777 years ago, on April 5, 1242, the Battle of the Ice took place on Lake Peipus, which resulted in one of the glorious victories of Russian weapons over a foreign invader. Since 1240, the German knights of the Livonian Order began to actively make campaigns on Russian lands, intending to seize the northern territories of our country. At first they were successful - the knights managed to take possession of Izborsk and Pskov. The next goal was Novgorod. To preserve freedom, its residents turned to Alexander Nevsky for help. The famous commander easily gathered an army, but was faced with the problem of arming it - it was difficult to adequately supply the army so that it would be able to withstand the enemy clad in armor. The reason was that it was difficult to obtain resources for the production of weapons in the northern Russian principalities, which is why everything needed was usually purchased abroad. Suddenly, trade relations with the Novgorodians in the West began to be considered practically illegal. But at that moment our artisans were able to demonstrate all their art. This is stated in S.V. Glyazer’s book “Battle on the Ice” (1941), which can be read on the portal of the B.N. Yeltsin Presidential Library: “The Pope announced that he would curse anyone who dared to sell weapons to the Russians. Novgorodians secretly bought swords, helmets and metal needed to make weapons abroad. This metal was in short supply, and the Novgorodians mined ore in the swamps. It was very difficult; from the swamp ore it was impossible to obtain such good iron as was needed for forged swords. But skilled Novgorod artisans forged such swords from the iron smelted from this ore that the enemy fled in mortal fear.”

Also S.V. Glyazer describes in detail the elements of equipment of Russian soldiers: “Whoever was richer wore a long shirt made of thick material, onto which iron rings were sewn in rows. Others wore iron chain mail. To prevent the chain mail from injuring the body, a thick quilted caftan was worn underneath it... The shields were wooden, covered with leather, painted with bright red paint. Warriors wore steel, copper or iron helmets on their heads. To protect the face, a metal strip – the “nose” – was lowered from the front of the helmet... The ears and the back of the head were protected by metal plates or chainmail meshes suspended from the helmet. Boyars and princely warriors had helmets covered with gold or silver. Small red flags called fir flags were attached to the pointed tops of the helmets. Instead of chain mail, simple warriors wore thick quilted caftans lined with hemp. Pieces of iron were laid in the hemp. Quilted cloth hats, also stuffed with hemp, replaced helmets.”

This is exactly what the army looked like, which, under the leadership of Alexander Yaroslavich, opposed the invaders. Russian soldiers managed to liberate Pskov and take the Koporye fortress. “But the knights did not come to their senses even now - they only became even more inflamed with military spirit and said in pride: “Let's go - let's destroy the Prince of Novgorod and take him prisoner.” Having learned about the enemy’s plans, Alexander again went against the knights and met them, at dawn on April 5, 1242, on the ice of Lake Peipus, where a “very evil battle” took place, in which the Russians had to fight an enemy brave and skillful no less than the Swedes,”– writes S. Krotkov in his historical essay “The Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice” (1900).

The Livonian knights were confident of an easy and quick victory. But Alexander Nevsky relied on a new tactic that the enemy could not predict: the main role in our army was to be played not by the center fighters, but by the flanks. Thus, he seemed to let the enemies inside his army, and when they thought that they could defeat the Russians, Alexander Yaroslavich closed the ring. We read about the first minutes of the Battle of the Ice in the book by historian M. D. Khmyrov “Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, Grand Duke of Vladimir and All Rus'” (1871): “The method of acting as a pig, advantageous and decisive against troops that are cowardly and unstable, in the present case had no success and only increased cruelty on both sides. Proud knights, clad in strong armor, although they passed through the dense regiments of Alexander, but not all of them, because Russian swords and axes killed many on this bloody path. The rest, seeing with horror in front of them, instead of the expected disorder, a living wall of closed ranks, sparkling with weapons on which German blood was still smoking, lost heart.” The author notes: the calculation turned out to be correct. The knights had difficulty fighting off the hail of blows that showered them from all sides Russian army. Last hope It was the prince's cavalry that turned the tide of the battle. Under the leadership of Alexander himself, she crashed into the enemy rear: “Hero Nevsky began his work: he quickly rushed with spare regiments at the dumbfounded soldiers, crushed them, flogged them and drove them across the ice, which was red with blood: 500 knights died in battle, 50 were captured ... According to eyewitnesses, the lake swayed under the fighters and groaned from the crack of breaking spears and the clanking of splitting swords. Already late in the evening this ice battle ended, which, having terrified all of Livonia, overshadowed the winner with new glory.”

