Alexander Nevsky, whose biography is presented in this article, was the Prince of Novgorod in the period from 1236 to 1251, and from 1252 - the Grand Duke of Vladimir. He was presumably born in 1221, and died in 1263. The son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, a Russian prince, was Alexander Nevsky. His biography in a nutshell is as follows. He secured Rus' and its western borders with victories over the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva in 1240, as well as over the knights of the Livonian Order in 1242 (Battle of the Ice). Alexander Nevsky was canonized by the Orthodox Church. Read more about these and other events below.
Origin of Alexander, beginning of reign
The future prince was born into the family of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Feodosia, daughter of Mstislav the Udal. He is the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest. The first information about the future prince dates back to 1228. Then in Novgorod, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich came into conflict with the townspeople and was forced to go to his ancestral inheritance, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Despite the forced departure, this prince left two sons in the care of the boyars in Novgorod. These were Fedor and Alexander Nevsky. The latter’s biography was marked by important events precisely after the death of his older brother, Fedor. Then Alexander becomes his father's heir. He was put in charge of the Novgorod reign in 1236. Three years later, in 1239, Prince Alexander Nevsky married Alexandra Bryachislavna.
His short biography for this period is as follows. In the first years of his reign, Alexander Nevsky had to strengthen Novgorod, since the Mongol-Tatars threatened the city from the east. He built several fortresses on the Sheloni River.
Victory on the Neva
The young prince gained universal fame from the victory he won over a Swedish detachment on the banks of the Neva River, at the mouth of Izhora, in 1240 on July 15. According to legend, it was commanded by Jar Birger, the future ruler of Sweden, although this campaign is not mentioned in the chronicle dating back to the 14th century. Alexander personally took part in the battle. It is believed that the prince began to be called Nevsky precisely because of this victory, although this nickname was first found only in sources of the 14th century. It was known that some of the princely descendants bore the nickname Nevsky. It is possible that this secured their possessions in the area. That is, there is a possibility that Prince Alexander was awarded this nickname not only for the victory on the Neva. The Nevskys, whose biography has not been fully studied, may have simply passed on this nickname to their descendant. It is traditionally believed that the battle that took place in 1240 preserved the shores of the Gulf of Finland for Russia and stopped the Swedish aggression aimed at the Pskov and Novgorod lands.
Events leading up to the Battle of the Ice
Due to another conflict, upon returning from the banks of the Neva, Alexander was forced to leave Novgorod for Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, an enemy threat from the west loomed over the city. Having gathered German crusaders in the Baltic states, as well as Danish knights in Reval, the Livonian Order, enlisting the support of the Pskovites, longtime rivals of the Novgorodians, as well as the papal curia, invaded the territory of the Novgorod lands.
An embassy with a request for help was sent from Novgorod to Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In response, he provided an armed detachment, headed by Andrei Yaroslavich, his son. He was soon replaced by Alexander Nevsky, whose biography interests us. He liberated the Vodskaya land and Koporye, occupied by the knights, after which he drove the German garrison out of Pskov. The Novgorodians, inspired by their successes, invaded the lands of the Livonian Order and began to destroy the settlements of the crusaders' tributaries, the Estonians. The knights who left Riga destroyed the regiment of Domash Tverdislavich, which was considered the forefront of the Russians, forcing Alexander Nevsky to withdraw his troops to the border of the Livonian Order. At that time it was passing through Lake Peipsi. After this, both sides began to prepare for the decisive battle.
The Battle of the Ice and the defeat of the Lithuanian troops
The decisive battle took place at the Crow Stone, on the ice of Lake Peipsi, in 1242 on April 5. This battle went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. The German knights were defeated. The Livonian Order was faced with the need to make peace. Under the terms of the truce, the crusaders had to renounce their claims to Russian lands, transferring part of Latgale to Rus'.
After this, Alexander Nevsky began to fight against the Lithuanian troops. His biography at this time can be briefly presented as follows. In the summer of the same year (1242) he defeated seven Lithuanian detachments that were attacking Russian lands in the north-west. After this, Alexander recaptured Toropets, which was captured by Lithuania, in 1245, destroyed a Lithuanian detachment at Lake Zhitsa, and finally defeated the Lithuanian militia near Usvyat.
