Brief biography of Alexander Nevsky. The origin of Alexander Nevsky Brief biography of Alexander Nevsky

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2. Alexander It was as if my elder sister had not been in my life for a long time. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the family did not impose the role of a nanny on her - until I went to school, my mother did not work and looked after me herself. I remember Alexandra more or less steadily only

The history of our country contains many glorious battles. Some of them have gained particular notoriety. For example, almost anyone in a conversation about famous battles will mention Neva battle And Battle on the Ice. It is not surprising, because thanks to these events, Russia was once able to maintain and protect its borders. But both the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice could have ended more deplorably if not for the great commander who led our troops - Alexander Nevskiy.

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short biography

began May 13, 1221. His father was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, and his mother was Rostislava Mstislavna. The boy's childhood passed in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, but it did not last long. Already at the age of nine, Alexander was sent to rule Novgorod along with his brother Fedor. In 1233, Fedor died, and three years later Yaroslav Vsevolodovich left for Kiev.

In this way, Alexander became the sole ruler of Novgorod at the age of 15.

Personal life

In 1239, the prince found family happiness in Toropets with Princess Alexandra of Polotsk. The wedding took place in the church of St. George. This marriage resulted in the birth of several children:

• Basil - 1240;
• Dmitry - 1250;
• Andrew - 1255;
• Daniel - 1261;
• Evdokia.

Neva battle

Alexander began to be called Nevsky, thanks to battle on the Neva. This battle brought the prince worldwide fame. The Battle of the Neva took place in 1240 on the banks of the Neva River. The battle was against the Swedes, who wanted to capture Pskov and Novgorod. It is noteworthy that Alexander's army, without the support of the main army, was able to defeat the enemy. Before the battle, the prince went out to the troops with words of support, which have survived to this day thanks to the annals.

These words inspired the warriors, and they were able to win a confident and crushing victory. The Swedes suffered huge losses and were forced to retreat.

In spite of successful outcome of the Neva battle, Alexander had a conflict with the Novgorodians, and the prince was forced to leave the city. But in 1241, the Livonian Order, consisting of German and Danish troops, invaded the territory of Novgorod. Novgorodians were forced to turn to the prince for help. Alexander did not disappoint - having come with his army, he liberated the cities captured by the Livonian Order, and then led his troops to the enemy border. There, on Lake Peipus, the decisive battle took place.

Battle on the Ice

April 5, 1242 on the ice of Lake Peipsi met the troops of Alexander Nevsky and the Livonian Order. Thanks to the cunning tactics of the prince, the enemy troops were surrounded from the flanks and defeated. The remnants of the detachments tried to escape from the battlefield, running away across the frozen lake. For 7.4 km they were pursued by princely troops.

There are several versions of this chase. Very popular information is that the soldiers of the Livonian Order were dressed in heavy armor. The thin ice of Lake Peipus could not bear their weight and cracked. Therefore, most of those enemies who survived drowned. However, Wikipedia mentions that this information appeared only in later sources. But in the records made in the coming years after the battle, nothing is said about this.

Anyway, The battle on the ice was decisive. After him, a truce was concluded and for the cities of Russia there was no longer a threat from the Order.

Years of government

Alexander became famous not only for victories in famous battles. He understood that battles alone were not enough to protect the country. Therefore, in 1247, after the death of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander went on a visit to the Horde Khan Batu. The negotiations were successful, so the prince received the Kiev principality in control, and his brother Andrei - Vladimir.

In 1252 Andrei renounced the principality of Vladimir and fled. This almost provoked a new conflict with the Tatar-Mongols, but Alexander again paid a visit to the Horde. Thus, he achieved the opportunity to manage the Vladimir principality.

In the future, Alexander continued to adhere to the same line of behavior. This policy is perceived in two ways by society. Many considered and consider Nevsky practically a traitor, not understanding why he was constantly in contact with the Horde. In addition, Nevsky not only visited the khans, but also contributed in every possible way to the implementation of their plans. For example, in 1257, Alexander helped the Horde to conduct a census of the population of Russia, against which the whole people were. And in general, in relations with the Tatar-Mongols, he showed humility and, without stint, paid tribute.

On the other hand, thanks to such a policy, he was able to free Russia from the obligation to provide the Horde with troops for military campaigns and saved the country from the Tatar-Mongol raids. The main thing for him was the survival, both of his own and of the whole people. And he successfully coped with this task.

