Alexander Nevsky battle description. Battle of Neva briefly

Battle of the Neva. Pavel Ryzhenko (born 1970)

When the event took place: July 15, 1240

Where the event took place: on the Neva River

Event participants: Russian troops (Novgorod militia) under the leadership of the Novgorod prince Alexander Yaroslavich And Swedish knights under the direction of Jarl Birger.

Causes

German knights:

Close Rus''s access to the Baltic Sea

Cut off access to Karelian and Finnish lands

Capture at least part of the Novgorod land, especially at the mouth of the Neva and the city of Ladoga, as one of the centers of trade.

Control the trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”

Spread Catholicism in Rus'

Russian troops:

Prevent land grabs

Stop the spread of Catholicism

Progress of the battle

Swedish troops were on the banks of the Izhora River, where the river flowed into the Neva. They arrived here at the beginning of summer.

Alexander's goal: to squeeze the Swedes between Izhora and the Neva, cutting off their path to the ships. He attacked the Swedes by surprise.

The horsemen with spears moved to the center of the camp. And the foot soldiers from the flanks came from the shore, capturing three ships.

The enemy was pushed back to the river; few were able to escape on their ships.

Results

Rus' defended its lands in the northwest

The Swedes were unable to penetrate deep into the country

The victory raised the spirit of the people, because at this time the countries were subjected to devastating raids by the Mongol-Tatars.

Rus' defended the Orthodox faith.

Meaning

The significance of the battle was great. During the period of the seizure of a large territory by the Mongol-Tatars, Alexander Nevsky was able to fight back in the West, demonstrating the power of Russian weapons. The Orthodox faith was protected. This was primarily the reason that Nevsky was canonized by the Russian Church in 1547.

This is interesting

It was for his victory in the Battle of Neva that Alexander was nicknamed Nevsky. And he was only 19 years old at that time.

Alexander's words to his soldiers before the battle: “Brothers! God is not in power, but in truth! Let us remember the words of the psalmist: these are in arms, and these are on horses; but in the name of the Lord our God we will call... We will not fear the multitude of warriors, for God is with us.”

Material prepared by: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna

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

The exact date of birth of Alexander Yaroslavich, whom people later nicknamed Nevsky, is still unknown. 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 already in next year Alexander gave birth to 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 the European knights for the war with the pagans, which, in their opinion, included the inhabitants 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 going to convert the Novgorodians to the Catholic faith, and this was considered worse than the 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 a message to the Novgorod prince 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. There was no time to gather a large army, so the prince set out against the enemy with his army, supplementing it a little 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, Prince Alexander himself killed countless Swedes. The Battle of Neva showed that Russian warriors were strong and very brave warriors. Numerous facts testify to this. 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 the Russian army had not lost its former valor and would 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 Neva Battle 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 largely of infantry alone were able 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. 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 the Orthodox faith, preventing the establishment of the Catholic Church led by the Pope on this land.

On July 15, 1240, an epoch-making battle took place on the Neva River. Russian troops under the command won a crushing victory over the Swedish army. After this event, Alexander received the famous nickname Nevsky. This name is known to every Russian to this day.

Background

The Battle of the Neva River in 1240 did not start spontaneously. It was preceded by a number of important political and historical events.

In the first half of the 13th century, the Swedes, united with the Novgorodians, carried out regular raids on Finnish tribes. They called them punitive campaigns, the purpose of which was to subjugate more and more people to their will. The Sumy and Em tribes suffered the most from the Swedes. This became the cause of protracted conflicts. The Swedes feared a blow from the Finns, so they sought to baptize them and make them their allies.

The conquerors did not stop there. They periodically carried out predatory raids on the lands along the Neva, as well as directly on Novgorod territory. Sweden was significantly weakened by internal conflicts, so it sought to attract as many warriors and nobles as possible to its side. They did not hesitate to persuade those who liked easy money to win over to their side. For a long time, Finno-Karelian troops raided Swedish lands, and in 1187 they completely united with the Novgorodians. They burned Sigtuna, the ancient capital of Sweden.

This confrontation lasted for a long time. Each side, both Swedish and Russian, sought to establish its power on the Izhora land, which was located along the Neva, as well as on the Karelian Isthmus.