Alexander and the Horde
Alexander’s successful actions ensured the security of the Russian borders in the west for a long time, but in the east the princes had to be defeated by the Mongol-Tatars.
Khan Batu, ruler of the Golden Horde, in 1243 handed the label for the management of the Russian lands, conquered by them, to Alexander's father. Guyuk, the great Mongol Khan, summoned him to Karakorum, his capital, where in 1246, on September 30, Yaroslav died unexpectedly. He was poisoned, according to the generally accepted version. Then his sons, Andrei and Alexander, were summoned to Karakorum. While they were getting to Mongolia, Khan Guyuk himself died, and Khansha Ogul-Gamish, the new mistress of the capital, decided to make Andrei the Grand Duke. Alexander Nevsky (the prince whose biography interests us) received control only of Kyiv and devastated southern Rus'.
Alexander refuses to accept the Catholic faith
The brothers were only able to return to their homeland in 1249. Prince Alexander Nevsky did not go to his new possessions. A short biography of his subsequent years is as follows. He headed to Novgorod, where he became seriously ill. Innocent IV, the Pope, sent an embassy to him around this time with an offer to convert to the Catholic faith, offering in exchange his help in the fight against the Mongols. However, Alexander categorically refused.
Ogul-Gamish in Karakorum was overthrown by Khan Mengke (Mongke) in 1252. Batu, taking advantage of this circumstance to remove Andrei Yaroslavich from the great reign, presented Alexander Nevsky with the label of Grand Duke. Alexander was urgently summoned to Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde. However, Andrei, supported by Yaroslav, his brother, as well as the Galician prince Daniil Romanovich, refused to submit to the decision of Batu Khan.
He, in order to punish the disobedient princes, sent a Mongol detachment, commanded by Nevryu (the so-called “Nevryu’s army”), or Batu. As a result of this, Yaroslav and Andrei fled from North-Eastern Rus'.
Alexander restores his son's rights
Yaroslav Yaroslavovich later, in 1253, was invited to Pskov to reign, and then to Novgorod (in 1255). At the same time, the Novgorodians expelled Vasily, their former prince, who was the son of Alexander Nevsky. However, Alexander, having imprisoned him again in Novgorod, severely punished his warriors, who failed to protect the rights of their son. They were all blinded.
Alexander suppresses the uprising in Novgorod
The glorious biography of Alexander Nevsky continues. Summary events related to the uprising in Novgorod are as follows. Khan Berke, the new ruler of the Golden Horde, introduced in Rus' in 1255 a system of tribute, common to all conquered lands. In Novgorod in 1257, as in other cities, “counters” were sent in order to carry out a population census. This outraged the Novgorodians, who were supported by Prince Vasily. An uprising began in the city, which lasted more than a year and a half. Alexander Nevsky personally restored order and ordered the execution of the most active participants in these unrest. Vasily Alexandrovich was also captured and taken into custody. Novgorod turned out to be broken, which was forced to obey the order and begin paying tribute to the Golden Horde. Dmitry Alexandrovich became the new governor in the city in 1259.
Death of Alexander Nevsky
Unrest broke out in Suzdal cities in 1262. Here the Khan's Baskaks were killed, and the Tatar merchants were expelled from here. In order to soften the anger of Khan Berke, Alexander decided to personally go to the Horde with gifts. All winter and summer the prince was kept by the Khan's side. Only in the fall was Alexander able to return to Vladimir. On the way, he fell ill and died in Gorodets in 1263, on November 14. The biography of Alexander Nevsky ends with this date. We tried to describe its brief content as succinctly as possible. His body was buried in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vladimir.
Canonization of Alexander Nevsky
This prince, in the conditions that brought terrible trials to the lands of Rus', was able to find the strength to resist the conquerors from the west, thereby gaining the glory of a great commander. Thanks to him, the foundations for interaction with the Golden Horde were also laid.
In Vladimir, already in the 1280s, the veneration of this man as a saint began. Prince Alexander Nevsky was officially canonized a little later. His short biography, compiled by us, mentions that he refused the offer of Innocent IV. And this is an important detail. Alexander Nevsky is the only secular Orthodox ruler in all of Europe who, in order to maintain his power, did not compromise with Catholics. His life story was written with the participation of Dmitry Alexandrovich, his son, as well as Metropolitan Kirill. It became widespread in Rus' (15 editions have reached us).