Death

During the next visit to the Tatar-Mongols, which took place in 1262, Prince Alexander Nevsky became very ill. By the time he returned to his homeland, his condition was very serious. Before his death, the prince managed to accept Orthodoxy under the name of Alexy. His life ended on November 14, 1263, the funeral took place in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery.

Curious facts

The 13th century is rightfully considered one of the most difficult periods in the history of Russia: princely strife continues, destroying a single political, economic, spiritual and cultural space, and formidable conquerors from the depths of Asia, the Mongols-Tatars, approach the eastern borders of the country in 1223.

In 1221, another Rurikovich was born - Alexander Yaroslavovich. His father, Prince Yaroslav of Pereyaslavl, will soon take the throne of Kiev, which instructs him to maintain order throughout the Russian land. In 1228, the father leaves the young prince Alexander, together with his elder brother Fedor, to reign in Novgorod under the tutelage of Tiun Yakun and the voivode Fyodor Danilovich. Despite Yaroslav's inattention to Novgorod, the Novgorodians call him again in 1230, hoping that the prince will act as before: he will leave his offspring to reign, and he himself will "disappear in the lower lands." The calculation of the Novgorodians is simple - they want to get a prince who respects their orders and customs. In 1233, Fedor Yaroslavovich dies at the age of 13, and 12-year-old Alexander, under his father's banner, takes part in a military campaign against Derpt (Yuriev) for the first time. The campaign did not bring good luck, and the ruin of North-Eastern Russia by Batu in 1237-1238 became the reason for the intensification of the activities of the Livonian Order and Sweden, aimed at seizing the territories of the Novgorod Republic.

In 1240, the Swedes landed at the mouth of the Neva to march on Novgorod, and the knights of the Livonian Order laid siege to Pskov. The Swedish leader sent Alexander an arrogant message: "If you can, resist, know that I am already here and will captivate your land." Alexander decided not to wait for the activity of the Swedes and, with a small squad of Novgorodians and Ladoga, advanced to the Neva and, catching the Swedes by surprise, inflicted a crushing defeat on them. Alexander's complete victory turned him into a hero. A special halo of the prince's personality was given by the fact that before the battle, the Izhora elder Pelgusius had a vision that a boat was sailing along the Neva with Russian soldiers and saints Boris and Gleb, who came to help their relative.

However, it seemed to the Novgorodians that the prince was proud of this victory, so they "showed him the way out of the city." The capture of Pskov by the Livonians and their advancement right up to Novgorod itself forced the Novgorodians to change their mind, and in 1241 Alexander again became the prince of Novgorod.

On April 5, 1242, Novgorodians and Suzdalians completely defeated the army of the Livonian Order on Lake Peipsi, thus destroying the possibility of further advancement of their western neighbors to the East. In the Battle of the Ice, 50 knights were captured, which had never happened before.

In 1245, the Lithuanian prince Midoving invaded the Russian borders. Upon learning of this, Alexander gathered a squad and set out on a campaign. The Lithuanians became aware of the approach of the prince and the army of Midoving fled, frightened by his mere name, but the Novgorodians overtook him and inflicted a crushing defeat. Over the five years of his activity, Alexander managed to expand the Novgorod possessions, having won back part of Latgale from the Livonian Order.

Now the main strategic direction of Alexander's foreign policy is relations with the Horde. In 1246, Prince Yaroslav was poisoned in Karakorum, and in 1247, Prince Alexander went to the Volga to Batu, who warmly received the prince and even became his adoptive father.

Alexander Nevsky ruled Russia until 1263. On the way home after another trip to Karakorum, the prince died. Perhaps he, too, was poisoned.

Alexander Nevsky - Novgorod prince and commander. Prince of Novgorod (1236-1240, 1241-1252 and 1257-1259), Grand Duke of Kiev (1249-1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1252-1263). Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Traditionally considered by Russian historians to be a Russian national hero, a truly Christian ruler, the guardian of the Orthodox faith and the freedom of the people.

Childhood and youth

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky was born in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, Alexander's father, was at the time of the birth of his son the Prince of Pereyaslavl, and later - the Grand Duke of Kiev and Vladimir. Rostislava Mstislavna, the mother of the famous commander - Princess Toropetskaya. Alexander had an older brother Fedor, who died at the age of 13, as well as younger brothers Andrei, Mikhail, Daniel, Konstantin, Yaroslav, Athanasius and Vasily. In addition, the future prince had sisters Maria and Ulyana.

