Biography of Prince Alexander Nevsky. Briefly
Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the son of the famous Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, had a rich biography. He reigned in Pereyasl (1200-1206), Pereyaslavl-Zalessky (1212-1238), Kyiv (1236-1238, 1243-1246), Vladimir (1238-1246), four times in Veliky Novgorod (1215, 1221-1223, 1226 -1229, 1231-1236)
“Novgorod, built on the banks of the Volkhov, not far from the source of this river flowing from Lake Ilmen, was at the crossroads of trade routes important both for Kievan Rus and for the whole of Northern Europe. In the 11th–13th centuries, Novgorod was a large, well-organized city. His Kremlin was fortified with a stone wall and included the St. Sophia Cathedral (which was also a repository of state documents) and the bishop's courtyard. Opposite the Kremlin there was a marketplace, a veche square, courtyards of foreign merchants and churches of merchant corporations. The banks of the Volkhov were divided into piers and densely lined with ships and boats from different countries and cities. Monasteries were located along the periphery of the city. The city was paved with wooden pavements, regarding which there was even a special statute on street paving. In the 12th–13th centuries, the main population of Novgorod consisted of artisans of a wide variety of specialties: blacksmiths, potters, gold and silversmiths, many craftsmen who specialized in the manufacture of a certain type of product - shield makers, archers, saddle makers, comb makers, nail makers, etc. Novgorod's relations were connected with Kiev and Byzantium, with Volga Bulgaria and the Caspian countries, with Gotland and the entire Southern Baltic. The real power in the city belonged to the boyars. The Novgorod boyars many times showed their will in relation to the great princes and prince-governors, whom Kyiv sent to Novgorod. In the last quarter of the 11th century, the chronicle formula for announcing the beginning of the reign of a new prince changed significantly; Previously they said: the Grand Duke of Kiev “planted” the prince in Novgorod. Now they began to say: the Novgorodians “introduced” the prince to themselves. In the 12th–13th centuries, the princes of Novgorod were essentially hired military leaders” (B. A. Rybakov “World of History”)
“This nickname is not found in the most ancient chronicles: he is simply called Alexander in the Novgorod Chronicle, as well as “Novgorod Prince” and “Grand Duke” in the Laurentian Chronicle. Alexander’s nickname Nevsky appears in all-Russian codes of the late 15th century” (“Around the World” No. 10, 2016)
The map of the Battle of the Ice in the textbook is familiar to many generations of Russians. Although historical sources lack not only a plan for the formation of troops with arrows: the composition of the participants in this battle, the exact location, and the losses of the parties are unknown. Not a single document mentions knights falling through the ice. And authoritative historians Vasily Klyuchevsky and Mikhail Pokrovsky do not mention the battle on Lake Peipus at all in their detailed and voluminous works. Moreover, in the 1950s, an expedition from the Institute of Archeology of the USSR Academy of Sciences did not make any important finds at the supposed site of the massacre. The Livonian “Rhymed Chronicle” tells us about 20 dead and 6 captured knights. The later “Chronicle of Grandmasters” speaks of the death of 70 “order gentlemen” (along with those who died in the battle of Pskov). The Novgorod Chronicle claims that ours killed 400 Germans, captured another 50, and the Estonian militias fell “innumerable.” It is clear that every sandpiper praises his own swamp: Livonian chroniclers write that for every German there were 60 Russians. But these exaggerations seem innocent in comparison with the version of the Stalin era: most of the 15 thousand participants in the “Teutonic crusade against Rus'” died in the Battle of the Ice. (It is important) to understand what happened in the Baltic states in the 12th-13th centuries. Of course, there was no smell of a crusade. In the buffer zone on the territory of Latvia, Estonia and the Pskov region, internecine turmoil took place. The Swedes and their Suomi allies carried out raids in 1142, 1164, 1249, 1293, 1300. The Novgorodians, together with the Karelians, invaded in 1178, 1187, 1198. The most bizarre blocs and unions were formed. In 1236, the Lithuanians defeated the Teutonic Order near Siauliai, on whose side the allied Pskovites fought - “a man of two hundred,” as the chronicle states. And the prehistory of the Battle of the Ice, according to the chronicles, is as follows: in 1242, Prince Alexander Nevsky captured the German fortress of Koporye, suppressed the dissatisfied in Pskov and led an army into the land of Chud (Estonians), allowing them to fight “for prosperity” (that is, to ruin farms). But, having received a turn, Nevsky turned back, and the entire available order force and angry Estonians rushed “after” him. We caught up on Lake Peipus - no one in their right mind would plan a battle on the ice in early April in advance! (“Arguments of the Week”, No. 34(576) dated 08/31/2017)
