upon receiving news of the invasion, that his now famous words were spoken: “ God is not in power, but in righteousness!”
Having gathered a small squad, Alexander did not wait for help from his father and set out on a campaign. Along the way, he united with the Ladoga residents and on July 15, he suddenly attacked the Swedish camp. The battle ended in complete victory for the Russians. The Novgorod Chronicle reports huge losses on the part of the enemy: “And many of them fell; they filled two ships with the bodies of the best men and sent them ahead of them on the sea, and for the others they dug a hole and threw them there without number.”
The Russians, according to the same chronicle, lost only 20 people. It is possible that the losses of the Swedes are exaggerated (it is significant that there is no mention of this battle in Swedish sources), and the Russians are underestimated. The synodikon of the Novgorod Church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Plotniki, compiled in the 15th century, has been preserved with the mention of “princely governors, and Novgorod governors, and all our beaten brethren” who fell “on the Neva from the Germans under the Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich”; their memory was honored in Novgorod in the 15th and 16th centuries and later. Nevertheless, the significance of the Battle of the Neva is obvious: the Swedish onslaught in the direction of North-Western Rus' was stopped, and Rus' showed that, despite the Mongol conquest, it was able to defend its borders.
The life of Alexander especially highlights the feat of six “brave men” from Alexander’s regiment: Gavrila Oleksich, Sbyslav Yakunovich, Polotsk resident Yakov, Novgorodian Misha, warrior Sava from the junior squad (who cut down the golden-domed royal tent) and Ratmir, who died in the battle. The Life also tells about a miracle that occurred during the battle: on the opposite side of Izhora, where there were no Novgorodians at all, many corpses of fallen enemies were subsequently found, who were struck by the angel of the Lord.
This victory brought great fame to the twenty-year-old prince. It was in her honor that he received the honorary nickname - Nevsky.
Soon after his victorious return, Alexander quarreled with the Novgorodians. In the winter of 1240/41, the prince, together with his mother, wife and “his court” (that is, the army and the princely administration), left Novgorod for Vladimir, to his father, and from there “to reign” in Pereyaslavl. The reasons for his conflict with the Novgorodians are unclear. It can be assumed that Alexander sought to rule Novgorod with authority, following the example of his father, and this caused resistance from the Novgorod boyars. However, having lost a strong prince, Novgorod was unable to stop the advance of another enemy - the crusaders.
In the year of the Neva Victory, the knights, in alliance with the “chud” (Estonians), captured the city of Izborsk, and then Pskov, the most important outpost on the western borders of Rus'. The next year, the Germans invaded the Novgorod lands, took the city of Tesov on the Luga River and established the Koporye fortress. The Novgorodians turned to Yaroslav for help, asking him to send his son. Yaroslav first sent his son Andrei, Nevsky’s younger brother, to them, but after a repeated request from the Novgorodians he agreed to release Alexander again. In 1241, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod and was enthusiastically received by the residents.
Battle on the Ice
And again he acted decisively and without any delay. In the same year, Alexander took the Koporye fortress. Some of the Germans were captured and some were sent home, while the traitors of the Estonians and leaders were hanged. The next year, with the Novgorodians and the Suzdal squad of his brother Andrei, Alexander moved to Pskov. The city was taken without much difficulty; the Germans who were in the city were killed or sent as booty to Novgorod. Building on their success, Russian troops entered Estonia. However, in the first clash with the knights, Alexander's guard detachment was defeated.
One of the governors, Domash Tverdislavich, was killed, many were taken prisoner, and the survivors fled to the prince’s regiment. The Russians had to retreat. On April 5, 1242, a battle took place on the ice of Lake Peipsi (“on Uzmen, at the Raven Stone”), which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. 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.
Russian and Western sources differ in their assessment of the losses of the German side. According to the Novgorod Chronicle, countless “chuds” and 400 (another list says 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.” There is also a story about this battle in the so-called Livonian Rhymed Chronicle of the late 13th century, but it reports only 20 dead and 6 captured German knights, which is apparently a strong understatement.
However, the differences with Russian sources can partly be explained by the fact that the Russians counted all killed and wounded Germans, and the author of the “Rhymed Chronicle” only counted “brother knights,” that is, actual members of the Order.
The Battle of the Ice was of great importance for the fate of not only Novgorod, but all of Russia. The crusader aggression was stopped on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Rus' received peace and stability on its northwestern borders.
In the same year, a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod and the Order, according to which an exchange of prisoners took place, and all Russian territories captured by the Germans were returned. The chronicle conveys the words of the 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 if your husbands were captured, we are ready to exchange them: we will release yours, and you will release ours.”
Battle with Lithuanians
Success accompanied Alexander in battles with the Lithuanians. In 1245, he inflicted a severe defeat on them in a series of battles: at Toropets, near Zizhich and near Usvyat (not far from Vitebsk). Many Lithuanian princes were killed, and others were captured. “His servants, mocking, tied them to the tails of their horses,” says the author of the Life. “And from that time on they began to fear his name.” So the Lithuanian raids on Rus' were stopped for a while.
Another, later one is known Alexander's campaign against the Swedes - in 1256. It was undertaken in response to a new attempt by the Swedes to invade Rus' and establish a fortress on the eastern, Russian, bank of the Narova River. By that time, the fame of Alexander’s victories had already spread far beyond the borders of Rus'. Having learned not even about the performance of the Russian army from Novgorod, but only about preparations for the performance, the invaders “fled overseas.” This time Alexander sent his troops to Northern Finland, which had recently been annexed to the Swedish crown. Despite the hardships of the winter march through the snowy desert area, the campaign ended successfully: “And they all fought Pomerania: they killed some, and took others as captives, and returned back to their land with many captives.”
