Battle of Kyiv 1240. Battles of Alexander Nevsky

The legendary Russian commander Alexander Nevsky won military glory in several battles, which will be discussed in this article. An entire literary story was written about his life and deeds, and he also received the honor of being canonized by the church after his death. The name of this man inspired many generations living several centuries later. It can be assumed that the commander’s talent was passed on to Prince Dmitry Donskoy, whose great-grandfather was Alexander Nevsky. The Battle of Kulikovo, where his great-grandson won a brilliant victory, became the first serious defeat of the Tatar-Mongol troops and the complete defeat of Mamai’s hordes.

Background

Still unknown exact date the birth of Alexander Yaroslavich, whom the people later nicknamed Nevsky. According to one version, he was born in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky in May, and according to another - in November 1220. He was the second son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who was the great-grandson of Monomakh. Almost all of Alexander’s childhood and youth were spent in Novgorod.

In 1225, Prince Yaroslav performed the rite of princely tonsure, or initiation into warriors, over his sons. After this, his father left Alexander and his older brother in Veliky Novgorod, and he himself went to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky on urgent matters. His children were placed in a great reign, which took place under the supervision of trusted boyars led by Fyodor Danilovich.

In 1233, an unexpected event occurred. The eldest son of Prince Yaroslav, Fedor, died. Soon, Alexander’s first military campaign against Dorpat, which at that time was in the hands of the Livonians, took place. The march, led by his father, ended with the victory of Russian weapons on the Omovzha River.

3 years after the death of his eldest son, Yaroslav left to rule in Kyiv, the capital of all Rus'. It was from this moment that Alexander became a full-fledged prince of Novgorod. At the beginning of his reign, he was exclusively concerned with strengthening his city. In 1239, his father married him to the daughter of Bryachislav, the Prince of Polotsk, and the very next year Alexander had his first child, who was named Vasily.

Reasons for the attack

It must be said that the Pskov and Novgorod lands were practically free from Tatar-Mongol rule. Therefore, they were famous for their wealth: fur-bearing animals were found in abundance in the forests, merchants were extremely enterprising, and artisans were known as great craftsmen. It is not surprising that these territories were constantly encroached upon by greedy neighbors: Lithuania, Swedish feudal lords and German crusading knights. The latter constantly went on military campaigns, either to the promised land or to Palestine.

Gregory IX, the then Pope, blessed European knights to war with the pagans, which, in their opinion, included residents of the Novgorod and Pskov lands. He absolved the soldiers in advance of all the sins they committed during their campaigns.

Enemy plans

Alexander Nevsky's first battle as a commander took place in 1240. He was only 20 years old then. It should be noted that the Swedes began to prepare for war 2 years before it began. They were the first to attempt to conquer Russian lands. To do this, in 1238, King Erich Burr of Sweden enlisted the support and blessing of the Pope to begin a Crusade against the Principality of Novgorod. And according to established tradition, those who took part in hostilities were guaranteed remission of all sins.

A year later, the Germans and the Swedes were engaged in intensive negotiations regarding the offensive plan. It was decided that the first would go to Novgorod through Pskov and Izborsk, and the second, who had already captured Finland, would come from the north, from the Neva River. The Swedish warriors were commanded by the king's son-in-law, Jarl (Prince) Birger, who later founded Stockholm, and Ulf Fasi. In addition, the crusaders were also planning to convert the Novgorodians into Catholic faith, and this was considered more terrible Mongol yoke. Alexander Nevsky also knew about these plans. The Battle of the Neva was thus a foregone conclusion.

Offensive

Summer 1240. Birger's ships appeared on the Neva and stopped at the mouth of the Izhora River. His army consisted not only of Swedes. It also included Norwegians and representatives of Finnish tribes. In addition, the conquerors took with them Catholic bishops, who carried a cross in one hand and a sword in the other. Birger intended to get to Ladoga, and from there go down to Novgorod.

The Swedes and their allies landed on the shore and set up camp in the area where Izhora flows into the Neva. After this Birger sent to the Novgorod prince a message that he is declaring war on him. It turned out that Alexander Yaroslavich learned about the arrival of the Swedes before this message was delivered to him. He decides to suddenly attack the enemy. Time to collect large army, there was no such thing, so the prince set out against the enemy with his army, slightly replenishing it with Novgorod volunteers. But before setting off on a campaign, he, according to ancient custom, visited St. Sophia Cathedral, where he received a blessing from Bishop Spyridon.