The bloody battle, which began with the first rays of the spring sun, ended only late in the evening. Realizing that further resistance was useless, the German men-at-arms began to flee. And the final blow was dealt to them by the thin ice of Lake Peipsi. Under the weight of the invaders' heavy weapons, it began to break, dragging them into the cold water.

The result of the Battle of the Ice was an agreement between the Germans and Novgorodians, according to which the crusaders pledged to leave all the Russian lands they had previously conquered. The terms of the agreement are written in detail in the above-mentioned book by S. Krotkov, “The Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice: A Historical Sketch” (1900): “The frightened knights sent their ambassadors with a bow to the Novgorodians, to whom they said: “We entered with the sword: Vot, Luga, Pskov, Letgola, from that we retreat from everything; How many of your people have been taken captive, we will exchange them: we will let yours go, and you will let ours go.”... Soon after this, Alexander Nevsky pacified the Lithuanians, and the fame of him spread far beyond Russia, so that the chief of the Livonian knights (master) Velven spoke about Alexander like this: “I have traveled through many countries, I know the world, people and sovereigns, but I saw and listened to Alexander of Novgorod with amazement.”

The winner, the hero of the Battle of the Neva and the battle on Lake Peipus, Alexander Yaroslavich, was greeted by Russian cities with general jubilation. In the book “The Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky” (1898), which can be found on the Presidential Library portal, N. A. Voskresensky writes: “The people of Pskov could hardly remember a happier day in their history than the day when the victorious leader solemnly returned to the city. The clergy walked ahead in light clothes: abbots and priests - with holy icons and crosses - behind them walked a happy and joyful crowd of Pskov residents in festive attire. Songs of praise were incessantly heard in the air in honor of the winner: “Glory to the Lord and His faithful servant Alexander Yaroslavich.” Sharing the joy of the triumph with the people of Pskov, Alexander hurried to Novgorod, where, too, filled with heartfelt gratitude to God, the people enthusiastically celebrated the glorious victory over the foreigners.”

This feat of Russian soldiers became truly immortal and instructive for the enemies of our country. The words spoken by Alexander Nevsky during the Battle of the Ice resonate through the centuries: “Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword.”

Anyone who wants to know more about this great battle, can familiarize themselves with copies of rare publications that paint the most complete picture of those events - they are contained in the special collection “Alexander Nevsky (1221–1263)”, available on the organization’s portal.

On April 5, 1242, the famous Battle of the Ice took place on Lake Peipus. Russian soldiers under the command of Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated the German knights who were planning to strike Veliky Novgorod. For a long time this date did not have official recognition as a public holiday. Only on March 13, 1995, Federal Law No. 32-FZ “On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia” was adopted. Then, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian government is once again concerned with the issue of reviving patriotism in the country. In accordance with this law, the day of celebration of the victory over Lake Peipus was set on April 18. Officially, the memorable date was named “Victory Day of the Russian soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights on Lake Peipsi.”

It is interesting that in the same 1990s, Russian nationalist political parties, at the instigation of the well-known followers of the writer Eduard Limonov, began to celebrate “Russian Nation Day” on April 5, also dedicated to the victory on Lake Peipsi. The difference in dates was due to the fact that the Limonovites chose the date of April 5 according to the Julian calendar to celebrate, and the official memorial date is considered according to the Gregorian calendar. But the most interesting thing is that according to the proleptic Gregorian calendar, which covers the period before 1582, this date should have been celebrated on April 12. But in any case, the decision itself to set a date in memory of such a large-scale event in our country was very correct. Moreover, this was one of the first and most impressive episodes of the collision of the Russian world with the West. Subsequently, Russia will fight with Western countries more than once, but the memory of the soldiers of Alexander Nevsky, who defeated the German knights, is still alive.

The events discussed below unfolded against the backdrop of the total weakening of the Russian principalities during the Mongol invasion. In 1237-1240 Mongol hordes invaded Rus' again. This time was prudently used by Pope Gregory IX for another expansion to the northeast. Then Holy Rome was preparing, firstly, a crusade against Finland, at that time still inhabited mainly by pagans, and secondly, against Rus', which was considered by the pontiff as the main competitor of Catholics in the Baltic states.