“The Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice were just two episodes in the history of complex relations between the Teutonic Order, Novgorod, Pskov, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. The goals of the Swedes and the order, who tried to convert the pagan tribes of the Curonians, Livs, Estonians, Semigallians to Catholicism and establish themselves on their lands, collided with the interests of Pskov and Novgorod, which collected tribute and trade there. Prince Alexander took the side of Novgorod. Armed conflicts also occurred after 1242: for example, in 1253 the Germans burned the Pskov settlement. There were examples of friendly communication. In 1231, it was the Germans who saved the Novgorodians from hunger, “coming running with life and flour” (“Around the World”)
“In 1251, Alexander came to Batu’s Horde, became friends, and then fraternized with his son Sartak, as a result of which he became the adopted son of the khan. The union of the Horde and Rus' was realized thanks to the patriotism and dedication of Prince Alexander" (L. Gumilyov)
(no documents confirming Gumilyov’s message were found)
“Under the conditions of terrible trials that befell the Orthodox lands in the first half of the 13th century, Alexander - perhaps the only secular ruler - did not doubt his spiritual righteousness, did not waver in his faith, and did not abandon his God. Refusing joint actions with Catholics against the Horde, he unexpectedly becomes the last powerful stronghold of Orthodoxy, the last defender of the entire Orthodox world. And the people understood and accepted this, forgiving the real Alexander Yaroslavich for all the cruelties and injustices about which the ancient Russian chroniclers preserved a lot of evidence. Defense of the ideals of Orthodoxy atoned for (but did not justify, as many modern historians do) his political sins. Could the Orthodox Church not recognize such a ruler as a saint? Apparently, that’s why he was canonized not as a righteous man, but as a noble prince” (I. A. Danilevsky, Russian historian)
Two points of view on the activities of Alexander Nevsky
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An outstanding commander who won all the battles in which he participated, combining determination with prudence, a man of great personal courage. Subtle politician. Defender of Russian lands from the Crusaders and Orthodoxy from the onslaught of Catholicism
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He recognized the supreme power of the Mongol-Tatars, did not try to organize resistance to them, and contributed to the occupiers in establishing a system of exploitation of Russian lands
The dominance of the first point of view
Alexander Nevsky is the Grand Duke of Kiev, Prince of Vladimir and Novgorod, as well as the great Russian commander.
We can talk about the personality of Alexander Nevsky for a long time, but we will look at his short biography.
Early years.
The future prince was born in May 1221. Four years later he was already initiated into the military. Alexander's independent life began when he was fifteen years old.
Alexander is a great commander.
His first military experience came in the war for Smolensk against the Lithuanian army, where he emerged victorious. In 1239, he married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Alexandra, and a year later he had a son.
In 1240, a large Swedish fleet came to the Neva, which threatened his state. Alexander decided to act decisively and with lightning speed. He didn’t even wait for reinforcements or militia - only with the help of his squad did he attack the Swedes and was able to win a decisive victory. It was this victory that gave him the nickname - Nevsky.
At the end of 1239, the Teutonic Order began its campaign against Russian lands. They managed to capture a number of cities, but Alexander Nevsky met them at Lake Peipsi. The battle took place on April 5, 1242 and went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. Alexander managed to turn the tide of the battle when its center was defeated, thanks to flank attacks he threw back the Teutonic army. The Russian army pursued the knights running on the ice, and at the same time many Teutons went under the ice forever. After this, peace was concluded between the Order and Novgorod.
In 1245, Alexander defeated the Lithuanian army.
Alexander is the Grand Duke.
In 1252, Alexander Nevsky became the Grand Duke, which was immediately followed by a war with the Lithuanians and Teutons, where they were again defeated and were forced to sign a peace treaty.
During his short reign, he managed to win the respect of the Golden Horde and repel many attacks from Lithuania and the Livonian Order.
In 1262, he went with the Golden Horde in order to calm the Mongol Khan, angry at the anti-Mongol uprising - he managed to do this, but in the Horde, Alexander became seriously ill and returned to Rus'.