At the age of 4, the boy passed the rite of passage into the soldiers in the Transfiguration Cathedral and became a prince. In 1230, his father put Alexander together with his older brother to reign in Novgorod. But after 3 years, Fedor dies, and Alexander remains the sole successor of the principality. In 1236, Yaroslav leaves for Kiev, then for Vladimir, and the 15-year-old prince remains to rule Novgorod on his own.

First campaigns

The biography of Alexander Nevsky is closely connected with the wars. Alexander and his father undertook the first military campaign to Derpt in order to recapture the city from the Livonians. The battle ended with the victory of the Novgorodians. Then the war for Smolensk began with the Lithuanians, the victory in which remained with Alexander.

On July 15, 1240, the Battle of the Neva took place, significant in that the troops of Alexander, without the support of the main army, set up a camp of the Swedes at the mouth of the Izhora River. But the Novgorod boyars were afraid of the increased influence of Alexander. Representatives of the nobility, with the help of various tricks and incitement, ensured that the commander left for Vladimir to his father. At this time, the German army made a trip to Russia, capturing the Pskov, Izborsk, Vozh lands, the knights took the city of Koporye. The enemy army came close to Novgorod. Then the Novgorodians themselves began to beg the prince to return.

In 1241, Alexander Nevsky arrived in Novgorod, then liberated Pskov, and on April 5, 1242, the famous battle took place - the Battle of the Ice - on Lake Peipus. The battle took place on a frozen lake. Prince Alexander used a tactical trick, luring the knights, dressed in heavy armor, onto a thin layer of ice. The Russian cavalry, attacking from the flanks, completed the defeat of the invaders. After this battle, the knightly order abandoned all recent conquests, and part of Latgale also went to the Novgorodians.

After 3 years, Alexander liberated Torzhok, Toropets and Bezhetsk, captured by the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Then, solely by the forces of his troops, without the support of the Novgorodians and Vladimirians, he caught up and destroyed the remnants of the Lithuanian army, and on the way back he defeated another Lithuanian military unit near Usvyat.

Governing body

Yaroslav dies in 1247. Alexander Nevsky becomes the Prince of Kiev and All Russia. But since Kiev lost its strategic importance after the Tatar invasion, Alexander did not go there, but remained to live in Novgorod.

In 1252 Andrei and Yaroslav, brothers of Alexander, opposed the Horde, but the Tatar invaders defeated the defenders of the Russian land. Yaroslav settled in Pskov, and Andrei was forced to flee to Sweden, so the principality of Vladimir passed to Alexander. Immediately after this, a new war with the Lithuanians and the Teutons followed.

The role of Alexander Nevsky in history is perceived ambiguously. The Novgorod prince constantly fought battles with Western troops, but at the same time he bowed before the Khan of the Golden Horde. The prince repeatedly traveled to the Mongol Empire to honor the ruler, and especially supported the allies of the khan. In 1257, he even personally appeared in Novgorod with Tatar ambassadors to express support for the Horde.

In addition, the son of Vasily, who resisted the invasion of the Tatars, Alexander exiled to Suzdal, and put 7-year-old Dmitry in his place. Such a policy of the prince in Russia itself is often called treacherous, since cooperation with the rulers of the Golden Horde suppressed the resistance of the Russian princes for many years to come. Many people do not perceive Alexander as a politician, but they consider him an excellent warrior, and his exploits are not forgotten.

In 1259, Alexander, with the help of threats of a Tatar invasion, obtained from the Novgorodians consent to a census of the population and the payment of tribute to the Horde, which the Russian people resisted for many years. This is another fact from the biography of Nevsky, which does not please the supporters of the prince.

Battle on the Ice

At the end of August 1240, the crusaders of the Livonian Order invaded the Pskov land. After a short siege, the German knights captured Izborsk. Then the defenders of the Catholic faith laid siege to Pskov and occupied it with the assistance of traitorous boyars. This was followed by an invasion of Novgorod land.

At the call of Alexander Nevsky, troops from Vladimir and Suzdal arrived to help the Novgorodians under the command of Prince Andrei, the brother of the Novgorod ruler. The united Novgorod-Vladimir army undertook a campaign against Pskov land and, cutting off the roads from Livonia to Pskov, took possession of this city, as well as Izborsk, by storm.