The Teutonic Order was ideally suited for the role of executor of expansionist plans. The times in question were the era of the order's heyday. It was later, already during the Livonian War of Ivan the Terrible, that the order was in far from the best condition, and then, in the 13th century, the young military-religious formation represented a very strong and aggressive enemy, controlling impressive territories on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The Order was considered the main conduit of influence catholic church in North-Eastern Europe and directed his attacks against the Baltic and Slavic peoples living in these areas. The main task of the order was the enslavement and conversion of local residents to Catholicism, and if they did not want to accept the Catholic faith, then the “noble knights” mercilessly destroyed the “pagans”. Teutonic knights appeared in Poland, called by the Polish prince to help in the fight against the Prussian tribes. The conquest of the Prussian lands by the order began, which occurred quite actively and rapidly.

It should be noted that the official residence Teutonic Order during the events described, she was still in the Middle East - in the Montfort castle in the territory of modern Israel (the historical land of the Upper Galilee). Montfort housed the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, the archives and the order's treasury. Thus, the top leadership managed the order's possessions in the Baltic states remotely. In 1234, the Teutonic Order absorbed the remnants of the Dobrin Order, created in 1222 or 1228 on the territory of Prussia to protect the Prussian bishopric from attacks by Prussian tribes.

When in 1237 the remnants of the Order of the Swordsmen (Brotherhood of the Warriors of Christ) joined the Teutonic Order, the Teutons also gained control over the possessions of the Swordsmen in Livonia. The Livonian Landmastership of the Teutonic Order arose on the Livonian lands of the Swordsmen. Interestingly, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, back in 1224, declared the lands of Prussia and Livonia to be subordinate directly to Holy Rome, and not to local authorities. The Order became the main viceroy of the papal throne and the exponent of the papal will in the Baltic lands. At the same time, the course for further expansion of the order in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states continued.

Back in 1238, the Danish king Valdemar II and the Grand Master of the Order Herman Balk agreed on the division of the lands of Estonia. Veliky Novgorod was the main obstacle for the German-Danish knights and it was against it that the main blow was directed. Sweden entered into an alliance with the Teutonic Order and Denmark. In July 1240, Swedish ships appeared on the Neva, but already on July 15, 1240, on the banks of the Neva, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish knights. For this he was nicknamed Alexander Nevsky.

The defeat of the Swedes did not greatly contribute to the abandonment of their allies from their aggressive plans. The Teutonic Order and Denmark were going to continue the campaign against North-Eastern Rus' with the aim of introducing Catholicism. Already at the end of August 1240, Bishop Herman of Dorpat set off on a campaign against Rus'. He gathered an impressive army of knights of the Teutonic Order, Danish knights from the Revel fortress and the Dorpat militia, and invaded the territory of the modern Pskov region.

The resistance of the Pskov residents did not give the desired result. The knights captured Izborsk and then besieged Pskov. Although the first siege of Pskov did not bring the desired result and the knights retreated, they soon returned and were able to take the Pskov fortress, using the help of the former Pskov prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich and the traitor boyars led by Tverdilo Ivankovich. Pskov was taken and a knightly garrison was stationed there. Thus, the Pskov land became a springboard for the actions of the German knights against Veliky Novgorod.

A difficult situation was developing in Novgorod itself at this time. The townspeople drove Prince Alexander out of Novgorod in the winter of 1240/1241. Only when the enemy approached the city very close did they send messengers to Pereslavl-Zalessky to call Alexander. In 1241, the prince marched to Koporye, captured it by storm, killing the knightly garrison located there. Then, by March 1242, Alexander, having waited for the help of the troops of Prince Andrew from Vladimir, marched on Pskov and soon took the city, forcing the knights to retreat to the Bishopric of Dorpat. Then Alexander invaded the order's lands, but when the advanced forces were defeated by the knights, he decided to retreat back and prepare in the area of ​​Lake Peipsi for the main battle. The balance of forces of the parties, according to sources, was approximately 15-17 thousand soldiers from the Russian side, and 10-12 thousand Livonian and Danish knights, as well as the militia of the Dorpat bishopric.

The Russian army was commanded by Prince Alexander Nevsky, and the knights were commanded by the Landmaster of the Teutonic Order in Livonia, Andreas von Felfen. A native of Austrian Styria, Andreas von Felfen was Komtur (commandant) of Riga before assuming the post of viceroy of the order in Livonia. What kind of commander he was is evidenced by the fact that he decided not to personally participate in the battle on Lake Peipus, but remained at a safe distance, transferring command to the younger order military leaders. The Danish knights were commanded by the sons of King Valdemar II himself.