But Alexander not only fought with the West. Around 1251, an agreement was concluded between Novgorod and Norway on the settlement of border disputes and differentiation in the collection of tribute from the vast territory in which Karelians and Sami lived. At the same time, Alexander negotiated the marriage of his son Vasily to the daughter of the Norwegian king Hakon Hakonarson. True, these negotiations were not successful due to the invasion of Rus' by the Tatars - the so-called “Nevryu Army”.
In the last years of his life, between 1259 and 1262, Alexander, on his own behalf and on behalf of his son Dmitry (proclaimed Prince of Novgorod in 1259), “with all the Novgorodians,” concluded an agreement on trade with the “Gothic Coast” (Gotland), Lubeck and the German cities; this agreement played an important role in the history of Russian-German relations and turned out to be very durable (it was referred to even in 1420).
In the wars with Western opponents - the Germans, Swedes and Lithuanians - the military leadership talent of Alexander Nevsky clearly manifested itself. But his relationship with the Horde was completely different.
Relations with the Horde
After the death of Alexander's father, Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Vladimir, in 1246, who was poisoned in distant Karakorum, the grand-ducal throne passed to Alexander's uncle, Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. However, a year later, Alexander’s brother Andrei, a warlike, energetic and decisive prince, overthrew him. Subsequent events are not entirely clear. It is known that in 1247 Andrei, and after him Alexander, made a trip to the Horde, to Batu. He sent them even further, to Karakorum, the capital of the huge Mongol Empire (“to the Kanoviches,” as they said in Rus').
The brothers returned to Rus' only in December 1249. Andrei received from the Tatars a label for the grand-ducal throne in Vladimir, while Alexander received Kyiv and “the entire Russian land” (that is, Southern Rus'). Formally, Alexander’s status was higher, because Kyiv was still considered the main capital city of Rus'. But devastated by the Tatars and depopulated, it completely lost its significance, and therefore Alexander could hardly be satisfied with the decision made. Without even visiting Kyiv, he immediately went to Novgorod.
Negotiations with the Papal throne
His negotiations with the papal throne date back to the time of Alexander’s trip to the Horde. Two bulls of Pope Innocent IV, addressed to Prince Alexander and dated 1248, have survived. In them, the head of the Roman Church offered the Russian prince an alliance to fight against the Tatars - but on the condition that he accepted the church union and came under the protection of the Roman throne.
The papal legates did not find Alexander in Novgorod. However, one can think that even before his departure (and before receiving the first papal message), the prince held some negotiations with representatives of Rome. In anticipation of the upcoming trip “to the Kanoviches,” Alexander gave an evasive answer to the pope’s proposals, designed to continue the negotiations. In particular, he agreed to build a Latin church in Pskov - a church, which was quite common for ancient Rus' (such a Catholic church - the “Varangian goddess” - existed, for example, in Novgorod since the 11th century). The pope regarded the prince's consent as a willingness to agree to union. But such an assessment was deeply erroneous.
The prince probably received both papal messages upon his return from Mongolia. By this time he had made a choice - and not in favor of the West. According to researchers, what he saw on the way from Vladimir to Karakorum and back made a strong impression on Alexander: he became convinced of the indestructible power of the Mongol Empire and the impossibility of ruined and weakened Rus' to resist the power of the Tatar “kings”.
This is how the Life of the Prince conveys it famous response to papal envoys:
“Once upon a time, ambassadors from the Pope from great Rome came to him with the following words: “Our Pope says this: We heard that you are a worthy and glorious prince and your land is great. That’s why they sent to you two of the most skilled of the twelve cardinals... so that you could listen to their teaching about the law of God.”
Prince Alexander, having thought with his sages, wrote to him, saying: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of languages, from the confusion of languages to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the children of Israel to death King David, from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon to Augustus the King, from the beginning of Augustus to the Nativity of Christ, from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension to Heaven, from the Ascension to Heaven to the Kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the Kingdom of Constantine until the first council, from the first council to the seventh - all that We know well, but we don’t accept teachings from you“. They returned home.”
In this answer of the prince, in his reluctance to even enter into debates with the Latin ambassadors, it was by no means some kind of religious limitation that was revealed, as it might seem at first glance. It was a choice both religious and political. Alexander was aware that the West would not be able to help Rus' liberate itself from the Horde yoke; the fight against the Horde, to which the papal throne called, could be disastrous for the country. Alexander was not ready to agree to a union with Rome (namely, this was an indispensable condition for the proposed union).
Acceptance of the union - even with the formal consent of Rome to preserve all Orthodox rites in worship - in practice could only mean simple submission to the Latins, both political and spiritual. The history of the dominance of the Latins in the Baltic states or in Galich (where they briefly established themselves in the 10s of the 13th century) clearly proved this.
So Prince Alexander chose a different path for himself - the path of refusal of all cooperation with the West and at the same time the path of forced submission to the Horde, acceptance of all its conditions. It was in this that he saw the only salvation both for his power over Russia - albeit limited by the recognition of Horde sovereignty - and for Rus' itself.
The period of the short-lived great reign of Andrei Yaroslavich is very poorly covered in Russian chronicles. However, it is obvious that a conflict was brewing between the brothers. Andrei - unlike Alexander - showed himself to be an opponent of the Tatars. In the winter of 1250/51, he married the daughter of the Galician prince Daniil Romanovich, a supporter of decisive resistance to the Horde. The threat of uniting the forces of North-Eastern and South-Western Rus' could not help but alarm the Horde.
