Write about legendary personalities not easy. Either you fall into a rut and get lost in describing textbook examples, or you descend into platitudes. Even strong phrases, when mentioned frequently, fade and take on a “worn-out” appearance.
Sometimes you just have to make an effort and go beyond the usual, and a lot of very interesting details immediately appear. Sometimes these facts can completely change the view of leaders and heroes. This is what happens with Alexander Nevsky. It turns out that the image of the warrior prince was created much later, driven by patriotic feelings and not by historical reality.
The author’s view of this problem has already been presented to HB’s attention. Petrenko in the material "Shlyakhom ganbi ta zradi -2", the more interesting it is to compare different points of view.
Against the backdrop of history
Alexander was the second of nine sons of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Having become involved in the internecine struggle, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich eventually sat down on the Kiev “table”. It was then that he conveyed Novgorod lands under the management of 15-year-old Alexander. As for the mother, it is surprising that the chronicle preserved at least her name - paying attention to women was not part of the customs of that time. Her name was Feodosia and, perhaps, she was the daughter of Mstislav the Udal, famous for his military adventures, who, by agreement with his brother Yaroslav the Wise, for a long time was a Galician prince.
While Alexander was growing up, trouble was approaching the borders of the ancient Russian conglomerate from all sides. From North border lands Karelians and Finns have long been attracted to the Swedish Order of the Swordsmen. The arrogant European chivalry considered the right to claim its rights not only to the lands of “infidel” Muslims or pagan Karelians. In the same way, they did not recognize Orthodoxy as a real Christian religion, considering it a dangerous schism and schism. The next Pope, Gregory IX, blessed the crusade to the north.
The Crusader knights were periodically severely beaten by either the Muslims or the Finns and Karelians, but they stubbornly moved forward, losing captured territories and immediately capturing new ones. The significantly thinned Order of the Swordsmen decided to unite with new forces. It was the Teutonic Order, created in Jerusalem captured by the crusaders. But the warriors of Allah soon drove the Europeans out not only from Jerusalem, but also from the Middle East, and the Teutons found a new use - a crusade against the Slavs.
The Teutonic Order began an invasion of the Baltic states and in the same year 1237 in the south Kievan Rus The Mongol-Tatar hordes of Batu appeared. Batu ravaged and burned Ryazan, Tver, Moscow, his troops successfully developed an offensive to the north and came close to the Novgorod possessions of Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich. However, it was not the wooded area and the quickly approaching cold, as Soviet historians assured, that stopped Batu. He did not cross arms with young Alexander and there were reasons for this.
The birth of a myth
In the summer of 1240 through Ladoga lake Swedish troops invaded the Novgorod lands. It was a simple matter: there were no customs, no control strip, even poles with signs were completely absent. In a word, come whoever wants, take what you can. The Swedes freely sailed their ships into the Izhora River (a tributary of the Neva), moored to the shore and began to build fortifications. Apparently their goal was not simple robbery, but the construction of a fort. Along Izhora there was brisk trade among the local tribes, so the Swedes decided to set up a kind of “customs”, so to speak, to take control of the cargo flow.
Next, one should write about a serious battle and a significant victory of Russian weapons, because it was not for nothing that Alexander received the nickname Nevsky. But the fact is that the battle on the Neva is completely absent from the Swedish chronicles telling about the time of Nevsky. Suspect the Swedes that they forgot or decided to hide this battle, is absurd: the chronicler even recorded failures and defeats if they played a significant role in the life of the people and the state. It turns out that the Swedes did not perpetuate this clash due to its insignificance. But how can this be if, according to Russian chronicles military expedition was headed by a very significant person - Jarl (Duke) Birger, brother-in-law of the Swedish king? According to the same chronicle story, Alexander fought him in a duel and managed to stab him in the face with a spear! But Swedish sources say nothing about this either. But they report that Birger received the title of jarl only 8 years after he allegedly fought on the Neva. These and some other facts allow us to talk about a new version of the Battle of the Neva.
What was a real baptism of fire for 20-year-old Alexander, for the Swedish side was seen as an ordinary border skirmish, of which there are dozens every year. And it was not Birger who led the expedition. His name appeared in Russian chronicles precisely for the purpose of giving greater weight to the victory of Alexander, called Nevsky. One can say about the military operation on the Neva itself in an epic style, as in the characterization of Alyosha Popovich: “He is not as strong as he pretended to be.” With a sudden attack of a small cavalry squad, Alexander managed to oust the Swedes and forced them to leave the banks of Izhora. All of the above does not at all detract from the merits of the young Russian prince, but the victory on the Neva was still “inflated” and, most likely, for ideological reasons.
To understand the situation, let us again look at the Mongols and Teutons. The first ones, in the year of the Neva Battle, finally reached Kyiv and practically wiped it off the face of the earth. And after the events on the Neva, the Teutons captured Pskov and a number of other cities, and Alexander Nevsky could do nothing to stop them. For Russian chroniclers, it was important to reflect some kind of positivity and create the image of a warrior prince, especially since in 1242 on the ice Lake Peipsi Alexander had already won a real serious victory over the Teutons.
Mongolian "trace"
Actually, this is all the military merits of the prince. For the remaining 20 years of his life, he was friends with... Batu, but the “Tatar” page of the biography of Alexander Nevsky is less known, although this is exactly half of his 43 years of life, and not a boy, but a “husband.”
As for the year 1242, it turned out to be not only victorious for the Grand Duke on Lake Peipsi. In Karakorum, the main headquarters of the Mongols, his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich was poisoned. At that time the head of all Mongol Empire It was not Genghis’s grandson, Batu, but his eldest son, Khan Guyuk. Dissatisfied with the fact that Batu had conquered the rich “Russian ulus,” Guyuk took out his anger on Batu’s envoys and representatives—the Russian princes. Having poisoned Nevsky’s father, the khan summoned his son to headquarters. Batu understood how the “friendly visit” would end and different pretexts did not let Alexander and his brother Andrei leave him. This went on for several months (!), until Batu received news of Guyuk’s death. Only then did Batu send Alexander to Karakorum as his representative.
Subsequently, until the death of the conqueror of Rus', Alexander Nevsky maintained friendly relations with Batu. With the help of the Mongols, Nevsky received Principality of Vladimir and began to collect northern Rus'. His diplomatic activities in this field deserve much more attention. But, alas, the textbook image of the warrior prince remained for centuries, overshadowing the nature of his subsequent activities. The prince died on November 14, 1263, having taken monastic vows just before his death.
Andrey Marin (Kornev)
Alexander Nevsky is a rather controversial figure in the history of Rus'. Some consider him a hero, others - a traitor. A person is judged by his deeds, so let's take a closer look at the prince's biography.
Alexander Nevsky is the second son of Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich, Grand Duke of Vladimir, and Feodosia Igorevna, Princess of Ryazan. Traditionally, the prince’s date of birth is considered to be May 30, 1920, but some researchers question this. For example, Vladimir Andreevich Kuchkin believes that Alexander was born on May 13, 1221 1.
The life of the prince praises the qualities of his mind and heart, beauty and courage. The spiritual qualities corresponded to the physical ones: tall stature, sonorous voice, remarkable strength. 2
WITH early years Alexander was being prepared to rule the principality. Already in 1223, the prince left his childhood: in the Pereyaslavl Transfiguration Cathedral, Alexander was solemnly tonsured. The boy was taught writing and arithmetic, book wisdom, and most importantly, military affairs. This training was difficult and lengthy: Alexander had to master the skills of a simple warrior, without which it was impossible for the prince to do without. But there were also princely military skills: to build regiments for battle, to take care of patrols during campaigns, to know where and how to set up secret ambushes, and to protect oneself from enemy traps. You couldn’t learn this from words, only through action. 3
In the summer of 1228, “Yaroslav went with the princess from Novgorod to Pereyaslavl, and in Novgorod he left his two sons, Fyodor and Alexander, with [boyar] Fyodor Danilovich, with tiun Yakim.” 4 However, already on the night of February 20, 1229, Alexander and his brother were forced to flee from Novgorod to Pereyaslavl, unable to withstand the civil strife that arose at that time. In 1230, the young man returned to Novgorod again with his father and since then, it seems, did not leave him for a long time, 5 only in 1235, together with his father, Alexander went to war against the Germans and Lithuanians. 6
On July 10, 1233, with the death of his brother Fyodor, Alexander became the eldest heir of his father, 7 and from 1236 his independent activity began. Father Yaroslav left for Kyiv; Alexander was installed as prince in Veliky Novgorod. 8
At the end of 1237, the Rostov-Suzdal land faced a formidable danger: during December, the Mongols under the command of Khan Batu (Batu) conquered the neighboring Ryazan land. Having ravaged Torzhok, the nomads moved towards Novgorod, but, not reaching 100 miles, they turned back. In the spring of 1238, the Mongol-Tatars left Rus', 9 but hopes that the invaders had left forever were not justified.
During those same years, a new threat loomed over Northwestern Russia: The crusading knights decided to take advantage of the weakening of the country. The Pope's special envoy, Legate Wilhelm, traveled throughout Livonia, Denmark and Sweden, organizing a joint campaign against the “infidels.” The German and Danish knights proposed striking Rus' from land, from their Livonian possessions. The Swedes decided to attack from the sea, through the Gulf of Finland.
In the summer of 1240, a Swedish army numbering up to five thousand people appeared on the Neva River. The campaign was led by the jarl and ruler of Sweden Ulf Fasi, with him was his cousin Birger, the future jarl and famous commander. Alexander decided not to gather the Novgorod militia (which required several days), but to go out to meet the enemy with his cavalry squad and those foot soldiers who were in the city at hand. The prince managed to catch the Swedes at a halt near the mouth of the Izhora. On July 15 (22), 1240, Alexander dealt a decisive blow to the Swedes, after which - apparently due to a lack of his forces - he retreated. This turned out to be enough. The Swedes left the inhospitable bank of the Neva in the middle of the night. The victory was complete and achieved with little blood: only twenty soldiers of Prince Alexander died. For this battle the young prince was named Nevsky.
It is interesting that the Battle of the Neva, far from being the largest in the troubled 13th century, made a huge impression on contemporaries and was forever preserved in people's memory. Soviet historian I. U. Budovnits explains this by saying that at a moment of general depression and confusion, the people saw in the victories of Alexander Nevsky a reflection of past glory and an omen of their future liberation from a heavy yoke. In the young Novgorod prince, the people saw the image of a warrior for the Russian land, a bright and heroic image. 10
But the Battle of the Neva did not completely solve the Western problem. German knights from all the fortresses of Livonia advanced to the Russian borders, and they were joined by Danish knights from Revel. The united knightly army was commanded by the vice-master Livonian Order Andreas von Velven, an experienced military leader.