As you know, the crusaders of the Teutonic Order usually used the so-called “pig” or “boar’s head” as a battle formation - a long column, at the head of which was a wedge from the ranks of the strongest and most experienced knights. Behind the wedge were detachments of squires, and in the center of the column were infantry made up of mercenaries - people from the Baltic tribes. On the sides of the column followed heavily armed knightly cavalry. The meaning of this formation was that the knights wedged themselves into the enemy’s formation, splitting it into two parts, then breaking it into smaller parts, and only then finishing it off with the participation of their infantry.

Prince Alexander Nevsky took a very interesting move - he placed his forces on the flanks in advance. In addition, the cavalry squads of Alexander and Andrei Yaroslavich were placed in ambush. The Novgorod militia stood in the center, and in front was a chain of archers. Behind them they placed convoys chained with chains, which were supposed to deprive the knights of the opportunity to maneuver and evade the blows of the Russian army. On April 5 (12), 1242, Russians and knights came into combat contact. The archers were the first to take the onslaught of the knights, and then the knights were able to break through the Russian system with the help of their famous wedge. But that was not the case - the heavily armed knightly cavalry got stuck near the convoy and then the regiments of the right and left moved towards it from the flanks. Then the princely squads entered the battle, which put the knights to flight. The ice broke, unable to withstand the weight of the knights, and the Germans began to drown. Alexander Nevsky's warriors chased the knights across the ice of Lake Peipus for seven miles. The Teutonic Order and Denmark suffered complete defeat in the Battle of Lake Peipsi. According to the Simeonovskaya Chronicle, 800 Germans and Chuds “without number” died, 50 knights were captured. The losses of Alexander Nevsky's troops are unknown.

The defeat of the Teutonic Order had an impressive effect on its leadership. The Teutonic Order renounced all territorial claims to Veliky Novgorod and returned all the lands captured not only in Rus', but also in Latgale. Thus, the effect of the defeat inflicted on the German knights was colossal, primarily in political terms. To the West, the Battle of the Ice demonstrated that a strong enemy awaited the famous crusaders in Rus', ready to fight for their native lands to the last. Later, Western historians tried in every possible way to downplay the significance of the battle on Lake Peipus - either they argued that in reality much smaller forces met there, or they characterized the battle as the starting point for the formation of the “myth of Alexander Nevsky.”

The victories of Alexander Nevsky over the Swedes and over the Teutonic and Danish knights were of great significance for further Russian history. Who knows how the history of the Russian land would have developed if Alexander’s soldiers had not won these battles then. After all, the main goal of the knights was to convert the Russian lands to Catholicism and their complete subordination to the rule of the order, and through it, Rome. For Rus', therefore, the battle was of decisive importance in terms of preserving national and cultural identity. We can say that the Russian world was forged, among other things, in the battle on Lake Peipsi.

Alexander Nevsky, who defeated the Swedes and Teutons, entered Russian history forever both as a church saint and as a brilliant commander and defender of the Russian land. It is clear that the contribution of countless Novgorod warriors and princely warriors was no less. History has not preserved their names, but for us, living 776 years later, Alexander Nevsky is, among other things, those Russian people who fought on Lake Peipus. He became the personification of the Russian military spirit and power. It was under him that Rus' showed the West that it was not going to submit to it, that it was a special land with its own way of life, with its own people, with its own cultural code. Then Russian soldiers had to “punch” the West more than once. But the starting point was precisely the battles won by Alexander Nevsky.

Followers of political Eurasianism say that Alexander Nevsky predetermined Russia’s Eurasian choice. During his reign, Rus' developed more peaceful relations with the Mongols than with the German knights. At least the Mongols did not seek to destroy the identity of the Russian people by imposing their beliefs on them. In any case, the political wisdom of the prince was that in difficult times for the Russian land, he was able to relatively secure Novgorod Rus' in the east, winning battles in the west. This was his military and diplomatic talent.

776 years have passed, but the memory of the feat of Russian soldiers in the Battle of Lake Peipsi remains. In the 2000s, a number of monuments to Alexander Nevsky were opened in Russia - in St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Kursk, Volgograd, Alexandrov, Kaliningrad and many other cities. Eternal memory to the prince and all Russian soldiers who defended their land in that battle.

Choosing a battle location. The patrols reported to Prince Alexander that a small detachment of the enemy had moved towards Izborsk, and most of the army had turned towards Lake Pskov. Having received this news, Alexander turned his troops east to the shores of Lake Peipsi. The choice was dictated by strategic and tactical calculations. At this position, Alexander Nevsky with his regiments cut off all possible routes of approach to Novgorod for the enemy, thus finding himself in the very center of all possible enemy routes. Probably, the Russian military leader knew how 8 years ago his father, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, defeated the knights on the ice-bound waters of the Embakh River, and knew about the advantages of fighting with heavily armed knights in winter conditions.