In 1263 the prince died. He was remembered as a knight who never lost a single battle, Mongolian women frightened their children with his name, and Western knights admired his exploits. In addition, he was a saint of the Orthodox Church.
The majority evaluates Alexander as a great prince and warrior - this is what domestic historians, many eastern, as well as a number of Western historians say. But many Western historians also assess his reign negatively, and his role in the war against the Teutonic Order is of little significance, since they did not pose a big threat and the battles were small.
Alexander Nevsky, whose brief biography is presented in this article, was not only a 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 not only remained independent, but also asserted itself among other states.
For his exploits before the Fatherland and his strong 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 Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Vladimir and Princess Rostislava Mstislavovna. He was the second of nine children. Until the age of nine, the prince lived in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and then, 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, by the age of 16, Alexander Nevsky became the 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 Izhora, which flows into the Neva, with German knights. A little later, he fought for Pskov with the Teutonic knights and took part in the Battle of the Ice.
During the reign of Alexander Yaroslavich, the Old Russian state suffered a difficult fate; it 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 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 Russian cities from the wrath of the Tatar-Mongols. He was able to convince the khan not to attack Rus', but died on the way home.
The 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 militant 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, disaster befell Rus' - Russian cities were burned and robbed by Batu’s soldiers. 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 thing awaited 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, setting up several defensive points on the Sheloni River and entering into 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 Rus'.
Alexander Nevsky's father, 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 Udal (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 Prince of Polotsk. 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. Andrey (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 his youngest son, Daniel, who was nicknamed 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 did Alexander Nevsky fight with?
During his short but glorious life, Alexander Nevsky was able to achieve many important victories for the state. To do this, he had to fight several foreign invaders almost simultaneously.
His enemies were the Swedes from the Livonian Order, who appeared at the walls of Veliky Novgorod in 1240. Also, Alexander Nevsky fought with German knights in 1242 and with Lithuanian troops in 1245.
Briefly about the exploits of the great commander
Today he is placed on a par with the most outstanding commanders in the entire history of Russia. And this is no coincidence. He has several victories that are significant for the entire Russian world.
His first victory was won on June 15, 1240 on the Izhora River against the Swedish conquerors. In the summer of that year, knights of the Levon and Teutonic Orders appeared under the walls of Novgorod, who came to Rus' to convert people to the Catholic faith.
The Swedish part of the united order did not wait for the Germans and set out. Alexander Nevsky, without waiting for his father’s help, opposed the invaders and defeated them.
The second feat of Alexander Yaroslavich is known in history as the Battle of the Ice. It happened on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipus, which by that time was already in the inhabited territory of the German crusading knights.
Nevsky's last victory dates back to 1245. The battle against the Lithuanian invaders lasted for several days and ended in victory for Nevsky’s squad.
The Battle of the Ice and the victory of Alexander Nevsky
The Battle of 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 on the flanks and defeated.
The remnants of the Teutons were overtaken by the princely squad for a long time on the frozen lake. As a result of this battle, about 500 knights drowned in the lake, and another 50 were captured.
In recent years, there has been a growing debate 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 Peipus could not stand it and cracked. However, according to other reports, this information appeared recently and has nothing to do with the actual events taking place.
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 Crusaders' raids.
Results of the reign of Alexander Yaroslavich
The reign of Alexander Nevsky is recognized as one of the most beneficial for the state. Indeed, during Nevsky’s time in power, the country strengthened its influence in the West, largely thanks to 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 the Prince
The prince died during one of the campaigns against the land of the Tatar-Mongols. This 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 Alexey. He was about 42 years old. He was buried in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery.
The image of Alexander Nevsky in art
There is no authentic image of the prince left to this day. His image was reconstructed 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 about 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 dozens of interesting facts about the activities of this famous person. The most interesting and relevant of them are in this selection.
Why was the prince named Alexander Nevsky?
Alexander received his nickname, Nevsky, for his brilliant victory over the German knights on the Neva. This not only glorified him, but also for a long time discouraged Western states from attacking Rus'.
How tall was Alexander Nevsky?
It is noteworthy that Alexander Nevsky was small, even small by modern standards - no more than 156 cm. Scientists made such conclusions based on the foundations of the white stone tomb, which supposedly belongs to Nevsky.
When is the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky celebrated by the Orthodox Church?
