XV. ALEXANDER NEVSKY AND NORTH-EAST RUSSIA

(continuation)

Alexander. - Neva victory. - Battle on the Ice. - Rivalry with brother Andrei. - Policy towards the Tatars. - Troubles in Novgorod. - Tatar numerals and tribute collectors. - Last Journey in Golden Horde and the death of Alexander. - The nature of the Tatar dependence established by him.

Personality of Prince Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Yaroslavich belongs to those historical figures Northern Russia, in which the main features of the Great Russian people were most reflected: practical mind, firmness of will and flexibility of character, or the ability to conform to circumstances. He spent most of his youth in Veliky Novgorod, where, under the leadership of the Suzdal boyars, he took the place of his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich; and since 1236, when Yaroslav received the Kyiv table, Alexander remained an independent Novgorod prince. These years spent in Veliky Novgorod undoubtedly had big influence to the development of his mind and character. The active, ebullient life of a trading city, the constant presence of Western foreigners, and the almost continuous struggle of the veche with the princely power, of course, made a deep impression on him and contributed a lot to the development of that consistency of character and that flexibility, combined with a firm will, which distinguishes all his subsequent activities. The very appearance of Alexander, beautiful and majestic, corresponded to the inner qualities.

In 1239, twenty-year-old Alexander Yaroslavich married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. The wedding took place in Toropets, where he and "fix the porridge", i.e. gave a wedding feast; "and another in Novgorod"; consequently, upon returning to his reign, Alexander arranged a wide feast here as well. After that, he and the Novgorodians set up small towns on the Shelon River, i.e. strengthens the western outskirts of their possessions; obviously there was then an urgent need for such fortifications.

Neva battle 1240

As you know, Veliky Novgorod was so happy that the storm of Batu's invasion passed him and only southeastern part his lands were destroyed. But at the same time, the western neighbors, as if conspiring among themselves, are in a hurry to take advantage of the defeat of North-Eastern Russia in order to crowd Veliky Novgorod, take away volosts from it, rob, ruin its suburbs and villages. They were: Swedes, Livonian Germans and Lithuania. Here, in the struggle against these external enemies, Alexander discovered his brilliant talents and covered himself with unfading glory. The Swedes were the first to experience his heavy hand. It is known that Novgorodians had clashed with them on the northern coasts for a long time. Gulf of Finland, where the Swedes gradually spread their dominion, and at the same time their religion. But we do not know exactly what was the immediate reason for the Swedish campaign against the Novgorodians in 1240, during the reign of King Erich Erikson. It is very likely that it was undertaken under the influence of papal messages, which urged the Swedes and Livonian Germans to subjugate the Russian Baltic lands to Catholicism by force of arms. The real goal of the Swedish campaign was, apparently, the conquest of the Neva coast, and, consequently, the capture of the main route of Novgorod trade with Northwestern Europe; moreover, perhaps, Ladoga was also meant, which the Varangian kings have long sought to take possession of.

When news came to Novgorod about the appearance of the Swedish militia at the mouth of the Neva, Alexander did not want to waste time sending for help to his father, then the Grand Duke of Vladimir, or even to collect an army from various suburbs and volosts of Novgorod. He realized that success depended on speed and determination. And therefore, after praying in St. Sophia Cathedral and taking a blessing from Vladyka Spiridon, he immediately set out only with the Novgorod and his own retinue; on the way, he joined the Ladoga residents and, with these few forces, hastened to meet the enemies. He found them camped on the southern bank of the Neva at the confluence of the Izhora River, and, not allowing them to come to their senses, swiftly hit them (July 15, 1240). The Swedes suffered complete defeat; the next night they hurried on their augers to retire to the fatherland. According to the Russian chronicle, the Ladoga and Novgorodians allegedly lost no more than twenty people killed. At the same time, she describes the exploits of six Russian knights, the most distinguished; it is curious that three of them were Novgorodians, and the remaining three belonged to the prince's own squad. For example, the Novgorodian Gavrilo Oleksinich, chasing the enemies who were escaping on the ship, jumped on the board, was thrown from it into the water along with the horse; but came out of the water unharmed and returned to the battle again. Sava, one of the princely youths, made his way to the golden-domed tent of the Swedish leader and cut down his pillar; the tent collapsed; which pleased the Russians and brought discouragement to the enemies. Another young prince, Ratmir, on foot beat many enemies, was surrounded by them and fell from grievous wounds. The Neva victory drew general attention to Alexander and brought him great fame. What a strong impression this victory made on contemporaries is indicated by the legend that developed at the same time about the appearance before the battle of St. Boris and Gleb to a certain Pelgusy, the elder of the Izhora land.

Ice battle with the Germans 1242

A more stubborn war was to take place with the Livonian Germans. Around that time, the Order of the Sword, having reinforced itself by joining with the Teutonic Order, resumed its offensive movement against Novgorod Russia and, in particular, directed its attacks on the Pskov region closest to it. In the very year of the Battle of the Neva, the Germans, together with the Russian traitor Yaroslav Vladimirovich (who followed in the footsteps of his father Vladimir of Pskov), took the Pskov suburb of Izborsk. The Pskovians opposed them, but were defeated. Then the Germans besieged Pskov itself, where internal troubles. According to the chronicle, some treacherous party headed by Tverdil Ivankovich let the enemies down. This Tverdilo (it seems that he was a descendant of the famous Novgorod posadnik Miroshka Nezdilich) seized the office of posadnik in Pskov and began to rage against his rivals; so that many citizens with their families fled to Novgorod. Unopposed, the Germans spread their conquests further; crossed the river Luga and, in order to strengthen this land for themselves, laid a fortress in the Koporsky churchyard. Together with the crowds of Chudi and Vodi who had passed on to them, they reached Novgorod for thirty miles, captured merchants with goods, took away horses and cattle from the villagers; so there was nothing to plow the land with. To complete the disasters at that time, Lithuanians intensified their raids on Novgorod land. Meanwhile, it so happened that the Novgorodians were then sitting without a prince.

Always jealous of their liberties and the limitation of princely power, the citizens managed to quarrel with Alexander, and he retired to his father in the Suzdal region. Novgorodians sent to Yaroslav to ask the prince, and he appointed his other son Andrei. But they understood that in such difficult circumstances they needed Alexander, and they sent Vladyka Spiridon with the boyars to ask for him. Yaroslav fulfilled their request. Alexander deftly and quickly corrected matters. He destroyed the Koporye fortress, which was under construction, drove the Germans out of the Vodsk region and hanged many of the converts from Chud and Vozhan. But meanwhile, the Germans, with the assistance of traitors, managed to seize Pskov itself. Alexander begged his father to help him with the grassroots, or Suzdal, regiments with his brother Andrei; unexpectedly appeared near Pskov and captured the German garrison. From here, without wasting time, he moved to the borders of Livonia.