Alexander Nevsky decided to give battle to the enemy on Lake Peipsi, north of the Uzmen tract, near the island of Voroniy Kamen. Several important sources have reached us about the famous “Battle of the Ice”. From the Russian side - these are the Novgorod Chronicles and the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky, from Western sources - the "Rhymed Chronicle" (author unknown).

Question about numbers. One of the most difficult and controversial issues is the size of enemy armies. Chroniclers on both sides did not provide accurate data. Some historians believed that the number of German troops was 10-12 thousand people, and the Novgorodians - 12-15 thousand people. It is likely that few knights took part in the battle on the ice, and most of the German army were militias from among the Estonians and Livonians.

Preparing the parties for battle. On the morning of April 5, 1242, the crusading knights lined up in battle formation, ironically called by Russian chroniclers the “great pig” or wedge. The tip of the “wedge” was aimed at the Russians. Knights clad in heavy armor stood on the flanks of the military formation, and lightly armed warriors were located inside.

There is no detailed information in the sources about the combat disposition of the Russian army. This was probably a “regimental row” with a guard regiment in front, common in the military practice of Russian princes of that time. The battle formations of the Russian troops were facing the steep bank, and Alexander Nevsky’s squad was hidden in the forest behind one of the flanks. The Germans were forced to advance along open ice, not knowing the exact location and number of Russian troops.

Progress of the battle. Despite the meager coverage of the course of the famous battle in the sources, the course of the battle is schematically clear. Exposing their long spears, the knights attacked the “brow”, i.e. center of the Russian army. Showered with a hail of arrows, the “wedge” crashed into the location of the guard regiment. The author of the “Rhymed Chronicle” wrote: “The banners of the brothers penetrated the ranks of the riflemen, swords were heard ringing, helmets were seen being cut, and the dead were falling on both sides.” The Russian chronicler also wrote about the Germans’ breakthrough of the guard regiment: “The Germans fought their way like pigs through the regiments.”

This first success of the crusaders was apparently foreseen by the Russian commander, as well as the difficulties encountered after that, insurmountable for the enemy. This is how one of the best Russian military historians wrote about this stage of the battle: “...Having stumbled upon the steep shore of the lake, the sedentary knights clad in armor could not develop their success. On the contrary, the knightly cavalry became crowded, because the rear ranks of the knights pushed the front who had nowhere to turn around for battle."

Russian troops did not allow the Germans to develop their success on the flanks, and the German wedge found itself firmly squeezed into pincers, losing the harmony of its ranks and freedom of maneuver, which turned out to be disastrous for the crusaders. At the most unexpected moment for the enemy, Alexander ordered the ambush regiment to attack and encircle the Germans. “And that slaughter was great and evil for the Germans and the people,” the chronicler reported.

Russian militias and warriors armed with special hooks pulled the knights off their horses, after which the heavily armed “God’s nobles” became completely helpless. Under the weight of the crowded knights, the melted ice began to crack and crack in some places. Only part of the crusader army managed to escape from the encirclement, trying to escape. Some of the knights drowned. At the end of the “Battle of the Ice,” the Russian regiments pursued the adversary retreating across the ice of Lake Peipus “seven miles to the Sokolitsky shore.” The defeat of the Germans was crowned by an agreement between the order and Novgorod, according to which the crusaders abandoned all captured Russian lands and returned prisoners; for their part, the Pskovites also released captured Germans.

The meaning of the battle, its unique result. The defeat of the Swedish and German knights is a bright page military history Russia. In the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice, Russian troops under the command of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, performing an essentially defensive task, were distinguished by decisive and consistent offensive actions. Each subsequent campaign of Alexander Nevsky's regiments had its own tactical task, but the commander himself did not lose sight of the overall strategy. So, in the battles of 1241-1242. The Russian military leader launched a series of successive attacks on the enemy before the decisive battle took place.

The Novgorod troops made excellent use of the surprise factor in all battles with the Swedes and Germans. An unexpected attack destroyed the Swedish knights who had landed at the mouth of the Neva, with a swift and unexpected blow the Germans were driven out of Pskov, and then from Koporye, and finally, a quick and sudden attack by an ambush regiment in the Battle of the Ice, which led to complete confusion of the enemy's battle ranks. The battle formations and tactics of the Russian troops turned out to be more flexible than the notorious wedge formation of the order’s troops. Alexander Nevsky, using the terrain, managed to deprive the enemy of space and freedom of maneuver, encircle and destroy.