Orthodox Christians recognize two memorable dates for the Blessed Prince - September 12 and December 6. The first date marks the transfer of holy relics from the Vladimir land to St. Petersburg. The second date denotes 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 after he himself stood at the head of the army. His first fight took place when he was 13 years old. Then his father took him to the battle 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 unknown what our state would be like today.
On May 30, 1220, in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Theodosia, daughter of Prince Mstislav Udatny, a son, Alexander, Grand Duke of Novgorod (1236-1251) and Vladimir (from 1252) was born. On his father's side, he was the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest.
In 1228, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who reigned in Novgorod, came into conflict with the townspeople and was forced to leave for his ancestral estate of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Despite this, he left two young sons, Fyodor and Alexander, in Novgorod in the care of trusted boyars. After the death of Fedor in 1236, Alexander, as the eldest heir of Yaroslav, was placed in the reign of Novgorod. In 1239 he married the Polotsk princess Alexandra Bryachislavna.
In the first years of his reign, the Russian prince was engaged in strengthening Novgorod. On the river Sheloni he built several fortresses. The victory won in July 1240 at the mouth of the river brought glory to the young prince. Izhora over the Swedish detachment, after which Swedish aggression on the Novgorod-Pskov lands was stopped. It is traditionally believed that for this victory the prince began to be called Nevsky. However, according to Russian sources of the 14th century, some of the prince's descendants also bore the nickname Nevsky.
The victory on the Neva strengthened Alexander's political influence, but at the same time contributed to the aggravation of his relations with the boyars. As a result of clashes with disgruntled boyars, the prince was forced to leave Novgorod and go to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. The Livonian Order, having gathered German crusaders from the Baltic region and Danish knights from Revel, invaded the Novgorod lands. In the spring of 1241, Alexander, having gathered a powerful army, recaptured Koporye and Vodskaya land occupied by the knights, and then expelled the Livonian detachment from Pskov. The Novgorodians invaded the territory of the Livonian Order and began to destroy their settlements. Soon a large cavalry army led by the master of the order came out against the Russian prince and forced him to withdraw his troops to the border of the Livonian Order, which ran along Lake Peipsi. On April 5, 1242, a decisive battle took place on the ice of Lake Peipsi at the Crow Stone, which went down in history as the “Battle of the Ice.” German troops suffered a crushing defeat. The Livonian Order was forced to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands, and also transferred part of Latgale to the Russians. In the history of military art, this victory was of exceptional importance: the Russian foot army surrounded and defeated the knightly cavalry and detachments of foot bollards long before infantry in Western Europe learned to defeat mounted knights. The victory in this battle placed Alexander Nevsky among the best commanders of that time.
Subsequently, Alexander Nevsky continued to strengthen the northwestern borders of Rus'. In 1251, he sent an embassy to Norway, which resulted in the first agreement between Russia and Norway, and also made a successful campaign in Finland against the Swedes, who had made a new attempt to close the Russians' access to the Baltic Sea.
Alexander made a lot of efforts to strengthen the grand ducal power in the country. His political line helped prevent the devastating Tatar invasions of Rus'. He himself traveled to the Golden Horde several times, achieving the release of the Russians from the obligation to act as troops on the side of the Tatar khans in their wars with other peoples. In 1262, unrest broke out in the Suzdal cities, where the Khan's Baskaks were killed and Tatar merchants were expelled. To appease the Tatar Khan, the prince personally went with gifts to the Horde. The Khan kept him close to him all winter and summer, and only in the fall did the Russian prince get the opportunity to return to Vladimir, but on the way he fell ill and died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets. His body was buried in the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin.
In the 1280s. In Vladimir, the veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a saint began, and later he was officially canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 1724, in St. Petersburg, in honor of the blessed prince, Peter I founded a monastery (Alexander Nevsky Lavra), where the Russian autocrat ordered the remains of the holy Prince Alexander to be transported. On May 21 (June 1), 1725, Empress Catherine I established the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky - one of the highest awards of the Russian Empire.
