Alexander Nevsky, whose brief biography is presented in this article, was not only the Grand Duke, but also a famous commander, whose merits are still revered. Indeed, thanks to his victories in such battles as the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice, our country remained not only independent, but also asserted itself among other states.

For his exploits before the Fatherland and the firm Orthodox faith, Alexander Nevsky was glorified among the saints as the Holy Blessed Prince.

Brief biography of Alexander Yaroslavich

Alexander Nevsky was born on May 13, 1221 in the family of Vladimir Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Rostislava Mstislavovna. He was the second of nine children. Until the age of nine, the prince lived in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and after that, together with his older brother Fedor, he left to rule in Veliky Novgorod.

After 3 years, the elder brother died, and after another 3 years, the prince's father moved to rule in Kyiv. Therefore, Alexander Nevsky, by the age of 16, became an independent ruler of Novgorod - one of the richest and most influential cities of the 13th century.

Historical portrait of Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Yaroslavich ruled from 1236 to 1263 in the Novgorod, Kiev and Vladimir principalities.

He began his story as a warrior. While still very young, he fought on the Izhora, which flows into the Neva, with the German knights. A little later, he fought for Pskov with the Teutonic Knights and participated in the Battle of the Ice.

During the reign of Alexander Yaroslavich, the Old Russian state had a hard fate, it had to pay tribute to the Golden Horde and protect the state from Western invaders. At that time, every prince who wanted to receive the title of great had to go to the Horde for a golden label. Alexander Nevsky was no exception.

After the death of his father, he went to Mongolia to ask for the principality of Vladimir. In total, Alexander Yaroslavich visited the Horde 2 times. The second time he went there because of the unsuccessful campaign of his brothers against the Horde, in order to save the Russian cities from the wrath of the Tatar-Mongol. He was able to convince the khan not to attack Russia, but died on the way home.

Childhood of Alexander Nevsky

Almost nothing is known about the childhood and youth of Alexander Yaroslavich. When Alexander was 5 years old, his father initiated him and his brother Fyodor into warriors. After 3 years, the brothers were sent to reign in Veliky Novgorod.

Life in Novgorod with its free and warlike disposition played a big role in his worldview. Alexander knew from childhood that someday he would become a warrior and lead an army, like his father once did.

In 1237, Russia suffered a misfortune - the Russian cities were burned and robbed by the warriors of Batu. At that time, many princes were killed, and the survivors were taken prisoner. In order to protect his lands and save the lives of his children, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich agreed with Batu to pay tribute.

However, the worst was waiting for the Russian state ahead. Having learned about the plight of the Russian princes, the Pope decided to forcibly baptize the Russian people into the Catholic faith, and give the conquered territories to the families of the knights of the Order.

Just at this time, 17-year-old Alexander Nevsky was able to establish himself as a wise ruler and a good commander, placing several defensive points on the Shelon River and engaging in an unequal battle with the crusaders.

Grand Duke's parents

The father of Alexander Nevsky was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who reigned in Vladimir. His grandfather was Vsevolod the Big Nest, and his great-grandfather was Yuri Dolgoruky, who also went down in history as great figures of Russia.

Father of Alexander Nevsky Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich

Nothing more is known about the boy's mother, except that she was of a princely family. Some sources say that she was the daughter of Mstislav the Udaly (Lucky) - one of the famous warriors and princes of that time.

Marriage of Alexander Yaroslavich

In 1239, in Toropets, the prince married Alexandra, the daughter of the Polotsk prince. They had 5 children - 4 sons and 1 daughter.

Children of Alexander Nevsky

The exact dates of birth of the sons of Alexander Nevsky are unknown. The eldest son Vasily was presumably born before 1245. He inherited the Novgorod inheritance.

The next son of Prince Dmitry was born in 1250. He was the ruler of Novgorod, Pereslavl and Vladimir. Andrei (1255) was the ruler of the Kostroma, Vladimir and Novgorod principalities after the death of his elder brothers.

The most famous of his children was the youngest son, Daniel, who was called the first collector of lands around Moscow and the first Moscow prince.