Before setting out on this campaign against the Germans, Alexander, in his pious custom, prayed fervently in the cathedral church. By the way, according to the chronicle, he asked the Lord to judge his dispute with this eloquent people. And the Germans, having collected great strength, as if they boasted then "to conquer the Slavic people." In any case, it is clear from the chronicle story that the struggle of Russia with the Germans at that time already took on the character of tribal hostility, flaring up from German claims to dominance, really exorbitant. The nature of the bitterness in this struggle is also confirmed by the German chronicle, which says that up to seventy knights died in it; and six knights taken prisoner, as if they were tortured.

When the advanced Novgorod detachments failed, Alexander retreated to Lake Peipsi, and here on the ice he fought the combined forces of the Germans and the Livonian Chud, somewhere near the Uzmeni tract. This is so called. The battle on the ice took place on 5 April; but the ice was still strong and withstood the weight of both fighting armies. The Germans lined up in their usual order in a wedge (or, as Russia called it, a pig) and pierced the Russian regiments through and through. But the latter were not embarrassed: after a brutal hand-to-hand battle, the Russians crushed and utterly defeated the enemy; and then they drove him across the ice at a distance of seven versts. Some knights were taken up to fifty; they walked behind Alexander's horse when he solemnly entered Pskov with victorious regiments, met by citizens and clergy with crosses and banners. The author of the Tale of Grand Duke Alexander, depicting his fame that spread "to the mountains of Ararat and to Rome the Great," exclaims: "O people of Pskov! If you forget Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich (who freed you from foreigners) or retreat from his family and do not accept one of his descendants, who in misfortune will resort to you, then you will be like the Jews, who forgot God, who brought them out of the work of Egypt and soaked them in the desert with manna and baked dyes. After the Battle of the Ice, the Livonian Germans sent to Novgorod with a request for peace and concluded it, abandoning the Vodsk and Pskov regions, returning prisoners and hostages. Thus, Alexander repelled the movement of the Livonian and Teutonic Orders to the eastern side of Lake Peipsi; this world established between both sides approximately the same boundaries that remained in subsequent centuries.

Battle on the Ice of Alexander Nevsky. Painting by V. Nazaruk, 1984

Victory of Alexander Nevsky over Lithuania 1245

Russia of Novgorod moderately took advantage of the victory, leaving Yuryev and other possessions on the western side of Lake Peipus behind the Germans; for, besides them, there were then many other enemies. By the way, Lithuania, which was gaining more and more power, invaded the very depths of Novgorod's possessions. In 1245, she penetrated to Bezhets and Torzhok. Returning from here with a large crowd, pursued by Novotors and Tverites, the Lithuanian princes took refuge in Toropets. But Alexander came with the Novgorodians, liberated Toropets from Lithuania and robbed her of everything, having exterminated up to eight Lithuanian princes with their retinues. Novgorodians then returned home. But Alexander considered it necessary to complete the blow in order to discourage Lithuania from attacking Russia. He with one of his yard, i.e. with one princely retinue, he pursued the Lithuanians in Smolensk and Polotsk lands and defeated them two more times (near Zhizhich and near Usvyat).

Thus, Alexander, by the power of the sword, tamed all three western enemies of Russia. But otherwise he had to act in another field, on the part of the Asiatic barbarians.

The trip of Alexander Nevsky to the Horde and to the court of the great Mongol Khan

The author of the Tale of the Nevsky Hero tells that, after the death of his father Yaroslav Batu, he sent to call Alexander to the Horde and ordered him to say: “God subdued many peoples for me; are you the only one who does not want to submit to my power? If you want to save your land, then come to me may you see the honor and glory of my kingdom." Alexander took a blessing from the Rostov Bishop Kirill and went to the Horde. Seeing him, Batu said to his nobles: "They told me the truth that there is no prince like him"; gave him great honors and even many gifts. Such stories are nothing more than the usual decoration of a story about a beloved hero. The Horde did not shower gifts on our princes; on the contrary, the latter were there to diligently distribute gifts to the khan, his wives, relatives and nobles. According to other chronicles, the young prince had previously been to the Horde of Batuyev, probably accompanying his father there: no doubt, from this latter he learned to humble himself before the formidable Tatar force and not think about any more open resistance. Upon the death of Yaroslav, his brother Svyatoslav Yuryevsky, who followed him, took the senior Vladimir table. But now all sorts of changes in the reigns were made only with the permission of the khan. Therefore, Alexander and his brother Andrei again went to the Golden Horde, probably to fuss about reigns. Batu sent them to the Great Horde to Khan Mengu. The brothers made this difficult and long journey. They returned home after about two years, carrying with them the khan's labels for both great reigns: Alexander - for Kiev, Andrei - for Vladimir. And in former time nephews did not always respect the seniority of their uncles, and now an even higher power has appeared over the princes, disrespect for the old tribal customs is more and more common. Even before the return of Alexander and Andrei, their younger brother Mikhail, Prince of Moscow, took the great reign of Vladimir from his uncle Svyatoslav. But Michael, nicknamed Horobrite, soon died in the battle with Lithuania.

Alexander Nevsky and his brother Andrei

Alexander, obviously, was not pleased that the reign of Vladimir went to his younger brother Andrei. Although Kyiv was considered older than all the cities of Russia, it lay in ruins. The Nevsky hero did not go there, but stayed either in Novgorod the Great, or in his Suzdal volosts, waiting for an opportunity to take possession of capital Vladimir. Andrey's carelessness helped him achieve this goal.

At that time, in Suzdal Rus, the memory of the lost freedom and independence was still too fresh, both among the princes and combatants, and among the people themselves. Many impatiently endured the shameful yoke. Andrey Yaroslavich belonged to their number. Being the Grand Duke of Vladimir, he married the daughter of the famous Daniil Romanovich of Galicia and, probably, along with his father-in-law, began to harbor the idea of ​​overthrowing the yoke. But there were rivals and ill-wishers who reported to Sartak about Andrey's plans. Khan sent an army against him under the command of the Horde prince Nevryuy with governors Kotyan and Alabuga. Hearing about this, Andrei exclaimed: "Lord! How long will we quarrel and bring Tatars at each other; it is better for me to go to a foreign land than to serve the Tatars." He, however, dared to fight, but, of course, was too weak to win it, and fled to Novgorod. Not accepted by the Novgorodians, he with his wife and his boyars retired across the sea to Swedish king, in which he found refuge for a while. The invasion of Nevryuy on the Suzdal land led to a new ruin of some regions; Pereyaslavl-Zalessky suffered especially in this case. There is news, we do not know how fair, which attributes the sending of the Tatar army to Andrey to the machinations of Alexander Yaroslavich himself. We only know that during the Nevryuev invasion (1252), Alexander was in the Horde near Sartak and returned from there with a khan's label to reign Vladimir. Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Russia Kirill II was then in Vladimir. He, the clergy with crosses and all the citizens met Alexander at the Golden Gate and solemnly seated him in the cathedral church on his father's table.

