Alexander Yaroslavovich, Prince of Novgorod: biography

Prince Alexander Nevsky is a Russian commander, canonized by the Orthodox Church. He was initiated into warriors in 1225 in the Spassko-Preobrazhensky cathedral in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.

Biography of Nevsky (briefly)

The future great military commander was born on May 13, 1221. Alexander was the second son of Pereiaslav prince Yaroslav and the Toropets princess Rostislav Mstislavny. In 1228, together with his brother, Fyodor was left with an army that was going to Riga. The princes were under the supervision of Tiny Yakimov and Boyar Fyodor Danilovich in Novgorod. In February 1229, together with their young brothers, they fled the city during the famine, fearing the massacre of local residents. In 1230, Yaroslav was called to the Novgorod Republic . After spending 2 weeks in the city, he placed on the throne of his young sons. However, after 3 years, the 13-year-old Fyodor passed away. In November 1232, Pope Gregory IX began the Crusade against Russian and Finnish pagans. In 1234 the Battle of Omowz was held. The battle ended with the victory of the Russians. In 1236, Yaroslav went from Novgorod to Kiev. From there, 2 years later he left for Vladimir. Since that time, the independent life of Alexander began.

The situation in the state

In 1238, during the Mongol invasion of North-Eastern Russia, Yuri Vladimirsky was waiting for the regiment of brothers Svyatoslav and Yaroslav. However, in the sources there is no information about the participation of Novgorodians in the battle on the river. City. Probably, at that time the republic adopted the position of "military neutrality". The Mongols took Torzhok after a 2-week siege, but decided not to go further. As far back as 1236-1237. The neighbors of the Novgorod Republic clashed with each other. 200 Pskovians participated in the battle of the Order of the Sword-bearers against Lithuania. It ended in a battle with Saul. As a result, the remains of the swordsmen were attached to the Teutonic Order. In 1237, Gregory IX announced the second Crusade against Finland, and in 1238, in June, King Waldemar II, along with the master of the united order Herman Balk, agreed to divide Estonia and go to Russia in the Baltic with the participation of the Swedes. In 1239 after the battles for Smolensk in the life of the Russian state Alexander Yaroslavovich began to actively participate. The prince built several fortifications along the river. Sheloni south-west of the city. At the same time, he married his daughter Bryachislav Polotsky. The wedding took place in the church of St. George in Toropets. In Novgorod in 1240 the firstborn of Alexander was born. He was given the name of Basil.

Reflecting attacks from the west

In July 1240 the Swedish fleet with several bishops entered the Neva. The plans of the attackers involved the capture of Ladoga. Already on July 15, the battle took place, victory in which won Alexander Yaroslavovich. The prince, having learned of the arrival of the invaders from the elders, without asking for help from Vladimir, without collecting full militia with his squad, attacked the Swedes' camp at Izhora. In August from the south-west began the offensive of the Order. The Germans captured Izborsk, defeating 800 Pskovians who came to the rescue. Then they besieged Pskov. The city gate was opened by the boyars - supporters of the Germans. In 1240-1241, in winter, the Novgorodians drove Alexander to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. However, after a while they had to send him back to his father. The Germans took Koporye and the land of the warriors, and approached the city for 30 miles. Yaroslav tried to leave Alexander with him. He sent Andrew to the townspeople. However, the Novgorodians insisted that Alexander be sent. In 1241, he cleared the outskirts of the city from the attackers. In 1242, after waiting for reinforcements led by Andrew, the prince of Novgorod took Pskov.

Battle on the Ice

The Germans gathered at St. George's. Alexander Yaroslavovich went there too. The prince, however, was forced to retreat to the Peipsi Lake. Here was the decisive battle with the knights. The battle took place on April 5. The Crusaders struck a powerful blow at the center of the battle formation, which was built by Alexander Yaroslavovich. The prince in response to this sent flank cavalry, which decided the outcome of the battle. According to the chronicles, 7 miles of Russians drove the Germans on the ice. After this, peace was concluded. Under its conditions, the Order refused from its recent conquests, conceded part of Latgale.

