Sergei Eisenstein was undoubtedly a great director, but to study history from his cinematographic works would be somewhat frivolous. In his paintings, the storming of the Winter Palace (which was not) and the shooting of peaceful inhabitants of Odessa on the Giant Stairs (which could not even be) are vividly shown.
In the wonderful film “Alexander Nevsky”, the great artist depicted the Battle of Ice on Lake Peipsi, which took place, but in the spring, in April. According to the Livonian rhymed chronicle, the victims of this battle, struck by enemy bulat, fell into the grass, which managed to grow, despite the fact that the case took place in the northern region.
In order to as objectively as possible evaluate the military leadership and diplomatic talent of the defender of the Russian land, St. Alexander Nevsky, artistic hyperbolization is not needed. Without any exaggeration, it can be argued that our national hero saved his homeland from reproach. The prince does not need to embellish his role, he has successfully completed his difficult task.
It is most likely to understand the likelihood of how the Battle of Ice occurred on Lake Peipsi , by examining all available sources, including those in which the Livonians described this battle. We must pay tribute to the European chroniclers, they did not suffer from special adornment, recognizing that in tactical terms Prince of Novgorod outplayed them.
The fact that there was such an Battle on the Ice, in which year it happened and who participated on both sides, there are almost no differences in the opinion of historians. True, the Livonians called it differently, the Battle of Lake Peypus (even today, Estonians indicate Lake Peipsi on maps ). It does not matter.
However, there are some points that need to be paid attention, in particular, the opinion of the historian Heidenstein, who lived in the second half of the XVI - beginning of the XVII centuries. He insists that the Tatar troops of Batu Khan took an active part in the battle . On the side of the Russians, of course. By this, he explains the numerical superiority of the enemy, who managed to achieve military success.
You can, of course, not believe this European collector of legends, it is quite possible that he wants to justify the knight dogs close to him in spirit in order to minimize the valor of the Russian squad. However, there are some inconsistencies in the narrative of our domestic chroniclers.
So, “samovidtsy”, that is, direct participants in the events, recalled the help provided to them by some “divine regiment” that appeared “out of thin air” (like snow on the enemy’s head). It is possible that they did not mean the host of angels, but some kind of force that very quickly entered the battle. The result was an ice battle on Lake Peipsi, which went down in history as a strategic victory for Russian weapons, as well as a change, in modern terms, of the geopolitical situation. The Levon Order refused an attempt to capture our northern territories, leaving Pskov. There was an exchange of prisoners.
Opponents of this version object. They do not see the expediency of providing military assistance from the khan to the Russian prince. And the point in this act was. A year before the events described, there was a clash between the crusaders and the “sons of Genghis Khan,” in which the troops of Batu defeated the Euro-Christian army. Despite success, the khan did not believe that he had completely completed the military task, success should be reinforced.
According to the Russian historian Soloviev, the initiator of the negotiations on a temporary military alliance was Batu, who sent Alexander a letter of appropriate content. The Russian prince successfully held a "summit" and even managed to fraternize with Genghisides, the Khan's son. What you will not do for the Russian land!
Having secured substantial reinforcement in addition to the reliable rear, Alexander brilliantly conducted the Battle of Ice on Lake Peipsi, displaying, along with diplomatic talents, military leaders. He skillfully used the features of the terrain, turned the heavy weapons of the knights into a destructive factor for them, successfully imposed on the enemy the maneuverable nature of the battle, in a word, did everything for victory and achieved it.
The massacre of 1242 showed the wisdom of the Russian prince, shown in tactical and strategic matters. He also received God's help, but only he who does not condone is worthy of it.
Was there ice on Lake Peipsi then? It is possible in those parts it is also cold in April.