Alexander Nevsky and Novgorod

Alexander actively began to destroy the traces of the last Tatar invasion on the Suzdal land: he renewed the temples, fortified the cities and gathered the inhabitants who had taken refuge in the forests and wilds. But the times were hard, unfavorable for peaceful civic activities. Alexander I Nevsky spent his entire ten-year great reign in continuous labors and anxieties caused by internal and external enemies. Most of all, the affairs of Novgorod gave him anxiety. Although the Mongol yoke, which strongly weighed on the Suzdal land, at first weakened its predominance over Novgorod the Great, however, at the first opportunity, the former mutual relations of these two halves of Northern Russia were repeated. Having established himself in the great reign of Vladimir, Alexander resumed the policy of his predecessors, i.e. he tried to constantly keep Novgorod under his hand and appoint one of his own sons there as a prince, in essence, his governor. This place was taken by his son Vasily. The young man followed in the footsteps of his father, and soon managed to distinguish himself in the fight against Lithuania and the Livonian Germans, who again opened hostile actions against the Novgorodians and Pskovians. But the majority of the citizens of Veliky Novgorod most of all valued their veche orders and liberties and again began to be burdened by dependence on the strong Suzdal prince. In connection with these relations, an ordinary change of posadniks took place. In 1243 Stepan Tverdislavich died; he represents the only example known to us of a posadnik who held his position for thirteen years and died peacefully in his position. When Vasily Alexandrovich occupied the Novgorod table, Anania was the posadnik, beloved by the people as a zealous defender of the Novgorod liberties. But the family of Tverdislav did not abandon their claims to posadnichestvo; his grandson Mikhalko Stepanovich, apparently, already achieved this dignity with the help of Suzdal supporters. The triumph of the people's side, however, expressed itself in the fact that she expelled Vasily Alexandrovich, and called Yaroslav Yaroslavich, Alexandrov's younger brother, to reign.

The Grand Duke was not slow to show that he did not intend to tolerate such self-will. He quickly came with the Suzdal regiments to Torzhok, where his son Vasily was still holding; and from here moved to Novgorod. Yaroslav hastened to leave; the usual disturbances and stormy evenings took place in the city. Smaller people, i.e. the common people, led by the posadnik, armed themselves, gained the upper hand at the main assembly and swore to stand by everyone as one person and not to extradite anyone to the prince if he demands the extradition of his opponents. And the older, or more prosperous, took the side of the prince and plotted to transfer the tenure to Mikhalk Stepanovich. The latter, with a crowd of armed men, withdrew to the St. George's Monastery, in the vicinity of Gorodishche, or the prince's residence. The mob wanted to attack Mikhalok's yard and plunder it; but the generous mayor Ananias kept her from violence. Meanwhile, some translators went to the Grand Duke and informed him about what was happening in Novgorod. Having deployed his army around Gorodische, Alexander sent a demand at the veche for the extradition of the posadnik Ananias, threatening otherwise to strike at the city. Citizens sent the lord of Dalmat and the thousandth Klim to the Grand Duke with a plea not to listen to slander evil people, put aside anger against Novgorod and Ananias and take their table again. Alexander did not bow to these requests. For three days, both sides stood against each other with weapons in their hands. On the fourth day, Alexander ordered to say at the veche: let Ananias lose his seat, and then he will put off his wrath, Ananias left, and the Grand Duke solemnly entered Novgorod, met by the lord and the clergy with crosses (1255). Mikhalko Stepanovich received posadnichestvo, and Vasily Alexandrovich returned to the princely table.

At this time, the Swedes tried again to take away the Finnish coast from Novgorod and, together with the people of Emyu, who were at his side, began to build a fortress on the Narova River. But at one rumor about the movement of Alexander with the Suzdal and Novgorod regiments, they left. However, Alexander wanted to give them new lesson and continued his campaign deep into the country inhabited by Emyu; moreover, he beat a lot of people or took them into captivity. According to the chronicle, the Russian army had to overcome great difficulties on this hike in cold, foggy weather, in a land filled with rocks and swamps. The goal was reached; for a long time after that the Swedes did not dare to attack the limits of Novgorod.

Tatar census in Novgorod

Already in the next 1257, the Novgorod unrest resumed. The reason for them this time was a rumor that the Tatars wanted to introduce their tamgas and tithes in Novgorod.

In 1253, Batu died, followed by Sartak. Batu's brother Berke reigned in the Kipchak Horde. About that time great khan Mengu ordered a general census of the inhabitants in all Tatar possessions in order to more accurately determine the amount of tribute from the conquered peoples. Such an order resounded heavily in the Russian land. Of course, in connection with this case and to soften its conditions, Alexander Yaroslavich traveled with gifts to the Horde in the summer of 1257, accompanied by some specific Suzdal princes, including his brother Andrei, who managed to return from Sweden and reconcile with the Tatars. And the following winter, the numerals arrived from the Horde; counted the population in the lands of Suzdal, Ryazan, Murom and appointed their tenants, centurions, thousands and temniks. Only blacks, priests and other clergy were not included in the number, because the Tatars exempted the clergy of all religions from tribute. Such an exemption was established by Genghis Khan and Ogodai, who were guided in this not only by Mongolian religious tolerance, but, probably, by political considerations. Since the clergy among all peoples constituted the most influential class, the founders of the great Tatar Empire avoided arousing religious fanaticism, the dangerous effect of which they could notice especially among the Muslim peoples. The Tartars used to enumerate all men from the age of ten, and collect tribute, partly in money, partly in the most valuable natural products of each country; from Russia, as you know, they received great amount furs. The main tributes were: tithe, i.e. a tenth of the grain collection, tamga and myt, probably duties from trading merchants and transported goods. In addition, the inhabitants were subjected to various duties, such as, for example, pits and food, i.e. duties to give carts and food supplies to Tatar ambassadors, messengers and all sorts of officials, especially requisitions for the khan's army, khan's hunting, etc.

The severity of all these taxes and duties, and especially the cruel methods of collecting them, of course, were known to the Novgorodians, and therefore they were very excited when they heard that the Tatar numerals would come to them. Until now, Novgorod had not seen the Tatars within its walls and did not consider itself subject to the barbarian yoke. Violent turmoil ensued. Hot heads, calling traitors those who advised to submit to necessity, urged the people to lay their heads for St. Sofia and Novgorod. Among these troubles, the unloved posadnik Mikhalko Stepanovich was killed. The side of ardent patriots was also held by the young prince of Novgorod Vasily Alexandrovich himself. Hearing about the approach of his father with the Khan's ambassadors, he did not wait for him and fled to Pskov. This time, the Novgorodians did not allow themselves to be listed and, having presented gifts to the Khan's ambassadors, escorted them out of their city. Alexander became very angry with his son Vasily and sent him to the Niz, i.e. to the Suzdal land; and he severely punished some of his warriors for their rebellious advice: whom he ordered to be blinded, to whom his nose was cut off. The barbarian yoke was already making itself felt in these punishments.