After this defeat, the Livonian knights, having gathered a large army, marched to the Pskov and Peipsi lakes. The basis of the army of the Livonian Order was the heavily armed knightly cavalry, as well as the infantry, which many times outnumbered the knights. In April 1242, a battle took place that went down in history as the Battle of the Ice.

For a long time, historians could not determine the exact location of the battle, because the hydrography of Lake Peipus often changed, but scientists later managed to indicate the coordinates of the battle on the map. Experts agreed that the Livonian rhymed chronicle describes the battle more accurately.

The Rhymed Chronicle states that Novgorod had a large number of shooters who were the first to take the blow of the knights. The knights lined up in a "pig" - a deep column, starting with a blunt wedge. Such a formation allowed the heavily armed knightly cavalry to strike at the enemy line and break the battle formations, but in this case such a strategy turned out to be erroneous.

While the forward detachments of the Livonians tried to break through the dense formation of the Novgorod infantry, the princely squads remained in place. Soon the combatants hit the enemy's flanks, crushing and mixing the ranks of the German troops. Novgorodians won a decisive victory.

Some historians claim that the knightly formations consisted of 12-14 thousand soldiers, and the Novgorod militia numbered 15-16 thousand people. Other experts believe these figures are unreasonably high.

The outcome of the battle decided the outcome of the war. The order made peace, abandoning the conquered Pskov and Novgorod territories. This battle played a huge role in history, influenced the development of the region, and preserved the freedom of Novgorodians.

Personal life

Alexander Nevsky married in 1239, immediately after the victory over the Lithuanians near Smolensk. Alexandra, daughter of Bryachislav of Polotsk, became the wife of the prince. The young people got married in the church of St. George in Toropets. A year later, their son Vasily was born.

Later, his wife gave Alexander three more sons: Dmitry, the future prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslavl and Vladimir, Andrei, who would be the Kostroma, Vladimir, Novgorod and Gorodets princes, and Daniel, the first prince of Moscow. The princely couple also had a daughter, Evdokia, who later married Konstantin Rostislavich Smolensky.

Death

In 1262, Alexander Nevsky went to the Horde to try to prevent the impending Tatar campaign. A new invasion was provoked by the murders of tribute collectors in Suzdal, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, Yaroslavl and Vladimir. In the Mongol Empire, the prince fell seriously ill, and returned to Russia already dying.

Upon returning home, Alexander Nevsky takes a solemn oath of Orthodox monks under the name of Alexy. Thanks to this act, and also because of the regular refusals of the Roman papacy to accept Catholicism, Grand Duke Alexander became the favorite prince of the Russian clergy. Moreover, in 1543 he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a miracle worker.

Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263, and was buried in the Nativity Monastery in Vladimir. In 1724, the emperor ordered the reburial of the relics of the holy prince in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg. The monument to the prince was erected on Alexander Nevsky Square in front of the entrance to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. This monument is presented in the photo in historical publications and magazines.

It is known that part of the relics of Alexander Nevsky is in the Temple of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia (Bulgaria), as well as in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir. In 2011, the image with a particle of relics was transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Church in the Ural village of Shurala. The icon of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky can often be found in Russian churches.

• Prince Alexander won the main military victories in his youth. By the time of the Battle of the Neva, the commander was 20 years old, and during the Battle of the Ice, the prince was 22 years old. Subsequently, Nevsky was considered a politician and diplomat, but more still a military leader. In all his life, Prince Alexander did not lose a single battle.
• Alexander Nevsky is the only secular Orthodox ruler in all of Europe and in Russia who did not compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain power.

• After the death of the ruler, “The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander” appeared, a literary work of the hagiographic genre, created in the 80s of the XIII century. It is assumed that the compilation of the "Life of Alexander Nevsky" was carried out in the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin in Vladimir, where the body of the prince was buried.
• Feature films are often made about Alexander Nevsky. In 1938, the most famous film was released, called "Alexander Nevsky". He became the director of the picture, and the cantata "Alexander Nevsky" was created by the Soviet composer for the choir and soloists with the orchestra.