In the summer of 1240, the Germans besieged Izborsk and took it; by winter, the entire Pskov land was lost, the invasion was approaching Novgorod. In the current conditions, Alexander Yaroslavich demanded from the Novgorod boyars funds to recruit troops, full of the power of a military leader. The boyars did not support this idea, and Alexander “left” with his family and retinue for Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. However, already in the spring of 1241, Nevsky returned to Novgorod and stormed the Koporye fortress. In March 1241, the Suzdal-Novgorod army moved to Pskov (regiments sent by Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich arrived) and liberated the city. 11 Reconnaissance detachments reported that the main forces of the Germans were heading towards Lake Pskov. Here Nevsky began to wait for the battle.
The location was chosen on Uzmen, a narrow channel between the Pskov and Peipus lakes, not far from the Crow Stone. In the early morning of April 5, 1242, a decisive battle took place, which went down in history as the “Battle of the Ice.” 12 Centuries later, military historians admit that Alexander Nevsky accomplished many things in this battle for the first time: the terrain conditions were fully used, pursuit was organized, the cavalry was defeated mainly by infantry, etc. 13 It is characteristic that Alexander Yaroslavich in 1242 did not take advantage of the favorable moment to gain some benefit for yourself. But the Germans were not slow in sending ambassadors to Novgorod “with a bow.”
Much less is known about the other campaigns of Alexander Nevsky against the German, Swedish and Lithuanian feudal lords than about these battles. In general, during his short life the prince, judging by written sources, conducted at least 12 battles and military operations and achieved success in all of them. For a Russian commander of that time, this is an amazing fact. 14
Novgorod had to fight a difficult war with the border Lithuanian princelings, whose raids were almost impossible to prevent. It was necessary to intercept the retreating Lithuanians and recapture the spoils. In 1245, the Lithuanians attacked in large forces. The troops of Yaroslav Vladimirovich, the army from Tver and Dmitrov were defeated. Under these conditions, Nevsky’s three victories in a row after the disappointing defeats of his like-minded people were especially surprising!
At the same time, the Swedish feudal lords organized a second crusade aimed at Finland. This happened in the fall of 1249, in the absence of Prince Alexander Nevsky. True, a pan-European crusade did not work out this time: only Sweden responded to the pope’s call. When Nevsky arrived with his regiments in Novgorod, there were no longer any invaders on Russian soil. In secret, Alexander began to prepare a campaign in Central Finland, recently captured by Sweden. Academician B. A. Rybakov tried to restore the route of Nevsky’s polar expedition in 1256. At the end of winter, Alexander and his soldiers returned safely to Novgorod. 15
The result western direction Alexander's foreign policy became a series of peace treaties. In 1253 peace was concluded with the Germans, and in 1254 with Norway. Somewhat later, in 1262, not only a peace treaty, but also a trade treaty was concluded with Lithuania. Nevsky was one of the first to talk about the inviolability of state borders - “life does not transgress into someone else’s part.” On western borders The long-awaited calm came to the Novgorod land. 16
After the death of his father on September 30, 1246, Alexander found himself in close proximity to the East; he had to decide on his own between East and West. Both of them called him to his side...
In 1248, a papal bull was drawn up, in which the pope promised Alexander help for recognizing the Roman throne Livonian knights against the Tatars. 17 In 1251, Pope Innocent IV sent two cardinals Galda and Gemont to Alexander. The pope claimed that Father Yaroslav promised the monk Plano Carpini to submit to the Roman throne, but death did not allow him to fulfill this intention. The pope convinced Alexander to follow in the footsteps of his father, imagined the benefits that the Russian prince and Rus' would receive from this subjugation, and promised against the Tatars the help of those very knights from whom Alexander had recently liberated the Russian lands. The chronicles contain Alexander’s response to the pope, clearly composed subsequently, but there is no doubt that Alexander did not succumb to the admonitions and flatly refused. This embassy led to many similar embassies in subsequent Russian history, also useless.
On the other hand, Batu sent Alexander to say: “God has conquered many nations to me: aren’t you the only one who wants to submit to my power? But if you want to keep your land for yourself, come to me: you will see the honor and glory of my kingdom.” 18
We had to choose between East and West. The two strongest Russian princes of this time made different choices. Daniil Galitsky chose the West and, with its help, tried to fight against the East. Alexander Nevsky chose the East and, under its protection, decided to fight off the West.
The policy of Daniil Galitsky was not, however, consistent and straightforward. Daniel maneuvered between the Pope, the Ugrians (Hungary), the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, the Tatars, his own boyars and relatives-princes.
Nevertheless, counting on the help of the West, Daniel actively prepared for the fight against the Mongols: he collected troops and money, and fortified cities. However, help did not come: the pope’s calls remained without consequences. Then Daniel broke off relations with him. The prince saw that he was unable to prevent the devastation of his land by the Tatars that had begun. He had to give in and give up all his dreams. All " big politics"It thus ended in failure; he was successful only in the fight against his immediate neighbors, the Lithuanians, who were not supported against him by either the Mongols or the crusaders - the Latins.
Complete opposite the activities of Daniil Romanovich represents the activities of Alexander Yaroslavich. With much less historical data, Alexander achieved greater and incomparably more lasting political results. The deep and persistent political work of Alexander Nevsky led to great consequences.
Northwest corner European Russia did not open wide for Alexander international perspectives. But if the prince could gain little, he could lose a lot - if not everything. He could lose not only “windows to Europe” - Novgorod and Pskov: it was about the very existence of Rus', its culture and identity, about the middle center of this culture. Historical task The challenge facing Alexander was twofold: to protect the borders of Rus' from the attacks of the Latin West and to strengthen national identity within the borders. 19 Alexander Nevsky hated the Tatar conquerors, but believed that now was not the time for open confrontation with the enemies. Scattered and weakened Rus' will not be able to defeat the strong and numerous army of the Tatars. 20
Alexander came to the Volga Horde with his brother Andrei in 1247. From there, by the will of Batu, the Yaroslavichs went to the Great Horde to the Great Khan; there they were received kindly and returned home safely.
The visit to the Mongols was supposed to teach Alexander a lot and change his views in many ways. He became closely acquainted with the conquerors of Rus' and understood how it was possible to get along with them. 21 The Mongols skillfully combined carrot and stick. At first, with their unparalleled cruelty, they sought to instill animal fear in the conquered peoples, and then they were quite tolerant of their national and religious characteristics - as long as they regularly paid taxes and supplied soldiers to Mongol army and didn't try to fight supreme power. 22 Perhaps Alexander’s submission to the Mongols was not purely mechanical, only forced. The prince could see the Mongols as a culturally friendly force that could help him preserve and establish Russian cultural identity from the Latin West. 23 Whether this is true or not, historians are still arguing.
Andrei received the reign in Vladimir, Alexander was given Kyiv; Apparently, this was a preference for Alexander, since Kyiv was older than Vladimir, but the Kiev land in those days was so devastated and sparsely populated that Alexander could only be a Grand Duke in name. Nevsky did not go to Kyiv, but went to Novgorod. While he was not the eldest, he still got along with Novgorod liberty. The Novgorodians considered themselves independent from the Tatars, but two years later there was a coup in Rus'.
Andrei could not resist the reign of Vladimir. 24 In the spring of 1252, a new Russian-Mongolian conflict flared up in the North-East of Rus', which led to the campaign of the army of Khan Nevryuy and the devastation of the region. This event caused and continues to cause controversy among historians. There is a strong opinion that Nevryuev’s army was brought to Rus' by Alexander Nevsky himself: with the goal of strengthening personal power, uniting the disunited Russian lands in order to avoid internecine war. Other researchers claim that Andrei himself incurred the wrath of the Horde by not appearing with Alexander to bow to the new great khan Menge (Munke) and could only blame his brother for passivity during the period of his clash with Nevryuy (Alexander was with the Mongols at that time). 25 One way or another, after the Nevryuev campaign, Alexander Nevsky received eldership and replaced his brother in the reign of Vladimir.
In 1255 Khan Batu died. His son Sartak, having barely begun to rule independently, died at the hands of his uncle Berke. The latter entrusted the affairs of Rus' to his governor Ulagchi. 26 The new khan introduced in Rus' a common system of tribute for the conquered lands, which the Russians called the “Horde exit”. 27 At the end of 1257, officials from Karakorum arrived in Rus', carrying out, by order of the Great Khan, the calculation and imposition of taxes on the entire population subject to him.
For Novgorod, such payments were new and unpleasant. The city has risen. Even the son of Alexander Nevsky, Vasily, who ruled them, was on the side of the Novgorodians. Alexander was forced to help foreigners. His arrival with his followers in Novgorod in the winter of 1257/58 ended with the expulsion of Vasily from Novgorod and the cruel torture of people who encouraged him to oppose the Mongols and his father.
Alexander probably took over the administration of Novgorod, exercising his power through his own governors. However, the prince failed to completely pacify the Novgorodians. When the Mongol soldiers arrived in Novgorod for the second time in the winter of 1259/60, strong unrest began here again, which did not develop into an armed struggle only because of Alexander’s intervention. He apparently managed to find some kind of compromise that satisfied the Novgorodians.
In the early 1260s, the Volga Horde separated from the Mongol Empire, becoming a sovereign state. The discord between the Karakorum and Sarai governments was immediately taken advantage of in Rus'. In many Russian cities there were uprisings against the imperial officials sitting there. Alexander Nevsky supported these speeches, sending out letters with the call to “beat the Totars.” In Sarai they turned a blind eye to these actions, since it was about eliminating the power structure that had turned into an alien one.
However, having become independent, the Sarai khans began to lack armed forces. In 1262, the Sarai Khan demanded a military recruitment among the inhabitants of Rus', since there was a threat to his possessions from the Iranian ruler Hulagu. Alexander Nevsky was forced to go to the Horde. 28
Khan Berke turned out to be more merciful to the Russians than one might even expect. He not only forgave the Russians for beating the Besermen, but at the request of Alexander, he freed the Russians from the obligation to go to war as part of the Mongol army. Alexander, however, then lived in the Horde all winter and summer, and this leads us to assume that he did not immediately manage to acquire such mercy for his compatriots. The prince felt that his health was deteriorating. He returned sick to his native land. Having reached Gorodets, he realized that his days were numbered, and decided to accept the schema with the name Alexy. November 14, 1263 Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky died. His body was greeted by the people near Bogolyubov and buried in Vladimir in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. 29 For the faith of the Grand Duke, for love of the fatherland, for preserving the integrity of Rus', Alexander Nevsky was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the ranks of the faithful under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Council in 1547.
In historical science there is no single assessment of the activities of Alexander Nevsky; the views of historians on his personality are different, sometimes directly opposite. For centuries it was believed that Alexander Nevsky played an exceptional role in Russian history during that dramatic period when Rus' was attacked from three sides; he was seen as the founder of the line of Moscow sovereigns and the great patron of the Orthodox Church. Over time, such canonization of Alexander Yaroslavich began to raise objections. As stated by the head of the department national history MSU N.S. Borisov, “those who like to destroy myths are constantly “undermining” Alexander Nevsky, and are trying to prove that he betrayed his brother, and he brought the Tatars to Russian soil, and in general it is not clear why he is considered a great commander. Such discrediting of Alexander Nevsky is constantly found in the literature. What was he really like? Sources do not allow us to say 100%.”