The denouement came in the summer of 1252. Again, we don’t know exactly what happened then. According to the chronicles, Alexander again went to the Horde. During his stay there (and perhaps after his return to Rus'), a punitive expedition under the command of Nevruy was sent from the Horde against Andrei. In the battle of Pereyaslavl, the squad of Andrei and his brother Yaroslav, who supported him, was defeated. Andrei fled to Sweden. The northeastern lands of Rus' were plundered and devastated, many people were killed or taken prisoner.
In the Horde
St. blgv. book Alexander Nevskiy. From the site: http://www.icon-art.ru/
The sources at our disposal are silent about any connection between Alexander’s trip to the Horde and the actions of the Tatars (4). However, one can guess that Alexander’s trip to the Horde was connected with changes on the khan’s throne in Karakorum, where in the summer of 1251 Mengu, an ally of Batu, was proclaimed great khan.
According to sources, “all the labels and seals that were indiscriminately issued to princes and nobles during the previous reign,” the new khan ordered to be taken away. This means that those decisions in accordance with which Alexander’s brother Andrei received the label for the great reign of Vladimir also lost force.
Unlike his brother, Alexander was extremely interested in revising these decisions and getting his hands on the great reign of Vladimir, to which he, as the eldest of the Yaroslavichs, had more rights than his younger brother.
One way or another, in the last open military clash between the Russian princes and the Tatars in the history of the turning point of the 13th century, Prince Alexander found himself - perhaps through no fault of his own - in the Tatar camp. It was from this time that we can definitely talk about the special “Tatar policy” of Alexander Nevsky - the policy of pacifying the Tatars and unquestioning obedience to them.
His subsequent frequent trips to the Horde (1257, 1258, 1262) were aimed at preventing new invasions of Rus'. The prince strove to regularly pay a huge tribute to the conquerors and to prevent protests against them in Rus' itself. Historians have different assessments of Alexander's Horde policies. Some see in it simple servility to a ruthless and invincible enemy, a desire to retain power over Russia by any means; others, on the contrary, consider the prince’s most important merit.
“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.”
The Soviet researcher of medieval Russia V. T. Pashuto also gave a close assessment of the policies of Alexander Nevsky: “With his careful, prudent policy, he saved Rus' from final ruin by the armies of nomads. Through armed struggle, trade policy, and selective diplomacy, he avoided new wars in the North and West, a possible but disastrous alliance with the papacy for Rus', and a rapprochement between the Curia and the Crusaders and the Horde. He gained time, allowing Rus' to grow stronger and recover from the terrible ruin.”
Be that as it may, it is indisputable that Alexander’s policy for a long time determined the relationship between Russia and the Horde, and largely determined Rus'’s choice between East and West. Subsequently, this policy of pacifying the Horde (or, if you prefer, currying favor with the Horde) will be continued by the Moscow princes - the grandchildren and great-grandsons of Alexander Nevsky. But the historical paradox - or rather, the historical pattern - is that it is they, the heirs of the Horde policy of Alexander Nevsky, who will be able to revive the power of Rus' and ultimately throw off the hated Horde yoke.
The prince erected churches, rebuilt cities
...In the same 1252, Alexander returned from the Horde to Vladimir with a label for the great reign and was solemnly placed on the grand prince's throne. After the terrible devastation of Nevryuev, he first of all had to take 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, bestowing them with rich gifts and land.
Novgorod unrest
Novgorod gave Alexander a lot of trouble. In 1255, the Novgorodians expelled Alexander's son Vasily and put Prince Yaroslav Yaroslavich, Nevsky's brother, in reign. Alexander approached the city with his squad. However, bloodshed was avoided: as a result of negotiations, a compromise was reached, and the Novgorodians submitted.
A new unrest in Novgorod occurred in 1257. It was caused by the appearance in Rus' of Tatar “chislenniks” - census takers who were sent from the Horde to more accurately tax the population with tribute. Russian people of that time treated the census with mystical horror, seeing in it a sign of the Antichrist - a harbinger of the last times and the Last Judgment. In the winter of 1257, the Tatar “numerals” “numbered the entire land of Suzdal, and Ryazan, and Murom, and appointed foremen, and thousanders, and temniks,” the chronicler wrote. From the “numbers,” that is, from tribute, only the clergy were exempted - “church people” (the Mongols invariably exempted the servants of God from tribute in all the countries they conquered, regardless of religion, so that they could freely turn to various gods with words of prayer for their conquerors).
In Novgorod, which was not directly affected by either Batu’s invasion or the “Nevryuev’s army,” the news of the census was greeted with particular bitterness. The unrest in the city continued for a whole year. Even Alexander’s son, Prince Vasily, was on the side of the townspeople. When his father appeared, accompanying the Tatars, he fled to Pskov. This time the Novgorodians avoided the census, limiting themselves to paying a rich tribute to the Tatars. But their refusal to fulfill the Horde’s will aroused the wrath of the Grand Duke.
Vasily was exiled to Suzdal, the instigators of the riots were severely punished: some, on the orders of Alexander, were executed, others had their noses “cut,” and others were blinded. Only in the winter of 1259 did the Novgorodians finally agree to “give a number.” Nevertheless, the appearance of Tatar officials caused a new rebellion in the city. Only with the personal participation of Alexander and under the protection of the princely squad was the census carried out. “And the accursed began to travel through the streets, copying Christian houses,” reports the Novgorod chronicler. After the end of the census and the departure of the Tatars, Alexander left Novgorod, leaving his young son Dmitry as prince.
