The Battle of the Neva: the victories of Prince Alexander Nevsky in the northwestern borders saved a sovereignty of Russia

July 15, 2017, marks the 777th anniversary of the Battle of Neva, which overshadowed Russia from the expansion of the West. There are some electronic copies of rare books that reveal the details of the battle of 1240 under the leadership of Prince Alexander Nevsky and his extraordinary personality in the Presidential Library website.

In an electronic copy of released in 1942 book by military researcher V. Picheta The great Russian commanders: Alexander Nevsky is described how “double-dealing” was difficult for Russia: “While the Novgorod residents courageously protected the inviolability of the northwestern border, the northeast Russia was subjected to an awful Mongol-Tatar invasion. The Mongol-Tatars were destroying everything that was on their way. The cities and villages have been disappearing. The Russian land turned into a huge cemetery.”

In this dramatic time for the Russian land, an outstanding commander was found who wisely combined courage with an estimation of a far-sighted politician and who has managed to throw the enemy advancing from the West away from the Russian borders. And at that moment Prince Alexander was only 22 years old.

“As a value of the sacred personality is higher in the history and people’s memory, the more difficult it is for a later historical writer to reproduce his bright image,” —M. Khitrov writes in the 1899 edition of The Faithful Saint Prince Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky. The book describes how, under the influence of his father, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who took his son on military campaigns with him, formed the son's solid character combined with his profound religiosity, inherited from his mother. His early and young years Alexander mostly spent in Novgorod with its famous popular assembly — veche and other sprouts of the future civil society. The freedom-loving nature of the city also left its its imprint on the young man’s the personality.

In the summer of 1240 the naval patrol of the prince reported that foreign ships are approaching from the Baltic. At the head of the march to Novgorod were the Swedish feudal lords under the leadership of the Duke Birger. His huge army has landed from the ships on the Neva at the mouth of the Izhora River, intending to capture Ladoga, Novgorod and the entire Novgorod Land. “With unexpected for the Novgorod attack and speed of action, Birger expected “to captivate the Great Novgorod and all other cities, and to make Slovene people to work for him,” — V. Picheta quotes the chronicle.

“Birger, a proud military commander, sent his ambassadors to the Novgorod Prince Alexander Yaroslavich with his haughty words: “Fight against me, if you dare: I already stand on your land,” — according to a historical essay by S. Krotkov of 1900 The Battle of Neva and the Battle on Ice.

There was no time for collection the troops, so Alexander did not wait while sent by his father Yaroslav squads arrived, or the warriors from the Novgorod lands would gather, and went to the enemy with a very small army in order to stop him and overthrow. “And before that, as we could read further in the above-mentioned book, he went to St. Sophia Church and in prayed to God in there on his lap with the tears for the deliverance of the Russian land from the enemies; then, taking the blessing from the Novgorod archbishop Spiridon, he went out to his small squad and said: “There are few of us, and the enemy is strong, but God is not in power, but in truth: go with your prince.” And he thought to himself: “My team is brave: they are all best of the best, but I hope for God alone.”

Alexander decided strike against the Swedes with his squad in advance, strengthening it only with Novgorod volunteers. On the morning of July 15, the Russian army suddenly attacked the Swedish camp.

The beginning of the Battle of the Neva is described in detail in the book of Nikolai Voskresensky The Saint Blessed Great Prince Alexander Nevsky of 1898, an electronic copy of which is available on the Presidential Library website: “Like lightning he rushed with the brave Novgorod and Ladoga people to the Swedes. The suddenness and speed of the strike instantly confused them. Like a whirlwind, the young prince swept in front of all the enemies in the middle of them and faced his terrible enemy. Combat between the two leaders has begun; both were strong and dexterous; they struck terrible blows to each other, but a blow of each was repulsed with the deft blow of the other. Finally, Alexander wounded Birger and put a seal on his face with his sharp spear.” And he ran…

By blows along Izhora and Neva the Swedish army was overturned and pushed into a corner formed by two rivers. A balance of power has changed, and the Russian cavalry and on foot troops, having united, dropped the enemy into the water. The Swedes, defeated in all positions, turned to flight. There were so many fallen soldiers from the side of the adversaries that the associates of St. Alexander came to believe in the invisible miraculous help from the forces of heaven.” In the Novgorod army, only 20 people were killed — summarized in the book by Krotkov The Battle of Neva and the Battle on the Ice.

For the victory won on the Neva Prince Alexander was nicknamed “Nevsky.” The battle for the mouth of the Neva was a struggle to preserve the access to the sea for Russia and thereby — for the sovereignty of the state. Simultaneously, this victory facilitated the further struggle of the Russian people for the overthrow of the Mongol yoke.

Understanding this makes Prince Nevsky's victories on the northwestern borders of Russia even more significant, which is emphasized in the book of M. Khmyrov of 1881 Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, Grand Duke of Vladimir and All Russia.