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 the 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 faithful prince. About Princess Feodosia Mstislavna - his mother - practically nothing is known. According to some chronicles, we can say that she was a quiet and submissive woman. These chronicles give a characteristic of Alexander Nevsky: he was agile, strong and hardy, and he also mastered science very early. His character traits are also mentioned in the story The Life of Alexander Nevsky.
The book by Borisov N. S. "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 inhabitants of the city, and he was forced to move to his native Pereyaslavl. But in Novgorod, he left two sons, Fedor and Alexander, in the care of trusted boyars. The son Fedor died, Alexander in 1236 became the prince of Novgorod, and in 1239 he married Alexander Bryachislavna - the Princess of Polotsk.
Brief description of Alexander Nevsky
During the first years of his reign, Nevsky strengthened Novgorod, because he was threatened by the Mongol-Tatars from the east. Several fortresses were erected on the Sheloni River.
Great glory to Alexander brought victory on the banks of the Neva at the mouth of the Izhora River on July 15, 1240 over the Swedish detachment. He personally participated in this battle. It is believed that it was precisely 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 in danger from the west. The Livonian Order gathered German crusaders from the Baltic states, and Danish knights from the Revel, and attacked the lands of Novgorod.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich received an embassy from Novgorod with a request 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 knights, and then knocked out the German garrison from Pskov. The Novgorodians, inspired by these successes, broke into the territory of the Livonian Order and ravaged the settlement of Estonians and tributaries of the Crusaders. After that, knights came out of Riga, who destroyed the Russian regiment of Doman Tverdoslavovich and forced Alexander Nevsky to withdraw troops to the border of the Livonian Order. The two sides began to prepare for a decisive battle.
On April 5, 1242, the decisive battle began, which took place near Raven Stone on the ice of Lake Peipsi. 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 was to make peace: the crusaders abandoned the 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 Hamish declared Andrei the Grand Duke, and gave Alexander South Russia to Alexander, but he refused and left for Novgorod.
In 1252, he visited Khan Munke in Mongolia and received permission for a great reign. All the following years, he fights to maintain a conciliatory relationship with the Horde.
In 1262, Alexander made his fourth trip to the Horde, during which he managed to “grind” the Russians so that they would not take part in the Mongol conquests. But on the way back 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 World War II, the Soviet Order of Alexander Nevsky was established: they were awarded brave commanders.
A brilliant commander, a talented diplomat and a skilled politician - all this is a characteristic of Alexander Nevsky, who will forever remain immortal in the hearts of Russian people.