Lit.: Alexander Nevsky and the history of Russia: Materials of a scientific and practical conference. Novgorod, 1996; The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://bibliotekar. ru/rusNevskiy/; Vernadsky G. V. Two labors of St.Alexander Nevsky // Eurasian temporary book. Book IV . Prague, 1925. P. 318-337; Voskresensky N. A. Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky; In memory of the peacemaker king: A brief biography. M., 1898; Danilevsky AND. N. Alexander Nevsky: Paradoxes of historical memory// “Chain of Times”: Problems of historical consciousness. M., 2005. P. 119-132; Life of Alexander Nevsky// Library of literature of Ancient Rus'. T. 5. St. Petersburg, 1997; The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http:// lib. pushkinskijdom. ru/Default. aspx? tabid=4962; Konyavskaya E. L. The image of Alexander Nevsky in early chronicles 2 (36); The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://www. ancient ru/vyp/2009_2/part6. pdf; Kuchkin V. A. About the date of birth of Alexander Nevsky// Questions of history. 1986. No. 2; Pashuto V. T. Alexander Nevsky. M., 1974; The Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky and the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra: in memory of the bicentenary of the monastery, 1713-1913. St. Petersburg, 1913; Seleznev Yu. V. Conquest of Alexander Nevsky in 1252g.: political realities and their reflection in the Russian written tradition// Ancient Rus'. Questions of medieval studies. 2009. No. 1 (35); The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://www. ancient ru/vyp/2009_1/hist-3. pdf; Fennel J. The crisis of medieval Rus': 1200-1304: Trans. from English M., 1989; Khmyrov M. D. Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, Grand Duke of Vladimir and all Rus': historical and biographical sketch. St. Petersburg, 1871; Cold G. M. The life and work of Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky in connection with events in Rus' in XIII century. Tambov, 1883; Tsamutali A. N. Prince Alexander Nevsky (according to Russian and foreign sources)// Star. 2007. No. 10. ;
Tikhonravov K. N. Vladimir Rozhdestven Monastery of the 12th century, where the holy relics of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky rested, before being moved to St. Petersburg. Vladimir, 1869 .
Alexander Nevsky Alexander Nevsky
(1220/1221 - 1263), Prince of Novgorod in 1236-1251, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. With victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle of the Ice 1242), he secured the western borders of Rus'. Through skillful policies he eased the burdens of the Mongol-Tatar yoke. Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
ALEXANDER NevskyALEXANDER Yaroslavich Nevsky (May 13, 1221? - November 14, 1263), saint, Prince of Novgorod (1236-1251), Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252; son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (cm. YAROSLAV Vsevolodovich). Victories over the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva (cm. NEVSKAYA BATTLE) 1240 and the German knights of the Livonian Order in the Battle of the Ice (cm. ICE BATTLE) 1242 secured the western borders of Rus'
Alexander was born into the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Feodosia, daughter of Prince Mstislav Udatny (cm. MSTISLAV Mstislavich Udaloy). On his father's side he was the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest (cm. VSEVOLOD Big Nest). The first information about Alexander dates back to 1228, when Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who reigned in Novgorod, came into conflict with the townspeople and was forced to leave for Pereyaslavl-Zalessky - his ancestral inheritance. Despite this, he left two young sons, Fyodor and Alexander, in Novgorod in the care of trusted boyars. After the death of Fedor, Alexander becomes the eldest heir of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In 1236 he was placed under the reign of Novgorod, and in 1239 he married the Polotsk princess Alexandra Bryachislavna.
In the first years of his reign, he had to strengthen Novgorod, which was threatened by the Tatar Mongols from the east. Alexander built several fortresses on the Sheloni River. The victory won on the banks of the Neva, at the mouth of the Izhora River on July 15, 1240 over the Swedish detachment, which, according to legend, was commanded by the future ruler of Sweden, Earl Birger, brought glory to the young prince. (cm. Birger Jarl). This campaign is not mentioned in Swedish sources about Birger's life. After the landing of the Swedes, Alexander with a small squad, uniting with the Ladoga residents, suddenly attacked the Swedes and completely defeated their detachment, showing exceptional courage in battle - “put a seal on the king’s face with your sharp spear.” It is believed that it was for this victory that the prince began to be called Nevsky, but for the first time this nickname appears in sources from the 14th century. Some of the prince's descendants also bore the nickname Nevsky. Perhaps in this way their possessions near the Neva were assigned. It is traditionally believed that the battle of 1240 prevented Russia from losing the shores of the Gulf of Finland and stopped Swedish aggression on the Novgorod-Pskov lands.