Birger was completely confident in his military superiority and did not even suspect that he might be subject to a surprise attack, so the Swedes' camp was not guarded. On the morning of July 15, he was attacked by the Russian army. It was commanded by Alexander Nevsky himself. The Battle of the Neva, which began so suddenly, took Birger by surprise. He did not even have time to line up his army for battle and provide organized resistance.

Battle of Alexander Nevsky with the Swedes

Immediately, Russian troops, using the element of surprise, began to push the enemy back to the river. Meanwhile, foot militia were cutting down the bridges that connected the Swedish ships to the shore. They even managed to capture and destroy several enemy ships.

It must be said that the Russian troops fought selflessly. According to the chronicle, countless Swedes were killed by Prince Alexander himself. The Battle of Neva showed that Russian warriors were strong and very brave warriors. This is evidenced by numerous facts. For example, Novgorodian Sbyslav Yakunovich, with only one ax in his hands, boldly rushed into the midst of his enemies, while mowing them down left and right. Another of his compatriots, Gavrilo Oleksich, chased Birger himself to the ship, but he was thrown into the water. He rushed into battle again. This time he managed to kill the bishop, as well as one of the noble Swedes.

Results of the battle

During the battle, Novgorod volunteers sank Swedish ships. The surviving remnants of the troops, led by Birger, fled on the surviving ships. Russian losses were very insignificant - only 20 people. After this battle, the Swedes loaded three ships with the bodies of only some nobles, and abandoned the rest on the shore.

The victory won during the battle showed everyone that Russian army has not lost its former valor and will be able to adequately defend its land from the attacks of an external enemy. Success in this battle also contributed to the increase in military authority that Alexander Nevsky gained for himself. The Battle of the Neva also had a huge political significance. The plans of the German and Swedish conquerors at this stage were thwarted.

Battle of Alexander Nevsky - Battle of the Ice

The Knights of the Livonian Order invaded Russian lands in the summer of that year. They approached the walls of Izborsk and took the city by storm. After that, they crossed the Velikaya River and set up camp right under the walls of the Pskov Kremlin. They besieged the city for a whole week, but it didn’t come to an assault: the residents themselves surrendered it. After this, the knights took hostages and left their garrison there. But the Germans' appetites were growing, and they were not going to stop there. The crusaders gradually approached Novgorod.

Prince Alexander gathered an army and in March 1242 went on a campaign again. Soon he was already near Pskov with his brother Andrei Yaroslavich and his Suzdal squad. They surrounded the city and captured the knightly garrison. The Novgorod prince decided to transfer military operations to enemy territory. In response to this, the Order assembled a large army, which included almost all of its knights and bishops, as well as Swedish soldiers.

The two warring parties met on April 5 of the same year near Lake Peipsi. The Germans chose a poor position for attack. In addition, they expected that the Russian troops would deploy in the usual order, but Alexander Nevsky was the first to decide to break such a stereotype. The Battle of the Lake ended with the complete victory of the Russians and the encirclement of the Germans. Those who managed to escape from the ring fled across the ice, and on the opposite shore they fell under it, since the warriors were wearing heavy knightly armor.

Consequences

The result of this battle is the conclusion of a peace treaty between the Order and the Principality of Novgorod. The Germans were forced to return all previously conquered territories. In addition, the battle of Alexander Nevsky with the crusader troops on Lake Peipsi was unique in its own way. For the first time in the history of military art, troops consisting of by and large from one infantry, they managed to defeat the heavy knightly cavalry.

Canonization and veneration

In November 1283, returning from the Golden Horde, Prince Alexander suddenly fell ill and soon died within the walls of the Gorodets Monastery. But before that, he managed to accept the monastic schema under the name Alexia. His remains were supposed to be transported to Vladimir. The journey from the monastery to the city lasted 9 days, during which the body remained incorrupt.

The merits of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich were appreciated. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized him in 1547. And under Catherine I, the Order of Alexander Nevsky was established - one of the highest awards in Russia.

The battle of Alexander Nevsky with the Swedish conquerors, and then with the knights of the Livonian Order, made it possible to preserve not only the cultural heritage of Rus', but also Orthodox faith, preventing the Catholic Church led by the Pope from being planted on this land.

Alexander Nevsky occupies special place among prominent figures national history. For the majority of Russian people, he is a noble prince and a courageous fighter against the aggressors who attempted the independence of Russia.

The foundations of the myth about Alexander Nevsky were laid shortly after his death. Around the 80s. In the 13th century, the cult of the prince as a saint began to take shape. It was then that “The Life of Alexander Nevsky” was created, which was based on a story about famous battles at the mouth of the Neva (1240) and on Lake Peipsi (1242).