In vain did the Novgorodians think that they had got rid of the Tatar numeralists. In the winter of 1259, Alexander again came to Novgorod with the khan's dignitaries Berkay and Kasachik, who were accompanied by a large Tatar retinue. Previously, a rumor was spread that the Khan's army was already standing in the Lower Land, ready to move on Novgorod in the event of a second disobedience. Here again there was a bifurcation: the boyars and the wiser people in general agreed to the census; while the smaller ones, or the mob, armed themselves with cries: "Let us die for St. Sophia and for the houses of the angels!" These cliques frightened the Tatar dignitaries; they asked for guards from the Grand Duke, and he ordered all the boyar children to guard them at night; and he threatened the Novgorodians again to leave and leave them as a prey for the terrible khan's revenge. The threat worked; the mob calmed down and admitted the clerks. Tatar officials went from street to street, listing houses and residents and calculating the amount of tribute. At the same time, the mob was angry at the boyars, who managed to arrange in such a way that tributes were imposed almost equal on rich and poor; consequently they were easy for the former, and heavy for the latter. At the end of the census, the Tatar dignitaries retired. And it was already a considerable boon for Novgorod that, probably, at the request of the Grand Duke, the Baskaks did not settle in it, as in other capital cities. Alexander appointed another of his sons, Demetrius, as prince here. How unpleasant and disturbing this last trip to Novgorod was for him is shown by the words spoken to Bishop Kirill. On the way back In Vladimir, the Grand Duke stopped in Rostov, where he was treated by his cousins, princes Boris Vasilkovich Rostovsky and Gleb Vasilyevich Belozersky, with his mother Marya Mikhailovna (daughter of Mikhail Chernigovsky, martyred in the Horde). Of course, the first thing upon arrival here was to pray in the cathedral church of the Dormition and bow to the tomb of St. Leonty. Here, accepting a blessing and kissing the cross from the hands of the famous scribe, the aged Bishop Kirill, Alexander said to him: "Holy Father! Through your prayer I went to Novgorod in good health, through your prayer I came here."

Unrest against the Tatars in Suzdal

There was no peace, however. As soon as the unrest caused by the Tatar tribute subsided in Novgorod, even greater arose in the Suzdal land itself, and for the same reason.

Around this time, the Horde rulers began to pay tribute and taxes to the Mohammedan merchants from Central Asia, i.e. Khiva and Bukhara; the Russian people generally called them besermens. Having paid large sums in advance to the khan's treasury, naturally, the tax-farmers tried later to reward themselves with a vengeance and squeezed the last of their funds out of the people. For any delay in payment they imposed exorbitant increases, or interest; they took away cattle and all property, and from whom there was nothing to take, they took him or his children and then sold them into slavery. The people, still vividly remembering their independence, could not bear such extreme oppression; religious excitement joined here, as fanatical Muslims began to swear at christian church. In 1262, in large cities, such as Vladimir, Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, residents rebelled at the bell veche bells and drove out the Tatar tribute collectors, and beat some of them. Among the latter was some kind of apostate Zosima, in the city of Yaroslavl he was a monk, but then he converted to Islam, became one of the tribute collectors and oppressed his former compatriots more than foreigners. He was killed, and the body was thrown to be eaten by dogs and crows. During this revolt, some of the Tatar officials saved themselves by accepting Christianity. For example, this was done in Ustyug by the noble Tatar Buga, who later, according to legend, by his piety and kindness gained common love.

Naturally, this rebellion was inevitably followed by cruel retribution from the barbarians. And indeed, Berkay was already gathering an army for a new invasion on Northeast Russia. At such a critical time, all the political dexterity of Alexander, who managed to ward off a new thunderstorm, showed itself. He went to the khan to "pray people out of trouble," as the chronicle puts it. Since the Novgorodians were again at war with the Livonian Germans, then, leaving for the Horde, the Grand Duke ordered the protection of Russia from this side. He sent his regiments and his brother Yaroslav of Tverskoy to help his son Demetrius. The Novgorod-Suzdal army entered the Livonian land and laid siege to Dorpat, or the old Russian city of Yuryev. The latter was heavily fortified with triple walls. The Russians took the outer city, but could not take possession of the Kremlin and left without having time to win back this ancient property of their princes. The main reason the failure was that the Russians were late: they agreed with the Lithuanian prince Mindovg to attack the Germans at the same time; but they came already when Mindovg returned home.

Death of Alexander Nevsky

Meanwhile, Alexander, with great difficulty, begged the angry Khan not to send troops to Suzdal; and, of course, he had to bribe with great gifts all those who had influence on the khan. He was also helped by the fact that the Saray Khan was distracted internecine war with his cousin Gulag, ruler of Persia. Berke kept Alexander in the Horde for many months, so that the Grand Duke finally fell seriously ill, and then he was only released. Having no more than forty-five years of age, Alexander could have served Russia for a long time. But constant work, anxiety and grief, obviously, broke his strong body. On the way back, sailing along the Volga, he stopped to rest in Nizhny Novgorod; then he continued on his way, but did not reach Vladimir and died in Gorodets on November 14, 1263. According to the custom of the pious princes of that time, before his death, he took the veil as a monk. The author of the Legend of Alexander says that when the news of his death came to Vladimir, Metropolitan Kirill announced it to the people in the cathedral church, exclaiming: "My dear child! Understand, we are perishing!" The metropolitan and the clergy with candles and smoking censers, the boyars and the people went out to Bogolyubovo to meet the body of the Grand Duke and then laid it in the monastery church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Already contemporaries, apparently, ranked the late prince among the saints, among the saints of God. The author of his life, who knew Alexander in his youth, adds the following legend. When the body of the prince was placed in a stone tomb, the metropolitan steward approached him and wanted to unclench his hand so that the archpastor could put a letter of absolution into it. Suddenly the deceased extended his hand and himself took the letter from the Metropolitan.

The significance of the activities of Alexander Nevsky

The main significance of Alexander in Russian history is based on the fact that his activities coincided with the time when the character Mongolian yoke had just been determined when the very relations of conquered Russia to its conquerors were being established. And there is no doubt that Alexander's political dexterity greatly influenced these established relations. As Grand Duke, he knew how not only to reject new Tatar invasions and give some rest to the people from terrible pogroms; but by signs of deep obedience, as well as by the promise of rich tributes, he knew how to avert closer cohabitation with the barbarians and keep them away from Russia. And without that, due to their savagery and steppe habits, not disposed to city life, especially in the northern wooded and swampy countries, not accustomed to the complex administration of settled and more social peoples, the Tatars more willingly limited themselves to the temporary stay in Russia of their Baskaks and officials with their retinue. They did not touch either her religion or her political system and completely left power in the hands of the local princely families. Their khans and nobles found it so convenient and easy to use the huge incomes from the conquered country, not bothering themselves with the petty cares of court and administration, and most importantly, remaining among their beloved steppe nature. Alexander acted diligently and successfully in this sense; by removing the Tatars from interfering in the internal affairs of Russia, limiting it only to vassal relations and not allowing any relaxation of princely power over the people, he, of course, thereby contributed to the future strengthening and liberation of Russia. Apparently, he also skillfully knew how to evade the well-known obligation of subordinate rulers to lead his squads to help the khan in his wars with other peoples. We repeat, he was a brilliant representative of the Great Russian type, who with equal dexterity knows how to command and obey when necessary.

