Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky was born in May 1220 in the family of the prince of Pereyaslavl, later of Vladimir and Kyiv, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Alexander's father raised his sons in strictness and in every possible way prepared them for difficult military work. In 1225, Prince Yaroslav in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky performed “princely tonsure” on his sons - the initiation of boys into warriors.
In 1228, before the campaign against Riga, his father left Alexander and his older brother Fedor in Novgorod. The children, together with their mentors, had to wait for their father from the campaign, but in the winter of 1229, famine broke out in Novgorod, the city residents rebelled, and the young princes had to flee the city. On next year The Novgorodians turned to Prince Yaroslav with a request to “reign over them.” But Yaroslav stayed in Novgorod for only two weeks and left there, placing his sons in charge. Three years later, Fyodor Yaroslavovich died, and Alexander became the sole prince of the Novgorod land. Alexander took his first part in a military campaign at the age of 14 as part of his father’s troops - to Livonia.
As a result of political reshuffles in 1236, Prince Yaroslav was invited to reign in Kyiv - the period of Alexander’s independent princely activity began. Even in his youth, he showed wisdom and innate military talent. In any case, I was not tempted by the campaign against Lithuania organized by the Order of the Swordsmen. But the Pskov prince took part in this campaign and was completely defeated in the Battle of Saul, and the Order of the Swordsmen went over to the side of the Teutonic Order and actually disappeared into it. In addition, Novgorod was lucky for a purely geographical reason - in the winter of 1237-38, Tatar-Mongol troops ravaged North-Eastern Rus' and, after a two-week siege, took Torzhok, but did not go to Novgorod. That is, of almost all Russian cities at that time, only Novgorod was safe and sound.
IN official history it is alleged that Prince Alexander received the nickname Nevsky after the defeat of the Swedes on the Neva. However, in written sources this nickname begins to accompany the name of Alexander only from the 14th century. It is possible that the nickname of the Nevsky princes, which was borne by the descendants of Alexander, was received precisely for the ownership of lands on the banks of the Neva. But historians do not yet have a common opinion on this issue.
In 1240, the Swedes, having agreed with the Germans, simultaneously set out on a campaign against Russian lands. The Germans attacked Pskov, and the Swedes moved troops to Veliky Novgorod. According to legend, the jarl leading the Swedish troops sent Alexander a letter in which he declared war. The Swedes had a significant advantage in manpower, but Alexander outmaneuvered them. With a small squad of Novgorodians and Ladoga recruits, on the night of July 15, he attacked the Swedish camp at the mouth of the Izhora River, a tributary of the Neva, and completely defeated the enemy. The prince fought in the front ranks and personally “placed a seal with the tip of his sword” on the forehead of the Swedish jarl. With the Battle of the Neva, in which Alexander demonstrated his military talent and the mind of a strategist, the countdown to the victories of the great Russian commander began. However, in the same year, the Novgorodians, extremely jealous of their liberties and privileges, managed to quarrel with Alexander, and the prince retired to the patrimony given to him by his father - the Pereyaslavl-Zalessky principality.
The quarrel with the prince cost the Novgorodians quite dearly. The Germans (Livonian Order) after a short siege took Pskov and installed their managers (vogts) there. After this, the Livonians deployed fighting in the north-west of Rus' close to Novgorod - they built a fortress in Koporye, took the city of Tesov by storm and, finally, began to rob merchants literally at the walls of Novgorod. The Novgorodians were smart enough to turn to Prince Yaroslav to appoint a prince, and he sent them Andrei, Alexander’s younger brother. But the Novgorodians were not satisfied with this, and they sent an embassy with a request to appoint Alexander as prince of Novgorod. Alexander did not pretend and contradict his father’s will, and in 1241 he came to Novgorod with his squad, drove away the Livonians, and the next year, together with his brother, moved to Pskov. In order to protect Pskov from attacks in the future from the Livonian Order, Alexander made a trip to the Peipus land - the possession of Livonia.