However, no matter how historians treat the personality of Alexander Nevsky, in the popular consciousness his image is one of the few positive ones about his great past. I will give one single example. In the second half of 2008, in the project of the TV channel “Russia” and the TV company ViD “Name of Russia”, Alexander Nevsky was named the winner of the project, both according to the results of the popular vote and the results of the jury vote. And by the way, the Order of Alexander Nevsky is the only award that existed with certain changes in award systems and Russian Empire, And Soviet Union, And Russian Federation.
Alexander Nevsky is a truly legendary figure. Alexander was the second son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the ruler of Vladimir. Most often, the year of birth of the future legend is called 1220; according to other sources, he was born a year later. It is known that from an early age Alexander was prepared to rule. The boy was taught writing, counting, and military science. In 1233, after the death of his brother Fyodor, Alexander became the eldest heir. And in 1236 he took the title of Prince of Veliky Novgorod.
Alexander Nevsky went down in history as the defender of the Russian land. He successfully fought with the Swedes, remembered for the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice. The prince was forced to engage in diplomacy, serving the Mongol-Tatars. In those years, Lithuania also attempted to invade Rus'. It is believed that the prince did not lose a single battle, defending himself from strong enemies. The canonical image has always been supported by the tsarist authorities, the Soviet and Orthodox churches.
However, today historians are gradually coming to the conclusion that the image of Alexander is not so clear-cut. There are many contradictions in his biography, but we are given beautiful legends and myths about him, which sometimes have no relation to reality. In some chronicles, Alexander Nevsky appears as a power-hungry and cruel person. Gumilyov describes the prince as the real creator of the Russian-Horde union. We will try to understand what he really was like by analyzing the main myths about Alexander Nevsky.
The prince betrayed Rus' to the Tatars. This myth deprives the historical hero of his traditional patriotism. How could the defender of Rus' cooperate with the Tatars? In fact, Alexander Nevsky was far from the first Russian prince and not the last who was forced to cooperate with them in order to strengthen his power. At the end of the 1240s, Mongol-Tatar troops reached the borders of Western Europe. Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich could try to resist the hordes of conquerors and doom Rus' to ruin, or maintain peace in his native lands. And the confrontation with strong Catholic countries required a powerful ally, which Batu Khan became. Prince Alexander had to engage in subtle diplomacy, negotiating simultaneously with both the Horde and the wayward cities of Novgorod and Pskov. But this was the only way to subjugate the northwestern lands of Rus', securing the Motherland from the invasion of the Swedish and German invaders. Thanks to the authoritative support of Batu, order reigned within the ancient Russian state itself.
There are no traces of Alexander Nevsky's victories in Western history. Historians are trying to downplay the role of the prince, saying that for Western Europe all his victories were insignificant. Allegedly, Catholic countries did not pose a particularly serious threat to Russia, so his successes are exaggerated. The historian Danilevsky, citing the Swedish Chronicle of Eric as a source, notes that the Battle of the Neva is not described there at all. But this document described everything that happened in the region in the 13th century. But the best Russian scientist in the field of history of the Baltic region, Igor Shaskolsky, debunks this myth. He claims that in medieval Sweden until the 14th century there was no history at all in the form in which it was present in Russian chronicles or Western European chronicles. Alexander Nevsky successfully fought against Lithuanian, Swedish and German feudal lords. So, in 1245, the Novgorod army under his command defeated the Lithuanian prince Mindovga, who attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. With the help of his squad, the prince chased after the remnants of the enemy army, and near Usvyat he defeated another detachment of Lithuanians. According to the available data, Alexander Nevsky conducted 12 military operations without suffering a single defeat.
The Battle of the Ice was a minor battle. The “Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle” speaks of only 20 knights who died during the legendary battle. This allowed the myth of the insignificant scale of the battle to be born. But historians note that the chronicle does not take into account losses among Danish mercenaries, Baltic tribes, and militias. All of them took part in the battle, and the latter generally formed the basis of the army. So the scale of the battle on Lake Peipus was still quite large.
The Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice were significant battles for the history of Rus'. In 1240, the Battle of the Neva River took place, where Alexander Yaroslavovich was opposed by the Swedes. For this victory the prince received his nickname. It seems that this battle must have been grandiose and noted in the chronicles. In fact, only two sources mention him - the Laurentian and Novgorod Chronicles. It is said that two enemy ships were destroyed, and 20 Russian soldiers themselves were killed. There is no mention of the battle at all in Norwegian and Swedish chronicles. For contemporaries, the Battle of the Ice was even less significant event than the Battle of the Neva. At the same time, the name of Alexander Nevsky appears only briefly in the chronicles; he does not look like a hero. The life of the saint later retold that story, adding details to it. And even in those years, the Swedes were immersed in internecine wars; they clearly had no time for a large-scale invasion. Most likely, the “great” battles were border skirmishes, which Prince Alexander himself exaggerated for the sake of his political weight.
Alexander Nevsky was not involved in the overthrow of his brother. In 1252, Batu sent a punitive detachment under the command of Nevryuy to overthrow the Vladimir prince Andrei Yaroslavovich, brother of Alexander Nevsky. There is a widespread point of view that Andrei Yaroslavovich refused to go to the Horde, but there is no evidence that such a challenge took place. But there are stories about Alexander’s trip to the Don to visit Batu’s son, Sartak. Allegedly, the prince complained about his brother, who took the place of the Grand Duke contrary to his father’s will and paid tribute poorly. It is believed that the Tatars, not particularly versed in the intricacies of the intrigues of the Russian rulers, could not independently decide to expel the influential prince Andrei Yaroslavovich. There is an opinion that Alexander Nevsky himself was Nevru, because Neva sounded like Nevra in common Mongolian. Moreover, the name of the mysterious punitive commander appears nowhere else in history. In 1255, the son of Alexander Nevsky, Vasily, was expelled from Novgorod. His uncle, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, took his place. Historians consider this event to be non-random. The brother of Alexander Nevsky could tell the Novgorodians the whole truth about the usurpation of power. It is no coincidence that the First Chronicle of Novgorod talks about the crime of Alexander Nevsky.
Alexander Nevsky fiercely defended Orthodoxy. IN modern idea the prince acts as a defender of the faith, who did not allow the destruction of Orthodoxy in Rus'. This is indirectly confirmed by the First Novgorod Chronicle. There you can read that Alexander treated the bishops with respect and listened to them. But not everyone agrees with this point of view. It is quite reasonable to ask why Alexander Nevsky did not unite with Catholic Christians against the horde, preferring friendship with the ideologically alien East to an alliance with the West? The chronicles say that in 1246 Alexander was going to go to Batu, asking for the blessing of the church. However, historians believe that the Novgorod prince could not receive such a blessing from his Archbishop Spiridon, who did not approve of friendship with the Tatars. Then Alexander was forced to go to the Rostov Bishop Kirill, who was friends with his father Yaroslav. In defense of the statement about the defender of the faith, it is worth mentioning the fact that under the Tatars in Russia new churches were built en masse, while Catholics destroyed any manifestations of Orthodoxy.
Alexander Nevsky was constantly at odds with the West. The chronicles contain many stories about the prince’s battles with the Swedes, Teutons, Lithuanians and Livonians. But Alexander Nevsky’s foreign policy consisted not only of constant hostility with the West. He constantly tried to find a compromise in difficult relations with his neighbors. In fact, Alexander Nevsky signed several peace treaties with the West. So, in 1253 he made peace with the Germans, and in 1262 not only peace was signed with Lithuania, but also a trade agreement. Thanks to Alexander Nevsky, calm finally came to the west of Russia. True, these peace treaties were not easy for the prince. The Teutons did not like the rapprochement between Rus' and Norway. Peace negotiations could have been disrupted in 1253, but then Alexander’s army defeated the crusaders near Narva. But in 1254, the “Charter of Demarcation” saw the light of day, which was the result of the rapprochement between Norway and Rus'.
The prince's friendship with the East became the basis for future despotism, so Russia turned to the Asian path of development. As already mentioned, all Russian princes were forced to be friends with the Horde. Alexander Nevsky followed the natural and only correct path from the point of view of preserving the state. And Russia never became an Asian country. This can be said with confidence, looking back. The destiny of our country is to be in equally both European and Asian. And Orthodoxy is equidistant from Catholicism, from Islam and from Buddhism.
Alexander Nevsky was the adopted son of Batu and the sworn brother of his son Sartak. If Alexander was really born in 1220, then at the time of his journey to the Horde he was 18 years old. But the Mongolian fraternization ritual involves cutting hands, mixing blood with kumiss and drinking the drink together. This procedure is carried out only in childhood or adolescence, and 16 years was already considered the age of an adult man. And according to other sources, “fraternization” occurred in 1251. And Sartak himself was born around 1229, taking into account the year of birth of his father, Batu, in 1209.
Alexander Nevsky defended Rus' from the Tatars. The second half of Alexander Nevsky’s life was marked by strong cooperation with the Tatars. They helped him maintain power by harshly suppressing uprisings and collecting tribute. Thanks to the Mongols, in 1252 Alexander received a label for the grand reign in Vladimir, overthrowing his brother Andrei. In 1257, together with the invaders, Nevsky came to Suzdal, organizing a capitation census and mercilessly destroying the rebels. And the next year the prince tried to do a census in Novgorod in a similar way, which caused a riot. The essence of the census was not educational at all, but to find out exactly how much rent should be paid. In 1259, the city was even surrounded by Tatars with the help of Alexander Nevsky. And in 1262, the invaders forcibly suppressed a riot in Suzdal, which arose out of dissatisfaction with the collection of tribute. Alexander Nevsky personally suppressed the uprisings in Rostov, Vladimir, and Yaroslavl.
Alexander Nevsky died a natural death. In 1262, the rebels killed the Tatar tribute collectors. Then the enraged Khan Berke demanded a military recruitment in Rus', preparing for another war. Alexander Nevsky went to the Horde to appease the ruler. But there the prince fell ill and died in 1263, having been initially buried in Vladimir. However, there is an interesting analogy. In 1246, returning from the Horde, the Great died Prince of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Today historians have no doubt that he was poisoned. In 1271, a similar fate awaited another prince Vladimir, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich. And in 1276, on the way from the Horde, another prince, Vasily Yaroslavovich, died. A series of such cases suggests poisoning. Most likely, the Tatars implicitly dealt with the guilty Russian rulers. And the fact of poisoning is hushed up because, according to the canons of the Russian Orthodox Church, a prince killed in this way cannot be declared a saint.
April 5 (12th Art.) of this year marked the 770th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Peipsi. How did Russia celebrate this significant date, the victory won in the “Battle of the Ice” by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, popularly nicknamed Nevsky, and his comrades-in-arms? Judging by the publication in one of the April issues of the Nizhny Novgorod newspaper with the provocative title “Lenin's Shift”, then there was nothing and no reason to celebrate. The prince in the article by its author, a certain Viktor Maltsev, is named “collaborator”, “more likely a Tatar puppet and mercenary than some kind of political figure”...