In 1262, Alexander made peace with the Lithuanian prince Mindaugas. In the same year, he sent a large army under the nominal command of his son Dmitry against the Livonian Order. This campaign was attended by the squads of Alexander Nevsky’s younger brother Yaroslav (with whom he managed to reconcile), as well as his new ally, the Lithuanian prince Tovtivil, who settled in Polotsk. The campaign ended in a major victory - the city of Yuryev (Tartu) was taken.
At the end of the same 1262, Alexander went to the Horde for the fourth (and last) time. “In those days there was great violence from non-believers,” says the Prince’s Life; “they persecuted Christians, forcing them to fight on their side. The great prince Alexander went to the king (Horde Khan Berke - A.K.) to pray his people away from this misfortune.” Probably, the prince also sought to rid Rus' of the new punitive expedition of the Tatars: in the same year, 1262, a popular uprising broke out in a number of Russian cities (Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl) against the excesses of Tatar tribute collectors.
The last days of Alexander
Alexander obviously managed to achieve his goals. However, Khan Berke detained him for almost a year. Only in the fall of 1263, already ill, Alexander returned to Rus'. Having reached Nizhny Novgorod, the prince became completely ill. In Gorodets on the Volga, already feeling the approach of death, Alexander took monastic vows (according to later sources, with the name Alexei) and died on November 14. His body was transported to Vladimir and on November 23 buried in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of the Vladimir Nativity Monastery in front of a huge crowd of people. The words with which Metropolitan Kirill announced to the people about the death of the Grand Duke are known: “My children, know that the sun of the land of Suzdal has already set!” The Novgorod chronicler put it differently - and perhaps more accurately: Prince Alexander “worked for Novgorod and for the entire Russian land.”
Church veneration
Church veneration of the holy prince began, apparently, immediately after his death. The life tells of a miracle that happened during the burial itself: when the prince’s body was laid in the tomb and Metropolitan Kirill, according to custom, wanted to place a spiritual letter in his hand, people saw how the prince, “as if alive, stretched out his hand and accepted the letter from his hand.” Metropolitan... Thus God glorified his saint.”
Several decades after the death of the prince, his Life was compiled, which was subsequently repeatedly subjected to various alterations, revisions and additions (in total there are up to twenty editions of the Life, dating from the 13th-19th centuries). The official canonization of the prince by the Russian Church took place in 1547, at a church council convened by Metropolitan Macarius and Tsar Ivan the Terrible, when many new Russian wonderworkers, previously revered only locally, were canonized. The Church equally glorifies the prince’s military prowess, “never defeated in battle, but always victorious,” and his feat of meekness, patience “more than courage” and “invincible humility” (in the seemingly paradoxical expression of the Akathist).
If we turn to the subsequent centuries of Russian history, then we will see a kind of second, posthumous biography of the prince, whose invisible presence is clearly felt in many events - and above all in the turning points, the most dramatic moments in the life of the country. The first discovery of his relics took place in the year of the great Kulikovo victory, won by the great-grandson of Alexander Nevsky, the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Donskoy in 1380. In miraculous visions, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich appears as a direct participant in both the Battle of Kulikovo itself and the Battle of Molodi in 1572, when the troops of Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Vorotynsky defeated the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey just 45 kilometers from Moscow.
The image of Alexander Nevsky is seen above Vladimir in 1491, a year after the final overthrow of the Horde yoke. In 1552, during the campaign against Kazan, which led to the conquest of the Kazan Khanate, Tsar Ivan the Terrible performed a prayer service at the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, and during this prayer service a miracle occurred, regarded by everyone as a sign of the coming victory. The relics of the holy prince, which remained in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery until 1723, exuded numerous miracles, information about which was carefully recorded by the monastic authorities.
A new page in the veneration of the holy and blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky began in the 18th century, under the emperor Peter the Great. The conqueror of the Swedes and the founder of St. Petersburg, which became for Russia a “window to Europe,” Peter saw in Prince Alexander his immediate predecessor in the fight against Swedish domination on the Baltic Sea and hastened to transfer the city he founded on the banks of the Neva under his heavenly protection. Back in 1710, Peter ordered that the name of St. Alexander Nevsky be included in the dismissals during divine services as a prayer representative for the “Neva Country.” In the same year, he personally chose the place to build a monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity and St. Alexander Nevsky - the future Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Peter wanted to transfer the relics of the holy prince here from Vladimir.
Wars with the Swedes and Turks slowed down the fulfillment of this desire, and only in 1723 did they begin to fulfill it. On August 11, with all due solemnity, the holy relics were taken out of the Nativity Monastery; the procession headed towards Moscow and then towards St. Petersburg; Everywhere she was accompanied by prayer services and crowds of believers. According to Peter's plan, the holy relics were supposed to be brought into the new capital of Russia on August 30 - the day of the conclusion of the Treaty of Nystadt with the Swedes (1721). However, the distance of the journey did not allow this plan to be implemented, and the relics arrived in Shlisselburg only on October 1. By order of the emperor, they were left in the Shlisselburg Church of the Annunciation, and their transfer to St. Petersburg was postponed until next year.