In 1240, ships of a Swedish detachment, which was composed of Swedes, Norwegians and Finns, entered the Neva. The reasons for the landing at this point are not exactly known. However, the Soviet historian I.P. Shaskolsky believes that this invasion was part of a concerted plan created by the Swedes, Germans and Danes under the supreme leadership of the Pope. Counting on the weakness of Russia after the Tatar invasion, they hoped to gain a foothold on the banks of the Neva and Lake Ladoga, and then move south and conquer Novgorod and the surrounding lands. However, there is no evidence that the Swedes, Germans and Danes acted in concert. Most likely, this was a continuation of the struggle between the Russians and Swedes for the control of Finland and Karelia.

From the text of the chronicle it follows that ambassadors were sent to Alexander Yaroslavich, who at that time reigned in Novgorod, challenging him to battle. Without waiting for the help of his father, Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the eighteen-year-old prince advanced against the enemy with a small army. The march was so hasty that the Novgorod army did not have time to join it. militia. However, the small number of the prince's squad was compensated by the surprise of the attack.

The battle itself on July 15 is described in the chronicles very laconically. It was only noted that countless numbers of the enemy were destroyed, and the losses among the Novgorodians amounted to 15-20 people. Such really small losses confirm that this battle was one of many clashes between Russians and Swedes that took place in the 13th - 14th centuries. Therefore, mention of him was noticed only in the chronicles of Novgorod and Pskov. The Battle of Neva was not covered even in Swedish sources.

"Essays on the History of the USSR" say that "... The Battle of the Neva was important stage struggle to maintain access to the Baltic Sea. The victory of the Russian people, led by the great Alexander Nevsky, already in the 13th century prevented Russia from losing the shores of the Gulf of Finland and a complete economic blockade." However, this formulation of the events that took place somewhat exaggerates the reality.

This collision on the Neva does not correspond to the concept of “battle”. The small scale and small losses only confirm the inappropriateness of using this term. The victory over the Swedish knights is of course important, but its importance should not be exaggerated.

The “Essays” mention the victory of the Russian people, but this is not entirely true. There is no need to equate the squad with the entire people. Especially at a time when the people themselves are fighting against the Mongol invasion.

Many dead Swedes are mentioned, so it is possible that the Novgorodians inflicted irreparable damage on the enemy. But “The Life of Alexander Nevsky” notes that a significant part of the Swedes were destroyed on the opposite bank of Izhora, where Alexander’s squad did not reach. Most likely, the Swedes were killed in battle with local tribes, who were the real winners of the Battle of the Neva. The army of Alexander Nevsky served for them only as a small support.

And the Swedes were in no hurry to hide after the battle. They managed to bury the dead and only a day after the battle left the banks of the Neva.

In addition, the Swedes, having arrived on Russian soil, hardly planned to implement a “complete economic blockade,” since the forces for this were clearly not enough. And the idea of ​​conquering Novgorod and the surrounding area was a clear exaggeration of the chroniclers. In addition, the Swedes, having entered the Neva, were in no hurry to implement their plans. They remained inactive for about a week. The distance from the battle site to Novgorod is 400 km. During this time, the enemy did not even strengthen his camp, and was taken by surprise.

Most likely, these exaggerations were used to embellish and exalt Alexander's first major victory. For the same purpose, the Swede Birger, who led the campaign, is mentioned. Only he became jarl only in 1248. When they realized that at the time of the clash he did not yet have the title mentioned, they began to name Birger’s predecessor, Ulf Fasi, as the leader. In the end they began to write the name of both.

Exaggerations include the mention of several (i.e., more than two) bishops who arrived with the knights. However, in 1240 there were only 6 of them in Sweden. Therefore, it is surprising that the fact that almost half of all bishops participated in the campaign was not reflected in Swedish sources. Without all these exaggerations, the Battle of the Neva becomes an ordinary event in the history of Rus'.

But why was Alexander called Nevsky? After all, the image of Prince Alexander is closely connected with this nickname. Only the nickname “Nevsky” is mentioned in sources only two and a half centuries after the events took place. Not a single chronicle of the 13th century mentions it as “Nevsky”. For the first time, the prince was mentioned as “Nevsky” in all-Russian chronicles of the late 15th century. However, in XIX literature and XX centuries, the name “Nevsky” of Prince Alexander dates back to the 13th century and is sometimes called that even during the battle with the Swedes in 1240. This is noted by V.V. Tyurin in his work "Ancient Novgorod in Russian literature of the twentieth century: reality and myths."