Alexander Nevsky on Lake Pleshcheyevo. Painting by S. Rubtsov

The author of the life reports curious news about the embassy of the Pope to Alexander. The Pope sent two "cunning" cardinals to him to teach him the Latin faith. The cardinals set out before him sacred history from Adam to the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Alexander, having consulted with his "wise men", i.e. with the boyars and the clergy, he gave the following answer: "We know all this well, but we do not accept teachings from you"; then he dismissed the embassy in peace. Indeed, we have papal letters to Alexander and his predecessors, which show the persistent efforts of the Roman Curia to subjugate the Russian Church. And in the letter of Innocent IV to Alexander, for this purpose, even false references are made to Plano Carpini, according to which, as if Yaroslav's father, when he was in the great Horde at Gayuk, converted to Latinism. In the known records of Carpini there is not a word about it.

The legend of Pelgusia, as well as the exploits of six men, were included in the legend of Alexander Nevsky, which is found in later chronicles (Novgorod, the fourth, Sofia, Voskresensky, Nikonov.). We give this legend (according to Novg. the fourth).

"There is a man, an elder in the land of Izher, in the name of Pelgusia; the guards of the sea are entrusted to him; holy baptism, and living in the midst of his kind of filthy being, and his name was called in holy baptism Philip; live pleasing to God, on Wednesday and Friday being in hunger; the same God vouchsafe him a terrible vision. Having learned the strength of the military, go against Prince Alexander, let him tell him the camps, gain them. I stand for him at the edge of the sea, guarding both paths, and spend the whole night in vigil; as if the sun had begun to rise and heard a terrible noise across the sea, and the sight of a single rowing of the rowing, in the middle of the rowing standing Boris and Gleb in scarlet robes, and holding his hands on the frames, the rowers were sitting like lightning dressed. And Boris said: "Brother Glebe! they led us to row; let us help our relative Alexander." Seeing such a vision of Pelgusia and hearing such a voice from the saint, he stood trembling until he sat down from his eyes; then he soon went to Alexander: he saw his joyful eyes, confessed to him alone, as if he had seen and heard. The prince answered him: "Do not do this to anyone."

A remarkable analogy with this story is provided by a similar legend, which embellished the victory of Alexandrov's contemporary, the Czech king Przemysl Ottokar, over the Ugric Bela on the banks of the Morava in 1260. Ottokar himself, in his letter to the pope, says that one pious husband devoted to him, who remained at home on sickness, on the day of the battle he was rewarded with a vision. The patrons of the Czech land, Sts. Wenceslas, Adalbert and Procopius; moreover, Wenceslas told his comrades that their (Czechs) army was weak and needed to be helped (Turgenev Histor. Russ. Monumenta, II. 349).

Although the compiler of the Legend of Alexander says that he wrote from the stories of the fathers, and heard about the Neva victory from the participants and even from Alexander himself; however, the story of this battle is replete with obvious exaggeration regarding the enemies. Firstly, in addition to the Sveevs (Swedes), Murman (Norwegians), Sum and Yem allegedly took part in the enemy militia. It was as if there were so many killed enemies that three ships were filled with only noble people; and the rest, for whom the pits were dug, were without number. No more than 20 killed on the Russian side contradicts this too much and shows that the battle did not have any large sizes. The name of the Swedish leader is usually not mentioned, although he is called the King of Rome (i.e. Latin, or Catholic). Only in a few sets of annals is Bergel added, i.e. Berger (Novgor. quarter). When describing the battle, some lists also say that their governor Spiridon (Novgorodskaya First) was killed here; while the name of Spiridon was borne at that time by the archbishop of Novgorod. As for the well-known Volkung Birger, married to the daughter of King Erich, he was elevated to the rank of jarl a little later, in 1248 (Geschichte Schwedens von Geijer. I. 152).

P.S.R. Years. Chronicles mention the trip of Alexander to Sartak and the campaign of the Tatars against Andrei under one year, without connecting these two events. Direct news of Alexander's slander to the Khan against his brother Andrei is found only in Tatishchev (IV. 24). Karamzin considers this news to be Tatishchev's fiction (T. IV, note 88). Belyaev is trying to justify Alexander from this accusation by referring to the silence of the chronicles known to us and repeats the opinion of Prince Shcherbatov that the slander was made by his uncle Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, to which he refers Andrei's words: "until we lead Tatars at each other" ("Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky ". Vremennik Ob. I. and Dr. IV. 18). Solovyov in his history considers Tatishchev's news to be quite reliable (T. II, note 299). We, too, find it certain, all things considered; Alexander, obviously, considered himself offended after his younger brother took possession of the Vladimir table, probably using some clever tricks in front of the khan.

For the great reign of Alexander Nevsky, see Chronicles Lavrent., Novgorod., Sofiysk., Voskresen., Nikonov, and Troitskaya. See papal letters: to Yuri Vsevolodovich (Historica Russiae Monumenta. I. N. LXXIII) and Alexander Yaroslavich (ibid. LXXXVIII). Leben des heiligen Alexandri Newsky at Miller's Sammlung Russischer Geschichte. I.

It’s either good or nothing about Alexander Nevsky. But a real historical figure is lost behind the chanting of the exploits of the Russian prince. Analysis historical sources shows that the figure of Alexander Nevsky is not without intrigue.

Faithful to the Horde

Historians are still arguing about the relationship between Alexander Nevsky and the Horde. Eurasian scholar Lev Gumilyov wrote that in 1251 Alexander Nevsky fraternized with Batu's son Sartak, "as a result of which he became the son of a khan and in 1252 brought a Tatar corps to Russia with an experienced noyon Nevryuy." According to Gumilyov, Alexander confidently created an alliance with the Golden Horde, and this alliance is considered not as a yoke, but as a boon.

The scientist claims that during the time of Alexander Nevsky there was a political and military alliance of Russia with the Horde.
According to another version, more common, Alexander Nevsky had no other choice, and he chose the lesser of two evils. The pressure of the West, the desire of Rome to spread Catholicism in Russia forced Alexander to make concessions to the East, because he was tolerant of Orthodoxy. Thus, Alexander Nevsky preserved Orthodox Russia.

But the historian Igor Danilevsky focuses on the fact that sometimes in chronicle sources Alexander Nevsky is a power-hungry and cruel man who made an alliance with the Tatars to strengthen his personal power.