• In 2008, the competition "Name of Russia" was held. The event was organized by representatives of the state television channel Rossiya together with the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Public Opinion Foundation.
• Netizens chose the "Name of Russia" from a ready-made list of "five hundred great figures of the country." As a result, the competition almost ended in scandal, because it took the leading position. The organizers said that "numerous spammers" voted for the communist leader. As a result, Alexander Nevsky was named the official winner. According to many, it was the figure of the Novgorod prince that should have suited both the Orthodox community, and Slavophile patriots, as well as simply lovers of Russian history.

The Orthodox commander, Russian prince, Saint Alexander Nevsky lived in the 13th century. During the years of his reign, he won decisive victories in unequal battles with the crusaders, while maintaining the integrity of the territory of Holy Russia.

Deep faith and heartfelt prayer accompanied the prince throughout his life, at the end of which he accepted the monastic schema.

Brief biography of Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Yaroslavich was born in the Pereyaslav princely family in 1221, on May 13. He spent a short childhood in Pereslavl-Zalessky, a city located in the modern Yaroslavl region, 140 km from Moscow.

Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, as a far-sighted father, decided to devote his son to the warriors when the child was 4 years old, at the same time the boy received the title of prince. The rite was performed by Bishop Simon of Suzdal at the local Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral.

At the age of seven, Alexander, together with his brother Fedor, a nine-year-old prince, remained to rule in Novgorod without a father, with loyal boyars. Due to popular rejection, the brothers returned to Pereslavl for a while, but, two years later, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich again leaves his sons to manage Novgorod.

In 1233, Fedor died, the boy was only 13 years old, and Alexander was left to reign alone. At the age of fifteen, the young warrior became a full-fledged prince of Novgorod, since his father left to rule Kiev.

During his life and principality, the ruler fearlessly fought with the crusaders, won brilliant victories over the Swedes on the Neva, over the Germans on Lake Peipsi and over the Lithuanians at Lake Zhizhitskoye, skillfully maintained peaceful relations with the Mongols. The commander died during the return from the Horde to Holy Russia in 1263, November 14, at the age of 42.

Icon of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky

The guardian of the Russian lands and the Orthodox faith from the encroachments of the Catholic Church, the Grand Duke was canonized in 1547.

Most often, his face is depicted on icons in military armor.

But there are other options for depicting the Blessed Prince: in the clothes of a schemer in adulthood, with a hand pressed to his heart.

As a warrior, he defended the Orthodox faith from the claims of the Pope and Muslims. As a hermit, to this day he answers sincere prayers for the fate of the Russian people, for the defense of the Fatherland from enemy attacks, for giving courage before a military feat.

Historical portrait of Alexander Nevsky

During the reign of the prince, difficult trials fell. Pope Innocent IV set out to subjugate the Orthodox people to the Catholic Church, having equipped crusades against Russia.

Being between two fires: Catholics and the Tatar-Mongol yoke, the ruler chose the path of preserving Orthodoxy.

He rushed into battle against the crusaders and concluded a settlement agreement with the Mongols, who were tolerant of the faith of the Russian people.

By his faithful service to the Motherland and Christ, the prince became the famous ancestor of the Moscow rulers and went down in history as the patron saint of Orthodoxy in Russia.

Activity

A wise politician and manager, the prince was aware of the power superiority of the Mongols over the Russian people, and therefore strove for peaceful relations with the Mongol khans. He managed to obtain permission for the Russian princes to bring tribute to the khan, which allowed him to get years of respite from the raids of the Mongol Baskaks.

The prince threw many forces into strengthening the borders of cities and restoring trade relations interrupted by the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols, supported the activities of artisans, favored the chroniclers.

The exploits of Alexander Nevsky

In 1240, the Swedes set off on a crusade against Russia, plundered by the Tatar-Mongols. Their leader, Jarl Birger, was so sure of his victory that, having sent an arrogant letter to the Russian prince, he freely settled down with his army at the mouth of the Izhora (the Neva river basin).

Praying for God's help, the ruler with a small retinue secretly moved to the place where the crusaders stopped. With a sudden attack on a relaxed enemy on July 15, 1240, the Russian commander managed to inflict significant losses on him. The Swedes fled downstream, saving the remnants of their troops.

Soon after the battle near the Neva, the ruler had to fight the German crusaders who captured Pskov and invaded the Novgorod open spaces, trading in robbery and robbery. In 1241, the Russian army managed to recapture Koporye with its fortress, and only by the next year, with heavy losses, Alexander's soldiers recaptured Pskov.