However, no matter what, this was the first major victory Alexander Nevsky over the Swedish knights and it is important in the history of Rus'.

List of used literature

2. Fennell J. The crisis of medieval Russia. 1200 - 1304. M., 1989.

Alexander, while still a boy, together with his older brother Fyodor and under the supervision of his close boyar Fyodor Danilovich, was placed to reign in Free Novgorod, who maintained close ties with the Vladimir-Suzdal land, from where he received the missing part of the grain, and usually invited its rulers to reign. In case of external danger, Novgorodians also received military assistance.

Free from Tatar-Mongolian The dominions of the Novgorod and Pskov lands were distinguished by their wealth - the forests in the Russian North abounded in fur-bearing animals, Novgorod merchants were famous for their enterprise, and city artisans were famous for their art of work. Therefore, the Novgorod and Pskov lands were constantly coveted by German crusading knights, greedy for profit, Swedish feudal lords - descendants of warlike Vikings - and nearby Lithuania.

The Crusaders went on overseas campaigns not only to the Promised Land, to Palestine. Pope Gregory IX blessed European knighthood for campaigns in the lands of pagans on the Baltic shores, including the Pskov and Novgorod possessions. He absolved them in advance of all the sins that they might have committed during the campaigns.

Battle of Neva

The first to set off on a campaign against North-Western Rus' from across the Varangian Sea were the Swedish knights-crusaders. The royal army of Sweden was led by the second and third persons of the state - Jarl (Prince) Ulf Fasi and his cousin, royal son-in-law Birger Magnusson. The army of the Swedish crusaders (in Rus' they were called “svei”) was huge at that time - about 5 thousand people. The largest Catholic bishops of Sweden took part in the campaign with their troops.

The royal army (sea ledung) left Stockholm on 100 single-masted ships with 15-20 pairs of oars - augers (each carrying from 50 to 80 people), they crossed the Baltic Sea and entered the mouth of the Neva. The Novgorod lands - Pyatina - began here, and the small tribe of Izhorians who lived here paid tribute to the Free City of Novgorod.

The message about the appearance of a huge flotilla of Swedes at the Nevsky estuary was delivered to Novgorod by an envoy from the elder of the Izhorians, Pelgusius, whose small squad carried out marine patrol service here. The Swedes landed on the high bank of the Neva, where the Izhora River flows, and set up a temporary camp. This place is called Bugry. Researchers suggest that they waited here for calm weather, repairing the damage, and then overcoming the Neva rapids and reaching Lake Ladoga, and then into the Volkhov River. And from there it was a stone's throw to Novgorod itself.

Twenty-year-old Novgorod prince Alexander Yaroslavich decided to forestall the enemy and did not waste time collecting the entire city and rural militia. At the head of the princely squad, in armor and fully armed, Alexander arrived for prayer in the St. Sophia Cathedral and listened to the blessing for the campaign against the enemy of Bishop Spyridon.

After church service The prince on the square in front of the cathedral “strengthened” the squad and the assembled Novgorodians with a passionate speech of a warrior, telling them: “Brothers! God is not in power, but in truth..."

At the head of a small, hastily assembled army of about 1,500 warriors - the prince's squad, the Free City militia and Ladoga warriors - he quickly moved towards the Swedes along the bank of the Volkhov, past the stone Novgorod fortress of Ladoga, which guarded the trade routes to the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The cavalry moved along the river bank. The foot soldiers moved on ships that had to be abandoned on the Neva.

On June 15, 1240, with a sudden and swift attack, Novgorod horse and foot warriors (they attacked the enemy along the coast) crushed the royal army of Sweden. During the Battle of the Neva, the prince fought in a knight's duel with Earl Birger and wounded him. The Swedes lost several augers, and on the remaining ships they left the banks of the Neva and returned home.

The Novgorod prince showed himself in the Battle of the Neva as a talented military leader, defeating the Swedes not with numbers, but with skill. For this brilliant victory, the 20-year-old Novgorod prince Alexander Yaroslavich was nicknamed Nevsky by the people.

After the crushing defeat, the Kingdom of Sweden hastened to conclude a peace treaty with the Free City. Historians believe 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.

