Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky

Childhood

He was born in 1221.

His father was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, his mother was Feodosia.

He started studying the military art when he was 4 years old.

Also, he studied writing and numeracy.

When he was 13 years old, he went on a military campaign with his father.

Alexander began to rule in Novgorod in 1236 when he was 16 years old.

Governance

The 13th century was difficult for Rus, because it was fragmented.

Mongols took advantage of this weakness and they made the Russian people their slaves.

Nevsky wanted to fix it so in 1247 he went to visit the Horde Khan Baty. He did it four times.

Alexander got control of Kiev.

His father told him that the trouble of the Russians is disunity.

That’s why Alexander looked for ways to unite with other princes to fight the numerous enemy.

Saving of Rus was the main work of his life.

He laid down his life for the people, who called him the sun of the Russian land.

He was only 43 when he died.

His father

The Ice Battle

The Ice Battle took place in early April, 1242 on Chudskoye Lake. The troops of the Novgorod Republic under the leadership of

Alexander Nevsky fought against the Livonian Order. The Teutons liked to build their army in the form of a sharp wedge. Alexander placed foot soldiers in the center and hid the best horse squad in an ambush.

First, the Crusaders managed to break through the formation of Russian soldiers .

The rear ranks of the knights continued to press. The crush began. Then ambush squads rushed at the Crusaders.

The knights were defeated.

Alexander Nevsky said, “Those who come to us with the sword, will perish by the sword “.

The Battle of the Neva

At the beginning of the 13th century Russia was caught between two fires. The Tatar-Mongols came from the east, the Germans, Swedes, Danes came from the west.

In July, 1240 river ships with the Swedish army led by Duke Birger entered the mouth of the Neva.

The young prince Alexander gathered a small squad and marched to the camp of the Swedes.

On July 15, 1240, he attacked the Swedish camp unexpectedly.

The Swedes, having suffered heavy losses, were forced to flee on the remaining ships.

During the battle, the prince wounded Birger himself.

After the battle Alexander received the nickname "Nevsky". He prevented the aggressive actions of the Swedes.

Alexander Nevsky was famous for his words: "God is not in power, but in truth".

Before his death, the prince became a monk. The Church canonized Alexander Nevsky as a saint.

Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery

1710 Peter the Great ordered to build a monastery "in the name of the Holy Trinity and the Saint Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky". The Alexander-Nevsky Monastery (Laura) is located at the end of Nevsky Prospekt. Today its complex includes more than ten churches, monastery structures and cemeteries.