Well, this is not the first time they have encroached on the holy name of Alexander Nevsky - “The Name of Russia”. Just as they often now encroach on other names sacred to our people. They are trying, for example, to “rewrite” the history of the Great Patriotic War, to belittle, or even denigrate the personalities of its great victorious commanders... Why?
Out of stupidity and lack of education? Or is there a certain order from the haters of Russia? So sponsored greyhound writers of all stripes write for self-promotion and fees for the sake of... This topic is for a separate discussion. What is important for us today is that the slanderers are rebuffed. So this time they answered! They answered with dignity and dignity!
And the reader, as he should be, should read and compare. And... he thinks.
Sergey SKATOV, coordinator of the People's Council Movement (Nizhny Novgorod)
770 years ago there was a “battle on the ice”
There are events in the history of our country that most citizens perceive as key to its past. Among these, of course, is the Battle of the Ice - the battle of Russian warriors led by Alexander Nevsky against the knights of the Livonian Order on Lake Peipus on April 5, 1242. Entire generations of people were brought up on Sergei Eisenstein’s epic film “Alexander Nevsky” and the stories of school teachers that echoed it about “the greatest battle of the early
Middle Ages"
Who pays whom?
The most common and childishly simple version of events says that in 1242 Rus', which had just fallen under the heavy yoke of the Golden Horde, was insidiously attacked by the crusaders from the west. However, the Novgorodians, led by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, rose up to fight them, and completely defeated the adversaries in decisive battle on the ice of Lake Peipus.
However, in reality everything did not look so romantic. Firstly, there was no “yoke”; the Russian principalities were considered by the Tatar Khan Batu, in fact, as satellites (dependent allies) of his empire. And the notorious “exorbitant tribute” amounted to only 10% of income, which is less than even the modern income tax. The Novgorod principality was the most economically developed, i.e. was, as they say now, the main donor region. Not only the Tatars, but also their western neighbors - the Livonian Order - sought to “receive” from him. Actually, “who pays whom” was the essence of the border conflict that arose in 1242.
Soviet historians portrayed Alexander Nevsky as an independent political figure who led the fight against the “dog knights.” However, in reality, 20-year-old Alexander was more of a Tatar puppet and mercenary than some kind of political figure. It is known that the Novgorodians did not support the prince and drove him out of the city three times “for greed, encroachment on personal power and unworthy behavior.” And every time the “great military leader” Alexander returned... with the support of the Tatars.
The most delusional legend is associated with the nickname “Nevsky,” which he allegedly received after defeating the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva. However, now the very fact of the “battle” has been called into question by historians. Firstly, there is absolutely no mention of him in either Russian, Swedish, or any other chronicles. Secondly, the description of the “battle” itself contained a lot of inconsistencies and inaccuracies, more likely reminiscent of the epic story about the duel between Ilya Muromets and the Serpent Gorynych, rather than the real story. So, most likely, there was no battle, but, according to one version, Alexander’s squad successfully robbed the camp of Swedish merchants at the mouth of the Neva...
In Eisenstein’s film, the war with the knights begins with the “bloody conquest” of Pskov by the crusaders, although in reality, according to Novgorod Chronicle, the Pskovites themselves “invited” the Livonians to come to them and voluntarily accepted their citizenship. At the beginning of April 1242, the Russian army recaptured Pskov with a sudden blow, after which Alexander Yaroslavich went further to the west, “to Chud” (Estonia), invading the lands of the Dorpat bishopric. Here he “let the entire regiment prosper,” i.e. began plundering and destroying the lands of the Estonians, and detachments under the command of Domash Tverdislavich and Kerbet were sent forward as patrol and security. Soon the Livonians gathered their main forces and launched a counteroffensive. The advanced detachments of Nevsky were defeated, Domash died. After this, Alexander retreated to Lake Peipsi, where he met the enemy who was catching up with him.
The fate of the battle was decided by the Tatars
Again, thanks to Eisenstein’s film, one gets the impression that the basis of the Russian army was made up of “ordinary people”: rural miracle heroes and militia volunteers with spears. In fact, the basis of the army was made up of professional mercenary warriors, as well as Tatar archers and horsemen. The financing of the operation most likely came not from the budget of Novgorod and public donations, but from the treasury of the Golden Horde.
It was the Tatars who brought decisive contribution into victory. Even in Russian chronicles it was indicated that after “Nemtsi and Chyud ran into the regiment and punched a pig through the regiment,” the main role in the defeat of the enemy was played by horse archers, who bombarded the left flank of the knights with a cloud of arrows. It should be noted that our troops of this kind did not exist, and for the Germans this came as a complete surprise.
The battle was described in a number of ancient Russian and European sources, in particular in the Novgorod and Pskov chronicles, as well as in the Livonian rhymed chronicle. At the same time, the “greatest battle” appears in them as a completely ordinary showdown, and not at all a fateful event. The location of the battle is also highly controversial. It is generally accepted that the opponents fought on ice, which then split under the weight of the knights. However, the German chronicle says that “on both sides the dead fell on the grass.” But some of those fighting in the heat of battle, apparently, actually did go onto the ice of the lake. It is no coincidence that German historians later began to call the battle nothing more than “Eisstoss” (literally - breaking the ice). Soviet propaganda portrayed the outcome of the battle as a complete defeat of the order, which allegedly lost 500 people killed and 50 prisoners. However, according to the same German rhyming chronicle, everything looks much more modest: “Those who were in the army of the brothers found themselves surrounded. The Russians had such an army that perhaps sixty men attacked one German. The brothers fought hard. Still, they were defeated. Some Dorpats left the battle to escape. They were forced to retreat. There, twenty brothers were killed and six were captured.” Thus, the real losses of the knights amounted to 20 people killed and six prisoners! And this is probably close to the truth, considering that total number The order hardly exceeded a hundred knights.
Collaborator and adopted son of Batu
As we know, Alexander Nevsky’s “exploits” did not end at the Battle of the Ice. Khan Batu highly appreciated the merits of Yaroslavich. He not only gave him a label for the great reign of Kiev, but also (unheard of!!!) adopted the prince! In fact, he became a collaborationist ruler of Rus', who was entrusted with the most important mission - collecting tribute for the Tatars.
The winner of the knights devoted the rest of his life to fighting rebels, defaulters and, at the same time, planting the cult of Batu. Instead of the image of a conqueror and destroyer, the aura of a great statesman and father of nations began to be implanted. The word “father” is key here, because the noun “batya” in Russian precisely comes from “Batu” (Batu). In 1262, an uprising broke out throughout northeastern Rus' against the Tatar tribute collectors - the Baskaks. Alexander Nevsky took an active part in its suppression. Yaroslavich’s warriors, following the example of the Tatars, cut off the fingers, ears and noses of the most active oppositionists, mercilessly flogged the rest, and burned houses in the rebel cities. The prince personally reported to his “father” about all punitive actions. During another such trip, he caught a cold and died in Gorodets. Subsequently, Nevsky’s descendants continued to faithfully serve their Tatar partners for centuries.
The glorification of the image of Prince Alexander did not begin under Soviet rule. The main contribution to this was made by the church, which in the middle of the 16th century canonized him. At the same time, the life of Alexander Yaroslavich was compiled, in which for the first time details appeared that significantly “complemented” the modest and sometimes very unpleasant picture painted by the ancient chronicles. After the story about the “liberation” of Pskov, the author reported that Alexander “conquered their [the “godless Germans”] land and burned it, taking countless of them and cutting them off.” And then on Lake Peipus there was a “slaughter of evil”, which ended with a heroic victory over the Gentiles.
The second PR campaign to exaggerate the role of the Battle of the Ice began much later - under Stalin. In 1937, the magazine “Znamya” published a literary film script by P.A. Pavlenko and S.M. Eisenstein's "Rus", which formed the basis of the soon-to-be-made film. At this time, German Nazism was raising its head in Europe and therefore the idea of a “German threat” again became relevant. The image of Alexander Nevsky was supposed to show how to smash an invincible military machine.
It is curious that 70 years ago another “battle on the ice” took place. In the spring of 1942, the command of the Luftwaffe (Air Force of Nazi Germany) received a personal order from Hitler - before the ice drift on the Neva, with a sudden strike, destroy the ships of the Soviet Baltic Fleet anchored in Leningrad. The operation, scheduled for April 4-5 (on the 700th anniversary of the battle), was given the code name “Aisshtoss” in memory of the “glorious battle” of the Livonian knights with the Russians. However, the goal of the strike was not achieved: almost all the German pilots missed, and the bomb hits only led to breaking the ice on the Neva in the most literal sense of the word!
Victor MALTSEV
Alexander Nevsky: the truth of history
April 5 marked the 770th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Peipsi (1242). The victory won by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich and his soldiers in the “Battle on the Ice” became the topic of scientific research, journalistic articles and even films for many years. The publication in the Leninskaya Smena newspaper of an article by Viktor Maltsev, in which Prince Alexander Nevsky was called a “collaborator”, “more of a Tatar puppet and mercenary than some kind of political figure,” caused mixed responses from readers. We asked a specialist to comment on the events of a distant era. political history North-Eastern Rus' XII-XIII centuries, doctors historical sciences Andrey Aleksandrovich Kuznetsov, head of the department of historiography and source studies of Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky, and specialist in ancient Russian manuscripts, candidate philological sciences Boris Moiseevich Pudalov, head of the committee for archives of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
In talking about Alexander Nevsky, an outstanding ruler and commander of Ancient Rus', we do not seek to analyze in detail all the newspaper publications and “doubts in the form of versions” circulating on the Internet. In our opinion, it makes sense to debate only with authors who know the subject, have the skills to analyze historical sources and are interested in finding the truth. To refute all the unprofessional and often irresponsible statements of this or that journalist would mean dooming oneself to writing a multi-volume and useless treatise. Therefore, our goal is to consider the key points in the biography of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, focusing mainly on the events associated with the “Battle of the Neva” and the “Battle of the Ice”. And we will have to start the conversation, as always, with “backstory”.
So, the year is 6744 from the “creation of the world,” or 1236 according to modern chronology. Princely feuds tearing apart the lands of Ancient Rus'. The real power at this time became the princes of North-Eastern Rus', the sons of Vsevolod the “Big Nest” - the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich and his younger brother Yaroslav, who held Novgorod the Great and the entire Novgorod land on behalf of his elder brother. Having reigned in Kyiv, Yaroslav left his eldest son Alexander in Novgorod as his governor. The situation there at that time was alarming. On the northwestern border, the Swedish feudal lords, who seized the lands of the Finnish tribe Suomi (“Sum” in Russian chronicles), began active colonization of the lands of another Finnish tribe “Em”, which paid tribute to the Novgorodians. On the lands of the Emi, who were forcibly converted to Catholicism, the invaders built fortresses, introduced their own legislation - in a word, they created a new Swedish county “Tavastia”. Next in line were Korela, Vod and Izhora, which were directly part of the Novgorod land. In the west, the Order of the Swordsmen and the German bishoprics in the Baltic states, having subjugated the Estonians (“Chud”) and Latgalls and created a “vertical of power” there, also reached the Novgorod borders. War with Novgorod 1224-1234. ended with a peace treaty; but the German crusaders, apparently, had no intention of stopping. In the southwest, numerous and warlike Lithuanian tribes loomed over the Novgorod borders. At the same time, the Novgorodians could not hope for the help of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who was holding Kyiv with difficulty, and Yuri Vsevolodovich, who was busy strengthening the eastern borders of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus' from the unknown “Mungals” who had just crushed Volga Bulgaria. I had to rely only on my own strength.