Fight against German crusaders

Due to the aggravation of relations with the Novgorod boyars, who did not tolerate strong princely power, the winner of the crusaders left Novgorod and with his retinue went to the family estate - Pereslavl-Zalessky. However, soon the Novgorod veche again invited Alexander Yaroslavich to reign. The Novgorodians wanted him to lead the Russian army in the fight against the German crusaders invading Rus' from the west. They already ruled not only the Pskov lands, having captured the Pskov fortress by cunning with the help of traitorous boyars, but also in the possessions of Novgorod itself.

In 1241, Alexander Nevsky, at the head of the Novgorod army, stormed the stone fortress of Koporye. Then, together with the Suzdal squad that arrived in time, the prince captured Pskov, whose residents opened the city gates to the liberators, showing the high art of storming powerful stone fortresses. With the liberation of the border town of the fortress of Izborsk, he completed the expulsion of German knights from Russian soil.

However, on the other side of Lake Peipus were the possessions of the German Livonian Order, which, together with the Catholic bishops of the Baltic states - Dorpat, Riga, Ezel - did not even think of abandoning new invasions of the Pskov and Novgorod regions. Preparing for a crusade to the east against the “pagans,” the brothers of the order called knighthood from German and other lands into their ranks.

The united knightly army was commanded by the experienced military leader Vice Master (Vice Master) of the Livonian Order Andreas von Velven. An army of up to 20 thousand people, huge in size for that time, gathered under his hand. It was based on heavily armed knightly cavalry.

To end the threat of a new crusade against Rus', the Russian commander decided to strike the Livonians himself and challenge them to battle.

Ice battle

At the head of the Russian army, Prince Alexander Nevsky set out on a campaign, moving towards Livonia south of Lake Peipus and sending forward a strong reconnaissance detachment led by Domash Tverdislavich and governor Kerbet. The detachment was ambushed and almost all of them died, but now the prince knew exactly the direction of attack of the main forces of the German crusaders. He quickly led the Russian army across the ice of Lake Peipus to the Pskov shore itself.

When the army of the Livonian Order moved across the ice of the lake to the Pskov borders, the Russians were already standing in their way, lined up for battle.

Alexander Nevsky placed his regiments right next to the shore in the usual battle formation for ancient Russian military art: a guard, an advanced large (“brow”) regiment, and regiments of the right and left hands stood on the flanks (“wings”). The prince's personal squad and part of the heavily armed mounted warriors formed the ambush regiment.

The German knights lined up in their usual battle formation - a wedge, which in Rus' was called a “pig”. The wedge, whose head consisted of the most experienced warriors, rammed the guard and advanced regiments of the Russians, but got stuck in the dense mass of foot Novgorod militia of a large regiment. The “pig” has lost its maneuverability and strength. At this time, according to the conventional signal of the left shelf and right hand surrounded the wedge, and the Russian ambush completed the envelopment of the enemy army.

A hot battle began, which threatened the crusaders with complete destruction. The knights, clad in heavy metal, had to fight in very close quarters, where it was not even possible to turn around the war horse, which also wore iron armor.

In the battle on spring ice Lake Peipsi, the Russians completely defeated the main forces of the Livonian Order. Only a few brothers managed to find salvation, as they were persistently pursued all the way to the Livonian coast.

The Battle of Lake Peipus, which took place on April 5, 1242, entered the military chronicle of Russia under the name of the Battle of the Ice, so great were the losses of the Livonian Order. According to chronicles, 400 were killed in the battle crusading knights, and 40 were captured. Ordinary Livonian warriors who died in Battle on the Ice, no one counted. After the defeat, the German knighthood immediately asked the Free City for peace and for a long time then they did not dare to try the fortress of the Russian border again. The victory in the Battle of the Ice glorified Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky as a great commander of Rus'.

This battle entered the world military history as an example of the encirclement and defeat of large forces of a heavily armed knightly army of the Middle Ages.

Diplomatic victories

After this, Prince Alexander inflicted a series of defeats on the Lithuanians, whose troops devastated the Novgorod border. With energetic military and diplomatic actions, he strengthened the northwestern borders of Rus', and in 1251 he concluded the first peace treaty with Norway to delimit borders in the North. Made a successful campaign in Finland against the Swedes, who made a new attempt to close the Russians' access to Baltic Sea(1256).

In the conditions of terrible 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. He showed himself to be a cautious and far-sighted politician. He rejected the attempts of the papal curia to cause a war between Rus' and the Golden Horde, since he understood the futility of the war with the Tatars at that time. Through skillful policies he helped prevent the devastating invasions of the Tatars into 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 to the detriment of the influence of the boyars, while at the same time he resolutely suppressed anti-feudal protests (uprising in Novgorod 1259).