The uniqueness of the battle on Lake Peipsi is that for the first time in military practice In the Middle Ages, heavy cavalry was defeated by foot troops. According to the fair remark of a historian of military art, “the tactical encirclement of the German knightly army by the Russian army, i.e. the use of one of the complex and decisive forms of military art, is the only case the entire feudal period of the war. Only the Russian army under the command of a talented commander could carry out the tactical encirclement of a strong, well-armed enemy."

The victory over the German knights was extremely important in military and political terms. The German onslaught on the Eastern Europe. Novgorod the Great retained the opportunity to maintain economic and cultural ties with European countries, defended the possibility of access to the Baltic Sea, defended Russian lands in the North-Western region. The defeat of the crusaders pushed other peoples to resist crusader aggression. This is how I rated it historical meaning Famous historian of the Battle of the Ice Ancient Rus' M.N. Tikhomirov: “In the history of the fight against the German conquerors, the Battle of the Ice is greatest date. This battle can only be compared with the Grunwald defeat of the Teutonic knights in 1410. The fight against the Germans continued further, but the Germans were never able to inflict any significant harm on the Russian lands, and Pskov remained a formidable stronghold against which all subsequent German attacks were broken." Despite the fact that we see the author’s well-known exaggeration of the significance of the victory on Lake Peipus, we can agree with him.

Another important consequence of the Battle of the Ice should be assessed within the framework of the general situation in Rus' in the 40s. XIII century In the event of the defeat of Novgorod, a real threat would have been created of the seizure of the northwestern Russian lands by the troops of the order, and given that Rus' had already been conquered by the Tatars, it would probably have been twice as difficult for the Russian people to get rid of double oppression.

With all the severity of Tatar oppression, there was one circumstance that ultimately turned out to be in favor of Rus'. The Mongol-Tatars who conquered Rus' in the 13th century. remained pagans, respectful and wary of other people's faith and not encroaching on it. The Teutonic army, supervised personally by the Pope, tried by all means to introduce Catholicism in the conquered territories. The destruction or at least undermining of the Orthodox faith for the scattered Russian lands that have lost their unity would mean the loss of cultural identity and the loss of any hope for the restoration of political independence. It was Orthodoxy in the era of Tatarism and political fragmentation, when the population of numerous lands and principalities of Rus' almost lost their sense of unity, that was the basis for the revival of national identity.

Read also other topics Part IX "Rus between East and West: battles of the 13th and 15th centuries." section "Rus and Slavic countries in the Middle Ages":

• 39. “Who is the essence and the split-off”: Tatar-Mongols by the beginning of the 13th century.
• 41. Genghis Khan and the “Muslim front”: campaigns, sieges, conquests
• 42. Rus' and the Polovtsians on the eve of Kalka
  • Polovtsy. Military-political organization and social structure of the Polovtsian hordes
  • Prince Mstislav Udaloy. Princely Congress in Kyiv - the decision to help the Polovtsians
• 44. Crusaders in the Eastern Baltic

Prince Alexander Yaroslavich ruled in Novgorod from 1236. In 1240, when the aggression of the Swedish feudal lords against Novgorod began, he was not yet 20 years old. He took part in his father's campaigns, was well read and had an understanding of war and the art of war. But he didn’t have much personal experience yet. Nevertheless, on July 21 (July 15), 1240, with the help of his small squad and the Ladoga militia, he defeated the Swedish army, which landed at the mouth of the Izhora River (at its confluence with the Neva), with a sudden and swift attack. For his victory in the Battle of Neva, in which the young prince showed himself to be a skilled military leader and showed personal valor and heroism, he was nicknamed “Nevsky”. But soon, due to the machinations of the Novgorod nobility, Prince Alexander left Novgorod and went to reign in Peryaslavl-Zalessky.