The general battle between the troops of Prince Alexander and the knights of the Livonian Order took place on April 5, 1242. Alexander initially chose a convenient position at the Crow Stone and prepared to meet the knights. Although according to the Livonian chronicles the knights were intercepted on the march, this looks very doubtful, since the troops of the Order were well aware of the whereabouts of the Russian squad. This battle was called the Battle of the Ice because the Livonian troops, with the help of a maneuver, pushed the knights onto the ice of Lake Peipsi and drove them away from the shore. The ice at that time was already fairly melted, and many Livonians, dressed in heavy armor, drowned in the resulting ice holes. The Livonian Chronicles and the Novgorod Chronicle report that about 500 Livonians died.
Subsequently, Alexander inflicted a number of defeats on the Livonian Order and in 1245 practically secured the northern borders of Rus'. Six years of Alexander's military actions led to a peace treaty, according to which the Livonian Order renounced all captured Russian lands and even ceded part of Latgale to Novgorod.
In 1246, Prince Yaroslav was summoned to the khan in Karakorum and there on September 30 he died of poison. Ten days earlier, Mikhail Chernigovsky refused to pass pagan rite in the Golden Horde and was killed. Rus' has lost its talented prince-politicians. A year later, Alexander Nevsky was forced to go to Batu for a label to reign. Batu sent Alexander and his brother Andrei further - to Mongolia, to the Great Khan, and this journey took the brothers two years. During their absence, the fourth son of Prince Yaroslav, Mikhail Khorobrit of Moscow, subjugated the Vladimir principality by cunning and in 1248 sat on the throne. In the same year, he died in a battle with the Lithuanians at the Protva River.
The cunning Khan Batu decided to place Alexander in Vladimir, since he knew very well that Yaroslav bequeathed to his eldest son to be the prince of Novgorod and Kyiv, and intended Andrei to take the throne of Vladimir. As chroniclers note, there was a conflict between the brothers, but in the end, Yaroslav’s will was carried out. However, after the devastation of Kyiv by the Tatars, the city not only lost its importance - extensive restoration work was required, and Alexander settled in Novgorod. Some historians claim that Alexander Nevsky was going to leave for Kyiv to reign, but was kept by the Novgorodians under the pretext of a possible attack by the Tatars.
Alexander Nevsky proved himself not only a talented commander, but also a clever politician. In particular, there is information that he corresponded with Pope Innocent IV, who persuaded the Russian prince to accept Catholicism and submit to the Roman throne. In his letters, the Pope even referred to the fact that Alexander’s father, Yaroslav, allegedly agreed to Roman rule in exchange for the help of the Teutons in the fight against the Tatars. But no written documents on this topic have survived. In 1251, two cardinals arrived as an embassy from Rome to the Novgorod prince. The negotiations did not lead to anything, and Alexander Nevsky refused to convert to Catholicism. It should be noted that the Prince of Lithuania Mindovg converted to Catholicism, thereby securing his lands from the Teutons.
In 1252, the troops of the Golden Horde moved to Vladimir under the leadership of Khan Nevryuy. Having united with the troops of Tver, the people of Vladimir opposed the Tatars, but were defeated, and Prince Andrei fled to Sweden, and Yaroslav Tverskoy remained in Pskov and began to strengthen it. In the history of Rus' this was the first attempt at open opposition Tatar-Mongol yoke, even if it ended in defeat. As a result, the Vladimir principality also came under the rule of Alexander Nevsky, but the Mongols released the Ryazan prince Oleg the Red from captivity, which marked the beginning of an internecine war in Rus'.
Wars did not stop in the north-west of Rus'. Constant raids by Teutonic knights and Lithuanians forced Alexander to short campaigns that invariably ended in victories. In 1255, the obstinate Novgorodians expelled Alexander Nevsky's eldest son, Vasily, from his reign, but Nevsky, either by war or by politics, forced Novgorod to accept Vasily back, and also replaced the Novgorod mayor with a man devoted to himself.
In 1257, the Mongols conducted a census in the Ryazan, Murom and Vladimir lands to increase the tribute collected. But the Novgorodians, who had not suffered from the previous invasions of the Tatar-Mongols, opposed the census and did not allow the khan’s ambassadors into the city. Trying to avoid a new invasion, Alexander Nevsky himself brought Mongol ambassadors to Novgorod, exiled his son to Suzdal, and severely punished his advisers. Alexander's second son, Dmitry, became the Prince of Novgorod. In 1258 Alexander went to Golden Horde bowed to the khan's governor Ulavchiy and, returning, obtained consent from the freedom-loving Novgorodians to conduct a census and pay tribute. It was thanks to the actions of Alexander Nevsky that it was possible to avoid another Mongol campaign against Rus' and a violation of the precarious political balance.