On November 14, 1263, on the way back from the Golden Horde, the prince fell ill and died in the Gorodets monastery. But before you complete your life path, he accepted the monastic schema with the name Alexy. His body was to be delivered to Vladimir - this journey lasted nine days, but all this time the body remained incorrupt.

Recognition of merits, veneration and canonization of Alexander Nevsky

Already in the 1280s, the veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a saint began in Vladimir; later he was officially canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexander Nevsky became the first Orthodox secular ruler in Europe who did not compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain power.

With the participation of Metropolitan Kirill and Alexander Nevsky's son Dmitry, a hagiographical story was written - The Life of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, which became increasingly popular over the years (15 editions have survived).

In 1724, Peter I founded a monastery in St. Petersburg in honor of his great compatriot (now the Alexander Nevsky Lavra). He also decided on August 30 - the day of the conclusion of the victorious Peace of Nystadt with Sweden, which became the completion Northern War(1700-1721) - to celebrate the memory of Alexander Nevsky. Then, in 1724, the holy relics of the prince were delivered from Vladimir and installed in the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where they rest to this day.

In 1725, Empress Catherine I established the Order of Alexander Nevsky, one of the highest awards in Russia that existed until 1917.

During the Great Patriotic War in 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.

diletant.ru

The Battle of Neva is a battle on the Neva River, between the Novgorod army under the command of the Novgorod prince Alexander Yaroslavich and the Swedish army, which took place on July 15, 1240.

Battle of the Neva - briefly (review of the article)

Before the battle: 1240, summer - the Swedish flotilla led by Ulf Fasi and the son-in-law of King Eric XI Birger Magnusson entered the mouth of the Neva.

Goal: mastery of the Neva, Ladoga in the lower reaches of the Volkhov, and then Novgorod.

Progress of the battle: 1240, July 15, morning - the Russians suddenly attacked the Swedes. The Swedish army was dismembered by an unexpected attack into several large and small units, which the Novgorodians began to destroy, pressing them to the shore one by one. The Swedes fled to their ships and moved away from the shore, losing more than 200 noble warriors in the battle, and others “innumerable.”

The meaning of the victory: this battle began the struggle of Rus' to maintain access to the sea, very important for the future of the Russian people. The victory prevented the loss of the shores of the Gulf of Finland and prevented the end of trade exchanges with other states, thereby making it easier for the Russian people to fight for the overthrow Tatar-Mongol yoke. She stopped Swedish aggression to the east for a long time and retained access to the Baltic coast for Russia.

And now more details...

Reasons

In the 1230s, a formidable danger from the West loomed over Russia. German crusaders (knights of the Teutonic Order and the Order of the Sword, who united in 1237 in Livonian Order), carrying out widespread forced colonization and Christianization of the Baltic tribes, approached the borders of Rus'. Meanwhile, the Swedes, having subjugated the Finnish tribes Sumy and Em, did not abandon their long-standing claims to the Novgorod lands - the Neva and Ladoga regions. The main organizer of campaigns with the aim of conquering Russian lands was the head catholic church- Pope, who sought to unite the forces of the Order, the bishops of Riga and Dorpat, as well as Sweden and Denmark.

How it all started

The Swedish and German knights took advantage of the fact that after the devastation of North-Eastern Rus' by the Mongols, Novgorod and Pskov had nowhere to expect help, they intensified their expansion in North-Western Rus', counting on an easy victory. The Swedes made the first attempt to conquer Russian lands. 1238 - the Swedish king received a “blessing” from the Pope for crusade; against the Novgorodians. Everyone who agreed to take part in the campaign was promised absolution.

1239 - the Swedes negotiated with the Germans, outlining a campaign plan: the Swedes, who had captured Finland at that time, were to attack Novgorod from the north, from the Neva River, and the Germans - through Izborsk and Pskov. The Swedish government of King Erich Burt allocated an army for the campaign under the command of Jarl (Prince) Ulf Fasi and the royal son-in-law, Birger.

Meanwhile, Alexander, the son of the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, reigned in Novgorod. He was an intelligent, energetic and brave man. Alexander was already known as a skilled politician and understood that the weakened Russian principalities did not have the strength to fight on two fronts. Therefore, the prince tried to maintain peaceful relations with the Tatars, thereby ensuring a safe rear in the event of a fight against German-Swedish aggression.

The Novgorodians knew about the plans of the Swedes, as well as the fact that they boasted of baptizing them, like pagans, into the Latin faith (Catholicism). The Swedes seemed to them more terrible than the Mongols, because they were going to instill an alien faith.