A significant date preceding such a famous event as the Battle of the Neva River was the proclamation of the second crusade against Finland by Pope Gregory IX in December 1237. In June 1238, King Waldemar II of Denmark and Master of the United Order Hermann von Balck agreed to divide the Estonian state, as well as to begin military operations against Rus' in the Baltic states with the involvement of the Swedes. This is what provoked the Battle of the Neva River. The date, the events of which are still known today, became the starting point in the history of Rus' and its relations with neighboring states. The battle showed the ability of our state to repel the powerful army of the enemy. It should be taken into account that the Battle of the Neva River took place at a difficult time. The Russian lands were just beginning to recover after many years of the Mongol invasion and the strength of the troops was significantly weakened.

Battle of the Neva River: sources

Historians have to collect information about such ancient events literally bit by bit. Many researchers are interested in the date of such events as the Battle of the Neva River. The battle is briefly described in chronological documents. Of course, such sources are few in number. One of the most famous can be called the Novgorod First Chronicle. Information can also be gleaned from the story about the life of Alexander Nevsky. It is assumed that it was written by contemporaries of those events no later than the eighties of the 13th century.

If we consider Scandinavian sources, they do not contain detailed information about such significant battles as the Battle of the Neva River and Battle on the Ice. You can only read that a small Swedish detachment was defeated as part of the Finnish Crusade.

It is also not known for certain who led the Scandinavian army. Based on Russian sources, scientists say that it was the king's son-in-law Birger Magnusson.

But he became the jarl of Sweden only in 1248, and at the time of the battle he was Ulf Fasi, who most likely led the campaign. At the same time, Birger did not participate in it, although there is an opposite opinion. Thus, the results of archaeological excavations indicate that Birger was wounded in the facial part of the head during his lifetime. This coincides with information that Alexander Nevsky wounded the king himself in the eye.

Battle of the Neva River: date

Historical events until the 16th century were not recorded in certain official sources. Very often, historians cannot establish the exact day or even the approximate period when a particular battle took place. But this does not apply to such an important event as the Battle of the Neva River. In what year did it happen? Historians know the exact answer to this question. This battle dates back to July 15, 1240.

Events before the battle

No battle starts spontaneously. A number of events also occurred that led to such a difficult moment as the Battle of the Neva River. The year in which it occurred began for the Swedes with their unification with the Novgorodians. In the summer, their ships arrived at the mouth of the Neva. The Swedes and their allies landed on the coast and pitched their tents. This happened in the place where Izhora flows into the Neva.

The composition of the army was varied. It included Swedes, Novgorodians, Norwegians, representatives of Finnish tribes and, of course, Catholic bishops. The borders of the Novgorod lands were protected by maritime guards. It was provided by the Izhorians at the mouth of the Neva, on both sides of the Gulf of Finland. It was the elder of this guard, Pelgusius, who discovered at dawn of a July day that the Swedish flotilla was already close. The messengers hastened to inform Prince Alexander about this.

The Livonian campaign of the Swedes against Rus' began only in August, which indicates that they took a wait-and-see attitude, as well as the immediate and lightning-fast reaction of Prince Alexander. Having received news that the enemy was already close, he decided to act independently, without resorting to the help of his father. Alexander Yaroslavovich went into battle with a small squad. The Battle of the Neva River became a chance for the young prince to prove himself as a commander. Therefore, many troops did not have time to join him. The Ladoga militias, who joined him along the way, also took Alexander’s side.

According to the customs that existed at that time, the entire squad gathered at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, where they were blessed by Archbishop Spyridon. At the same time, Alexander delivered a parting speech, quotes from which are still known today: “God is not in power, but in truth!”

The detachment moved overland along the Volkhov all the way to Ladoga. From there he turned to the mouth of the Izhora. For the most part, the army consisted of mounted warriors, but there was also infantry. To save travel time, this part of the detachment also rode horses.

Chronology of the battle

The battle began on July 15, 1940. It is known that in the Russian army, in addition to the princely squad, at least three more detachments of noble Novgorod commanders, as well as Ladoga residents, took part.

The Life mentions the names of six warriors who committed heroic deeds during the battle.

Gavrilo Olekseich boarded an enemy ship, from where he was dropped wounded, but despite this he boarded again and continued to fight. Sbyslav Yakunovich was armed only with an ax, but nevertheless rushed into the thick of the battle. Alexander's hunter Yakov Polochanin fought no less bravely. The youth Savva burst into the enemy camp and cut down the Swedes’ tent. Misha from Novgorod took part in the battle on foot and sank three enemy ships. Ratmir, the servant of Alexander Yaroslavovchia, fought bravely with several Swedes, after which he was wounded and died on the battlefield.