Nevsky's daughter Evdokia married Prince Konstantin Rostislavich, who ruled in Smolensk.

Who fought Alexander Nevsky

During his short but glorious life, Alexander Nevsky was able to accomplish many important victories for the state. To do this, he had to fight with several foreign invaders almost simultaneously.

His enemies were the Swedes from the Livonian Order, who in 1240 appeared at the walls of Veliky Novgorod. Also, Alexander Nevsky in 1242 fought with the German knights and in 1245 with the Lithuanian troops.

Briefly about the exploits of the great commander

Today he is put on a par with the most outstanding commanders in the history of Russia. And this is no coincidence. On his account at once several significant victories for the entire Russian world.

He won his first victory on June 15, 1240 on the Izhora River against the Swedish conquerors. In the summer of that year, under the walls of Novgorod, the knights of the Levonian and Teutonic Orders appeared, who came to Russia to convert people to the Catholic faith.

The Swedish part of the united order did not wait for the Germans and acted. Alexander Nevsky, without waiting for the help of his father, opposed the interventionists and defeated them.

The second feat of Alexander Yaroslavich is known in history as the Battle on the Ice. It happened on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipus, which by that time was already on the inhabited territory of the German crusader knights.

The last victory of Nevsky refers to 1245. The battle against the Lithuanian invaders was fought for several days and ended with the victory of the Nevsky squad.

Ice battle and the victory of Alexander Nevsky

The battle on the ice or the battle against the Teutonic Order took place on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipsi. Thanks to the resourcefulness and cunning tactics of the young prince, the troops of the order were surrounded from the flanks and defeated.

The remnants of the Teutons were overtaken by the princely squad along the frozen lake for a long time. As a result of this battle, about 500 knights drowned in the lake, and another 50 were taken prisoner.

In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of lively discussion as to why so many knights drowned. According to one version, the knights were dressed in heavy armor, because of which the ice on Lake Peipsi could not stand it and cracked. However, according to other reports, this information appeared recently and has nothing to do with actual events.

One way or another, this battle was of great importance for the state. After him, an agreement was concluded that put an end to the raids of the crusaders.

The results of the reign of Alexander Yaroslavich

The reign of Alexander Nevsky is recognized as one of the most beneficial for the state. After all, during the time Nevsky was in power, the country increased its influence in the West, largely due to the victories over the Order.

In addition, many Russian cities were able to breathe easy, because the predatory raids of the Baskaks stopped due to Alexander's competent policy towards the Golden Horde. He ensured that the princes could again independently collect tribute and take it to the Horde.

Death of a prince

The prince died during one of the campaigns on the land of the Tatar-Mongol. It happened on November 14, 1262 on the way back from the Horde. There are several versions of his death. The most popular assumptions are illness or poisoning.

It is known that before his death, the prince converted to Christianity and took the name Alexei. He was about 42 years old. He was buried in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery.

The image of Alexander Nevsky in art

The original image with the prince has not remained to this day. His image was restored according to descriptions from various sources, which was reflected in Russian literature, art, and cinema. A verbal portrait of the prince can be found in his life, the content of which tells of his many exploits.

One of the most popular portraits of Alexander Nevsky was painted from the actor from the film of the same name directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The prototype for the Order of the Grand Duke was also taken from him.

In addition, many streets and temples are named after the prince, not only in our country, but also abroad. In many cities of Russia you can find monuments dedicated to him.

There are more than a dozen interesting facts about the activities of this famous person. The most interesting and relevant of them in this collection.

Why was the prince called Alexander Nevsky?

His nickname - Nevsky, Alexander received for a brilliant victory over the German knights on the Neva. This not only glorified him, but also for a long time discouraged the desire of the Western states to attack Russia.

What was the height of Alexander Nevsky?

It is noteworthy that Alexander Nevsky was small, even small by modern standards of growth - no more than 156 cm. Scientists made such conclusions on the basis of a white-stone tomb, which allegedly belongs to Nevsky.

When is the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky celebrated by the Orthodox Church?