The meeting of the shrine in St. Petersburg on August 30, 1724 was distinguished by special solemnity. According to legend, on the last leg of the journey (from the mouth of Izhora to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery), Peter personally ruled the galley with a precious cargo, and at the oars were his closest associates, the first dignitaries of the state. At the same time, an annual celebration of the memory of the holy prince was established on the day of the transfer of the relics on August 30.
Nowadays the Church celebrates the memory of the holy and blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky twice a year: November 23 (December 6, new style) and August 30 (September 12).
Days of celebration of St. Alexander Nevsky:
- May 23 (June 5, new art.) - Cathedral of Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints
- August 30 (September 12 according to the new art.) - the day of transfer of the relics to St. Petersburg (1724) - the main one
- November 14 (November 27 according to the new art.) - day of death in Gorodets (1263) - canceled
- November 23 (December 6, New Art.) - day of burial in Vladimir, in the schema of Alexy (1263)
Myths about Alexander Nevsky
1. The battles for which Prince Alexander became famous were so insignificant that they are not even mentioned in Western chronicles.
Not true! This idea was born out of pure ignorance. The Battle of Lake Peipsi is reflected in German sources, in particular in the “Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle”. Based on it, some historians talk about the insignificant scale of the battle, because the Chronicle reports the death of only twenty knights. But here it is important to understand that we are talking specifically about “brother knights” who performed the role of senior commanders. Nothing is said about the death of their warriors and representatives of the Baltic tribes recruited into the army, who formed the backbone of the army.
As for the Battle of the Neva, it was not reflected in any way in the Swedish chronicles. But, according to the largest Russian specialist on the history of the Baltic region in the Middle Ages, Igor Shaskolsky, “... this should not be surprising. In medieval Sweden, until the beginning of the 14th century, no major narrative works on the history of the country, such as Russian chronicles and large Western European chronicles, were created.” In other words, the Swedes have nowhere to look for traces of the Battle of the Neva.
2. The West did not pose a threat to Russia at that time, unlike the Horde, which Prince Alexander used exclusively to strengthen his personal power.
Not like that again! It is hardly possible to talk about a “united West” in the 13th century. Perhaps it would be more correct to talk about the world of Catholicism, but it, as a whole, was very colorful, heterogeneous and fragmented. Rus' was really threatened not by the “West”, but by the Teutonic and Livonian Orders, as well as the Swedish conquerors. And for some reason they were defeated on Russian territory, and not at home in Germany or Sweden, and, therefore, the threat posed by them was quite real.
As for the Horde, there is a source (Ustyug Chronicle) that makes it possible to assume the organizing role of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich in the anti-Horde uprising.
3. Prince Alexander did not defend Rus' and the Orthodox faith, he simply fought for power and used the Horde to physically eliminate his own brother.
This is just speculation. Prince Alexander Yaroslavich first of all defended what he inherited from his father and grandfather. In other words, with great skill he performed the task of a guardian, a guardian. As for the death of his brother, it is necessary, before such verdicts, to study the question of how he, in his recklessness and youth, put down the Russian army without benefit and in what way he acquired power in general. This will show: it was not so much Prince Alexander Yaroslavich who was his destroyer, but rather he himself laid claim to the role of the quick destroyer of Rus'...
4. By turning to the east, and not to the west, Prince Alexander laid the foundations for the future rampant despotism in the country. His contacts with the Mongols made Rus' an Asian power.
This is completely groundless journalism. All Russian princes were in contact with the Horde at that time. After 1240, they had a choice: to die themselves and subject Rus' to new devastation, or to survive and prepare the country for new battles and ultimately for liberation. Someone rushed headlong into battle, but 90 percent of our princes of the second half of the 13th century chose a different path. And here Alexander Nevsky is no different from our other sovereigns of that period.
As for the “Asian power”, there are indeed different points of view here today. But as a historian, I believe that Rus' never became one. It was not and is not part of Europe or Asia or some kind of mixture where the European and Asian take on different proportions depending on the circumstances. Rus' represents a cultural and political essence that is sharply different from both Europe and Asia. Just as Orthodoxy is neither Catholicism, nor Islam, nor Buddhism, nor any other confession.
Metropolitan Kirill about Alexander Nevsky - the name of Russia
On October 5, 2008, in a television program dedicated to Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Kirill gave a fiery 10-minute speech in which he tried to reveal this image so that it would become accessible to a wide audience. The Metropolitan began with questions: Why can a noble prince from the distant past, from the 13th century, become the name of Russia? What do we know about him? Answering these questions, the Metropolitan compares Alexander Nevsky with the other twelve contenders: “You need to know history very well and you need to feel history in order to understand the modernity of this man...
I looked carefully at everyone's names. Each of the candidates is a representative of his workshop: politician, scientist, writer, poet, economist... Alexander Nevsky was not a representative of the workshop, because he was at the same time the greatest strategist... a person who sensed not political, but civilizational dangers for Russia. He did not fight against specific enemies, not against the East or the West. He fought for national identity, for national self-understanding. Without him there would be no Russia, no Russians, no our civilizational code.”
According to Metropolitan Kirill, Alexander Nevsky was a politician who defended Russia with “very subtle and courageous diplomacy.” He understood that it was impossible at that moment to defeat the Horde, which “ironed Russia twice,” captured Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, reached the Adriatic Sea, and invaded China. “Why doesn’t he start a fight against the Horde? – asks the Metropolitan. – Yes, the Horde captured Rus'. But the Tatar-Mongols did not need our soul and did not need our brains. The Tatar-Mongols needed our pockets, and they turned these pockets out, but did not encroach on our national identity. They were not able to overcome our civilizational code.