Monastery and orders in honor of Alexander
The monastery in honor of Alexander was founded in St. Petersburg by Peter I in 1724. Now it is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The remains of the prince were transported there. Peter I also ordered to honor the memory of this man on August 30, the day of peace with Sweden. Catherine I founded the Order of Alexander Nevsky in 1725.
This award existed until 1917 as one of the highest in Russia. The Soviet order named after him was established in 1942.
This is how Prince Alexander Nevsky was immortalized in our country, short biography which was presented to you.
This man is an important figure in Russian history, so we meet him for the first time back in school years. The biography of Alexander Nevsky for children, however, notes only the most basic points. In this article, his life is examined in more detail, which allows us to get a more complete picture of this prince. Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich, whose biography we have described, fully deserves his fame.
Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky is a prince who occupies a special place in Russian history. IN ancient Russian history he is the most popular character. The description of Alexander Nevsky suggests that he was a defender of the Fatherland, a fearless knight who dedicated his life to his homeland.
Alexander was born on May 30, 1219 in Pereyaslavl. His father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, was a fair and believing prince. Almost nothing is known about Princess Feodosia Mstislavna - his mother. According to some chronicles, we can say that she was a quiet and submissive woman. These chronicles give a description of Alexander Nevsky: he was dexterous, strong and resilient, and he mastered the sciences very early. His character traits are also described in the story “The Life of Alexander Nevsky.”
Borisov N.S.’s book “Russian Commanders” describes Alexander Nevsky from early childhood. The author used many quotes from ancient historical sources, which makes it possible to feel the spirit of that era.
In 1228, the first information about Alexander appeared. Then Yaroslav Vsevolodovich was a prince in Novgorod. He had a conflict with the residents of the city, and he was forced to move to his native Pereyaslavl. But in Novgorod he left two sons, Fyodor and Alexander, in the care of trusted boyars. Son Fedor died, Alexander became the Prince of Novgorod in 1236, and in 1239 he married Alexandra Bryachislavna, the Polotsk princess.
During the first years of his reign, Nevsky fortified Novgorod, because he was threatened by the Mongol-Tatars from the east. Several fortresses were built on the Sheloni River.
Alexander's victory at the mouth on July 15, 1240 over a Swedish detachment brought great glory to Alexander. He personally participated in this battle. It is believed that it was because of this victory that the Grand Duke began to be called Nevsky.
When Alexander Nevsky returned from the banks of the Neva due to the conflict, he had to leave Novgorod and return to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. At that time, Novgorod was under threat from the west. gathered German crusaders from the Baltic states, and Danish knights from Revel, and attacked the lands of Novgorod.
I received an embassy from Novgorod asking for help. He sent an armed detachment to Novgorod led by his son Andrei Yaroslavovich, who was later replaced by Alexander. He liberated Koporye and Vodskaya land, occupied by the knights, and then drove the German garrison out of Pskov. The Novgorodians, inspired by these successes, broke into the territory of the Livonian Order and ravaged the settlement of the Estonians and tributary crusaders. After this, knights left Riga, destroyed the Russian regiment of Doman Tverdoslavich and forced Alexander Nevsky to withdraw troops to the border of the Livonian Order. The two sides began to prepare for the decisive battle.
On April 5, 1242, the decisive battle began, which took place near the Crow Stone on the ice. This battle in history is called the Battle of the Ice. As a result of the battle, the German knights were defeated. The Livonian Order had to make peace: the crusaders renounced Russian land and transferred part of Latgale.
In 1246, Alexander and his brother Andrei visited the Horde at the insistence of Batu. Then they went to Mongolia, where the new Khansha Ogul Gamish declared Andrei the Grand Duke, and gave Alexander Southern Rus', but he refused and left for Novgorod.
In 1252, he visited Mongke Khan in Mongolia and received permission to reign as a great ruler. Over the next years, he fights to maintain conciliatory relations with the Horde.
In 1262, Alexander made his fourth trip to the Horde, during which he managed to “beg” the Russians so that they would not participate in the Mongol campaigns of conquest. But during the return journey he fell ill and died on November 14, 1268 in Gorodets.
In honor of Alexander Nevsky, Peter I founded a monastery in St. Petersburg in 1724 (today it is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra). And during the years of the Great Patriotic War The Soviet Union was established and was awarded to brave commanders.