Such was the situation in which Alexander Yaroslavich found himself at the beginning of his administrative, political and military activities. At the same time, let us recall that the prince was then 15 years old: according to updated data, he was born in 1221 (apparently around May 13), being, by the way, “the same age” as Nizhny Novgorod. Alexander and his boyar-advisers were required to accurately determine the most threatened direction and concentrate all their forces there, and try to neutralize other dangerous neighbors, at least temporarily.
Sources indicate that in 1236-1237. It raised an uprising against the Swedes, supported (in one form or another) by Novgorod. As a result Swedish expansion to the east slowed down. Meanwhile, Alexander managed to maintain peace with the Baltic Germans through negotiations with the Livonian vice-master Andreas von Velven, a knight of the Order of the Sword (the life of the prince sparingly reports: “someone strong from the Western country, who is called the servants of God, from those came, although you can see his wondrous growth ... in the name of Andreyash"). The Order marched on the lands not of Novgorod, but of the Lithuanians, suffered a crushing defeat from them (so that its remnants joined the Teutonic Order), and for some time the western and southwestern borders of the Novgorod land ceased to experience constant pressure from their neighbors. As a result, it was possible to temporarily secure the border in the Baltic states and prevent joint actions of Sweden and the Order against Novgorod, preserving forces for a decisive struggle. Thus, according to the fair assessment of historian V.A. Kuchkin, the policy of the still very young Prince Alexander turned out to be quite realistic and far-sighted. However, in tough times boys grow up early...
At the beginning of 1238, when the hordes of Batu devastated North-Eastern Rus', the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich tried to concentrate all his forces at the Sit River for decisive battle. The regiments of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who continued to reign in Kyiv, and Alexander Yaroslavich from Novgorod were also supposed to arrive there. But help could not come (sources do not report the reasons), and Yuri Vsevolodovich’s army was defeated, and he himself died. The Lithuanians took advantage of the invasion of Batu, who continued to devastate the Russian lands, and captured Smolensk in 1239. Realizing that hostilities could easily spread to the Novgorod lands, Alexander was forced to strengthen the border by setting up defensive towns along the Sheloni River. At the same time, an alliance was concluded with the Principality of Polotsk, secured dynastic marriage Alexander Yaroslavich with Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna. (Note in parentheses: a “marriage of convenience” turned out to be a “marriage of love”: the chronicles report four sons and a daughter of the couple). Soon his father, Prince Yaroslav, who became after his death on the river. The city of Yuri, the Grand Duke of Vladimir, drove the Lithuanians out of Smolensk and thereby prevented their possible attack on Novgorod, and then returned to Vladimir, devastated by the Mongols, which had to be restored from ruins.
During this period, the position of Novgorod and Alexander, who reigned there, resembled, according to an apt comparison by historians, the position of a soldier in a single trench who took up a perimeter defense. In the summer of 1240, a Swedish fleet invaded the Novgorod borders. The time for the invasion was chosen very well: in the winter of 1239/1240, the Mongols devastated the Grand Duchy of Vladimir for the second time and were preparing to capture the southern Russian principalities, so the Novgorodians and their prince Alexander simply had no one to expect serious military assistance from. We had to act quickly and decisively, counting only on own strength. Having timely received news of the appearance of the Swedes at the mouth of the Neva, Prince Alexander hastily assembled a cavalry squad (his soldiers and part of the Novgorod army) and set out for Ladoga, believing that the capture of this particular city was the enemy’s goal (as had happened before). However, it turned out that the Swedes had other plans: according to indirect references in the chronicle (“camps and obrytya,” that is, battle ditches), they began construction in a strategically important place of a supporting fortress for the further seizure of Russian lands. Thus, Alexander Yaroslavich was opposed not by a pitiful bunch of adventurers who went on an “on duty” raid (as some publicists believe, who do not bother themselves with analyzing sources), but by quite large army with far-reaching goals.
Having received clarifying information from the Izhora allies and having replenished his army with a detachment of Ladoga residents, Alexander managed to secretly approach the enemy camp and deliver a surprise attack. According to the chronicler’s description, the battle began on Sunday, July 15, 1240, relatively early: the Russian army fell on the Swedes, who were not expecting an attack, so it sudden appearance caused panic among the unlucky “creators”. Some of them rushed to the ships stationed on the left bank of the Neva, others tried to cross to the left bank of the river. Izhora. The leader of the Swedish army (information about him from sources is contradictory) tried to resist, forming those who remained in battle formations, but it was all in vain. Constantly attacking, the Russians forced them to flee. The chronicle has preserved vivid stories about the participants in the battle and individual combat episodes in which Alexander showed personal courage. Suffering heavy losses, the Swedes with difficulty reached their ships, loaded them with the bodies of the most noble warriors who had fallen, and hastily sailed out to sea. Given such results, it is not surprising that Swedish chronicles are stubbornly silent about the events of 1240 at the mouth of the Neva. But it is reliably known: Sweden made the next attempt to build a fortress (“Landskrona”) in this strategically important place only sixty years later. And with the same result.
Thus, the first major military clash The 19-year-old prince of Novgorod ended in complete triumph, so that Alexander Yaroslavich in ancient Russian chronicles was referred to with the nickname “Nevsky”. For the 13th century this was, of course, not the most major battle: The number of participants on both sides is difficult to determine, perhaps two to three thousand people (including those who worked on the fortifications?). But the victory on July 15, 1240 did not allow the Swedish feudal lords to gain a foothold in this region and close access to the sea to Novgorod and other Russian lands. For Rus', this success was especially significant against the backdrop of the tragedy of Batu’s invasion. The prince’s military leadership “handwriting” was also clearly evident: deep reconnaissance, the ability to quickly navigate a changing situation, creating a preponderance of forces in the direction of the main attack, readiness personal example lure the warriors into the attack.
But after a month and a half, the German invasion from the Baltic states began on Russian lands. The combined forces of the Teutonic Order and the Bishop of Dorpat (as well as, possibly, troops in the service of the Danish king) unexpectedly captured the Pskov border fortress of Izborsk. The Pskov army that came out to defend Izborsk was defeated, its governor Gavrila Gorislavich fell in battle. The crusaders besieged Pskov, which, not receiving help from anywhere, was forced to capitulate on September 16, 1240 and came under direct German control (this is frankly reported by the main Western source - the “Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle”). Many Pskovites fled with their families to Novgorod, where discontent with Prince Alexander was brewing. Having only his own squad, probably weakened after the Battle of the Neva, and not receiving help from other Russian principalities, the prince was simply unable to provide protection Novgorod Republic. By the end of 1240, Alexander’s conflict with the Novgorodians became so acute that the prince left the city and went to Pereslavl.
The Germans immediately took advantage of this: in the winter of 1240/1241 they captured the Chud and Vodsky possessions of Novgorod, built a fortress in Koporye and, fighting the Novgorod territory itself, approached a distance of 30 versts from Novgorod itself. There was an immediate threat to the city. At the same time, it turned out that the Novgorodians were not able to cope with the ever-increasing German aggression on their own. They were forced to ask for help from the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. After long negotiations, against the backdrop of worsening military situation(the attacks of the Estonians and Livonians were added to the aggression of the crusaders) Alexander Yaroslavich returned to Novgorod to reign in March 1241.
The 20-year-old prince acted carefully and clearly. Having gathered all the military forces he had - his squad, Novgorod regiments, detachments of Ladoga residents and allied Karelians and Izhorians, Alexander stormed and destroyed the German fortress of Koporye. At the beginning of 1242, regiments sent to help by the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav arrived, and this made it possible to transfer the fighting to enemy territory. Alexander Yaroslavich and his brother Andrei with a united army invaded the land of Peipus, cut all the routes that connected the Order and the German bishoprics in the Baltic states with Pskov, and then Alexander, with an unexpected blow from the west (from where he was not expected), captured Pskov, knocking out the Germans from there. Having completed the liberation of their lands and secured the rear, the Russian regiments returned to the land of the Estonians.
The decisive battle took place on April 5, 1242 near Lake Peipus (“on Uzmen near Vorontey stone”). Reports from Russian chronicles and the Livonian Chronicle make it possible to generally reconstruct the course of the battle. The Germans formed their battle formations in a “pig” formation, at the head of which moved the heavily armed knightly cavalry, and rushed towards the Russian regiments. Prince Alexander strengthened the flanks of the regiments, and placed archers in front of the troops, who shot the crusader cavalry from a distance. We especially note that these were Russian archers: the Livonian Chronicle clearly testifies to this (by the way, it does not call them “horsemen”), and the Germans did not confuse Russians with Mongols. There are interesting studies based on archaeological finds and well known to historians about Russian bows of one and a half meters in length (hence, for foot soldiers) and the features of Russian “armor-piercing” tips. So the reasoning of the journalist V. Maltsev about the participation in the battle of archers certainly “mounted” (where does this follow?), and therefore the Tatars (for “we didn’t have this kind of troops”) are frankly fantasy and subordinated to the author’s intention: to prove the Tatar “background” victories of Alexander Nevsky (as the journalist himself writes, “Who pays whom?”). Meanwhile, not a single source reports about any Tatar detachments in the army of Alexander Nevsky, and specialists who dealt with this issue have written more than once or twice about the groundlessness of such speculation (from recent works, see, for example, the article by Yu.V. Kvitkovsky “It was Saturday then...” in the almanac “Army and Battle”, 2003, No. 2, and 2006, No. 6, with a good bibliography). But here, as they say, “the Chukchi is not a reader, the Chukchi is a writer”...
At first, the Germans managed to break through the line of Russian warriors, and the battle became extremely stubborn, but Alexander managed to turn the tide of the battle, and as a result, the prince won a complete victory on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Due to the scarcity of sources, individual details of the battle and its “topography” require further research. For example, there is a very reasonable assumption that the Russians met their enemies not on the eastern shore of the lake, as is commonly believed, but on the western, so that it was after the breakthrough that the German “pig” broke out onto the April loose ice, and then, being constrained by the Russian detachments surrounding it, began to fall into the lake. There is no exact information about the losses of the parties: the message of the Livonian Chronicle about 20 dead and 6 prisoners concerns only the order knights (detachment commanders?) and does not reflect all the losses of the enemy (this has also been pointed out by experts more than once or twice). Considering the noticeable numerical superiority of the Russians, it is safe to assume that few of the combined army of the Teutons and Estonians managed to escape. This is also evidenced by the political results of the victory: in the same year, the Germans sent an embassy to Novgorod, making peace with Prince Alexander, abandoning all their conquests of 1240-1241. in the Novgorod land and freeing the prisoners. It is noteworthy that the terms of this agreement were effective even in the 15th century: the Baltic Germans remembered the victory of Alexander Nevsky in the “Battle of the Ice” for a long time.