In 1262 largest cities Rus' - Pereyaslavl, Suzdal, Rostov and Vladimir - Tatar tribute collectors were destroyed almost simultaneously. The offended Khan Berke demanded that not only compensation for the killed officials, but also Russian recruits be delivered to his capital Sarai-Batu, since he was going to fight with the ruler of Iran, Hulaga. Alexander Nevsky again goes to the Golden Horde to dissuade the Khan with the help of rich gifts and persuasion. The embassy was successful, but in the Horde Alexander fell ill. Having reached Gorodets Meshchersky, Alexander adopted the schema, taking the name Alexy, and died on November 14, 1263.
The actions of Alexander Nevsky ensured the calm development of Northwestern and Northern Rus', and his policy ensured fairly peaceful relations with the Golden Horde and an acceptable tribute. His glory during his lifetime was so great that knights from Europe went on a campaign to see the great commander and pay their respects to him. According to legend, even the Tatar Khan himself spoke of Alexander Nevsky in respectful and superlatives.
Until 1724, the ashes of Alexander Nevsky rested in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery. By order of Peter the Great, the prince's relics were seized and transferred for burial in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. Alexander Nevsky was revered in Vladimir as a saint even before his official canonization Orthodox Church, and it was well deserved - Prince Alexander was the only Orthodox ruler who did not succumb to the persuasion of the Catholic Church in order to maintain his power.
In 1725, Catherine I established the Order of Alexander Nevsky - one of the highest awards Russian Empire. The order existed until 1917 and was again revived in 1942 as a reward for military merit.
Alexander Nevskiy Alexander Nevskiy
(1220/1221 - 1263), Prince of Novgorod in 1236-1251, Grand Duke Vladimir since 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) 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 NevskiyALEXANDER 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. BATTLE ON THE ICE) 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 destroy 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 Raven 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 at Lake Peipsi had exceptional significance: the Russian foot army surrounded and defeated the knightly cavalry and detachments of foot bollards, long before Western Europe infantry learned to prevail over 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 Russian 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 Mongol power- 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, supposedly 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, as 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 the 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, the 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 ensured the successful actions of their units.
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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 Nevskiy- Alexander Nevskiy. 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 Nevskiy- (12211263), Prince of Novgorod, Tver, Grand Duke of Vladimir (from 1252), son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. He led the Russian troops defending the northwestern borders of Rus' from the invasions of Swedish and German feudal lords; skillful politics... ... Encyclopedic reference book"Saint Petersburg"
ALEXANDER NEVSKY, USSR, Mosfilm, 1938, b/w, 111 min. Historical film. After eight years of forced downtime, when his films were criticized, Eisenstein made “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
Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna (Paraskeva) was from a family of rebellious Polotsk princes. Her father, Bryachislav Vasilkovich, was the Vitebsk prince, the last of the Rurik dynasty. After his death, the Principality of Polotsk passed to Lithuania. In Polotsk for a long time there was some semblance of matriarchy in the reign.
In 1125, when Vladimir Monomakh died and the Polotsk princes stopped reckoning with his successor, Mstislav Vladimirovich, feudal strife began, which lasted until 1129. It ended with the father “Mstislaven” dealing with the Polotsk princes, depriving them of their thrones , property, captivating and “driving” (co-slav) them “to the Greeks,” to Constantinople. The Principality of Polotsk found itself without a supreme ruler. It was then that the princesses entered the political arena, taking the supreme government into their own hands for quite a long period of time. Period 30-50s of the 12th century. in the history of the Principality of Polotsk, V.L. Yanin calls it “the Polotsk matriarch.” Among the princesses-rulers were representatives of the family of Prince Svyatoslav Vseslavich.
During excavations of Polotsk and ancient Kukeinos, whose ruler was in vassal dependence on the Polotsk prince, were found three personal princely women's seals. Until the senior members of the princely Polotsk dynasty returned from exile, registration official documents, to which personal seals were attached, the wife of Svyatoslav-George Vsevolodovich, Princess Sophia, most likely studied in Polotsk. Then this mission was taken on by her daughter Predslava, who, although she was tonsured a nun under the name Euphrosyne, did not retire from secular affairs.