A brilliant commander, a talented diplomat and a skillful politician - all these are characteristics of Alexander Nevsky, who will forever remain immortal in the hearts of the Russian people.
Born on May 13, 1221 in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. He was the son of the Pereyaslavl prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In 1225, according to the decision of his father, initiation into warriors took place in Nevsky’s biography.
In 1228, together with his older brother, he was transported to Novgorod, where they became princes of the Novgorod lands. In 1236, after the departure of Yaroslav, he began to independently defend the lands from the Swedes, Livonians, and Lithuanians.
Personal life
In 1239, Alexander married the daughter of Bryachislav of Polotsk, Alexandra. They had five children - sons: Vasily (1245 - 1271, Prince of Novgorod), Dmitry (1250 - 1294, Prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslavl, Vladimir), Andrey (1255 - 1304, Prince of Kostroma, Vladimir, Novgorod, Gorodets), Daniil ( 1261 – 1303, Moscow prince), as well as daughter Evdokia.
Military activities
The biography of Alexander Nevsky is significant big amount many victories. So, in July 1240, the famous Battle of the Neva took place, when Alexander attacked the Swedes on the Neva and won. It was after this battle that the prince received the honorary nickname “Nevsky”.
When the Livonians took Pskov, Tesov, and approached Novgorod, Alexander again defeated the enemies. After this, he attacked the Livonians (German knights) on April 5, 1242 and also won a victory (the famous Battle of the Ice on Lake Peipsi).
After the death of his father in 1247, Alexander took over Kyiv and “The Whole Russian Land.” Kyiv at that time was devastated by the Tatars, and Nevsky decided to stay and live in Novgorod.
The prince repelled enemy attacks for 6 years. Then he left Novgorod for Vladimir and began to reign there. At the same time, wars with our western neighbors continued. The prince was assisted in his military campaigns by his sons, Vasily and Dmitry.
Death and legacy
Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets and was buried in the Nativity Monastery in the city of Vladimir. By order of Peter I, his relics were transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (St. Petersburg) in 1724.
Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky plays an exceptional role in the history of Rus'. For all my life Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky did not lose a single battle. He was considered the favorite prince of the clergy, the patron of the Orthodox Church. He can be briefly described as a talented diplomat, a commander who was able to protect Rus' from many enemies, as well as prevent the campaigns of the Mongol-Tatars.
Nowadays, streets and squares are named after him, monuments have been erected in his honor, and Orthodox churches have been erected in many cities of Russia.
Other biography options
- The future Grand Duke was born on May 13, 1221. This significant event took place in the family of the Pereyaslavl prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and his wife, the Toropets princess Rostislava Mstislavovna. Alexander was born the second of ten children.
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The name of this man sounded quite loudly in the history of Rus'. Alexander Nevsky was a politician and diplomat, but his contemporaries considered him more of a commander, thanks to the famous battles in which victories were won.
What was the fate and personality of this man, and what did he become famous for over the generations? Let's talk about the biography of the Grand Duke.
The boy was born into the family of the Pereyaslavl prince and Toropets princess - Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Rostislava Mstislavna.
The father ruled first in Pereyaslavl itself, then became the head of one of the richest cities of Rus' at that time - Novgorod, and even later took the throne of Kyiv.
Observing what his father did during his life, Alexander Nevsky learned diplomacy from him, and very early this science had to be applied.
The future famous commander had eight brothers and two sisters. The future ruler was second in seniority and was born on May 30, 1221 in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Already at the age of four, the father christened his eldest sons, Alexander and Fedor, warriors, with the help of tonsure. Around the same time, boys began to be taught military training.
History of government
The life of Alexander Nevsky was glorified by the rule of various regions of Rus', and then by the Kyiv throne. The chronology of the reign is as follows:
- In 1228, at the age of seven, he was left by his father to reign together with his older brother Fyodor in Novgorod, under the supervision of the boyar Fyodor Danilovich. Despite the nominal nature of such power, within a year the local population forced the princes to flee from the land of this region under threat of death.
- In 1230, Yaroslav restored his power in Novgorod, and in 1236 he left to rule in Kyiv. The young prince, not yet nicknamed Nevsky, becomes the head of the city for four years. A few months after the victory on the Neva, he is expelled by local boyars.