But when danger arose from the West, when the armored Teutonic knights went to Rus', there was no compromise. When the Pope writes a letter to Alexander, trying to win him over to his side... Alexander answers “no”. He sees a civilizational danger, he meets these armored knights on Lake Peipsi and defeats them, just as he, by a miracle of God, defeated the Swedish warriors who entered the Neva with a small squad.”
Alexander Nevsky, according to the Metropolitan, gives away “superstructural values”, allowing the Mongols to collect tribute from Russia: “He understands that this is not scary. Mighty Russia will return all this money. We must preserve the soul, national self-awareness, national will, and we must give the opportunity to what our wonderful historiosopher Lev Nikolayevich Gumilyov called “ethnogenesis.” Everything is destroyed, we need to accumulate strength. And if they had not accumulated forces, if they had not pacified the Horde, if they had not stopped the Livonian invasion, where would Russia be? She wouldn't exist."
As Metropolitan Kirill asserts, following Gumilyov, Alexander Nevsky was the creator of that multinational and multi-confessional “Russian world” that exists to this day. It was he who “teared the Golden Horde away from the Great Steppe”*.
With his cunning political move, he “persuaded Batu not to pay tribute to the Mongols. And the Great Steppe, this center of aggression against the whole world, found itself isolated from Rus' by the Golden Horde, which began to be drawn into the area of Russian civilization. These are the first vaccinations of our union with the Tatar people, with the Mongol tribes. These are the first inoculations of our multinationality and multireligion. This is where it all started. He laid the foundation for the world-being of our people, which determined the further development of Rus' as Russia, as a great state.”
Alexander Nevsky, according to Metropolitan Kirill, is a collective image: he is a ruler, thinker, philosopher, strategist, warrior, hero. Personal courage is combined in him with deep religiosity: “At a critical moment, when the power and strength of the commander should be shown, he enters into single combat and hits Birger in the face with a spear... And where did it all start? He prayed at Hagia Sophia in Novgorod. A nightmare, hordes many times larger. What resistance? He comes out and addresses his people. With what words? God is not in power, but in truth... Can you imagine what words? What power!”
Metropolitan Kirill calls Alexander Nevsky an “epic hero”: “He was 20 years old when he defeated the Swedes, 22 years old when he drowned the Livonians on Lake Peipsi... A young, handsome guy!.. Brave... strong.” Even his appearance is the “face of Russia.” But the most important thing is that, being a politician, strategist, commander, Alexander Nevsky became a saint. “Oh my God! – Metropolitan Kirill exclaims. – If Russia had had holy rulers after Alexander Nevsky, what would our history be like! This is a collective image as much as a collective image can be... This is our hope, because even today we need what Alexander Nevsky did... Let us give our not only our voices, but also our hearts to the holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky - the savior and organizer of Russia !”
(From the book of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) “Patriarch Kirill: life and worldview”)
Vladyka Metropolitan Kirill’s answers to questions from viewers of the “Name of Russia” project about Alexander Nevsky
Wikipedia calls Alexander Nevsky “the favorite prince of the clergy.” Do you share this assessment and, if so, what is the reason for it? Semyon Borzenko
Dear Semyon, it’s difficult for me to say what exactly guided the authors of the free encyclopedia “Wikipedia” when they named St. Alexander Nevsky. Perhaps because the prince was canonized and is revered in the Orthodox Church, solemn services are held in his honor. However, the Church also reveres other holy princes, for example, Dimitri Donskoy and Daniil of Moscow, and it would be wrong to single out a “beloved” from among them. I believe that such a name could also have been adopted by the prince because during his lifetime he favored the Church and patronized it.
Unfortunately, the pace of my life and the amount of work I do allow me to use the Internet exclusively for business purposes. I regularly visit, say, informational sites, but I have absolutely no time left to view those sites that would be personally interesting to me. Therefore, I was not able to take part in the voting on the “Name of Russia” website, but I supported Alexander Nevsky by voting by telephone.
He defeated Rurik's descendants (1241), fought for power in civil wars, betrayed his own brother to the pagans (1252), and scratched out the eyes of the Novgorodians with his own hands (1257). Is the Russian Orthodox Church really ready to canonize Satan to maintain a split in churches? Ivan Nezabudko
When talking about certain acts of Alexander Nevsky, it is necessary to take into account many different factors. This is also the historical era in which St. lived. Alexander - then many actions that seem strange to us today were completely commonplace. This is the political situation in the state - remember that at that time the country was experiencing a serious threat from the Tatar-Mongols, and St. Alexander did everything possible to reduce this threat to a minimum. As for the facts you cite from the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, then historians still cannot confirm or refute many of them, much less give them an unambiguous assessment.
For example, there are many ambiguities in the relationship between Alexander Nevsky and his brother Prince Andrei. There is a point of view according to which Alexander complained to the khan about his brother and asked to send an armed detachment to deal with him. However, this fact is not mentioned in any ancient source. The first time this was reported was only by V.N. Tatishchev in his “Russian History”, and there is every reason to believe that the author here got carried away with historical reconstruction - he “thought out” something that actually did not happen. N.M. Karamzin, in particular, thought so: “According to Tatishchev’s invention, Alexander informed Khan that his younger brother Andrei, having appropriated the Great Reign, was deceiving the Mughals, giving them only part of the tribute, etc.” (Karamzin N.M. History of the Russian State. M., 1992. T.4. P. 201. Note 88).