But the harshest assessment of Nevsky’s “Tatarophilia” belongs to Academician Valentin Yanin: “Alexander Nevsky, having concluded an alliance with the Horde, subordinated Novgorod to the Horde’s influence. He extended Tatar power to Novgorod, which was never conquered by the Tatars. Moreover, he gouged out the eyes of dissenting Novgorodians, and there are many sins behind him. ”

In 1257 news came to Novgorod that the Horde wanted to take tamga and tithes from the Novgorodians. At that time, Alexander's son Vasily ruled in Veliky Novgorod, and Nevsky himself reigned in Vladimir. Novgorodians refuse to pay tribute to the Horde, and Alexander equips a punitive campaign against the recalcitrant city. Vasily Alexandrovich flees to neighboring Pskov. But soon his father catches up with him and sends him “to the Bottom”, to the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, and he executed those “who led Vasily to evil”: “cut off the nose of one, and vyimash the eyes of another.” For this, the Novgorodians killed Alexander's henchman, mayor Mikhalko Stepanich.

commander

Recently, there has been a strong opinion that Western Europe did not seriously threaten Russia, and therefore the value of the battles won by Alexander Nevsky is not great. We are talking, in particular, about downplaying the significance of the victory in the Battle of the Neva.

For example, the historian Igor Danilevsky notes that “the Swedes, judging by the Chronicle of Eric, which tells in detail about the events in this region in the 13th century, they managed not to notice this battle at all.

However, such an assessment is objected to by the largest Russian specialist on the history of the Baltic region, Igor Shaskolsky, noting that “in medieval Sweden, until the beginning of the 14th century, no major narrative works on the history of the country were created, such as Russian chronicles and large Western European chronicles.”

The Battle on the Ice is also subject to depreciation. The battle is presented as a battle in which numerous troops perished. Based on the information of the “Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle”, which indicates only 20 knights who died during the battle, some experts talk about the insignificant scale of the battle. However, according to the historian Dmitry Volodikhin, the Chronicle did not take into account the losses among the Danish mercenaries participating in the battle, the Baltic tribes, and the militias that formed the backbone of the army.

Some historians estimate the army of Alexander Nevsky at 15-17 thousand people, and the German soldiers who opposed him - 10-12 thousand. Sometimes more - 18 thousand to 15.

However, on the 78th page of the Novgorod First Chronicle of the senior version it is written: "... and pada Chyudi was beschisla, and Nemets 400, and 50 with the hands of Yash and brought to Novgorod." The figure grows in the next chronicle, of the younger version: "... and the fall of Chudi was beschisla, and Nemets 500, and others 50 by the hands of Yash and brought to Novgorod."

The Laurentian Chronicle puts the whole story about the battle in three lines and does not even indicate the number of soldiers and those killed. Apparently, this is not important and not significant?
"The Life of Alexander Nevsky" is a more artistic source than a documentary one. It has a completely different angle of view: spiritual. And on the spiritual side, sometimes one person is stronger than a thousand.

One cannot ignore the successful campaigns of Alexander Nevsky against the German, Swedish and Lithuanian feudal lords. In particular, in 1245, with the Novgorod army, Alexander defeated Lithuanian prince Mindovga, who attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Moreover, having released the Novgorodians, Alexander, with the help of his retinue, pursued the remnants of the Lithuanian army, during which he defeated another Lithuanian detachment near Usvyat. In total, judging by the sources that have come down to us, Alexander Nevsky conducted 12 military operations and did not lose in any of them.

How many wives?

In the life of Alexander Nevsky it is reported that in 1239 Saint Alexander entered into marriage, taking as his wife the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Some historians say that the princess in holy Baptism was the namesake of her holy husband and bore the name of Alexander. At the same time, one can find reports that there was another wife: "Alexander, the first wife of the prince, Vassa, his second wife and daughter Evdokia, were buried in the cathedral of the Knyaginin Monastery." Here is what is written in the "History of the Russian State" by N.M. Karamzin: "

Upon the death of his first wife, named Alexandra, daughter of Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk, Nevsky was married for the second time to Princess Vassa, unknown to us, whose body lies in the Assumption Monastery of Vladimir, in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, where his daughter, Evdokia, was also buried.

And yet, the existence of Alexander's second wife raises doubts among both historians and ordinary people honoring the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky. There is even an opinion that Vassa is the monastic name of Alexandra Bryachislavovna.

Overthrow of a brother

It is known that in 1252 the brother of Alexander Nevsky Andrey Yaroslavich was expelled from the Vladimir reign by the "Nevryuev army" sent to him by Batu. According to popular belief, the prince was deprived of the label for not appearing in the Horde, but the sources do not contain any information about the summons of Andrei Yaroslavich to Saray.
The annals say that Alexander went to the Don to Batu's son Sartak and complained that Andrei received the grand prince's table not by seniority and did not pay tribute to the Mongols in full.

Historian Dmitry Zenin is inclined to see his brother Alexander as the initiator of the overthrow of Andrei, since, in his opinion, Batu was not particularly versed in all the intricacies of Russian inter-princely accounts and could not take on such responsibility.

Moreover, some researchers under the name "Nevryuy" mean Alexander Nevsky himself. The basis for this is the fact that the Neva in the common Mongolian language sounded like "Nevra". In addition, it is rather strange that the name of the commander Nevruy, who was a rank higher than the temnik, is not mentioned anywhere else.

Saint

Prince Alexander Nevsky canonized as a faithful. Because of Soviet propaganda this ruler is most often presented as a successful warrior (he really did not lose a single battle in his entire life!), and it seems that he became famous only for his military merits, and holiness became something of a “reward” from the Church.

Why was he canonized? Not only because the prince did not agree to an alliance with the Latins. Surprisingly, however, an Orthodox diocese was created in the Golden Horde through his efforts. And the preaching of Christianity spread to the north - to the lands of the Pomors.
To this rank of saints - the faithful - are reckoned the laity, who became famous for their sincere deep faith and good deeds, as well as Orthodox rulers who managed to remain faithful to Christ in their public service and in various political conflicts. “Like any Orthodox saint, the noble prince is not at all an ideal sinless person, however, this is primarily a ruler who was guided in his life primarily by the highest Christian virtues, including mercy and philanthropy, and not a thirst for power and not self-interest.

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 their exploits before the Fatherland and firm Orthodox faith Alexander Nevsky is glorified in the face of saints as the Holy Blessed Prince.

Brief biography of Alexander Yaroslavich

Alexander Nevsky was born on May 13, 1221 in a family 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 Old Russian state a difficult fate fell, they had to pay tribute to the Golden Horde and defend 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 Vladimir principality. 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.

On his worldview big role played life in Novgorod with its free and warlike disposition. 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 yet to come. Russian state ahead. Having learned about the plight of the Russian princes, the Pope decided to forcibly baptize the Russian people in 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 entering into unequal fight 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 older brothers.

The most famous of his children was younger son- Daniel, who is 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 it is put on a par with the most outstanding commanders throughout 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. Battle against 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. Word portrait 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 and 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 named 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 discouraged him for a long time. Western states 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 in Saint-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.