- Over the next year, the region is besieged by the Germans, and the Novgorodians demand that Yaroslav return the young commander to the city. After some thought, Yaroslav finally decides to send his second son there, although according to his original plan, Andrei was supposed to defend Novgorod. This time Alexander will remain Prince of Novgorod until 1252. During this period, the mystery of why Alexander Nevsky was named this way will be revealed.
- In 1246 he became also the Prince of Pereslavl-Zalessky.
- In 1249, by order of the Mongol Khan, he became the Prince of Kyiv, despite disputes with his brother Andrei.
- In 1252, after a punitive campaign Mongol troops In Rus', Kyiv loses its importance, and Alexander begins to reign in Vladimir.
- In 1957, he again ascended the throne of Novgorod to force the region to carry out a population census and pay tribute to the horde. In 1259 he succeeds and leaves the city.
In 1962, an uprising of the people takes place on Russian soil, killing Mongolian subjects who were collecting tribute from them. Khan Berke, sensing a threat from his neighbor, plans to recruit soldiers in the controlled Slavic territories. At this time, Alexander goes to the horde, planning to dissuade the khan from this idea.
Monument to Alexander Nevsky
Having stayed there for a whole year, the prince calmed the khan and dissuaded him from such a campaign. At the same time, the strong-willed character of Prince Alexander Nevsky does not save him from illness, and the ruler returns to his homeland already quite weakened. In 1263, on November 14, the ruler dies, having previously accepted the schema.
Interesting to know! Schema is an Orthodox oath, which implies a person’s renunciation of worldly affairs and complete obedience and closeness to God. People who have accepted the great schema are freed from all work and responsibilities, positions and power, and are obliged to minimize contact with other people, even with ministers of the Orthodox faith.
There are two options according to which Alexander Nevsky could have died either in Gorodets Volzhsky or in Gorodets Meshchersky. The exact place of Alexander’s death has not yet been established.
The prince was buried in the Nativity Monastery, but during the reign of Peter I his remains were transported to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.
Great Battles
Prince Alexander Nevsky is a commander who never lost a single battle in his entire life. At the same time, there are two major victories that everyone who is even slightly familiar with the history of the Russian land knows about.
Battle of Neva
At the beginning of the 13th century, the peoples of the Baltic, Swedish, Karelian and Finnish tribes, whose territories were located nearby, constantly carried out mutual raids on each other for the purpose of robbery.
At this time, Sweden tried to impose its faith on the surrounding region and made attempts to seize power, especially on the economically significant banks of the Neva.
Against this background, in July 1240, the Swedes landed from ships at the place where Izhora flows into the Neva. The watchmen who noticed this hastened to report the information to Alexander, who immediately moved towards the enemy.
According to the chronicles, he did not ask for reinforcements from his father, Prince Yaroslav, but went with a small squad that was within walking distance. On the way, they were joined by part of the garrison from the fortress on Ladoga.
The army, quickly moving on horseback, quickly overtook the Swedes and, thanks to the valor of the warriors themselves, defeated the Swedes, who had not yet managed to gain a foothold on the ground.
According to ancient sources, Alexander personally struck the leader of the Swedish army, Earl Birger, leaving a noticeable scar on his face from his spear.
After this battle, legends began to be composed about Alexander Nevsky with precisely this epithet. The commander received it after his brilliant victory on the Neva, in which he showed himself to be a talented commander and a brave warrior.
Battle on the Ice
After being declared by the Pope in 1237 crusade In Finland, a year later, the Danish king and the head of the Teutonic Order decided to begin military operations on the territory of Rus'.
After the defeat of the Swedes in 1940, the same year the united army entered the lands of the Novgorod principality.
At the same time, the boyars of this rather rich region managed to drive out Nevsky Alexander.
The invader’s army quite easily took Izborsk, besieged it and eventually took Pskov in a week, then Koporye and the lands of the leaders, coming very close to Novgorod. Influential boyars asked Yaroslav for help. He, in turn, wanted to send Andrei to command the army, but the Novgorodians specifically requested Alexander.
Arriving in Novgorod in 1241, the prince took Koporye, demonstratively killed the garrison, and executed prisoners from among the Chud people. In 1242, having waited for the arrival of Andrei with the princely army, he recaptured Pskov. As a result, enemy forces were concentrated in the Dorpat bishopric.