The victory on the Neva strengthened Alexander's political influence, but at the same time contributed to the aggravation of his relations with the boyars, as a result of clashes with whom the prince was forced to leave Novgorod and go to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, a threat from the west loomed over Novgorod. Livonian Order (cm. LIVONIAN ORDER), having gathered the German crusaders of the Baltic states, the Danish knights from Revel, enlisting the support of the papal curia and the long-time rivals of the Novgorodians, the Pskovs, invaded the Novgorod lands.
An embassy was sent from Novgorod to Yaroslav Vsevolodovich asking for help. He sent an armed detachment to Novgorod led by his son Andrei Yaroslavich, who was replaced by Alexander in the spring of 1241. Gathering a powerful army, he recaptured Koporye and Vodskaya land occupied by the knights, and then expelled the Livonian detachment from Pskov. Inspired by their successes, the Novgorodians invaded the territory of the Livonian Order and began to ravage the settlements of the Estonians, tributaries of the Crusaders. A large cavalry army led by the master of the order came out against Alexander Nevsky. The knights who left Riga destroyed the advanced Russian regiment of Domash Tverdislavich, forcing Alexander to withdraw his troops to the border of the Livonian Order, which ran along Lake Peipsi. Both sides began to prepare for the decisive battle.
It happened on the ice of Lake Peipsi, near the Crow Stone on April 5, 1242 and went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. German troops suffered a crushing defeat. The Livonian Order was forced to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands, and also transferred part of Latgale to the Russians. In the history of military art, the victory of Alexander Nevsky on Lake Peipus was of exceptional significance: the Russian foot army surrounded and defeated the knightly cavalry and detachments of foot bollards, long before infantry in Western Europe learned to defeat mounted knights. The victory in this battle placed Alexander Nevsky among the best commanders of his time.
In the summer of 1242, Alexander defeated the Lithuanian detachments attacking the northwestern Russian lands, in 1245 he recaptured Toropets, captured by Lithuania, destroyed the Lithuanian detachment at Lake Zhitsa and, finally, defeated the Lithuanian militia near Usvyat. Alexander Nevsky continued to strengthen the northwestern borders of Rus': he sent embassies to Norway, which resulted in the first agreement between Russia and Norway (1251), made a successful campaign in Finland against the Swedes, who made a new attempt to close the Russians’ access to the Baltic Sea (1256 ).
Alexander and the Horde
The successful military actions of Alexander Nevsky ensured the security of the western borders of Rus', but in the east the Russian princes had to bow their heads before a much stronger enemy - the Mongol-Tatars. In 1243 Khan Batu (cm. BATYY), ruler of the western part of the Mongol state - the Golden Horde (cm. GOLDEN HORDE), presented the label of the Vladimir Grand Duke to Alexander’s father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. The Great Khan of the Mongols, Guyuk, summoned Yaroslav to his capital, Karakorum, where on September 30, 1246, the Grand Duke died (according to the generally accepted version, he was poisoned). Then his sons, Alexander and Andrei, were summoned to Karakorum. While the Yaroslavichs were reaching Mongolia, Khan Guyuk himself died, and the new mistress of Karakorum, Khansha Ogul-Gamish, decided to appoint Andrei as Grand Duke, while Alexander received control of the devastated Southern Rus' and Kyiv.
Only in 1249 were the brothers able to return to their homeland. Alexander did not go to Kyiv, but returned to Novgorod, where he became seriously ill. Around this time, Pope Innocent IV (cm. INNOCENT IV) sent an embassy to Alexander Nevsky with an offer to convert to Catholicism, allegedly in exchange for help in the fight against the Mongols. This proposal was rejected by Alexander in the most categorical form. He rejected the attempts of the papal curia to cause a war between Rus' and the Golden Horde, since he understood the futility of a war with the Tatars at that time. Thus, Alexander Nevsky showed himself to be a cautious and far-sighted politician, and managed to gain the trust of Batu Khan.
In 1252, Ogul-Gamish was overthrown by the new Great Khan Munke (cm. MUNKE). Taking advantage of this, Batu decided to remove Andrei Yaroslavich from the great reign and presented the label of Vladimir Grand Duke to Alexander Nevsky. But Alexander's younger brother, Andrei Yaroslavich, supported by his brother Yaroslav Tverskoy and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky (cm. DANIIL Romanovich), refused to obey Batu’s decision. To punish the disobedient, Batu sent a Mongol detachment under the command of Nevryuy (“Nevryuyev’s army”). Andrei and Yaroslav were forced to flee beyond the borders of North-Eastern Rus'.
