Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky - 1221-1263 is a famous person who has made an invaluable contribution to the development of Russian history. He is also the Prince of Novgorod, the Grand Duke of Kiev, the Grand Duke of Vladimir and an unsurpassed commander. His merits were so great that after death he was canonized.
His biography is studied in schools in history lessons. As children, we do not have much reverence for the history of our country, and especially to those who ruled several centuries ago. However, the history and biography of the people who lived then can be no less exciting and exciting, if properly presented.
He lived an amazing life. In this article we will consider 10 interesting facts about Alexander Nevsky: biography and stories from the life of a wise and courageous prince.
10. The rite of passage to war in the Transfiguration Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky is one of the sons of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Rostislav Mstislavovna. He is the second oldest child.
In 1225, Yaroslav decided to arrange princely tonsure for the children, that is, to conduct a ceremony of initiation into the war. At that time, Alexander Nevsky was only 4 years old. The ceremony took place in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky, where the young prince was born. They conducted it with the direct participation of the Bishop of Suzdal, St. Simon.
9. From childhood he reigned in Novgorod
The first time Alexander saw Novgorod in 1228, where his father sent him along with his older brother Fedor. They were not alone, the boyar looked after them. But when hunger broke out there, they had to flee in a hurry, they were seriously afraid of reprisal.
In 1230, Yaroslav was again called to rule. But he, after a week's stay in the city, again left there two of his heirs. In 1233, the elder brother died, and Alexander was left to reign alone.
However, in 1232 hostilities began against the Finnish pagans, then Yaroslav led the Novgorod army to lead him to victory in 1234.
And in 1236, Alexander’s father finally left Novgorod, leaving his heir to the sovereign prince. So, at the age of 15, Alexander Nevsky begins his independent rule in Novgorod.
8. Victory over the Swedish army on the Neva
Novgorod lands often attracted outside attention. This happened with the invasion of the Swedes in July 1240. They learned that Russia was weakened after clashes with Batu Khan, so they tried to encroach on these lands.
However, it ended quickly. The Swedish fleet only managed to enter the Neva and set up camp at the mouth of Izhora. Alexander Nevsky found out about this in time. The young prince decides not to write to his father, much less to wait for his troops, but to sort it out on his own right away.
On July 15, he, his squad, and several ready-made detachments of Novgorod quickly attacked the Swedes camp and won very quickly. From that battle, Alexander was nicknamed "Nevsky".
7. Victory on Lake Peipsi
The attacks did not end there. In August of the same year, the Livonian Order began to operate. The German knights quickly took Izborsk and began the siege of Pskov. But in such a situation, the Novgorodians still decided to drive Alexander out, hoping that the trouble would bypass them.
And only in 1241, in the immediate vicinity of the Germans from Novgorod, the inhabitants sent to Yaroslavl for the new prince, insisting on the candidacy of Alexander. He arrived, quickly managed to clean the neighborhood of the city, with the help of troops from Vladimir he was able to free Pskov in 1242.
On April 5, the famous battle in the history of Russia took place: The Battle of the Ice. Thanks to the right strategy, Alexander Nevsky managed not only to defeat the Knights of the Livonian Order, but also to force them to renounce all territories.
6. The Pope has repeatedly proposed the adoption of Catholicism
There is evidence that Alexander Nevsky received two letters written by the pope. First, he was offered to submit to the Roman throne in return for assistance in resolving the situation with the Teutons, if the Tatars attack Russia.
In the second letter, the prince is hinted at his consent to accept the faith, and to build a church in Pskov, as well as insist on a meeting with the archbishop of Prussia, sent by the pope to bow to him. But Alexander refused the messengers in a rather rude form.
He remained the only ruler in Europe who did not agree to an agreement with Rome and the Catholic Church.
5. Peace talks with the Tatar-Mongols
Yaroslav died in 1246. Already in 1247, two young princes: Alexander Nevsky with his younger brother Andrei went to the Horde. These talks went peacefully. Batu wanted to give the throne of Vladimir to Alexander, but according to the will of their father, he received only Novgorod and Kiev, and Andrei had to reign in Vladimir.
But in the empire, the Mongols decided to do almost exactly what Yaroslav wanted. Alexander Nevsky began to rule Kiev, and also “All Russian Land” (he became the prince of all Russia, excluding only Vladimir). The prince settled in Novgorod, since, according to one version, Kiev was ravaged and no longer had such significance, and according to another, the city residents themselves kept the prince.
4. Officially became the adopted son of Batu Khan
Alexander Nevsky managed to establish normal relations with the Horde. They were even friendly when compared with other princes.
Most likely, Batu respected Alexander, because he won every battle of his. During the visits, the prince managed to find a friend in the person of Batu’s Khan’s son - Sartak. They became so close that they fraternized. That is how Alexander Nevsky became recognized as the “adopted son” of the Great Khan.
3. Assumption of poisoning
In 1262 uprisings broke out in many cities of Russia. People killed the ambassadors from the khan to collect tribute. For such an offense, Khan Berke demanded military units from them.
Alexander Nevsky went to the Horde to convince the Khan. He spent almost a year there, and during that time his already poor health was badly damaged. Unfortunately, he soon died on the way to the house.
Only now he walks the assumption that he was not just ill, perhaps the Tatars poisoned him during his stay. Another assumption is that poisoning was the work of the pope. Each of the theories has its drawbacks, at the moment they remain only assumptions.
2. Before death, he converted to Orthodoxy
Returning sick from the Horde, Alexander Nevsky died. It is still not clear where exactly this happened (there are two possible places: Gorodets Volzhsky and Gorodets Meshchersky). But for sure it is known that before his death, he took a schema under the name Alexy.
So, a few hours before his death, the prince managed to convert to Orthodoxy. Schema is a vow of Orthodox monks, although the word originally meant their robe. When taking a tonsure in a small schema, a person's name is changed, and he must give vows of obedience, non-possession, and chastity.
1. In 2008, Alexander Nevsky was chosen the winner in the competition "Name of Russia"
In 2008, according to the decision of the state television channel "Russia", with the help of the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the "Public Opinion" fund, a contest was organized under the name "Name of Russia".
Participants were asked to choose one of the 500 famous personalities of the country. This contest could end in scandal, because Joseph Stalin was the leader among all. The organizers claimed that this was only “numerous spam,” not real people's voices. Eventually, Alexander Nevsky was the winner of this competition.