There, the commander lost several advanced detachments during the assault, but quickly retreated to the ice of Lake Peipsi, forcing the enemy to attack on his own. The character of Alexander Nevsky allowed him to withstand a frontal attack calmly and let the enemy get close enough.
The forces of the Catholic army crashed into the ranks of the Slavs in a special formation - a pig, immediately moving significantly deeper. At this time, Prince Alexander's cavalry attacked from the flanks, blocking the retreat routes. Finding themselves in a ring, the army lost many soldiers, the rest began to retreat across the ice of Lake Peipsi.
It is noteworthy that not a single chronicle, even briefly, mentions that the warriors of the order and the Danish king drowned and fell under the ice. Mentions of this appear in much later sources, written by chroniclers following the example of other battles.
Politics with West and East
Nevsky's policies still cause a lot of controversy and doubt. On the one hand, Alexander courageously fought against the Western invaders who tried to impose Catholicism on the population of Rus', eradicating Orthodoxy with fire and sword.
Interesting Facts:
- At the moment, Western historians believe that the threat from the Teutonic Order and leadership catholic church was greatly exaggerated.
- Some Russian historians support pro-Western sentiments, while others adhere to the history traditional for the Slavic region.
- Russians also position Nevsky as a great personality Orthodox Church, who considers him a defender of the faith.
- In 2008, Russians elected him man of the year and a symbol of their people.
On the other hand, Alexander Nevsky spent his whole life looking for a compromise with the Tatar-Mongol horde and suppressed any attempts to rebel against, convincing the population to pay tribute and conduct censuses.
The prince repeatedly went to the horde, bowing to Batu, despite the fact that he poisoned his father and, as a result of the uprising, destroyed his brother.
Icon in honor of Alexander Nevsky
The time in which this man ruled was truly difficult - the triple threat of Rus', constant raids and conquests, the influence of the Tatar-Mongol yoke - all this tore and destroyed Rus' from the inside. Prince's figure politically can be viewed from two angles:
- Defender of the Orthodox land, who realized that it was impossible to repel the attacks of all the enemy at once and chose to preserve his faith, and not his territory, fighting off Catholicism and submitting to the horde.
- A traitor to the Russian land, who with the help of the horde strengthened his power, got rid of his brother-heir to the throne and began to rule the Principality of Kyiv.
This personality can be viewed in different ways, but this man managed to maintain the integrity of the state, repel multiple raids and stabilize the situation within the country.
Wikipedia mentions the dual perception by some historians of the personality of Prince Nevsky, but no one at the state level managed to make changes to the traditional history of Rus'.
Some people even doubt the answer to the question of why Alexander Nevsky was named that way - some historians believe that such a battle did not exist at all.
Character and personality description
The years of Nevsky's life are known thanks to his biography, which was written only a hundred years after his death, in the monastery in which the prince himself was buried.
Before this, only a short biography of the prince was passed on from mouth to mouth.
He was a strong-willed man with a tough, military-like character, was capable of well-thought-out adventures, and was actively developing politically.
All his life, the character of Alexander Nevsky was hated by the Novgorod boyars, since he ruled the principality harshly and at his own discretion, not wanting to please the political elites. For this he was repeatedly expelled from Novgorod.
Nevsky's contemporaries, despite all his merits, considered him first of all a great commander, and only then a leader or politician. This is clearly evidenced by the boyars’ request to Yaroslav that he send him specifically to protect the Novgorod lands from the Teutonic Order.
The prince at an early age married Alexandra, the daughter of the prince of Vitebsk and Polotsk Bryacheslav. Later there is evidence that he was married to a certain Vassa, but there are opinions that this is the same woman, just under a church name.
Interesting! The prince and his wife had five children - four boys and one girl. All of them lived relatively long lives and were princes of various regions in Rus'. The daughter married the appanage prince of Smolensk Konstantin Rostislavovich.
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Let's sum it up
The bright historical personality of Alexander left an imprint on the history of the Slavic region. There is a lot of controversy about him, which in turn only confirms the importance of this figure.
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Alexander Nevsky, whose brief biography is presented in this article, was not only a Grand Duke, but also a famous commander, whose merits are still revered. Indeed, thanks to his victories in such battles as the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice, our country not only remained independent, but also asserted itself among other states.