Orthodox Christians recognize two memorable dates of the Blessed Prince at once - September 12 and December 6. The first date marks the transfer of the holy relics from Vladimir land to St. Petersburg. The second date marks the solemn funeral of the prince, which, according to the old style, took place on November 23, 1263.

When did the prince go to war for the first time?

Nevsky began to fight long before he himself stood at the head of the army. His first fight was when he was 13 years old. Then his father took him to fight against the Lithuanians in Dorpat. It was then that the young prince realized who his enemies really were.

Conclusion

Alexander Nevsky is an outstanding prince and commander who deserves a special place in history. After all, if not this holy warrior, then it is not known what our state would be like today.

As if your relatives Boris and Gleb appear to you from Heaven to help you, ascetic to Velger Svejsky and howling him, so now you, blessed Alexandra, come to the aid of your relatives and overcome us who are fighting.

XIII century. The troops of Genghis Khan conquered many peoples. The grandson of Khan Baty successfully continues his work. At the same time, Catholics became more active: in 1204, participants in the IV Crusade captured Constantinople. Meanwhile, Russia remained fragmented, moreover, the number of destinies grew, the power of the Grand Duke became nominal. The connection between Southwestern and Northeastern Russia was weakening. The catastrophes of the campaign of Prince Igor and the three Mstislavs on the Kalka were analyzed by only a few thinking people. By 1237 the situation had not changed. In the autumn of this year, Batu's troops attacked the reign of Vladimir.

War is over. The unconquered Kozelsk was burned, the Vladimir-Suzdal army disappeared into the swamps of the City. Historians debate the real extent of the damage. But the main thing, alas, is indisputable: the war is lost. The moral victory of the Russians is obvious, and historians forget about it. Some speak only of the "great and terrible invasion", others - of the "alliance with the Horde". The meaning of what happened, in our deep conviction, is neither one nor the other. The enemy was really terrible, really was not defeated, but the Russians, with their valiant resistance, forced him to respect themselves. The Mongols did not negotiate with any other defeated people. They imposed tribute, obliged to put up a military contingent and ordered to continue to be called Tatars. There was nothing like it in Russia. The khans received Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander Nevsky and other princes and, at least about submission, they talked to them. This is already a victory when it comes to such a strong opponent.

Alexander Nevsky... The commander, who has just brilliantly defeated the Swedes and Teutons, is going to the Horde... We want to pay attention to the theory of G.V. Vernadsky about the “feat of battle” accomplished by the holy prince in the West and the “feat of humility” in the East.

Alexander Nevsky acted in the interests of saving the national identity based on the Orthodox faith. However, according to G.V. Vernadsky and L.N. Gumilyov, Alexander Nevsky, realizing that the threat from the West is more dangerous, he concluded an alliance with the East against the "Latins". But was it worth it? It makes no sense to refute N.Ya. Eidelman when he writes: “... the forces of the“ dogs-knights ”were incomparably weaker than the Mongolian ones. Alexander Nevsky stopped them with the army of one principality.(Let's assume more than one: the Suzdal squad arrived to support, but this is a remark in brackets, it in no way affects the essence of the issue.) After the Battle of the Ice, the war turned into a sluggish border phase, and in 1268, on February 18, not having such a bright commander, they victoriously completed it with the general battle of Rakovor.

So, Alexander Nevsky objectively did not need an alliance with anyone against the crusaders. In addition, in the 1240s, Alexander inflicted a number of major defeats on the Lithuanians, so he had strength. And, finally, the struggle of the supporters of the Roman pope (the Guelphs) with the supporters of the German emperor (the Ghibellines) undermined the forces of the West no worse than any Horde.