Many historians today tend to adhere to a different point of view than Tatishchev. Andrei, as is known, pursued a policy independent of Batu, while relying on the khan’s rivals. As soon as Batu took power into his own hands, he immediately dealt with his opponents, sending detachments not only against Andrei Yaroslavich, but also against Daniil Romanovich.
I am not aware of a single fact that could at least indirectly indicate that the veneration of St. Alexander Nevsky is a reason for a church schism. In 1547, the noble prince was canonized, and his memory is sacredly revered not only in the Russian, but also in many other Local Orthodox Churches.
Finally, let us not forget that when deciding on the canonization of a person, the Church takes into account such factors as the prayerful veneration of the people and the miracles performed through these prayers. Both of these took place and are happening in large numbers in connection with Alexander Nevsky. As for the mistakes such a person makes in life, or even his sins, we must remember that “there is no man who will live and not sin.” Sins are expiated by repentance and sorrow. Both of these, and especially the other, were present in the life of the noble prince, as they were in the lives of such sinners who became saints as Mary of Egypt, Moses Murin and many others.
I am sure that if you carefully and thoughtfully read the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, you will understand why he was canonized.
How does the Russian Orthodox Church feel about the fact that Prince Alexander Nevsky handed over his brother Andrei to the Tatars and threatened his son Vasily with war? Or is this as canonical as the blessing of warheads? Alexey Karakovsky
Alexey, in the first part, your question echoes the question of Ivan Nezabudko. As for the “blessing of warheads,” I am not aware of a single similar case. The Church has always blessed its children for the defense of the Fatherland, guided by the commandment of the Savior. It is for these reasons that the rite of blessing weapons has existed since ancient times. At every Liturgy we pray for the army of our country, realizing how heavy a responsibility lies on the people who stand guard with arms in their hands to guard the security of the Fatherland.
Is it not so, Vladyka, that when choosing Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich we are choosing a myth, a film image, a legend?
I'm sure not. Alexander Nevsky is a very specific historical figure, a man who did a lot for our Fatherland and laid the foundations for the very existence of Russia for a long time. Historical sources allow us to learn quite definitely about his life and activities. Of course, in the time that has passed since the death of the saint, human rumor has introduced a certain element of legend into his image, which once again testifies to the deep veneration that the Russian people have always given to the prince, but I am convinced that this shade of legend cannot serve as an obstacle to that so that today we perceive Saint Alexander as a real historical character.
Dear Lord. What qualities, in your opinion, of the Russian hero, Saint Alexander Nevsky, could the current Russian government pay attention to, and, if possible, adopt? What principles of government are still relevant today? Victor Zorin
Victor, Saint Alexander Nevsky belongs not only to his time. His image is relevant for Russia today, in the 21st century. The most important quality, which, it seems to me, should be inherent in power at all times, is boundless love for the Fatherland and one’s people. The entire political activity of Alexander Nevsky was determined by this strong and sublime feeling.
Dear Vladyka, answer whether Alexander Nevsky is close to the souls of the people of today’s modern Russia, and not just of Ancient Rus'. Especially nations professing Islam and not Orthodoxy? Sergey Krainov
Sergey, I am sure that the image of St. Alexander Nevsky is close to Russia at all times. Despite the fact that the prince lived several centuries ago, his life and his activities are still relevant for us today. Do such qualities as love for the Motherland, for God, for one’s neighbor, or the willingness to lay down one’s life for the sake of the peace and well-being of the Fatherland, have a statute of limitations? Can they be inherent only to the Orthodox and be alien to Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, who have long lived peacefully, side by side, in multinational and multi-confessional Russia - a country that has never known wars on religious grounds?
As for Muslims themselves, I will give you just one example that speaks for itself - in the program “The Name of Russia,” shown on November 9, there was an interview with a Muslim leader who came out in support of Alexander Nevsky because it was the holy prince who laid the foundations for dialogue East and West, Christianity and Islam. The name of Alexander Nevsky is equally dear to all people living in our country, regardless of their nationality or religious affiliation.
Why did you decide to take part in the “Name of Russia” project and act as Alexander Nevsky’s “lawyer”? In your opinion, why do most people today choose not a politician, scientist or cultural figure, but a saint, to name Russia? Vika Ostroverkhova
Vika, several circumstances prompted me to participate in the project as a “defender” of Alexander Nevsky.
Firstly, I am convinced that it is Saint Alexander Nevsky who should become the name of Russia. In my speeches, I repeatedly argued my position. Who, if not a saint, can and should be named “in the name of Russia”? Holiness is a concept that has no temporal boundaries, extending into eternity. If our people choose a saint as their national hero, this indicates a spiritual revival taking place in the minds of people. This is especially important today.
Secondly, this saint is very close to me. My childhood and youth were spent in St. Petersburg, where the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky rest. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to often resort to this shrine, to pray to the holy prince at his resting place. While studying at the Leningrad theological schools, which are located in close proximity to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, all of us, then students, clearly felt the gracious help that Alexander Nevsky provided to those who called on him with faith and hope in their prayers. At the relics of the holy prince I received ordination to all degrees of the priesthood. Therefore, I have deeply personal experiences associated with the name of Alexander Nevsky.
Dear Master! The project is called “Name of Russia”. For the first time the word Russia was heard almost 300 years after the prince’s dormition! Under Ivan the Terrible. And Alexander Yaroslavich just reigned in one of the fragments of Kievan Rus - an upgraded version of Great Scythia. So what does St. Alexander Nevsky have to do with Russia?