For his exploits before the Fatherland and his strong Orthodox faith, Alexander Nevsky was glorified among the saints as the Holy Blessed Prince.
Brief biography of Alexander Yaroslavich
Alexander Nevsky was born on May 13, 1221 into the family Prince of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Rostislava Mstislavovna. He was the second of nine children. Until the age of nine, the prince lived in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and 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 into the Catholic faith, and give the conquered territories to the families of the knights of the Order.
Just at this time, 17-year-old Alexander Nevsky was able to establish himself as a wise ruler and a good commander, setting up several defensive points on the Sheloni River and entering into an unequal battle with the crusaders.
Grand Duke's parents
The father of Alexander Nevsky was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who reigned in Vladimir. His grandfather was Vsevolod the Big Nest, and his great-grandfather was Yuri Dolgoruky, who also went down in history as great figures of Rus'.
Alexander Nevsky's father, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich
Nothing more is known about the boy’s mother, except that she was of a princely family. Some sources say that she was the daughter of Mstislav the Udal (Lucky) - one of the famous warriors and princes of that time.
Marriage of Alexander Yaroslavich
In 1239, in Toropets, the prince married Alexandra, the daughter of the Prince of Polotsk. They had 5 children - 4 sons and 1 daughter.
Children of Alexander Nevsky
The exact dates of birth of the sons of Alexander Nevsky are unknown. The eldest son Vasily was presumably born before 1245. He inherited the Novgorod inheritance.
The next son of Prince Dmitry was born in 1250. He was the ruler of Novgorod, Pereslavl and Vladimir. Andrey (1255) was the ruler of the Kostroma, Vladimir and Novgorod principalities after the death of his older brothers.
The most famous of his children was his youngest son, Daniel, who was nicknamed the first collector of lands around Moscow and the first Moscow prince.
Nevsky's daughter Evdokia married Prince Konstantin Rostislavich, who ruled in Smolensk.
Who did Alexander Nevsky fight with?
During his short but glorious life, Alexander Nevsky was able to achieve many important victories for the state. To do this, he had to fight several foreign invaders almost simultaneously.
His enemies were the Swedes from the Livonian Order, who appeared at the walls of Veliky Novgorod in 1240. Also, Alexander Nevsky fought with German knights in 1242 and with Lithuanian troops in 1245.
Briefly about the exploits of the great commander
Today he is put 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, the knights of Levonsky and Teutonic Order who came to Rus' to convert people to the Catholic faith.
The Swedish part of the united order did not wait for the Germans and set out. Alexander Nevsky, without waiting for his father’s help, opposed the invaders and defeated them.
The second feat of Alexander Yaroslavich is known in history as the Battle of the Ice. It happened on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipus, which by that time was already in the inhabited territory of the German crusading knights.
Nevsky's last victory dates back to 1245. The battle against the Lithuanian invaders lasted for several days and ended in victory for Nevsky’s squad.
The Battle of the Ice and the victory of Alexander Nevsky
The Battle of the Ice or the battle against the Teutonic Order took place on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipsi. Thanks to the resourcefulness and cunning tactics of the young prince, the troops of the order were surrounded on the flanks and defeated.
The remnants of the Teutons were overtaken by the princely squad for a long time on the frozen lake. As a result of this battle, about 500 knights drowned in the lake, and another 50 were captured.
IN 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 Alexey. He was about 42 years old. He was buried in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery.
The image of Alexander Nevsky in art
There is no authentic image of the prince left to this day. His image was reconstructed based on descriptions from various sources, which was reflected in Russian literature, art, and cinema. A verbal portrait of the prince can be found in his life, the content of which tells about his many exploits.
One of the most popular portraits of Alexander Nevsky was painted from the actor from the film of the same name directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The prototype for the Order of the Grand Duke was also taken from him.
In addition, many streets and temples are named after the prince, not only in our country, but also abroad. In many cities of Russia you can find monuments dedicated to him.
There are dozens of interesting facts about the activities of this famous person. The most interesting and relevant of them are in this selection.
Why was the prince named Alexander Nevsky?
Alexander received his nickname, Nevsky, for his brilliant victory over the German knights on the Neva. This not only glorified him, but also for a long time discouraged Western states from attacking Rus'.
How tall was Alexander Nevsky?
It is noteworthy that Alexander Nevsky was small, even small by modern standards, 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 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.