Why did Alexander submit to the Horde, did not support the uprising prepared by his brother Andrei? Let's not guess, but pay attention to the views of the historian N.A. Klepinina: “Saint Alexander was an undoubted enemy of the Tatars. His very submission was the beginning of a long struggle against the Tatars. This submission is least of all explained by the recognition of the usefulness of the Tatar power for Russia ... This submission is explained only by love for Orthodoxy and Russia, an understanding of the historical line and a clear distinction between the possible and the impossible, a sober consideration of one’s own and the enemy’s forces. Well, Alexander Yaroslavich did not have enough combatants, horses, bows to fight the Steppe. Whom he could beat, he beat. And when I realized that there was no strength to defeat the next enemy, I found in myself the determination to accomplish the feat of humility. Do not rush into a hopeless battle and do not cowardly surrender all positions. And to find the weaknesses of the enemy in a different area and smash him there. For the holy prince, both the “Latins” and the steppes are the same enemies. And only a different balance of forces predetermined different tactics.

7 Feats of Alexander Nevsky 1. Battle of the Neva The first feat, for which Alexander Yaroslavovich got his nickname - the legendary Battle of the Neva. The squad of Nevsky defeated the Swedes at the mouth of the Izhora River. The prince personally participated in the battle and "put a seal on the king's face with your sharp spear", that is, inflicted heavy bodily injuries on the Swedish leader Birger with a spear. It is believed that the victory of Nevsky prevented the loss of the shores of the Gulf of Finland by Russia and stopped the Swedish aggression on the Novgorod-Polotsk lands. It is worth recognizing that the battle did not differ in scale, rather it was a special operation in which the prince's squad seized a strategic and tactical advantage by unexpectedly attacking the Swedes. 2. Alexander vs the Germans After returning from the Battle of the Neva, Alexander returned to Novgorod, but quarreled with the boyars and was forced to leave for Pereslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, the Germans showed extraordinary aggression, taking Izborsk, Pskov, the land of the Vozhan and Koporye. When the adversaries approached Novgorod, it was time to turn to Yaroslav for help. Yaroslav wanted to send his youngest son Andrei to help, but the people of Novgorod insisted on Alexander's candidacy. In 1241, Alexander cleared the Novgorod lands of the Germans. in 1242, having waited for help from Vladimir (led by Andrei), he liberated Pskov. 3. Battle on the Ice The decisive battle against the Livonian Order took place on Lake Peipsi in the winter of 1242. The historically important battle, in which the troops of Nevsky won a decisive victory, stopped the German aggression. The details of this clash are described in detail, every schoolchild knows how the Germans walked like a "pig" and the knights, dressed in heavy armor, went under the ice of Lake Peipsi. According to legend, the Russians pursued the Germans for 7 miles across the ice. Under the terms of the peace, the Order abandoned all recent conquests and ceded part of Latgale to the Novgorodians. 4. Nevsky vs. Lithuanians In 1245, the Lithuanian army led by Mindovg attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Alexander with the Novgorod army took Toropets, where he killed almost ten Lithuanian princes. After the capture of Toropets, Alexander let the Novgorodians go home and already on his own (with the forces of his court and squad) caught up and completely destroyed the Lithuanian troops near Lake Zhiztsa. On the way back, Nevsky defeated another Lithuanian detachment along Usvyatoye. The squad of Nevsky was a formidable force, the mere mention of it inspired fear in the enemies. Such glory could not but reach the great khan. Nevsky's father, Yaroslav, was sent to Karakorum, and Nevsky was "summoned" to the Horde to Batu. 5. Nevsky vs Catholics Alexander Nevsky was canonized not so much for his feats of arms and repeated devotion to the interests of Russia, but for stopping the attempt of Catholics to plant their faith. Pope Innocent IV sent his cardinals to Nevsky, who, as a result, left Nevsky without salty slurping, after listening to a fiery speech, not devoid of rhetorical turns: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the separation of languages, from the confusion of languages ​​​​to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the sons of Israel to the death of King David, from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon to August the king, from the beginning of August to the Nativity of Christ, from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension to heaven , from the Ascension to heaven and to the kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first council, from the first council to the seventh - we know all that well, but we do not accept teachings from you. 6. Nevsky-diplomat Alexander Nevsky was not only a successful commander, but also a good diplomat who concluded important agreements. Around 1251, Alexander concluded an agreement between Novgorod and Norway on the settlement of border disputes and the delimitation of the collection of tribute from the vast territory inhabited by Karelians and Sami. Between 1259 and 1262, Alexander made a trade agreement with the "Gotha coast" (Gotland), Lübeck and the German cities. This agreement played an important role in the history of Russian-German relations and proved to be very durable (it was referred to even in 1420). 7. Saint Nevsky In addition to his feats of arms, Nevsky also performed spiritual feats. He strengthened the Orthodox faith, actively contributed to the spread of Orthodoxy to the North, among the Pomors. After the terrible ruin of Nevryuev, Nevsky took care of the restoration of the destroyed Vladimir and other Russian cities. The prince “erected churches, rebuilt cities, gathered dispersed people into their houses,” testifies the author of the princely Life. The prince showed special care in relation to the Church, decorating churches with books and utensils, favoring them with rich gifts and land.