The battle continued from morning until evening. By nightfall the opponents dispersed. The Swedes, realizing that they had suffered a crushing defeat, retreated on their surviving ships and crossed to the opposite bank.

It is known that the Russian army did not pursue the enemy. The reason for this is unknown. Perhaps the knightly custom of not interfering with burying his fighters during a respite had an effect. Perhaps Alexander did not see the need to finish off the handful of remaining Swedes and did not want to risk his army.

The losses of the Russian detachment amounted to XX noble warriors, and their warriors should also be added here. There were much more dead among the Swedes. Historians talk about dozens, if not hundreds of soldiers killed.

Results

The Battle of the Neva River, the date of which will be remembered for centuries, made it possible to prevent the danger of an attack by Sweden and the Order on Rus' in the near future. Alexander's army decisively stopped their invasion of Ladoga and Novgorod.

However, the Novgorod boyars began to fear that Alexander’s power over them would increase. They began to plot various intrigues against the young prince, eventually forcing him to go to his father Yaroslav. However, very soon they asked him to return to continue the battle with which he approached Pskov.

Memory of the battle

In order not to forget about distant events on the Neva, Alexander's descendants sought to perpetuate the memories of them. Thus, monumental architectural monuments were created, which were restored several times. In addition, the image of Alexander Nevsky is also depicted on coins and commemorative stamps.

Alexander Nevsky Lavra

This monolithic building was erected by Peter I in 1710. The Alexander Nevsky Monastery was built at the mouth of the Black River in St. Petersburg. At that time it was mistakenly assumed that the battle took place in this very place. The inspiration and creator of the monastery was Subsequently, other architects continued the work.

In 1724, the remains of Alexander Yaroslavovich were transported here. Now the territory of the Lavra is a state national reserve. The ensemble includes several churches, a museum and a cemetery. Such famous people as Mikhail Lomonosov, Alexander Suvorov, Nikolai Karamzin, Mikhail Glinka, Modest Mussorgsky, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky rest on it.

Church of Alexander Nevsky in Ust-Izhora

This building was erected in honor of the victory in the battle of 1240. Date of construction - 1711. The church burned violently several times and was rebuilt. At the end of the 18th century, a stone church with a bell tower was built by parishioners.

The church was closed in 1934 and was used as a warehouse for a long time. During the Leningrad siege, the temple tower was blown up, as it served as a landmark for German artillery.

In 1990, work began on the restoration of the church, and a few years later it was consecrated. There is a small cemetery near the temple, as well as a monument-chapel with an image of Alexander Nevsky.

Printing coins and stamps

From time to time, the image of Alexander Yaroslavovich is also used in printing. So, in 1995, a commemorative coin with his image was issued. In the anniversary years after the battle, significant stamps are also issued, which are of great interest to philatelists.

Film adaptations

The film starred such actors as Svetlana Bakulina and Director Igor Kalenov.

“God is not in power, but in truth!”

Battle of the Neva - took place on July 15, 1240 on the Neva River, a battle between the squads of Novgorodians under the leadership of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich and the Swedish crusaders under the command of Earl Ulf Fasi and his son-in-law Swedish king Earl Birger.

Causes.

The main reason for the battle was an attempt to bring disputed territories under control. Namely, the Karelian Isthmus and the lands adjacent to Ladoga and the Izhora and Neva rivers. The dispute over this territory was between Novgorod and Sweden. Novgorod, having grown stronger through trade with its neighbors, sought to expand the territory of its influence.
And it’s not easy to spread influence, but also to gain a foothold in new territories
and pacify the restless neighbors - the tribes of Finns and Karelians, who caused a lot of trouble to the Novgorodians with their raids.
This is exactly what Sweden wanted - to expand its territory, receive new tributaries and calm on the borders. The Catholic Church, led by the Pope, also added fuel to the fire of smoldering enmity - it needed to expand its sphere of influence and convert new tribes and peoples to its faith.
In fact, the Swedes' campaigns to the east were part of the then pan-European policy - the policy of the Crusades. In 1237, the Pope declared a Crusade in Finland, by that time already the second in a row. And for the crusaders it was quite successful - the Sumy and Em tribes were unable to resist them. And in 1238, Erich Burr, King of Sweden, received a blessing from Pope Gregory IX for another campaign “for the glory of the Lord,” this time against the Novgorodians. All participants in the campaign, as expected, were promised indulgence (absolution of sins).
The Swedish king quickly found allies who wanted to take part in the Crusade to new territories. They were the Danish king Valdemar II and the master of the Teutonic Order Hermann von Balck. But they did not participate in the campaign of 1240 to the lands disputed with Novgorod, since they were occupied with their new territories in the Baltic states and Prussia.
Novgorod had no allies. At this time, the Old Russian state was invaded by the Mongols and virtually ceased to exist.