On the eve of the battle

1240, summer - the Swedish army under the command of Birger, “in great strength, puffing with a military spirit,” appeared on the Neva River on ships stationed at the mouth of the river. Izhora. The army included Swedes, Norwegians, and representatives of Finnish tribes, who intended to go straight to Ladoga and from there go down to Novgorod. There were also Catholic bishops in the enemy army; they walked with a cross in one hand and a sword in the other.

Having landed, the Swedes and their allies pitched their tents at the confluence of the Izhora and the Neva. “Bridges were thrown from the moored ships, the Swedish nobility came ashore, including Birger and Ulf Fasi, accompanied by bishops, ... knights landed behind them” (V.T. Pashuto) Birger, without doubting his victory, sent to Prince Alexander with the statement: “If you can resist me, then I’m already here, fighting your land.”

The Novgorod borders were guarded in those days by “watchmen”. They were also on sea ​​coast, where local tribes served. So, in the Neva area, on both banks of the Gulf of Finland, there was a “sea guard” of the Izhorians, who guarded the routes to Novgorod from the sea. The social elite of this small people already owned the land and adopted Christianity. One day at dawn of a July day in 1240, the elder of the Izhora land, Pelgusius, while on patrol, discovered a Swedish flotilla and hastily sent to inform the prince about everything.

Having received news of the enemy's appearance, Alexander decided to attack him unexpectedly. There was no time to organize the army, and convening the meeting would have delayed the matter and could have led to the disruption of the surprise of the impending attack. Therefore, Alexander did not wait until his father’s squads arrived or warriors from the Novgorod volosts gathered. He decided to oppose the Swedes with his squad, strengthening it with Novgorod volunteers. These were no less than three detachments of noble Novgorodians who had their own squads, and a Ladoga detachment.

According to ancient custom, they gathered at St. Sophia, prayed, received a blessing from their ruler Spyridon and set out on a campaign. They walked along the Volkhov to Ladoga, where the Novgorod prince was joined by a detachment of Ladoga residents, contractors of Veliky Novgorod. From Ladoga, Alexander’s army turned left, heading towards the mouth of the river. Izhora.

“Duel between Alexander Nevsky and Birger” (F. Moller 1856)

Progress of the Neva Battle

The Swedish camp, located at the mouth of the Izhora, was not guarded, because the Swedes did not suspect the approach of the Russians. The enemy boats rocked, tied to the shore; all along the coast there were white tents and between them was the golden-topped tent of Birger. 1240, July 15 at 11 o'clock the battle began. The Novgorodians unexpectedly attacked the Swedes. Their attack was so sudden that the Swedes did not have time to “gird their swords around their loins.”

Birger's troops were taken by surprise. Unable to form up for battle, they were unable to provide organized resistance. With a bold onslaught, the Russian squad passed through the enemy camp and drove the Swedes to the shore. The foot militia, moving along the bank of the Neva, not only cut down the bridges connecting the Swedish ships with land, but was even able to capture and destroy three enemy augers.

The Battle of the Neva lasted until evening; By nightfall the opponents dispersed. The Swedes were defeated, and by morning they retreated on the surviving ships and crossed to the other side.

The withdrawal of the remnants of the Swedish army was not prevented. Whether the knightly methods of fighting had an effect here, which made it possible to bury their own during a respite, or the Novgorodians considered further bloodshed in vain, or the prince of Novgorod did not want to risk his army that had suffered losses - none of these explanations should be excluded.

Losses

The losses of the Novgorodians were insignificant, only 20 wealthy warriors (to this number we must add their dead warriors). Whereas the Swedes loaded three ships with the bodies of only the initial people, and left the rest on the shore. In addition, according to the Life, on the other bank of the Neva the next day, the local population discovered many unburied bodies of Swedes.

The meaning of the battle

The victory over the Swedish army was of great political significance. She was able to show all the Russian people that they had not yet lost their former valor and could stand up for their land. The Swedes were unable to cut off Novgorod from the sea or capture the coast of the Neva and the Gulf of Finland. Having repelled the attack of the Swedes from the north, the Russians thwarted the possible interaction of the Swedish and German feudal lords. To combat German aggression, the right flank and rear of this theater of operations were now reliably secured.

In tactical terms, it is necessary to note the role of the “watchman” who discovered the enemy and promptly informed the prince of his appearance. The factor of surprise was important in the attack on Birger’s camp, whose army was taken by surprise and was unable to provide organized resistance. The chronicler noted the extraordinary courage of Russian soldiers. For this victory, Alexander Yaroslavich was nicknamed “Nevsky”. By that time he was only 22 years old.