The Orthodox commander, Russian prince, Saint Alexander Nevsky lived in the 13th century. During the years of his reign, he won decisive victories in unequal battles with the crusaders, while maintaining the integrity of the territory of Holy Russia.

Deep faith and heartfelt prayer accompanied the prince throughout his life, at the end of which he accepted the monastic schema.

Brief biography of Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Yaroslavich was born in the Pereyaslav princely family in 1221, on May 13. He spent a short childhood in Pereslavl-Zalessky, a city located in the modern Yaroslavl region, 140 km from Moscow.

Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, as a far-sighted father, decided to devote his son to the warriors when the child was 4 years old, at the same time the boy received the title of prince. The rite was performed by Bishop Simon of Suzdal at the local Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral.

At the age of seven, Alexander, together with his brother Fedor, a nine-year-old prince, remained to rule in Novgorod without a father, with loyal boyars. Due to popular rejection, the brothers returned to Pereslavl for a while, but, two years later, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich again leaves his sons to manage Novgorod.

In 1233, Fedor died, the boy was only 13 years old, and Alexander was left to reign alone. At the age of fifteen, the young warrior became a full-fledged prince of Novgorod, since his father left to rule Kyiv.

During his life and principality, the ruler fearlessly fought with the crusaders, won brilliant victories over the Swedes on the Neva, over the Germans on Lake Peipsi and over the Lithuanians at Lake Zhizhitskoye, skillfully maintained peaceful relations with the Mongols. The commander died during the return from the Horde to Holy Russia in 1263, November 14, at the age of 42.

Icon of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky

The guardian of the Russian lands and the Orthodox faith from the encroachments of the Catholic Church, the Grand Duke was canonized in 1547.

Most often, his face is depicted on icons in military armor.

But there are other options for depicting the Blessed Prince: in the clothes of a schemer in adulthood, with a hand pressed to his heart.

As a warrior, he defended the Orthodox faith from the claims of the Pope and Muslims. As a hermit, to this day he answers sincere prayers for the fate of the Russian people, for the defense of the Fatherland from enemy attacks, for giving courage before a military feat.

Historical portrait of Alexander Nevsky

During the reign of the prince, difficult trials fell. Pope Innocent IV set out to subjugate the Orthodox people to the Catholic Church, having equipped crusades against Russia.

Being between two fires: Catholics and the Tatar-Mongol yoke, the ruler chose the path of preserving Orthodoxy.

He rushed into battle against the crusaders and concluded a settlement agreement with the Mongols, who were tolerant of the faith of the Russian people.

By his faithful service to the Motherland and Christ, the prince became the famous ancestor of the Moscow rulers and went down in history as the patron saint of Orthodoxy in Russia.

Activity

A wise politician and manager, the prince was aware of the power superiority of the Mongols over the Russian people, and therefore strove for peaceful relations with the Mongol khans. He managed to obtain permission for the Russian princes to bring tribute to the khan, which allowed him to get years of respite from the raids of the Mongol Baskaks.

The prince threw many forces into strengthening the borders of cities and restoring trade relations interrupted by the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols, supported the activities of artisans, favored the chroniclers.

The exploits of Alexander Nevsky

In 1240, the Swedes set off on a crusade against Russia, plundered by the Tatar-Mongols. Their leader, Jarl Birger, was so sure of his victory that, having sent an arrogant letter to the Russian prince, he freely settled down with his army at the mouth of the Izhora (the Neva river basin).