Thus, Alexandra Bryachislavna received a female education that was atypical for Rus' at that time. She knew languages and knew how to negotiate. Her father constantly held back the onslaught from the West and fought. Other princely management problems it was decided by his wife, the princess (history has not preserved her name) and the princess.
The princess was 16 years old when in 1239, at the end of the war with the Lithuanians for Smolensk, Prince Yaroslav married his second son Alexander, Prince of Novgorod, to her. The wedding took place in Toropets in the Church of St. George. Already in 1240, the prince’s first-born son, named Vasily, was born in Novgorod. In the same year, in July, the famous Neva Battle with the Swedes took place, for the victory in which Alexander received his nickname - Nevsky.
As is already customary in Rus', the role of the princess in affairs is not mentioned. But I am more than sure that a determined woman from a glorious family, with a constantly fighting husband, could not help but contribute to his actions. In the 13th century, Rus' was attacked from three sides - the Catholic West, the Mongol-Tatars and Lithuania. Alexander Nevsky, who never lost a single battle in his entire life, showed his talent as a commander and diplomat, making peace with the most powerful (but at the same time more tolerant) enemy - the Horde - and repelling the attack of the Germans, while simultaneously protecting Orthodoxy from Catholic expansion. There is also a merit in this of Princess Alexandra, for she provided a strong rear and management of the principality in the absence of her husband. In addition, the princess gave birth to four sons (Vasily, Dmitry, Andrei, Daniel) and a daughter, Evdokia:
Basil(before 1245-1271) - Prince of Novgorod;
Dmitriy(1250-1294) - Prince of Novgorod (1260-1263), Prince of Pereyaslavl, Grand Duke of Vladimir in 1276-1281 and 1283-1293;
Andrey(c. 1255-1304) - Prince of Kostroma (1276-1293, 1296-1304), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1281-1284, 1292-1304), Prince of Novgorod (1281-1285, 1292-1304), Prince of Gorodets (1264-1304) 1304);
Daniel(1261-1303) - first prince of Moscow (1263-1303).
Evdokia, who became the wife of Konstantin Rostislavich Smolensky.
When exactly Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna died is unknown. Her body was buried in the cathedral church of the Assumption of the so-called Princess Monastery in the city of Vladimir.
Alexander Nevskiy, short biography whom 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 firm Orthodox faith Alexander Nevsky is 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 Old Russian state It was a difficult fate; 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 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 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, 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 Peipsi, 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 last years There are increasingly lively discussions regarding why so many knights drowned. According to one version, the knights were dressed in heavy armor, due to 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 had 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 Alexei. 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 different sources, which is 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 more than a dozen 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, in height - no more than 156 cm. Scientists made such conclusions on the basis 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.
XV. ALEXANDER NEVSKY AND NORTHEASTERN Rus'
(continuation)
Civil strife of Alexander's sons. - Princes of Rostov.
After the death of Grand Duke Vasily of Kostroma (1276), the last of the brothers of Alexander Nevsky, it was the turn of his sons; the eldest of them, Dimitri Pereyaslavsky, received the reign of Vladimir, and with it the table of Novgorod. But it was enough for the usual strife between the Novgorodians and the Suzdal prince to arise, and he already found a rival. It was brother his Andrey Gorodetsky. And before, the princes sometimes did not respect clan seniority, and now, when the will of the khan mainly decided the issue of reigns, rivals began to pay even less attention to seniority. Andrei, having received the label for the reign of Vladimir from Mengu-Temir, began a series of internecine wars with varying success. Three times he brought Tatar troops against his elder brother, and poor North-Eastern Rus' paid with new ruins for the ambition of unworthy princes. The third coming was especially difficult, when the Tatar governor Duden, sent to help Andrei by Khan Tokhta (son of Mengu-Temir), took Vladimir; Moreover, the Tatars again plundered the cathedral church of the Mother of God and generally took and destroyed 14 Suzdal cities, including Pereyaslavl and Moscow (1293). During these civil strife, Dmitry once fled overseas, probably to Scandinavia, and returned with a hired squad; and another time he retired to the south to Khan Nogai, a rival of the Volga khans, and received from him an army, with the help of which he regained his throne. After the third invasion of Andrei with the Tatars, Dimitri died the following year, 1294.