The defeat of the Swedes on the Neva did not completely eliminate the danger hanging over Russia. Already in the early autumn of 1240, the Livonian knights invaded the Novgorod possessions and occupied the city of Izborsk. Soon Pskov shared his fate. In the same autumn of 1240, the Livonians captured the southern approaches to Novgorod, invaded the lands adjacent to the Gulf of Finland and created the Koporye fortress here, where they left their garrison. This was an important bridgehead that made it possible to control the Novgorod trade routes along the Neva and plan further advance to the East. After this, the Livonian aggressors invaded the very center of the Novgorod possessions and captured the Novgorod suburb of Tesovo. In their raids they came within 30 kilometers of Novgorod. Neglecting past grievances, at the request of the Novgorodians, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod at the end of 1240 and continued the fight against the invaders. The following year, he recaptured Koporye and Pskov from the knights, returning most of their western possessions to the Novgorodians. But the enemy was still strong and the decisive battle lay ahead.

In the spring of 1242, reconnaissance of the Livonian Order was sent from Dorpat (Yuryev) in order to test the strength of the Russian troops. About 18 kilometers south of Dorpat, the order's reconnaissance detachment managed to defeat the Russian "dispersal" under the command of Domash Tverdislavich and Kerebet. This was a reconnaissance detachment moving ahead of the army of Alexander Yaroslavich in the direction of Dorpat. The surviving part of the detachment returned to the prince and reported to him about what had happened. The victory over a small detachment of Russians inspired the order's command. He developed a tendency to underestimate Russian forces and became convinced that they could be easily defeated. The Livonians decided to give battle to the Russians and for this they set out from Dorpat to the south with their main forces, as well as their allies, led by the master of the order himself. The main part of the troops consisted of knights clad in armor.

Battle on the Ice. Scheme; The Battle of Lake Peipsi, which went down in history as the “Battle of the Ice,” began on the morning of April 11 (5), 1242. At sunrise, noticing a small detachment of Russian riflemen, the knightly “pig” rushed towards him. The riflemen took the brunt of the "iron regiment"'s attack and with courageous resistance significantly disrupted its advance. Still, the knights managed to break through the defensive formations of the Russian "brow". A fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued. And at its very height, when the “pig” was completely drawn into the battle, at a signal from Alexander Nevsky, the regiments of the left and right hands hit its flanks with all their might. Not expecting the appearance of such Russian reinforcements, the knights were confused and, under their powerful blows, began to gradually retreat. And soon this retreat took on the character of a disorderly flight. Then suddenly, from behind cover, a cavalry ambush regiment rushed into battle. The Livonian troops suffered a crushing defeat.

The Russians drove them across the ice another 7 versts to the western shore of Lake Peipus. 400 knights were destroyed and 50 were captured. Some of the Livonians drowned in the lake. Those who escaped from the encirclement were pursued by Russian cavalry, completing their defeat. Only those who were in the tail of the “pig” and were on horseback managed to escape: the master of the order, commanders and bishops.

The significance of the victory of Russian troops under the leadership of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German “dog knights” was truly historical. The Order asked for peace. Peace was concluded on terms dictated by the Russians. The order's ambassadors solemnly renounced all encroachments on the Russian lands that were temporarily captured by the order. The movement of Western invaders into Rus' was stopped. The western borders of Rus', established after the Battle of the Ice, lasted for centuries. The Battle of the Ice has gone down in history as a remarkable example of military tactics and strategy. Skillful construction of the battle formation, clear organization of interaction between its individual parts, especially infantry and cavalry, constant reconnaissance and taking into account the enemy’s weaknesses when organizing the battle, correct choice of place and time, good organization of tactical pursuit, destruction of most of the superior enemy - all this determined the Russian military art as advanced in the world.

"From Ancient Rus' to the Russian Empire." Shishkin Sergey Petrovich, Ufa.

One of the most significant events of the medieval Russian history became the Battle of the Ice of 1242, which took place on April 5 on the ice of Lake Peipsi. The battle summed up the war that lasted almost two years between the Livonian Order and the northern Russian lands - the Novgorod and Pskov republics. This battle went down in history as a vivid example of the heroism of Russian soldiers who defended the freedom and independence of the country from foreign invaders.

Historical context and beginning of the war

The end of the first half of the 13th century was very difficult and tragic for Rus'. In 1237-1238, it swept through the northeastern principalities. Dozens of cities were destroyed and burned, people were killed or taken prisoner. The territory of the country was in severe desolation. In 1240, the western campaign of the Mongols began, during which the blow fell on the southern principalities. The western and northern neighbors of Rus' - the Livonian Order, Sweden and Denmark - decided to take advantage of this situation.

Back in 1237, Pope Gregory IX declared another crusade against the “pagans” who inhabited Finland. The fighting of the Order of the Sword against the local population in the Baltics continued throughout the first half of the 13th century. Repeatedly, German knights undertook campaigns against Pskov and Novgorod. In 1236, the Swordsmen became part of the more powerful Teutonic Order. The new formation was named the Livonian Order.

