One of the most glorious victories of Russian weapons on Lake Peipsi highlighted in the Presidential Library’s materials

The legendary Battle on the Ice took place on April 5, 1242. One of the most glorious victories of Russian weapons over a foreign invader this year marks 777 years. Details of the battle on Lake Peipsi are available in Presidential Library’s collections. Copies of rare editions that illustrate those events are contained in the special collection “Alexander Nevsky (1221–1263)” on the institution’s portal.

After the defeat in 1240 on the Neva, the Swedes stopped making raids on Rus’. However, at the same time, the German knights of the Livonian Order intensified. Their goal was to seize the Russian northern lands. The first steps were successful for the invaders - the cities of Izborsk and Pskov fell under their onslaught. The next target was Novgorod. In order to defend their freedom, its inhabitants called for the help of Alexander Nevsky, the already famous commander, the storm of the troops of the Swedish Jarl Birger. It was not difficult for him to gather an army - the Russians had risen overnight. But to arm an army capable of withstanding an enemy clad in armor was problematic. The fact is that it was difficult to obtain resources for the production of weapons in the northern Russian principalities, therefore, all the necessary things were usually purchased abroad. But suddenly trade relations with Novgorodians in the West began to be considered practically illegal. However, this was the case when our artisans were able to demonstrate all their art. This is stated by S. V. Glyazer in the book “The Battle on the Ice” (1941), which is available on the Presidential Library’s portal. Moreover, S. V. Glyazer describes in detail the elements of Russian soldiers' equipment.

That was how the army looked, which, under the leadership of Alexander Yaroslavich, opposed the interventionists. Pskov was liberated, the fortress Koporye was taken. "But the knights did not even think better of it now, - they only became more inflamed by their military spirit and said in pride: "Let's go - destroy the prince of Novgorod and take him prisoner". Having learned about the plans of the enemy, Alexander again set off against the knights and met them, at dawn on April 5, 1242, on the ice of Lake Peipsi, where the battle took place, in which the Russians had to fight the enemy with a brave and skillful no less than the Swedes”, - writes S. Krotkov in his historical essay "The Battle of the Neva and the Battle on the Ice" (1900).

The Livonian knights were confident of an easy and quick victory. It was impossible to crush their combat system — the pig that was famous all over Europe — unless, of course, the enemy was Alexander Nevsky. The Russian prince relied on a new tactic, which the enemy could not foresee: the main role in our army was to be played not by the central fighters, but by the flanks. Thus, he seemed to have let the enemies inside his army, and when they were jubilant, thinking that they crushed the Russians, Alexander Yaroslavich closed the ring. Breaking out of it was already impossible. On the first minutes of the Battle on the Ice we can read in the book of the historian M. D. Khmyrov “Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, Grand Prince Vladimirsky and all of Rus’ (1871).

The author notes: the calculation was correct. Knights with difficulty fought off the hail of blows, which they poured from all sides of the Russian army. The last hope to change the course of the battle was destroyed by the princely horse squad. Under the leadership of Alexander himself, it crashed into the enemy's rear.

The bloody battle, which was launched with the first rays of the spring sun, ended only late at night. Realizing that further resistance was useless, the German squads rushed to run. And the last — the most insidious blow — was struck by the thin ice of Lake Peipsi. Under the weight of the heavy armors of the invaders, it began to break through, dragging them into the cold water...   

The result of the Battle on the Ice was a treaty between the Germans and Novgorodians, according to which the Crusaders pledged to leave all the Russian lands they had conquered. The terms of the agreement are described in detail in the aforementioned book of S. Krotkov, “The Battle of the Neva and the Battle on the Ice: A Historical Essay” (1900).

The winner, the hero of the Neva battle and battle on Lake Peipsi, Alexander Yaroslavich, was greeted by Russian cities with general rejoicing. In the book “The Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky” (1898), which is available on the  Presidential Library’s portal, N. A. Voskresensky writes: “The Pskov people hardly remembered their day happier in the history of the day when the victorious leader solemnly returned to the city. The clergy walked ahead in light robes: the abbots and priests, with holy icons and crosses, followed in festive attire a happy and joyful crowd of Pskovites. In silence, in honor of the winner, songs of praise resounded in the air: "Glory to the Lord and to His faithful servant Alexander Yaroslavich". Dividing the joy of celebration with Pskov, Alexander hurried to Novgorod, where, too, filled with heartfelt gratitude to God, the people enthusiastically celebrated a glorious victory over foreigners”.

This feat of the Russian warriors became truly immortal and instructive for the enemies of our country. The words spoken by Alexander Nevsky during the Battle on the Ice sounded through the centuries: "Whoever comes to us with a sword will be perished by a sword".