Andrei occupied the grand-ducal table for another ten years, i.e. until his death. But unrest and civil strife in the Suzdal land did not stop. Some appanage Suzdal princes rebelled against him and united in alliances for this purpose. Among his opponents were his younger brother Daniil Aleksandrovich Moskovsky and cousin Mikhail Yaroslavich, one of the founders of the strong Tver reign. Thus, Moscow and Tver, these future rivals, are allies in the fight against the senior Vladimir prince; obviously, the senior, or grand-ducal, city of Northern Rus' Vladimir, repeatedly devastated by the Tatars, gradually lost its former importance. Some smaller cities no longer recognize this primacy and strive to become a nucleus around which other volosts would gather. Only this search for a new strong core, a new princely branch that would lead further the history of Northern Rus', can explain those apparently devoid of historical meaning disputes and civil strife, servility to the Tatars and betrayals that marked the period of Russian history that came after Alexander Nevsky and continued until the time when Moscow’s superiority over all its rivals was clearly evident.
Andrei also had allies; of them, the most zealous is Fyodor Rostislavich, nicknamed Black, Prince of Yaroslavl - one of the more outstanding personalities between contemporary appanage princes. He belonged to the branch of the Smolensk princes, was the grandson of Mstislav Davidovich (known for his trade agreement with the Germans) and originally owned the Mozhaisk inheritance. Having married Princess Maria of Yaroslavl, he received the Yaroslavl inheritance; Having become a widow, he married the daughter of Khan Mengu-Temir. After the death of his elder brothers, he inherited the reign of Smolensk; but, however, he entrusted it to his nephew (Alexander Glebovich), while he himself remained in Yaroslavl. Fedor was a zealous servant of the khans. The princes of Rostov, Boris and Gleb Vasilkovich, the sons of that Vasilko, who, as we know, did not agree to serve Batu and was killed by the Tatars, were also distinguished by the same servility before the khans. These princes often traveled to the Horde with bows and gifts and lived there for a long time. Gleb also married a Tatar, like Fyodor Rostislavich Cherny, and Boris died there during preparations for the campaign against Yasov. Alexander Nevsky, as we noted, knew how to reject the participation of Russian squads in the wars of the Tatars with other peoples; but under his insignificant successors we see this duty in full force. So in 1277, the Northern Russian princes, at the behest of Mengu-Temir, went with the Tatars to the Caucasian countries and helped to finally conquer the warlike tribe of the Yasses, or Alans.
In some places of the Suzdal land, obviously, with the advent of the Baskaks and other Horde officials, significant Tatar settlements arose. There were especially many Tatars, it seems, in Rostov and its environs. The residents, of course, suffered great oppression from them. However, even here the power of higher, Christian citizenship was sometimes manifested: some noble people from the Tatars were baptized and became the founders of many noble families in Russia. Particularly interesting is the local Rostov legend about a certain Horde prince, who was baptized by the Rostov bishop Kirill and received the name Peter. This Tsarevich Peter bought a plot of land in Rostov from Prince Boris Vasilkovich, on which he built a church and founded a monastery (Petrovsky) with the blessing of Kirillov’s successor, Bishop Ignatius. Prince Boris later became such friends with Peter that he fraternized with him, and they loved to hunt together with birds of prey on the shores of Lake Rostov. Diligent service of Rostov and other princes Tatar khans, however, did not remain without some benefit for the conquered people; for, taking advantage of the merciful disposition of the conquerors, these princes saved many Christians from slavery and other disasters. However, the population of Suzdal Rus', by all indications, did not put up with the shameful yoke as easily as their princes, and more than once rebelled. So, in 1289, already under the sons of Boris Vasilkovich, the residents of Rostov looked with indignation at a large number of Tatars in their city, again at the ringing of the veche bell, rose up against their oppressors, plundered their houses and drove them out of the city. One of Boris's sons (Konstantin) hurried to the Horde and, probably, knew how to turn things around so much that the khan left this rebellion without punishment. And the expelled Tatars returned to Rostov