The Lithuanian campaign of Alexander Nevsky

In 1245, the army, led by Mindovg, attacked Bezhetsk and Torzhok. The prince of Novgorod approached him. After killing more than 8 governors, he took Toropets. After that, he sent the Novgorod warriors home. He himself stayed and drove out the forces of the court and defeated the army of the Lithuanians at the lake of Zhizhitsk. After that he went home. On the way, Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich of Novgorod defeated another detachment, stationed at Usvyat. In 1246, his father was summoned to the Karakoram, where he was poisoned. Almost at the same time with this event in the Horde died, Chernigov, who refused to pagan rite.

last years of life

In 1262 in Vladimir, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl, Rostov and a number of other cities there was an uprising against the Horde. In the course of it, the Tatars, the tax-farmers, were killed. Khan Berke requested a military set from the Russians to repel the attack from Hulagu (ilham of Iran). Prince Alexander Nevsky went to the Horde to dissuade the ruler from this. The trip dragged on for almost a year. In the Horde, Prince Alexander Nevsky fell ill. However, he still managed to reassure the khan. Being already sick, he went back to Russia. At home, he adopted the schema and began to be called Alex. November 14, 1963, he passed away. First Alexander Nevsky was buried in Vladimir in the Nativity Monastery. By order of Peter 1 in 1724, his relics were transferred to St. Petersburg.

Board estimates

As a result of a large-scale public poll of Russians, held in 2008, Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky became the "name of Russia." But in historical publications there are various estimates of his activities. You can even meet and directly opposite views on the personality of the prince. For centuries, it was believed that his role in history was extremely significant. Rus experienced a troubled time - on the ground they tried to attack from three sides. Alexander Nevsky was seen as the ancestor of the branch of the Moscow kings, he was regarded as the patron of the Orthodox Church. However, the canonization of it over time began to cause objections. Some authors have tried to prove that Nevsky was a traitor, became a gunner of the Tatars on the Russian land. In a number of publications one can find an opinion even that it was glorified and canonized, it was undeservedly. However, there is no specific and clear evidence for these words.

Canonical estimate

Nevsky considered as a kind of golden legend of Russia in the Middle Ages. He did not lose a single battle in his life. Alexander showed the talents of a diplomat and commander, he made peace with the strongest, but at the same time the most tolerant enemy of Russia - the Horde. He was able to repel attacks by Western adversaries, defending Orthodoxy from Catholics. This evaluation of activities was officially supported by both pre-revolutionary and Soviet authorities. Idealization of Nevsky entered the zenith before WWII, during it, and also in the first decades after its completion.

The Eurasian assessment

L. Gumilev saw in Alexander the architect of Russian-Horde relations. In the opinion of the author, in 1251 the commander came to Batu, became friends, and after a while he fellowship with the son of Khan Sartak. In 1251, Alexander led the Tatar corps, headed by neuroy Nevryu. Thanks to the diplomatic talents of the commander, it was possible to establish friendly relations not only with Batu and his son, but also with Berke's successor. All this contributed to an active and peaceful synthesis of the Mongol-Tatar and East Slavic cultures.

Conclusion

Of course, the role of Nevsky in the history of medieval Rus is exceptionally great. Indeed, the commander did not lose any of his battles. He enjoyed the love of the clergy, the respect of his neighbors. Alexander worked closely with Metropolitan Kirill. The commander came to look from the west. One knight later said that in none of the countries he visited, he had never seen such a person as Nevsky, either in princes or in kings. A similar opinion on some of the evidences was given by Batu himself. In some chronicles, there is evidence that Tatar women named Alexander scared their children. The commander provided reliable protection of the state borders from raids from the east and west. For his famous feats for the glory of the Russian land, he became the most outstanding historical person of ancient history from Vladimir Monomakh to Dmitry Donskoy. The relics of the commander are kept by the order of Peter the Great in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (since 1797 - the Lavra).