In July 1240, the Swedes attacked Rus'. Novgorod Prince Alexander Yaroslavich quickly set out with his army and defeated the invaders at the mouth of the Neva. It was for this feat of arms that the commander received the honorary nickname Nevsky. In August of the same year, the Livonian knights began fighting. First they captured the Izborsk fortress, and after the siege, Pskov. They left their governors in Pskov. The following year the Germans began to devastate Novgorod lands, rob merchants, take the population captive. Under these conditions, the Novgorodians asked the Vladimir prince Yaroslav to send his son Alexander, who reigned in Pereyaslavl.

Actions of Alexander Yaroslavich

Arriving in Novgorod, Alexander first decided to avert the immediate threat. For this purpose, a campaign was undertaken against the Livonian fortress of Koporye, built near the Gulf of Finland, on the territory of the Vod tribe. The fortress was taken and destroyed, and the remnants of the German garrison were taken prisoner.

Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky. Years of life 1221 - 1263

In the spring of 1242, Alexander set out on a campaign against Pskov. In addition to his squad, with him was the Vladimir-Suzdal squad of his younger brother Andrei and a regiment of the Novgorod militia. Having liberated Pskov from the Livonians, Alexander strengthened his army with the joining Pskovites and continued the campaign. Having crossed into the territory of the Order, reconnaissance was sent ahead. The main forces were deployed “in the villages,” that is, in local villages and hamlets.

Progress of the battle

The advance detachment met the German knights and entered into battle with them. Before superior forces, Russian soldiers had to retreat. After the return of reconnaissance, Alexander turned his troops, “backing up” back to the shore of Lake Peipsi. A convenient place for the battle was chosen here. Russian troops stood on the eastern shore of Uzmen (a small lake or strait between Lake Peipus and Pskov Lake), not far from the Crow Stone.

Battle map

The location was chosen in such a way that right behind the warriors there was a wooded snow-covered shore, on which the movement of cavalry was difficult. At the same time, the Russian troops were in shallow water, which was frozen to the very bottom and could easily withstand many armed people. But on the territory of the lake itself there were areas with loose ice - whitefish.

The battle began with a ramming attack by heavy Livonian cavalry directly into the center of the Russian formation. It is believed that Alexander stationed the weaker Novgorod militia here, and placed professional squads on the flanks. This construction provided a serious advantage. After the attack, the knights got stuck in the center; having broken through the ranks of the defenders, they could not turn around on the shore, having no room to maneuver. At this time, the Russian cavalry struck the flanks, surrounding the enemy.

The Chud warriors, allied to the Livonians, walked behind the knights and were the first to scatter. The chronicle notes that in total 400 Germans were killed, 50 were taken prisoner, and the Chuds died “innumerable.” The Sofia Chronicle says that some of the Livonians died in the lake. Having defeated the enemy, the Russian army returned to Novgorod, taking prisoners.

The meaning of the battle

First brief information about the battle are contained in the Novgorod Chronicle. Subsequent chronicles and lives of Nevsky provide additional information. Today there is a lot of popular literature devoted to the description of the battle. Here the emphasis is often placed on colorful pictures rather than on correspondence with real events. Summary books for children rarely allow us to fully describe the entire historical outline of the battle.

Historians assess the strengths of the parties differently. Traditionally, the number of troops is approximately 12-15 thousand people on each side. At that time these were very serious armies. True, German sources claim that only a few dozen “brothers” died in the battle. However, here we are talking only about members of the Order, of whom there have never been many. In fact, these were officers, under whose command were ordinary knights and auxiliary warriors - bollards. In addition, along with the Germans, allies from Chud took part in the war, which Livonian sources did not take into account.

The defeat of the German knights in 1242 was of great importance for the situation in northwestern Rus'. Under the conditions, it was very important to stop the Order’s advance on Russian lands for a long time. The next serious war with the Livonians will take place only in more than 20 years.

Prince Alexander Nevsky, who commanded the combined forces, was subsequently canonized. In the history of Russia, an order named after the famous commander was established twice - the first time, the second time - during the Great Patriotic War.

Of course, it is worth saying that the roots of this event go back to the era of the Crusades. And it is not possible to analyze them in more detail within the text. However, in our training courses there is a 1.5 hour video lesson, which in the form of a presentation examines all the nuances of this difficult topic. Become a participant in our training courses