Alexander Nevsky (born May 30, 1220, died November 14, 1263) - saint, Grand Duke of Vladimir, son of Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Theodosius, daughter Mstislav Udaly. Alexander spent his youth in Novgorod, where he reigned with his brother Fedor (d. 1233), under the leadership of two Suzdal boyars, and from 1236 on his own. In 1239 he married Alexandra, daughter of Bryachislav of Polotsk.

In 1240, the Swedes, who disputed Finland with the Novgorodians, moved, prompted by the papal bull on a crusade, led by Birger, to Novgorod, but Alexander defeated them at the confluence of the Izhora into the Neva (Birger "put a seal on his face with your sharp copy"). This battle gave Alexander the name of Nevsky (see - Neva Battle).

In the same year, he quarreled with the Novgorodians, who limited his power, and left for Pereyaslavl. But a war arose with the Sword-bearers, who united with the Teutonic Order, conquered the Pskov region in 1240, occupied Pskov in 1241, built a fortress in Koporye, took Tesov and imposed tribute on Vod. The Germans began to rob merchants 30 miles from Novgorod. The Novgorodians sent the lord with the boyars to Alexander; he returned, in 1241 he conquered Koporye, in 1242 - Pskov, moved to Livonia and on April 5, 1242 utterly defeated the Germans on the ice of Lake Peipus (""). According to the concluded peace, the Germans abandoned the conquests and returned the prisoners.

Battle on the Ice of Alexander Nevsky. Painting by V. Nazaruk, 1984

In 1242 and 1245 Alexander Nevsky won a number of victories over the Lithuanians; in 1256, to intimidate the Swedes, he devastated Yem (Finland).

After the death of his father, Alexander and his brother Andrei went in 1247 to the horde to Batu, and from there, by the will of the latter, to the great khan in Mongolia. Andrei received the first important Vladimir table, Alexander - Kyiv and Novgorod. Andrei did not get along with the Tatars; in 1252, the Tatar hordes of Nevruy were moved against him. Broken Andrei fled to Novgorod, and then to Sweden. At this time, Alexander was in the Horde and received a label on Vladimir.

The struggle of Alexander Nevsky with the Swedes and Germans

Sitting there, Alexander Nevsky prevented the emergence of uprisings that were useless under the then conditions and tried to deliver benefits to the Russian land by obedience to the khan. In Novgorod, Alexander planted his son, Vasily. In 1255, the Novgorodians expelled him, inviting Yaroslav Yaroslavich of Tver to reign. But Alexander moved to Novgorod and restored Basil. In 1257, unrest resumed in Novgorod, caused by rumors about the intention of the Tatars to conduct a census to tax the inhabitants with a general tribute. Vasily was on the side of the Novgorodians, but Alexander sent him to Suzdal and severely punished his advisers.

In 1258, Alexander Nevsky traveled to the Horde to “honor” the influential dignitary Ulovchai, and in 1259 prompted the Novgorodians to agree to a Tatar census. In 1262, an uprising arose in Suzdal, Vladimir, Rostov, Pereyaslavl and Yaroslavl, caused by the Tatars - tax-farmers. Alexander again went to the Horde, averted the pogrom of Russian cities and secured for them an exemption from compiling militias for the Tatars.

Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. Icon

On the way back, Alexander Nevsky died in Gorodets Volzhsky. Metropolitan Kirill, announcing the death of Alexander in Vladimir, expressed the then public mood with the words: “My dear child, understand that the sun of the Russian land has set.” Alexander Nevsky was the largest figure in Russian history from Vladimir Monomakh to Dmitry Donskoy. His memory is surrounded by poetic tales. The church canonized Alexander as a saint. His relics were discovered in 1380, and in 1724 they were transferred to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (born May 13, 1221 - death November 14, 1263) - the second son of Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, great-grandson. Prince of Novgorod (1252), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1252–1263) Russian statesman, commander. Holy Russian Orthodox Church. Genus: Rurik.

early years

Alexander spent adolescence and youth for the most part in Novgorod, where his father put him to reign in 1828 together with his elder brother Fedor (d. 1233), giving two Suzdal boyars as leaders to the young princes. 1236 - Yaroslav went to Kyiv, having received the local table, and Alexander began to rule Novgorod on his own.

In 1239, Alexander started building fortresses along the river. Shelon on the western outskirts of Novgorod's possessions. Soon Alexander would glorify his name in the fight against the Swedes, Germans and Lithuanians, who sought to capture Novgorod and Pskov at a time when the rest of Russia was subjected to a terrible Tatar pogrom.

Main dates

1240 - on the Neva battle
1242 - on Lake Peipus - Battle on the Ice
1245 - repulse of the Lithuanian attack on Torzhok and Bezhetsk
1247 - Alexander, by the will of Batu, became the Grand Duke of Kiev
1251 - two cardinals came to Novgorod to Alexander with a proposal from the Pope to accept Catholicism, he refused.
1252 - he received a label for the great reign of Vladimir
1256 - The prince conducted a successful campaign against the Finnish tribe Em
1262 - Novgorod, Tver and allied Lithuanian regiments undertook a campaign in Livonia

Personal life

1239 - Alexander married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav, Alexandra. The young people got married in the church of St. George in Toropets. A year later, their son Vasily was born.

Later, the wife gave birth to Alexander more children: Vasily - Prince of Novgorod; Dmitry - the future prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslav and Vladimir; Andrei - will become the Kostroma, Vladimir, Novgorod and Gorodetsky princes, Daniel - the first prince of Moscow. The princely couple also had a daughter, Evdokia, who married Konstantin Rostislavich Smolensky.

Neva battle

1240 - The Swedes, who disputed the possession of Finland with the Novgorodians, prompted by a papal bull to crusade against Novgorod, under the command of Birger entered the Neva and reached the mouth of the Izhora. The news of their invasion was received in Novgorod. The prince with Novgorodians and Ladoga quickly advanced to meet them on the left bank of the Neva, at the confluence of the river. Izhory, on July 16, 1240, was completely able to defeat the Swedes, while Birger himself "put a seal on his face with your sharp spear." After this battle, adorned with poetic tales (the appearance of St. Boris and Gleb), Alexander received the nickname Nevsky. In the same year, the prince left Novgorod for Pereyaslavl to visit his father, having quarreled with the Novgorod boyars because he wanted to rule as powerfully as his father and grandfather.

Events that preceded the Battle of the Ice

However, circumstances forced the Novgorodians to call on Alexander again. The Order of the Swordsmen, shortly before that, joined with the Teutonic Order, and resumed the offensive movement against Novgorod and Pskov Russia. In the year of the Battle of the Neva, the Germans began the conquest of the Pskov region, and in the next year (1241), Pskov itself was occupied by the Germans. Encouraged by success, the crusaders set about conquering the Novgorod volost. They imposed tribute on the waters, built a German fortress in the churchyard of Koporye, took Tesov, lands along the river. The meadows were subject to ruin and, finally, the German detachments began to rob the Novgorod merchants, 30 miles from Novgorod.