The military successes of Alexander Yaroslavich contributed to the strengthening of his authority in the Russian lands. Thus, in Novgorod, where he continued to reign, for many years the question of replacing him with another prince was not raised (an unprecedented case). Alexander himself accurately fulfilled his functions as the military defender of the Novgorod Republic. When in 1245 the Lithuanians unexpectedly attacked the lands of Torzhok and Bezhetsky Verkh, which belonged to Novgorod, Alexander, at the head of his squad and the Novgorodians, successfully repelled this raid, and then only with his squad defeated the Lithuanians near Zhizhich and Usvyat, securing the southwestern border for a long time. As an ancient Russian scribe wrote, under Alexander “Lithuania did not emerge from its swamps.”
But during these years, the question of relations with the Mongols, who had established their power over most of the Russian principalities, arose with all urgency. Modern “critics” of Alexander Nevsky love to exaggerate this question. " Eastern policy"of the prince deserves independent consideration, and here it has to be covered in a concise manner. In 1245, Alexander's father, the Vladimir Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, went with gifts to the capital of the Mongol Empire, the city of Karakorum on the river. Orkhon, where he was poisoned and died (September 30, 1246). The need to distribute princely possessions in the “Russian ulus” after the death of Yaroslav led to a long trip of Alexander and Andrei Yaroslavich to the Horde to Batu and then to Karakorum (1247-1249). Before this trip, Alexander Yaroslavich played a subtle diplomatic game: he entered into correspondence with the Pope and, without making any specific promises, managed to secure the western borders of Russian lands from new crusades during his absence.
A long stay in the possessions of the Mongols allowed Prince Alexander to assess their real strength at that time and subsequently restrained him from any ill-considered actions in the east. (We do not consider it necessary to comment on the assertions that Alexander Nevsky established the “cult of Batu” on Russian lands - in what forms?, and that the Russian word “batya” allegedly originated from here. If we follow the journalistic logic of V. Maltsev, we will have to admit that the baby’s babbling “mother” is a consequence of the cult of Mamai, established by Prince Dmitry Donskoy...). Until the end of the 15th century. Russian princes received labels for their possessions from the Tatars in the Horde. However, thanks to the efforts of Alexander Yaroslavich, some autonomy of the Russian lands was ensured: issues of distribution of appanages were resolved at princely congresses, Rus' did not mobilize its population into the Mongol army, limiting itself to paying tribute, and the Horde themselves did not try to establish settlements on Russian lands (unlike their western neighbors Rus'). Alexander's trips to the Horde with submission (1252, 1257, 1263) were aimed at preventing new invasions and peacefully resolving conflicts with the Tatar khans. Therefore, Alexander Nevsky, who became the Grand Duke of Vladimir and, therefore, the main one among the princes of North-Eastern Rus', did not support the uprising of his brothers Andrei and Yaroslav Yaroslavich against Horde rule as obviously doomed to failure (as is known, it only provoked a punitive campaign of the Tatars against Rus' in 1252 - the so-called “Nevryuev’s army”; there is a thorough work about this; modern historian A.A. Gorsky). But at the same time, Alexander managed not to turn the brothers into his sworn enemies, but through some concessions to maintain allied relations with them. In 1257/1258, Alexander was forced, acting harshly and decisively (including against his own son Vasily and his closest advisers, and not against the “Russian cities” and their inhabitants), to help the Mongols conduct a census (“number”) of the population Novgorod for the purpose of collecting tribute. And when in the winter of 1259/1260 the Mongol “numerals” came to Novgorod for the second time, only the intervention of Alexander Nevsky was able to keep the Novgorodians from an armed uprising, the consequences of which are difficult to predict. Apparently, the authoritative prince managed to find some kind of compromise that satisfied the Novgorodians.
But during these same years, Alexander Nevsky decisively and quickly suppressed any attempts by Rus'’s western neighbors to violate its borders and did not hesitate to use armed force. So, in 1255, the Swedes and their Danish allies, who owned Northern Estonia at that time, tried to build a stronghold on the eastern bank of the Narova River, which belonged to Novgorod. Based here, the invaders hoped to launch an attack on the lands of the Votic and Izhora tribes, which were part of the Novgorod Republic. Having learned about this, the Novgorodians sent ambassadors asking for military assistance to Vladimir to Alexander Nevsky and began to gather their own militia. It is curious that the news of the embassy (that is, in fact, only the name of Prince Alexander!) brought such fear to the Swedes and their allies that they hastily boarded ships and fled overseas. Alexander led his regiments to Novgorod, but there were no more opponents. Then in 1256 the prince undertook a campaign against the land of Emi, previously conquered by the Swedes. This last military campaign of the commander took place in harsh winter conditions, but ended successfully, so that the attention of the Swedish feudal lords switched from Novgorod to Finland for a long time.
Alexander Yaroslavich's trip to the Horde in 1262/1263 turned out to be exceptionally difficult: the Grand Duke of Vladimir was forced to go there to try to somehow soften Khan Berke's demands for the forced mobilization of the inhabitants of Rus' into the Mongol army. According to the chronicles, the khan detained the prince in the Horde for several months, Alexander fell ill and, already sick, left for Rus' (perhaps the serious illness that the chronicles reported earlier worsened; the sources do not mention the version of poisoning, and V. Maltsev’s statements about “ cold" of the prince remain on the conscience of the journalist). Having with difficulty reached Gorodets along the Volga through Nizhny Novgorod, the prince realized that he could not get to Vladimir. On the afternoon of November 14, 1263, Alexander Yaroslavich became a monk (under the name “Alexy”), and by the evening of the same day he died at the 43rd year of his life. Nine days later, the prince’s body was delivered to the capital Vladimir and, with a large crowd of people, was buried in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery, founded by Alexander’s grandfather Vsevolod.
Assessing the significance of the personality of Alexander Nevsky, historians rightly point out that his life from adolescence was filled with major events, complex diplomatic negotiations, bold campaigns, and decisive battles. A personality of such magnitude cannot be studied from ideologized journalism (apologetic or, on the contrary, subversive) and even less from film scripts of the late 1930s (by the way, S. Eisenstein, to his credit, accepted the criticism of the historian M.N. Tikhomirov in his film tried to avoid the nonsense of screenwriter P.A. Pavlenko). A thoughtful analysis of the entire complex of surviving evidence is necessary to understand the motives and actions of the ruler of the state.
Being a man of his era, Alexander Nevsky combined in his character cruelty towards traitors and disobedient people with the denial of the internecine princely struggle and the desire to alleviate the situation of the people conquered by foreign conquerors. The authoritative modern biographer of the prince, historian V.A. Kuchkin, especially emphasizes the fact that Alexander, unlike his grandfather, father, siblings and even his own children, never participated in bloody internecine battles. Whenever internal conflicts It happened that Alexander gathered troops, but did not bring the matter to open military action, limiting himself to the threat of using force and achieving his goals through negotiations. It is quite obvious that this was a conscious policy of Alexander Nevsky, who understood perfectly well that in the conditions of the establishment of the Horde yoke on the Russian lands, princely strife, even in the event of a complete victory of one of the parties, could only lead to a general weakening of Rus' and the destruction of its working and military-capable population. In his foreign policy contacts, the prince behaved like a cautious and prudent, but not unprincipled politician, and always defended the interests of his native country. “War in the West and peace in the East” is a pragmatic policy dictated by the specific circumstances of the second third of the 13th century, and not by some abstract ideological guidelines. The ruler clearly understood the difference between the Western feudal lords, who colonized the lands of their neighbors, and the steppe nomads, who were not interested in land, but in booty, and later in the uninterrupted flow of tribute. Thus, the main features of the prince’s activities at a critical moment in Russian history were securing borders and maintaining the integrity of state territory, care for the population native land. All this determines the outstanding significance of Alexander Nevsky in the history of Russia.
One final note. History is an exact science, requiring not only talent with a “flight of fancy”, but, above all, professional skill in working with sources and fundamental knowledge in special disciplines. Journalists who undertake to write on historical topics (and are ready to shout “fuck the judge!”) should be aware of their responsibility to their readers and remember that science is not football, in which everyone is free to imagine themselves as a great expert.
Kuznetsov Andrey Alexandrovich, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Department of Historiography and Source Studies, Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky
Pudalov Boris Moiseevich, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Head of the Committee for Archives of the Nizhny Novgorod Region
From the editors of “RN”: On September 12, 1724, the founder of the northern capital, Emperor Peter I, personally transferred the relics of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky, which had previously rested in Vladimir, to the monastery he founded. So the city on the Neva found its heavenly patron and defender, and September 12 became a special holiday for St. Petersburg. Since its foundation, the architectural complex of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery has played a city-forming role in the appearance of St. Petersburg. For many years, right up to the tragic revolutionary changes, the monastery was the spiritual stronghold of the new capital of Russia, a source of Christian enlightenment, a repository of revered shrines and national relics, and the resting place of outstanding people. national culture. Since 1996, the gradual revival of the monastery began.
For the anniversary celebrations in 2013 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, large-scale restoration work was carried out, and active spiritual, educational and cultural activities are carried out in the monastery.
And this week the main celebrations took place when on September 12, the day of the transfer of the relics of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, they were led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', who performed the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra.
In his speech during the Holiday, Patriarch Kirill, citing the example of Alexander Nevsky and Peter the Great, in particular, said: “... The Holy Scripture categorically demands something else: “bear each other’s burdens.” These words have the striking power of truth in the history of our Fatherland. When the still young Prince Alexander entered into battle with an enemy superior to his squad, he taught his warriors, covering their comrade with his chest, to fight not for themselves, but for the warrior standing next to them. Each of them understood that the death of his comrade was also his death.
So you and I must understand that the principle that modern secular society proclaims: “Take everything from life - you only live once!”, fragments society into small parts. And then there is no cohesion and unity in work, struggle and, if necessary, in defense of the Fatherland. Therefore, I urge all of us to remain ourselves, preserving national self-awareness, fortitude and our true identity. And without faith it is impossible to do this, since, as we know, the opposite has always been accompanied by defeat and devastation.
In modernizing the state, we, standing firmly on spiritual foundations, must follow the path of Emperor Peter and Alexander Nevsky. Today we pray to the holy prince and ask him for the blessing of all of our Rus' and believe that through our prayers, before the throne of God he will ask for grace for all of us.”