But the victory in the Battle of the Neva calmed the vigilance of many Novgorodians. Due to the fear of strengthening the role of the prince in Novgorod affairs, intrigues began against Alexander Nevsky on the part of the boyars. The winner of the Swedes had to leave Novgorod for a while and go to his father.

On July 15, 1240, the Battle of the Neva took place - important event in the history of Rus' in the 13th century and fateful for the Orthodox Russian people. The battle between Christian warriors for the holy faith and Catholic ones ended in victory for the former. During the Battle of the Neva River, an attempt to seize Russian lands was prevented, which could have led to the consolidation of the German and Swedish knightly orders on the territory of Rus'.

Battle of the Neva River

Historical sources They do not have information about the exact number of troops on both sides. The message of the first chronicle about the composition of the Novgorod army described them quite briefly:

• princely detachment;
• Ladoga detachment;
• 3 detachments of noble Novgorodians who had their own squads.

Location and number of troops

In the same summer of 1240, three strong Western European countries came together to attack Russian lands: Sweden, Germany and Denmark.

Taking advantage of the fact that after the devastation by the Tatars North-Eastern Rus', the devastated Novgorod and Pskov principalities had nowhere to wait for help, and the invaders counted on an easy victory.

Swedish troops took upon themselves to strike Novgorod from the sea across the Neva River, and German knights began to strike from land - through Izborsk and Pskov.

If successful, the Swedish knightly order hoped to capture the banks of the Neva - the only access to the sea - in order to take control of the foreign trade of Novgorod, which was a section of the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” and also made big plans for the final conquest of Finland.

As leader of the Swedish army performed by Birger Magnusson- a descendant of the noble Folkung family and son-in-law of the Swedish king.

Progress of the battle

At that time, the second son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander, reigned in the city of Novgorod, who was only 20 years old at the time of the Battle of the Neva. Alexander was distinguished by bold, tactical decisions, military valor and a great desire to protect and save his people from the misfortune that was coming upon them in the form of the German Order of Knighthood.

According to a few sources and chronicles Swedish troops, a week before the battle arrived at the mouth of Izhora. The army also included Catholic bishops, Norwegians (Murmans) and representatives of Finnish tribes (Em and Sumy) led by Birger Magnusson. Having landed on the shore in the area where the Izhora River flows into the Neva, the Swedes and their allies pitched their tents.

Residents of the Izhora land reported to Alexander Yaroslavich about the arrival of the enemy flotilla.

Prince Alexander made a decision don't wait for reinforcements, to suddenly attack the enemy, for this he hastily began to assemble his own squad for the campaign. Novgorod and Ladoga militias also joined the prince’s army.

Alexander and his army received a blessing for the campaign from Novgorod Archbishop Spyridon in the Hagia Sophia.

The path of the Russian soldiers lay on boats along the Volkhov River to Ladoga, and then to the mouth of Izhora. Along the way, the Ladoga local residents, on foot and on horseback, joined Prince Alexander’s detachment.

Early on the morning of Sunday, July 15, 1240, taking advantage of the fog, the detachment secretly approached the enemy. The Swedes did not think about the possibility of an attack on them, so they could not provide full resistance.

Russian cavalry with spears attacked the center of the camp, and foot militia armed with swords struck from the flanks, capturing three ships.

During the entire battle, the Russian army had the initiative, destroyed several enemy ships, and Prince Alexander himself personally hit Magnusson Birger in the face with a spear, after which the army of knights was left without a leader.

The battle continued until late in the evening and ended with the complete victory of the Novgorodians. The Russian soldiers did not interfere with the escape of the knights, who by morning retreated to the surviving ships and sailed to Sweden.

The losses of the Russian detachment amounted to only 20 militiamen, while the Swedes, according to the First Novgorod Chronicle, lost almost their entire army, with the exception of several dozen people.

Result of the battle

Having won the victory, the young Prince Alexander and his retinue returned to Novgorod to the sound of bells, and among the people he earned the glorious nickname Nevsky.

Alexander Nevsky was canonized in 1547 like a holy noble prince. Orthodox rulers who dedicated their lives to the preservation and spread of the Christian faith are counted among this rank of saints.

The victory on July 15, 1240 over foreign opponents, although not the largest in Russian history, played an important role in preserving the Russian state. On the banks of the Neva River, the movement was repulsed for the first time Western peoples to Orthodox eastern lands to Holy Rus'.