Then the Novgorodians sent to Yaroslav Vsevolodovich for the prince, and he gave them his son Andrei. However, Alexander Nevsky was needed, not Andrei. Having thought, the Novgorodians sent the lord with the boyars to Alexander, who in 1241 was gladly accepted by the Novgorodians and, first of all, conquered Koporye.

Battle on the Ice

1242 - having received help from the lower regiments (from the Suzdal land), Alexander managed to liberate Pskov and from here, without wasting time, he headed to the borders of Livonia, and there, on April 5, 1242, he gave the knights a battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi, near the tracts of Uzmenya and the Crow of the stone, known by the name -: the crusaders were defeated on the head.

After this defeat, the knights asked for peace, abandoned their conquests in the Russian regions. After the Swedes and Germans, the prince turned his weapons to the Lithuanians and a number of victories (in 1242 and 1245)

Clashes with the Swedes

1256 - the Swedes tried again to take away the Finnish coast from Novgorod and, together with the subject Emyu, began to build a fortress on the river. Narova; but having learned about the approach of Alexander with the Suzdal and Novgorod regiments, they left. To intimidate the Swedes, Alexander Nevsky made a trip to the Swedish possessions, to the country of Emi (today Finland), subjecting it to devastation. So Alexander victoriously repulsed the enemies on the western border, but he had to choose a completely different policy in relation to the Tatars.

Relations with the Golden Horde

After the death of his father (died in 1246), Alexander Nevsky and his brother Andrei went for the first time (in 1247) to the Horde to worship Batu, and from here, from the banks of the Volga, along the waters of Batu, the Yaroslavichs had a chance to make a long journey to Mongolia to the great khan. It took them two years to make this trip. They returned in 1250 with labels for reigning: Andrei, although the younger brother, received, by the will of the khan, the first important table of Vladimir, Alexander received Kyiv and Novgorod.

Alexander did not go to Kyiv, which lost all significance after the Tatar ruin, but settled in Novgorod, waiting for the turn of events in his favor. Andrei Yaroslavich could not get along with the Tatars, and therefore reigned in Vladimir for a week: in 1252, the Tatar hordes under the command of Tsarevich Nevruy were moved against him. Andrew's army was defeated, he fled first to Novgorod, and from there to Sweden.

Prince Vladimirskoe>

During the Nevryuev invasion, Nevsky was in the Horde and from the son of Batu, Sartak, who ruled the Horde for the decrepitude of his father, received a label for the great reign of Vladimir. Alexander sat in Vladimir, and since then he became the same defender of the Russian land from the Tatars, as before from the Swedes and Germans, but he began to act in a different way, applying to the circumstances, namely: on the one hand, he restrained the senseless uprisings of his subjects against the Tatars, on the other hand. the other - tried to humility before the khan to deliver possible benefits to the Russian lands.

Alexander gave a lot of gold and silver to the Horde to ransom the prisoners. Andrei Yaroslavich soon returned to Russia and sat down to reign in Suzdal, having received forgiveness from the khan through Alexander. A lot of anxiety caused Alexander the affairs of Novgorod, where his son Vasily reigned.

"Alexander Nevsky receives papal legates". 1876

Unrest in Novgorod

1255 - Novgorodians, having expelled Vasily, invited Alexander's brother, Yaroslav, Prince of Tver, to reign. However, Alexander wanted to keep Novgorod behind him, went with the army to Novgorod and forced the Novgorodians to accept the reign of Vasily without a fight. 1257 - unrest in Novgorod resumed due to rumors about the intention of the Tatars to make the same census there to tax the inhabitants with a total tribute, which was carried out by the Tatar numeralists in the land of Suzdal, Murom and Ryazan.

Prince Vasily himself was on the side of the Novgorodians, who did not want to pay tamgas and tithes. For this, Alexander Nevsky sent Vasily to the Suzdal lands, and severely punished the advisers who pushed the young prince to resist the Tatars. 1258 - Alexander went to the horde to "honor" Ulavchiy, an influential khan dignitary. Only in 1259, the mediation of Alexander and rumors about the movement of the Tatar army to Novgorod forced the Novgorodians to agree to a census.

Last years. Death

1262 - an uprising broke out against the Tatars in Vladimir, Rostov, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl and Yaroslavl, caused by heavy oppression from the Tatar tax-farmers. The Tatar army was already ready to advance to the Russian lands. Then Alexander Nevsky hurried to the Horde to the Khan (4th time) to avert trouble from the people. He stayed there all winter and not only managed to avert the Tatar pogroms, but was also able to obtain from the Khan the release of the Russian land from the obligation to field military detachments for the Tatars.

This was the last deed of Alexander Nevsky: he went sick from the Horde and on the road, in Gorodets Volzhsky, died on November 14, 1263, according to the chronicler, “having worked hard for the Russian land, for Novgorod and Pskov, for all the great reign, giving his life and for the true faith." Metropolitan Kirill announced to the people in Vladimir about the death of the Grand Duke with the words: “My dear child, understand that the sun of the Russian land is coming”, and everyone exclaimed: “We are already perishing!”

Holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky and a silver sarcophagus

Board results

XIII century - Russia was attacked from three sides - the Catholic West, the Mongol-Tatars and Lithuania. Alexander showed the talent of a commander and diplomat, having made peace with the most dangerous and powerful (but at the same time more tolerant) enemy - the Golden Horde - and having repelled the German attack, he was able to protect Orthodoxy from Catholic expansion.

There is also a more moderate interpretation of this point of view. So, according to our contemporary historian A. Gorsky, in the actions of the Grand Duke “one should not look for some kind of conscious fateful choice ... Nevsky was a pragmatist ... he chose the path that seemed more profitable for him to strengthen his land and for him personally ... when it was necessary give a decisive battle, he fought when an agreement seemed more useful, he went to an agreement.

A sign of memory and glory is the special legend “On the Life and Courage of the Blessed Grand Duke Alexander”, the most full text which in the 2nd Pskov Chronicle. For the feat of endurance and patience, Alexander Nevsky was canonized in 1549, and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was founded in his honor in 1710. His relics, discovered in 1380, were transferred by order of the emperor in 1724 from Vladimir in St. Petersburg in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where they rest to this day in the Trinity Church in a silver reliquary donated by the Empress.

The Grand Duke won the main military victories in his youth. At the time of the Battle of the Neva, he was 20 years old, and during the Battle of the Ice, the commander was 22 years old. Alexander was a politician and diplomat, but more of a military leader.

In all his life, the Grand Duke did not lose a single battle.

Prince Alexander is the only secular Orthodox ruler in all of Europe and Russia who did not compromise with catholic church for the sake of maintaining power.

2008 - the competition "Name of Russia" was held. The event was organized by representatives of the state television channel Rossiya together with the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Public Opinion Foundation.

Internet users chose the "Name of Russia" from a ready-made list of "500 great figures of the country." As a result, the competition almost ended in a scandal, because Joseph Stalin took the leading position. The organizers said that "numerous spammers" voted for Stalin. As a result, Alexander Nevsky was named the official winner.