The material presented below is a chapter from the book “Holy Rus': Time to Collect Stones” (Moscow, 2005) by the scientist and public figure Boris Nikolaevich Kuzyk - doctor economic sciences, professor, honored worker of science of the Russian Federation, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Institute of Economic Strategies, major general in reserve.
The author claims that “today Russia again faces a choice. As in the 13th century, we are talking about the very existence of Russia, the preservation of the originality of its culture, language, science, education system, army and navy, borders, ecology, established biosystems... As in the 13th century, there is a great threat to distort the very soul of the militant system of the West, striving to crush under itself and reshape everyone and everything in its own image. How can we not waste our time on trifles, so as not to let the thread slip out of our hands? historical events, the most important thing is not to lose! Our support is in our history,” which we honor during the great celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the majestic Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
St. Petersburg, Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Annunciation Church and Trinity Cathedral
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“We think of ourselves that we are humble as long as we are not touched - this is not humility; This is true humility:
when they humiliate, insult, then say to yourself: I am worth this for my sins...”
(Saying of the Holy Fathers of the Church of Christ)
Lev Gumilev wrote: “ Historical time, in which we live, act... differs from linear, astronomical time in that we discover its existence due to the presence of events connected in cause-and-effect chains. These chains are known to everyone; they are called traditions. They arise..., expand their ranges and break off, leaving monuments for descendants, thanks to which descendants learn about extraordinary people who lived before them."
A visit to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg clearly confirms the historian’s thought. The monument left to descendants is a window into history. You just have to open it, look out - and you will see, feel, understand...
New capital new empire Peter the Great urgently needed new spiritual symbols, but he could only rely on old traditions, on the history of Rus'. And Peter found such a symbol in her.
On August 30, 1724 (September 12 in the new style - editor's note RN) the relics of the blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky were transferred from Vladimir to St. Petersburg, to the Lavra, built on the banks of the Neva on the very spot where the Novgorodians once took part in a historical battle , meeting with the Swedish army.
Alexander Nevskiy! They turned to him more than once, he was called for help in difficult moments of history - during the Battle of Kulikovo, during the capture of Kazan. They also turned to his memory in the 20th century, during the Great Patriotic War, by establishing the Order named after the Holy Prince, removing cult movie about the Battle of the Ice.
Alexander is a historical figure, the grandson of Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise. 
In the 13th century Rus' found itself in a vice, pressed on one side by Mongolian Asia and on the other by Latin Europe. In 1206, the Mongol movement began in China, Turkestan, and Asia Minor. And less than twenty years later, the advanced detachments of Genghis Khan’s cavalry had already inflicted a terrible defeat on the Russian princes at Kalka.
Almost simultaneously, in 1204, Western European crusaders took Constantinople by storm and plundered it; On the site of the Orthodox Byzantine kingdom, the Latin Empire was founded.
Alexander Nevsky's difficult choice between East and West occurred when the offensive against Rus' was going on on all fronts. Hungary and Poland rushed to Galicia and Volhynia; German crusaders established themselves in early XIII V. in Riga (Livonian Order) and Prussia (Teutonic Order) and from there they launched an attack on Pskov and Novgorod; The Swedes moved to Rus' through Finland. With fire and sword, European conquerors converted both pagans - Lithuanians, Estonians and Finns, and Orthodox - Russians to the Catholic faith.
The time of greatest tension for Rus' was the end of the 30s of the 13th century. Winter 1237-1238 - the first Tatar pogrom in the cities and villages of North-Eastern Rus'; in 1240 the Horde took Kyiv; in the same year, encouraged by the pope to embark on a crusade against the “infidels,” the Swedish ruler and commander Birger landed on the banks of the Neva.
Rus' could die heroically fighting, literally burning between two fires,
but she was unable to resist and save herself in a struggle on two fronts simultaneously. This is obvious to a professional military man who is able to appreciate human and material resources. So the Russian rulers had to make a choice between East and West - this is a very interesting moment in history, still relevant today.
The two strongest Russian princes of that time took different paths. Daniil Galitsky relied on the West and, with its help, tried to fight against the East. Alexander Nevsky preferred the East and, under its protection, decided to fight off the West.
Daniil Galitsky was one of four Russian princes who escaped after a brutal defeat on the Kalka River. He remembered his first acquaintance with the Mongol-Tatars, which ended in disaster. In foreign and domestic policy, he had to maneuver between the Pope, the rulers of Ugria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, between the Tatar khans, his own boyars and relatives of the princes. The Tatars dealt the first terrible blow to Yugo Western Rus' at the end of 1240, taking Kyiv; all of Volhynia and Galicia were then devastated; the destruction was so severe that, for example, it was impossible to approach Berest due to the stench of rotting corpses.
Daniel did not try to resist. Even before the capture of Kyiv, he left to seek help against the Mongol-Tatars from the Ugric king. But his efforts were in vain. As you know, the Mongolian wave covered the entire Eastern and Central Europe - Hungary, Silesia, Moravia, Croatia, the Balkans. And the Mongols left Europe not because they encountered serious military resistance there - on the contrary, they won everywhere (at Legnica in Silesia; on the Sologna River in present-day Hungary). They turned back because of the arose in the depths Mongol power disputes between ruling clans.
Daniel returned to Rus', where he had to wage a long struggle with the boyars, Prince of Chernigov Rostislav, Ugrians and Poles. In 1250, the Mongols again became interested in Southwestern Russia. Batu's ambassadors ordered Daniil: “Give Galich.” Lacking the strength for armed resistance, Daniil decided to submit and went to Batu himself. Having stayed in the Horde for almost a month, he persuaded the khan to leave all his lands behind him. The prince, pleasing to Batu, immediately became needed by the West: the Ugric king Bela IV sent envoys to Daniel with an offer of peace and a kinship alliance. Daniel's son Leo married the daughter of the Ugric king. On Bela's side, Daniel intervened in the feud Central Europe- in a dispute over the Austrian duchy, in Czech and Moravian affairs.
St. Petersburg, Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Monastyrka River / Photo: Andrey Butko
Submitting to the Mongols, Daniel joined the global force of Mongol expansion - he fell, as it were, into the mainstream of the historical stream. In Eastern and Central Europe, almost endless diplomatic prospects opened up before him. But he himself closed them with his inability to understand the meaning historical moment. His alliance with the Mongols was not deliberate or consistent; it was just an accidental, albeit clever, political move. Sympathies and habits repelled Daniel from Mongolian Asia. The brilliant and ambitious prince preferred the company of kings and knights, arousing their admiration and surprise for his courage. Dependence on wild, from his point of view, nomads and barbarians seemed humiliating to him. Batu's merciful attitude was offensive and difficult for Daniel. The chronicler vividly reflected these feelings.
Daniel began to look for opportunities to free himself from Mongolian dependence. The Byzantine kingdom was overthrown, and in order to count on the help of the West, it was necessary to turn to the formal head of the West - the Pope. Daniel did just that: he began negotiations with Pope Innocent IV about the union of churches. The pope, in response, promised to give the Russian clergy various benefits, forbade the crusaders to acquire estates in Russian regions without the permission of the Grand Duke; The Pope promised the Grand Duke himself a royal title. Finally, Innocent IV twice (in 1253 and 1254) called on all the sovereigns of the Middle and of Eastern Europe start a crusade against the Tatars. Counting on the help of the West, Daniel began active preparations for the war with the Mongols: he collected troops and money, fortified cities, strengthened own power. In 1255, in the city of Drogichin, Daniel was crowned with the royal crown sent to him by the pope.
Daniel needed, first of all, military help. But she didn’t come: no one responded to the pope’s calls. Then Daniel interrupted his relationship with Innocent IV. Meanwhile, the Mongol Tatars were preparing a new offensive. Daniel saw that he was unable to cope with them, and he had to give in. At the request of the Horde, Daniel suspended military preparations and tore down the fortifications of the Volyn cities (1261).
In 1264, Daniil Galitsky died. All of his “big politics” were unsuccessful; he achieved results only in “small politics” - the fight against the Lithuanians, whom neither the Mongols nor the crusaders supported against him.
Daniel wasted his time on everyday political trifles and lost sight of the main threads of historical events. He won several separate battles, but lost the most important thing - Orthodox Russia. The result of his actions was the enslavement of Southwestern Rus' by the Latins.
Less than a hundred years after the death of Daniel, the entire Galicia-Volyn land was torn to pieces by its neighbors: Ugrians, Poles, Lithuanians...
The complete opposite of the policy of Daniil Romanovich is the activity of Alexander Yaroslavich. With much less chance of success, Alexander achieved greater and more lasting results. The noisy epic of Daniil Galitsky was wasted. The deep and persistent political work of Alexander Nevsky led to great consequences. Daniel had extremely favorable historical and geographical resources at his disposal, first of all, an excellent bridgehead in the center of Central Europe. If Daniel had used the support of the Mongols from the rear, he could have conquered all these lands and firmly established Russian power and Orthodoxy there. Alexander’s capabilities in terms of the geographical location of his possessions were extremely meager - the provincial North-West of European Russia was of no interest to potential Western allies.
But if Alexander could gain little, he could lose a lot, and not only “windows to Europe” - Novgorod and Pskov. It was about the very existence of Rus', the preservation of its identity. It was necessary to support the living energy of Russian culture - Orthodoxy - and ensure the preservation of the main source of this energy at that time - the homeland of the Russian people.
If the Latin West had defeated Novgorod, Pskov, and Tver, then North-Eastern Rus' would have become too weak for independent life and could have completely dissolved into the elements of the Horde. The historical task facing Alexander was twofold: to protect the borders of Rus' from attacks from the West and to strengthen national identity within the country. To solve both problems, it was necessary to clearly recognize and deeply feel the historical meaning of the uniqueness of Russian culture - Orthodoxy.
Alexander's political system was based on the salvation of the Orthodox faith. Orthodoxy, not in words, but in deeds, was perceived by him as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Since the foundation was unshakable, Alexander was no longer afraid to look for any historical allies in order to confirm it.
With his brilliant historical instinct, Alexander realized that in his era, the danger to Orthodoxy and the uniqueness of Russian culture was threatening from the West, and not from the East. The Mongols brought slavery to the body, but not to the soul. The coming of the “Latins” threatened to distort the soul. Catholicism was a militant religious system that sought to subjugate and remake the Orthodox faith of the Russian people in its own image. The Mongol Tatars did not have a single religious system - the Horde was only an organized military and political force. She imposed civil political laws, not religious ecclesiastical laws.
The original Mongol wave was by no means Muslim. The main principle of the Mongol state was wide religious tolerance, even patronage of all religions. Only forty years after the Battle of Kalka, the Khan of the Golden Horde converted to Islam.
The Orthodox Church in Rus' has preserved complete freedom actions. From this side, Alexander Nevsky did not need to fear the Mongols. He saw in them a force that could help him defend Russian cultural identity from aggression from the West. Alexander's entire policy of subordinating the Mongols was not a random political move, but the implementation of a deeply thought-out political system.