Praying for God's help, the ruler with a small retinue secretly moved to the place where the crusaders stopped. With a sudden attack on a relaxed enemy on July 15, 1240, the Russian commander managed to inflict significant losses on him. The Swedes fled downstream, saving the remnants of their troops.

Soon after the battle near the Neva, the ruler had to fight the German crusaders who captured Pskov and invaded the Novgorod open spaces, trading in robbery and robbery. In 1241, the Russian army managed to recapture Koporye with its fortress, and only by the next year, with heavy losses, Alexander's soldiers recaptured Pskov.

The upcoming final battle was to take place on Pskov land, where the Livonian Order moved with reinforcements. However, seeing that the ice was still strong in early April, the Russian commander decided to meet the enemy in the shallow waters of Lake Peipus on April 5, 1242.

Having guessed the tactics of the enemy, who lined up in a wedge, the Russian prince weakened the middle of his army, concentrating the main forces on the flanks. Having let the enemy deep into the encirclement, Alexander's army struck from the sides, forcing the Germans to flee across the bloody ice. Retreating, the enemy suffered colossal losses, both at the hands of the Novgorod warriors and from the falling ice under the weight of the Livonian armor.

Wife of Alexander Nevsky

The wife of the Novgorod ruler in 1239 was the 16-year-old Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna. She was from the Polotsk family, which was famous for its disobedience.

While the main representatives of the Polotsk dynasty were in exile, their wives reigned in Polotsk, and therefore the young maiden received an unusual upbringing for her time. Presumably, in the absence of her husband, the princess ruled Novgorod. The date of the death of the prince's wife is unknown, her remains are kept in the city of Vladimir, in the Assumption Church.

Children of the great commander

Over the years of her marriage, Alexandra Bryachislavna gave birth to five sons, each with a difference of about 5 years, as well as her only daughter Evdokia. The younger son Daniel subsequently became famous as the first Moscow prince, ruling from 1263.

Why Alexander Nevsky is called "Nevsky"

The defeat of the Swedish army near the confluence of the Neva River with the Izhora did not allow the enemy to occupy the coast of the Gulf of Finland and move further in a northwestern direction.

In memory of the strategically significant battle, the Russian prince was given the nickname "Nevsky". There is another version of the answer to the question why Alexander Nevsky was called that: the commander owned the right to own the Neva area.

How did the Russian ruler die

In 1262, when the arbitrariness of the Mongol tax-farmers exceeded possible limits and the patience of the Russian people was running out, a mass uprising broke out in several cities of Russia at once. As a result, the tax-farmers were expelled, and the angry Khan Berke began to prepare for a new devastating campaign against Russia.

During a long visit, the Russian ruler managed to convince the Mongol khan, which saved the homeland from a new war. After spending almost a whole year in the Horde, the ruler fell ill.

On the way home, anticipating his imminent death, he cut his hair as a monk and went to God as a schemer with the name Alexy. The ruler died on November 14, 1263 in the Nizhny Novgorod region (Gorodets).

Where the fearless commander is buried

The body of the saint was buried in the city of Vladimir. Many years later, in 1724, the relics of the Blessed One were transported from the Vladimir Nativity Monastery to the northern city on the Neva.

With the filing of Peter I, the Nevsky Prince became the patron saint of St. Petersburg, the place where his small army struck the Swedish crusaders. In the Trinity Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, the relics of the intercessor rest to this day.

The results of the reign of Alexander Nevsky

As a result of successful defensive battles, the prince retained Orthodoxy in Russia, not bowing to the iron hand of the Pope. Maintaining a shaky truce with the Mongol khans, he managed to largely restore the ruined economy of his possessions and establish trade relations with his neighbors, which led to economic growth.

The prince devoted his life to preaching and planting the Orthodox faith and the Gospel. Even in the Horde, he was able to organize an Orthodox community.

The holy ruler did not lose a single battle, for which he became famous as an invincible deeply religious warrior. During the defeat of the Swedes on the Neva, he was only 19 years old.