The upcoming final battle was to take place on Pskov land, where the Livonian Order moved with reinforcements. However, seeing that the ice was still strong in early April, the Russian commander decided to meet the enemy in the shallow waters of Lake Peipus on April 5, 1242.

Having guessed the tactics of the enemy, who lined up in a wedge, the Russian prince weakened the middle of his army, concentrating the main forces on the flanks. Having let the enemy deep into the encirclement, Alexander's army struck from the sides, forcing the Germans to flee across the bloody ice. Retreating, the enemy suffered colossal losses, both at the hands of the Novgorod warriors and from the falling ice under the weight of the Livonian armor.

Wife of Alexander Nevsky

The wife of the Novgorod ruler in 1239 was the 16-year-old Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna. She was from the Polotsk family, which was famous for its disobedience.

While the main representatives of the Polotsk dynasty were in exile, their wives reigned in Polotsk, and therefore the young maiden received an unusual upbringing for her time. Presumably, in the absence of her husband, the princess ruled Novgorod. The date of the death of the prince's wife is unknown, her remains are kept in the city of Vladimir, in the Assumption Church.

Children of the great commander

Over the years of her marriage, Alexandra Bryachislavna gave birth to five sons, each with a difference of about 5 years, as well as her only daughter Evdokia. The younger son Daniel subsequently became famous as the first Moscow prince, ruling from 1263.

Why Alexander Nevsky is called "Nevsky"

The defeat of the Swedish army near the confluence of the Neva River with the Izhora did not allow the enemy to occupy the coast of the Gulf of Finland and move further in a northwestern direction.

In memory of the strategically significant battle, the Russian prince was given the nickname "Nevsky". There is another version of the answer to the question why Alexander Nevsky was called that: the commander owned the right to own the Neva area.

How did the Russian ruler die

In 1262, when the arbitrariness of the Mongol tax-farmers exceeded possible limits and the patience of the Russian people was running out, a mass uprising broke out in several cities of Russia at once. As a result, the tax-farmers were expelled, and the angry Khan Berke began to prepare for a new devastating campaign against Russia.

During a long visit, the Russian ruler managed to convince the Mongol khan, which saved his homeland from a new war. After spending almost a whole year in the Horde, the ruler fell ill.

On the way home, anticipating his imminent death, he cut his hair as a monk and went to God as a schemer with the name Alexy. The ruler died on November 14, 1263 in the Nizhny Novgorod region (Gorodets).

Where the fearless commander is buried

The body of the saint was buried in the city of Vladimir. Many years later, in 1724, the relics of the Blessed One were transported from the Vladimir Nativity Monastery to the northern city on the Neva.

With the filing of Peter I, the Nevsky Prince became the patron saint of St. Petersburg, the place where his small army struck the Swedish crusaders. In the Trinity Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, the relics of the intercessor rest to this day.

The results of the reign of Alexander Nevsky

As a result of successful defensive battles, the prince retained Orthodoxy in Russia, not bowing to the iron hand of the Pope. Maintaining a shaky truce with the Mongol khans, he managed to largely restore the ruined economy of his possessions and establish trade relations with his neighbors, which led to economic growth.

The prince devoted his life to preaching and planting the Orthodox faith and the Gospel. Even in the Horde, he was able to organize an Orthodox community.

The holy ruler did not lose a single battle, for which he became famous as an invincible deeply religious warrior. During the defeat of the Swedes on the Neva, he was only 19 years old.

The ideal warrior for Nevsky was his namesake, Alexander the Great, whose biography became the ruler's reference book.

The image of Alexander Nevsky in art

Not a single document has been preserved containing information about the true appearance of the Holy Prince and a description of his appearance. Therefore, the artists portrayed the ruler based on their ideas about his appearance.

As a fair-haired warrior, the Nevsky Prince is represented in the picture by O.S. Maslov, F. Moller depicted him with blond hair. Composer S.S. Prokofiev dedicated the cantata of the same name to the exploits of the Russian warrior.

In 1938, a film by S. Eisenstein was released, which tells about the life and character of the ruler. The picture was very popular during the Second World War.

Conclusion

Wise decisions, unshakable faith in Christ, love for Holy Russia and the people - characterize the old Russian prince as the personification of masculinity, loyalty and courage. In St. Petersburg, the Day of Remembrance of the transfer of the relics of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky is celebrated annually. Every year, on September 12, a citywide religious procession is organized for children and adults along Nevsky Prospekt.