The day before.

The Swedes were the first to make the move - in the summer of 1240 the campaign against Novgorod began. King Erich considered that the moment for defeating the enemy had come - it was unlikely that anyone would come to the aid of the Novgorodians. There was no unity in Novgorod itself - there were strong supporters of a union with Sweden and recognition of the power of the Pope, that is, the adoption of the Catholic faith. The power of the prince in Novgorod was traditionally limited by “veche democracy” - he and his squad were assigned the role of maintaining order and organizing, if necessary, military campaigns. With whom to fight or not to fight at all was decided by the veche, where, despite all the illusion of popular rule, the boyar and merchant parties were in charge. And then the unknown nineteen-year-old son of the Vladimir Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander, reigned in Novgorod.
But Sweden enlisted the support of its allies and the Pope himself. Despite internecine wars in Sweden itself, several successful campaigns against neighbors strengthened the morale of the army, and the Crusade declared by the Pope ensured an influx of volunteers. Catholic priests went on a campaign with the army, monitoring the fighting spirit of the “soldiers of Christ.” A few detachments of Norwegians and Finns also joined the campaign, both of them did not want to miss the opportunity to rob their neighbors.
In July, the Swedish flotilla, under the command of Ulf Fasi and Birger, entered the mouth of the Neva. They intended to go along the Neva to Ladoga, and from there down the Volkhov to Novgorod.
Novgorod Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich understood the full extent of the danger posed by the appearance of the Swedes on the Neva. If they managed to reach Novgorod, then the city would hardly have survived, primarily due to political reasons. A strong pro-Swedish boyar party could prevent a battle at the city gates. Therefore, he chose a risky, but justified by the result, decision - to intercept the enemy on the road. By doing this, he “killed two birds with one stone” - he caught the Swedes, who did not expect such a move, by surprise and got rid of the “guardianship” of the enemy’s allies inside Novgorod. Therefore, as soon as Alexander received news of the appearance of the Swedish army on the Neva, he immediately set out on a campaign. The prince did not wait for the gathering of the Novgorod militia - this did not meet the objectives of a lightning-fast rush towards the enemy. Acting at his own peril and risk, Alexander acted only with his squad and the squads of several noble Novgorodians. On the way, a small Izhora militia managed to join him.
At the Hagia Sophia, Alexander's soldiers were blessed by Archbishop Spyridon. The prince himself inspired his comrades with words that have survived to this day:
"Brothers! “God is not in power, but in truth!... Let us not be afraid of the multitude of warriors, for God is with us.”

Battle.

The forces of the parties before the battle were unequal - the army of Alexander Yaroslavovich numbered about 1.3 thousand people, he was opposed by about 5 thousand Swedes with allies. But the Swedish commanders themselves gave the Novgorodians the advantage of a surprise attack. Ulf Fasi and Birger were so confident in the success of their campaign that they neglected the basic rules of being on foreign territory - reconnaissance, security and secrets around the camp. This allowed Alexander to take them by surprise. Having reached the Swedes' camp, which they had set up on the Neva at the confluence of the Izhora River, he literally immediately entered the battle.
The battle began on July 15. Having attacked the Swedes, the Novgorodians managed to destroy their battle formations and break into their camp. During the battle, the Swedes found themselves pressed against the river and were unable to resist in an organized manner. The battle escalated into chaotic skirmishes throughout the camp and the river bank. In one of these skirmishes, Prince Alexander fought with the leader of the Swedes, Birger, and wounded him.
The battle lasted until late evening and ended in victory for the Novgorodians. The Swedes, on the surviving ships, crossed to the opposite bank of the Neva. From there, admitting defeat, they went back to Sweden.