Alexander Yaroslavich began to reign shortly before the Mongol invasion. In 1236, Prince Yaroslav, setting out on a campaign from Novgorod to Kyiv, installed his son as prince in Novgorod. He was there during the first Mongol invasion of Rus' in the winter of 1237-1238. The Tatars did not reach Novgorod, but Novgorod, along with all Russian lands, came under the control of the Horde.
In 1239, Alexander's father Yaroslav had to go to the Horde to receive a label to reign. Batu received him with “great honor.” Yaroslav sent his son Konstantin to Asia to the headquarters of the Great Khan. Under the cover of peace in the East, Yaroslav’s other son, Alexander, brilliantly repelled all attacks from the West during these years.
In July 1240 troops Swedish jarl Birger landed on the banks of the Neva.
Having learned about this, Alexander “inflamed in heart” and set out on a campaign “in a small squad, not relying on much of his strength, but trusting in the Holy Trinity.” Alexander's victory was decisive and complete. As the chronicles testify, the Neva victory took place in an atmosphere of greatest religious tension.
While Novgorod was attacked by the Swedes, Pskov was taken by storm by the Germans (Livonian knights). Then they entered the Novgorod lands and tried to gain a foothold by building a fortress in Koporye. In 1241, Alexander took Koporye with the entire German garrison. At first next year he occupied Pskov and went to the Chud land into the possessions of the Livonian Order. On April 5, the famous Battle of the Ice took place on the ice of Lake Peipus.
After a row glorious victories over the West, Alexander had to personally feel the power of the East: he had to go to Vladimir to say goodbye to his father Yaroslav, who was going to the Horde to Batu. Submission to the East made it possible to win victories in the West (several successful battles with Lithuanian knights in 1245 in the area of Toropets and Vitebsk). In the same year, brother Konstantin Yaroslavich returned from the headquarters of the Great Khan. Instead, Yaroslav himself went to the Horde as a hostage. In August 1246, he took part in the kurultai, at which Guyuk was proclaimed great khan. Soon Yaroslav fell ill and died there, at the Khan’s headquarters. Historians claim that he was poisoned. After the death of his father, Alexander had to independently choose between East and West. Everyone called him to their side.
In a papal bull of 1248, the pope promised Alexander, in gratitude for recognizing the Roman throne, the help of the Livonian knights against the Mongol Tatars. On the other hand, Batu, through his ambassadors, addressed Alexander like this: “Take heed to yourself; If you think of keeping your land unharmed, then strive to immediately come to me...”
Alexander went with his brother Andrei to Batu, then the brothers went to the Great Khan Guyuk (the trip to Asia took them two years).
Andrei reigned in Vladimir, Alexander reigned in Novgorod and Kyiv, and the third brother, Yaroslav, ruled in Tver. Alexander, as the eldest, demanded submission from his brothers. The goal of his policy was to unite all of Rus' under a single government, and to achieve his goal, Alexander used various means. When the brothers refused to obey him, he humbled them with the help of the Horde. Alexander also cruelly punished Novgorodians who did not want to pay tribute to the Horde.
In 1262 Alexander last time fought against the West: he sent his son Dmitry and brother Yaroslav on a campaign against the city of Yuryev Livonsky. The Russians defeated the Germans and burned the settlement. Alexander himself had to go to the Horde at this time to appease the khan, who was enraged by the rebellion: in many cities of Northern Rus', people beat Tatar tax farmers, not realizing that behind each baskak there was formidable force the entire Mongol Empire. Alexander managed to settle the matter peacefully, but saving the Russian land from new ruin was his last political act. Alexander stayed in the Horde for almost a year. He also managed to agree to cancel the recruitment of troops in Rus' who were supposed to participate in the war in the Caucasus on the side of the Horde. On the way back, in Nizhny Novgorod, the prince fell ill and died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets on the Volga.
Alexander’s activities were determined not only political plans and calculations. His politics were closely connected with moral religious concepts. Alexander Yaroslavich is not only a politician and a warrior, he is, first of all, a deeply religious person and a knowledgeable theologian. When the Pope sent two cardinals to Alexander to convince him of the correctness of the Latin faith, Alexander drew up a detailed objection. It is characteristic that at a critical moment Alexander remembered the words of the Lord: “Those who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
The religious and moral philosophy of Alexander Nevsky was at the same time political. The Life of the Prince gives two main reasons for his “going to the Horde.” Readiness to lay down his life for his people and “for piety” - such aspirations fully correspond to Alexander’s steadfastness in the Orthodox faith and desire to ensure existence at all costs Orthodox Church.
What Alexander Yaroslavich did not care about at all was the splendor of the earthly glory of the “temporary kingdom.” But both Batu and Daniil Galitsky wanted such glory. Alexander sacrificed external well-being for the sake of the depth of the true foundations of power that he understood: “for piety and for all his people.” “The Tatar honor is worse than evil” was for Daniel’s pride: Alexander accepted it with humility. It was unbearable for Daniel to become the slave of the Tatar Khan: Alexander endured this burden with humility. He resisted the temptation to which Daniel succumbed - to seek allies against the East by compromising with the West. Alexander's submission to the Horde cannot be assessed other than as a feat of humility.
The feat is not always external martyrdom, but sometimes, on the contrary, internal: warfare is not only visible, but also invisible - a struggle against spiritual temptations, a feat of self-discipline and humility. And this feat can be characteristic not only of the average person, but also of the head of state.
The two feats of Alexander Nevsky - the feat of warfare in the West and the feat of humility in the East - had one goal: the preservation of Orthodoxy as a moral political force Russian people. This goal was achieved: the Russian Orthodox kingdom grew on the soil prepared by Alexander. Alexander's tribe built the Moscow state. When the times and deadlines were fulfilled, when Rus' gained strength, and the Horde, on the contrary, was crushed and weakened, then the policy of subordination to the Horde became unnecessary: the Orthodox kingdom could be erected directly and openly, the Orthodox banner raised without fear. Then the policy of Alexander Nevsky was supposed to turn into the policy of Dmitry Donskoy.
Historically, of course, this was the case: Dmitry’s army grew on Alexander’s humility. The kingdom of Moscow is largely a fruit wise policy Alexandra. The dignified book, laying out spiritual and historical foundations for this kingdom, revealed a deep understanding of history.
Alexander Nevsky and Daniil Galitsky personify two primordial cultural types of Russian, and even world history: the “Westerner” type and the “Easternist” type.
Disagreements between Westerners and Slavophiles in the middle of the 19th century. manifested themselves primarily within literature. Awareness of the cultural contradictions between the West and the East, as well as the actions, feelings and exploits of the past must be understood and appreciated by us in a new way. The images of Russian princes - Daniil Galitsky and Alexander Nevsky - shine for us as bright beacons of two worldviews. The result of the brilliant but ill-conceived exploits of one was the Latin slavery of Southwestern Rus'. The result of the exploits of another was the great Russian State.
Alexander Nevsky is especially revered as the organizer of the Russian state, as a person who made sacrifices for the main thing - the future of Russia.
For centuries, Russian people, faced with a moral choice, turned to his example. In the 20th century close to us. Russian officers had to decide: submit to the evil force, but stay with the people and defend their country, or leave Russia, helping to create armies of foreign states.
The hierarchs of the Russian Church found themselves in a situation of choice: submit to the evil force, but remain with the people, give them spiritual support in difficult times and accept the crown of martyrdom, or leave Russia and educate and strengthen the gene pool of another nation.
Everyone had to determine their path: scientists, writers, industrialists, peasants...
***
Today Russia again faces a choice. As in the 13th century, we are talking about the very existence of Russia, the preservation of the originality of its culture, language, science, education system, army and navy, borders, ecology, established biosystems... As in the 13th century, there is a great threat to distort the very soul of the militant system of the West,
striving to crush under itself and reshape everyone and everything in its own image.
How can we not waste our time on trifles, not let the threads of historical events slip through our hands, and not lose the most important thing!
Our support is in our history. Remembering the lessons of Alexander Yaroslavich, we must clearly understand: today we need to support the living energy of Russian culture - Orthodoxy - and ensure the safety of the main source of this energy - the Motherland, Russia.
Alexander Nevsky saw - in difficult years the Church is an example Holy Scripture taught: only by uniting and spiritually strengthening did the biblical people emerge from captivity. And at the same time strictly observing the law of the ancestors! 
Tomb of Alexander Nevsky (Hermitage)
And the Russian Orthodox Church achieved the result: the entire Russian people constituted one family, with the same faith, the same customs.
All classes - boyars and peasants, rich and poor - formed, as it were, one clan. When the Feast of the Lord comes, everyone goes to the temple of God. The prince and the boyar - with a bag for alms, the beggar - with an outstretched hand, and the farmer - with a penny of labor for a candle to God... Everyone goes to the temple, and there is a place for everyone there.
The spouses were bound by inextricable bonds to the grave. Children were brought up in obedience to their parents, in respect for elders, and firmly grasped the concepts of good and evil. There were few scientists then, but they were all believers and pious people. Although a simple man did not study science, he knew well what the Church gave him: from the Psalter, the Gospel, from Chrysostom and the lives that were read in churches, the people learned worldly wisdom.
The entire Russian people were then like one person. Everyone was thinking about only one thing: how to protect the foundations on which the Russian land rests.
Returning to Alexander Nevsky, it is worth emphasizing once again: his achievements became possible largely due to the harmony of two principles - statehood and spirituality. The exploits of Alexander are inseparable from the activities of Metropolitan Kirill, who gathered the spiritual and material forces of Rus'.
During the period of Horde rule, only the Church remained an organization preserving the unity of the fragmented Russian principalities. It was Cyril who managed in 1267 to acquire the khan's label, which gave benefits to the Orthodox Church. He founded a new diocese - in Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde. The Metropolitan stopped the war between the Novgorodians and the Tver prince. In 1272, Kirill acquired from the Bulgarian prince the Helmsman's Book outlining church canons, which became the prototype for all subsequent Russian helmsman's books. Two years later, on the initiative of the Metropolitan, a local church council was held in Vladimir, which approved 12 rules on church affairs. According to them, the Church lived for 300 years; they were the basis for the decisions of the famous Council of the Stoglavy in 1551.
But Kirill ended up at the head of the Russian Orthodox Church thanks to Daniil Romanovich Galitsky! But Daniel became increasingly close to the Catholic Church, and the main activity of the metropolitan unfolded in North-Eastern Rus'.
Monument to Alexander Nevsky on the square named after him in front of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra / Photo: Andrey Sdobnikov
These are the lessons of history, you need to know them.
It would be appropriate to mention here that Western Europe’s attempts to conquer Muscovite Rus', and later Russia, were renewed several times. Suffice it to recall the Polish-Lithuanian aggression of the 17th century, when even Moscow was occupied, the Swedish invasion in 1708-1709, the French invasion in 1812, the attack of the British and French in 1854 and two German invasions during the 20th century.
An objective study of the relationship between Russia and the West gave the basis to the famous historian of our time A. Toynbee to say: “Throughout its entire history, Russia has never attacked the West, but only defended itself from it.”