The ideal warrior for Nevsky was his namesake, Alexander the Great, whose biography became the ruler's reference book.

The image of Alexander Nevsky in art

Not a single document has been preserved containing information about the true appearance of the Holy Prince and a description of his appearance. Therefore, the artists portrayed the ruler based on their ideas about his appearance.

As a fair-haired warrior, the Nevsky Prince is represented in the picture by O.S. Maslov, F. Moller depicted him with blond hair. Composer S.S. Prokofiev dedicated the cantata of the same name to the exploits of the Russian warrior.

In 1938, a film by S. Eisenstein was released, which tells about the life and character of the ruler. The picture was very popular during the Second World War.

Conclusion

Wise decisions, unshakable faith in Christ, love for Holy Russia and the people - characterize the old Russian prince as the personification of masculinity, loyalty and courage. In St. Petersburg, the Day of Remembrance of the transfer of the relics of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky is celebrated annually. Every year, on September 12, a citywide religious procession is organized for children and adults along Nevsky Prospekt.

Textbook, part 1, pp. 22-29.

"The Tale of the Life of ... Alexander Nevsky" was written in the 80s. XIII c. The very title of the work gives a definition of its specificity: "The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander" - a story about life, the main content of which was the exploits of "courage". The purpose of this "Life ..." is to glorify the courage and bravery of Alexander, to give the image of an ideal Christian warrior, defender of the Russian land.

The author at the beginning of the story describes the external and spiritual qualities of the prince, before whom he bows. Alexander, in his opinion, absorbed all the positive qualities of outstanding people: the face of the biblical handsome Joseph, the strength of Samson, the wisdom of Solomon. And all this helped the prince to become a truly defender of the Russian Land and a respected person.

It tells about the three exploits of Alexander Nevsky:

Battle on the Neva with the Swedes (1240),

About the Battle on the Ice with the Germans on Lake Peipsi (1242),

About a trip to the Horde.

The first two feats are swearing (that is, military), the last is the feat of self-sacrifice.

Battle on the Neva- this was the first serious test for the young prince. I must say that he withstood it with honor, while demonstrating the qualities of not only a brilliant commander, but also a wise politician. With a small squad, without waiting for help from his father and other princes, Alexander went on a campaign. Along the way, he teamed up with the Ladoga residents and suddenly attacked the Swedish camp. As you know, the Russian army defeated the Swedes. This victory brought Alexander great fame and the honorary name - Nevsky ( retell this episode close to the text).

April 5, 1242 on ice Lake Peipsi there was a battle that ended in the defeat of the enemies and went down in history under the name “Battle on the Ice”. The author speaks of the prince not as a hero, but as a wise ruler, a Christian who "burned his heart" about his native land. Before the battle, Alexander asks God for help and wisdom.

The words he said to the soldiers before the battle speak of his wisdom and military prowess: "God is not in strength, but in truth." In ancient Russian literature, the word "truth" meant the concept of "faith". The words of Alexander Nevsky can be understood as follows: in battle, only human strength stands on the side of the “strong”, and both the strength of man and the strength of the Lord stand on the side of the “right”. The courage of the prince knows no bounds. He, alone with a small army, decides to repulse the numerous enemies who came to conquer Russia. “And he had no equal in battle,” says the author. "And there was an evil slash, and a crack from the breaking of spears, and a sound from the cutting of swords." The strength and courage of the prince are emphasized by the images of warriors who fight shoulder to shoulder with him. Happy townspeople met him with joy, paid him honors, and thanks to God.

The 3rd feat is the feat of self-sacrifice. Alexander Nevsky went to the khan to pray that the Tatars would not force the Russian people to perform military service. Alexander Nevsky risked his own life, but was not afraid to personally go to the Khan. The Novgorod prince defeated any enemy on the battlefield, but at the same time he could, showing special organizational and diplomatic skills, yield to a stronger enemy in order to save his people from unnecessary sacrifices.

The exploits of Alexander Nevsky, his life, victories on the battlefield and merits in the diplomatic field deserve admiration and respect.