The most direct thing. In your question you touch on a fundamentally important topic. Who do we consider ourselves to be today? Heirs of what culture? Bearers of what civilization? From what point in history should we count our existence? Is it really only since the reign of Ivan the Terrible? A lot depends on the answer to these questions. We have no right to be Ivans who do not remember our kinship. The history of Russia begins long before Ivan the Terrible, and it is enough to open a school history textbook to be convinced of this.
Please tell us about the posthumous miracles of Alexander Nevsky from the moment of his death to the present day. Anisina Natalya
Natalya, there are a great many such miracles. You can read about them in detail in the life of the saint, as well as in many books dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. Moreover, I am sure that every person who sincerely, with deep faith called upon the holy prince in his prayers, had his own small miracle in his life.
Dear Lord! Is the Russian Orthodox Church considering the issue of canonizing other Princes, such as Ivan IV the Terrible and I.V. Stalin? After all, they were autocrats who increased the power of the state. Alexey Pechkin
Alexey, many princes besides Alexander Nevsky have been canonized. When deciding on the canonization of a person, the Church takes into account many factors, and achievements in the political field do not play a decisive role here. The Russian Orthodox Church does not consider the issue of canonization of Ivan the Terrible or Stalin, who, although they did a lot for the state, did not show qualities in their lives that could indicate their holiness.
Prayer to the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky
(to schemamonastic Alexy)
Quick helper to all those who diligently come running to you, and our warm representative before the Lord, holy and blessed Grand Duke Alexandra! look mercifully upon us, unworthy, who have created for ourselves by many iniquities, who now flow to the race of your relics and cry out from the depths of your soul: in your life you were a zealot and defender of the Orthodox faith, and you have unshakably established us in it with your warm prayers to God. You carefully carried out the great service entrusted to you, and with your help, instruct us to abide in what we were called to do. You, having defeated the regiments of adversaries, drove away from the borders of Russia, and brought down all visible and invisible enemies against us. You, having left the corruptible crown of the earthly kingdom, you chose a silent life, and now, righteously crowned with an incorruptible crown, reigning in heaven, you intercede for us too, we humbly pray to you, a quiet and serene life, and arrange for us a steady march towards the eternal Kingdom of God. Standing before the throne of God with all the saints, pray for all Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God preserve them with His grace in peace, health, long life and all prosperity in the coming years, may we ever glorify and bless God, in the Trinity of the Holy Saints, the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion, Tone 4:
Know your brethren, Russian Joseph, not in Egypt, but reigning in heaven, faithful Prince Alexander, and accept their prayers, multiplying the lives of people with the fruitfulness of your land, protecting the cities of your dominion with prayer, helping Orthodox people to resist.
Troparion, Voice of the same:
As you were at the root of a pious and most honorable branch, blessed Alexandra, for Christ manifests you as a kind of Divine treasure of the Russian land, a new miracle worker, glorious and God-pleasing. And today, having come together in your memory with faith and love, in psalms and singing we joyfully glorify the Lord, who gave you the grace of healing. Pray to him to save this city, and for our country to be pleasing to God, and for our sons of Russia to be saved.
Kontakion, Tone 8:
As we honor your bright star, which shone from the east and came to the west, enriching this entire country with miracles and kindness, and enlightening with faith those who honor your memory, blessed Alexandra. For this reason, today we celebrate yours, your existing people, pray to save your Fatherland, and all your relics flowing to the race, and truly crying out to you: Rejoice, strengthening of our city.
In Kontakion, Tone 4:
Just like your relatives, Boris and Gleb, appeared from Heaven to help you, struggling against Weilger Sveisk and his warriors: so you too now, blessed Alexandra, come to the aid of your relatives, and overcome those who fight us.
Icons of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky
Most modern people have heard the name Alexander Nevsky, but few have thought about why Prince Alexander was called Nevsky. And today we will try to answer this question, as well as consider a few more interesting points from the prince’s biography.
Alexander Nevsky was not only a prince, but also a commander. His biography includes many interesting and noteworthy facts, and we will pay attention to what he was called.
Why was Alexander Nevsky called Nevsky?
Prince Alexander, being an excellent tactician and commander, took part in many battles, but they named him Nevsky in honor of the Neva River, or rather, in honor of the battle on the river in which he took part.
History tells us that it was on the Neva that the prince accomplished a real feat, with only 200 fighters, he defeated an entire army of Swedes, including more than 2 thousand heads. A remarkable fact is that during this battle the prince himself managed not to suffer losses among his own squad.
Why was Alexander Nevsky called a saint?
In addition to the fact that Prince Alexander was given the nickname Nevsky, he was also called a saint. And why they began to call him that should also be told.
During his lifetime, Alexander Nevsky was a very respected person, since he was noted not only for his ability to fight and manage political affairs, but also had very good human characteristics, being a merciful and wise ruler.
All this led to the fact that after the death of the prince, with the publication of a literary work about his life, A. Nevsky was canonized. After this procedure was completed, he was quite justifiably and deservedly called a saint, and he is called that to this day.
Why is the story called “The Life of Alexander Nevsky”
Thanks to the feat described above, and other remarkable facts from the life of the prince, his achievements and outstanding life, he deserved that a story was written about him. This work was published in the 13th century, and many people are interested in why it received this name.
However, the answer to this question is simpler than in the case of the origin of the nickname “Nevsky”, and is quite obvious. The story tells about just one hero, as well as the details of his life, his campaigns, battles, etc. And this hero, of course, is Alexander Nevsky. Therefore, the literary work received such a name.