Later, in 1253, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich was invited to reign in Pskov, and in 1255 - in Novgorod. At the same time, the Novgorodians “kicked out” the former Prince Vasily, the son of Alexander Nevsky. When Alexander again imprisoned Vasily in Novgorod, he cruelly punished the warriors who failed to protect the rights of their son - they were blinded. Alexander's political line helped prevent the devastating Tatar invasions of Rus'. He traveled to the Horde several times and achieved the release of Russians from the obligation to act as troops on the side of the Tatar khans in their wars with other peoples. Alexander Nevsky made a lot of efforts to strengthen the grand ducal power in the country.
The new Golden Horde ruler, Khan Berke (from 1255), introduced in Rus' a common tribute system for the conquered lands. In 1257, “counters” were sent to Novgorod, like other Russian cities, to conduct a capitation census. This caused indignation among the Novgorodians, who were supported by Prince Vasily. An uprising began in Novgorod, lasting about a year and a half, during which the Novgorodians did not submit to the Mongols. Alexander personally pacified the Novgorodians, executing the most active participants in the unrest. Vasily Alexandrovich was captured and taken into custody. Novgorod was forced to send tribute to the Golden Horde. Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich became the new Novgorod mayor from 1259.
In 1262, unrest broke out in the Suzdal cities, where the Khan's Baskaks were killed and Tatar merchants were expelled. To appease Khan Berke, Alexander Nevsky personally went with gifts to the Horde. The Khan kept the prince near him all winter and summer; Only in the fall did Alexander get the opportunity to return to Vladimir, but on the way he fell ill and died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets. His body was buried in the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin.
In the conditions of trials that befell the Russian lands, Alexander Nevsky managed to find the strength to resist the Western conquerors, gaining fame as a great Russian commander, and also laid the foundations for relations with the Golden Horde (cm. GOLDEN HORDE). Already in the 1280s, veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a saint began in Vladimir, and he was later officially canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. He is credited with refusing to compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain power. With the participation of his son Dmitry Alexandrovich and Metropolitan Kirill, a hagiographical story was written at the end of the 13th century, which became widespread at a later time. 15 editions of this life have been preserved, in which Alexander Nevsky is shown as an ideal warrior prince, defender of the Russian land.
In 1724 Peter I (cm. PETER I the Great) founded a monastery in St. Petersburg in honor of the noble prince (now the Alexander Nevsky Lavra) and ordered his remains to be transported there. He also decided to celebrate the memory of Alexander Nevsky on August 30, the day of the conclusion of the victorious Peace of Nystadt with Sweden. On May 21, 1725, Empress Catherine I established the Order of Alexander Nevsky - one of the highest awards in Russia that existed before 1917. During the Great Patriotic War, on July 29, 1942, the Soviet Order of Alexander Nevsky was established, which was awarded to commanders from platoons to divisions inclusive, who showed personal courage and provided successful actions of their units.
Encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .
See what "Alexander Nevsky" is in other dictionaries:
- (1221? 1263) Prince of Novgorod in 1236 51, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle of the Ice 1242) secured the western borders... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (1220 or 1221 63), Prince of Novgorod in 1236 51 and Tver in 1247 52, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle on the Ice 1242) ... ... Russian history
Alexander Nevsky- Alexander Nevsky. Drawing 17th century. ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1220 or 1221 1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252, Prince of Novgorod (1236 51), Tver (1247 52). Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish troops in... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Alexander Nevsky- (12211263), Prince of Novgorod, Tver, Grand Duke of Vladimir (from 1252), son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. He led the Russian troops that defended the northwestern borders of Rus' from the invasions of Swedish and German feudal lords; skillful politics... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"
ALEXANDER NEVSKY, USSR, Mosfilm, 1938, b/w, 111 min. Historical film. After eight years of forced downtime, when his films were criticized, Eisenstein shot “Alexander Nevsky,” with which he again declared himself as an artist of the world... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema
- (1220 or 1221 1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252, Prince of Novgorod (1236 51), Tver (1247 52). Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish troops in the Battle of the Neva (1240), for which he was nicknamed Nevsky. Banished... ... Modern encyclopedia