Results.

For Sweden. The defeat on the Neva forced the Swedish king to postpone territorial claims to Novgorod.
For Novgorod and Prince Alexander. The main result of the battle was the preservation of Novgorod's independence and victory, albeit an intermediate one, in the territorial dispute. The coordination of the actions of Sweden and the Teutonic Order in territorial claims to Novgorod was disrupted.
Prince Alexander, who received the nickname Nevsky for this victory, proved himself to be a strong commander. But more important for him was the political weight acquired as a result of the battle with the Swedes. It was this political strengthening of the young prince that the Novgorod nobility did not want. Not only did he complicate trade and other relations with European countries, but he also returned as a hero in the eyes of the mob. As a result of boyar intrigues, a paradoxical event occurred - the winner of the Swedes and defender of the city was forced to leave Novgorod and go to his father in Vladimir. Yaroslav Vsevolodovich put his son to reign in Pereslavl-Zalessky. But literally a year later, the Novgorodians again invited Alexander Nevsky to reign; a threat loomed over them again, now from a much more formidable enemy than the Swedes - the Teutonic Order. The prince knew this and accepted the invitation. He had to return for a new battle.

The Battle of the Neva in 1240 not only gave Rus' a new saint - Prince Alexander Nevsky. Its historical significance lies in preventing the aggressive feudal lords of Northern Europe from seizing significant Russian territories.

Reasons and background

The reasons for the Battle of the Neva in 1240 lie in the policy of “pressure to the east” pursued in the 12th-13th centuries by the top of the Northern European countries (primarily Germany, Sweden and Denmark). They viewed the Slavic peoples as “savages” who were unnecessarily occupying significant land. The situation was aggravated by the religious factor - Rome called on the knights of Northern Europe not just to war, but to crusade against the “schismatics” (in 1054, the formally united Christian church, as a result of a “schism,” was officially divided into Catholic and Orthodox). The transformation of robbery into a charitable deed is a common ideological device of the era of the Crusades.

The events of 1240 were not the first conflict - wars had been fought intermittently since the 9th century. However, in the century the situation changed in favor of the invaders from the West - Rus' was forced to repel the Mongol invasion, suffered defeats, and its military power was in doubt.

Failure of Swedish plans

The goals of the parties in the war of 1240 are obvious. The Swedes needed to cut off Russian possessions from Finnish lands and the Baltic coast. This made it possible to further advance inland, as well as control over maritime trade, a significant part of which was in the hands of Novgorod and Pskov merchants. In turn, Rus' could not allow the loss of the coast and the prolongation of the conflict in the West in the face of serious problems with the Mongols in the southeast.

The Swedish army, having entered the Neva on ships, settled down at the confluence of the Izhora into it. From the available descriptions, it can be understood that the commanders (Jarl Ulf Fosi and the royal son-in-law Birger) intended to calmly land and then advance deeper into the Novgorod possessions.

But the course of the battle immediately turned not in favor of the Swedes - the battle went according to Prince Alexander’s plan. It took place on July 15th. The reasons for the Russian victory in the Battle of the Neva lie in several factors at once - good reconnaissance work, speed and surprise.

The scout was Pelgusy, an Izhora foreman, who promptly reported to Novgorod about the approach of an enemy army. Prince Alexander decided to attack as quickly as possible, while part of the enemy army had not yet unloaded from the ships. His army consisted of a princely equestrian squad and a foot city militia. The blow was delivered in two directions at once - to the center of the enemy camp and along the river bank, which made it possible to cut off the people on the ships from the command.

History has preserved the names of some of the participants in the battle - the warrior Gavrila Oleksich, who boarded the Swedish ship on horseback, and the militia Savva. This ax managed to cut down the supports of Birger's tent. He fell on the royal son-in-law's head, causing panic in the Swedish ranks.

East is a delicate matter

The results of the Battle of the Neva were of little comfort to the invaders - they suffered a crushing defeat. History awarded the young winner (Alexander was 20 years old) with the nickname Nevsky. He consolidated his success 2 years later, winning a brilliant victory on Lake Peipsi.

Although Rus' soon lost access to the Baltic, the importance of the Battle of the Neva does not diminish from this. As a result of the victory, the “onslaught to the east” was stopped, and most of the North Russian lands retained their independence.