Alexander Yaroslavitch, a Russian prince of the Rurikovitch dynasty, known in history as Nevsky, is one of the most famous and loved heroes of Russia. Russian historians traditionally depict him as a mighty ruler and warrior, the only one, who managed to combat the invaders in the dark times of his motherland, a truly Orthodox prince a symbol and an example for the descendants and a Saint.
However, their western colleagues share a much cooler view, most directly expressed by John Fennel, who believed, that Nevsky led a policy of strong ties with the Tatar conquerors and put an end to effective resistance to the Golden Horde yoke.
It is known, that he was born in 1220, being a second son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovitch, a prince of Pereyaslavl from a junior branch of Rurikovitch clan. In addition to Yaroslavl, Nevsky’s father also had several periods of rule in Novgorod – a major city on the north-west of Russia, it’s greatest trading centre.
Novgorod itself was an aristocratic republic, which used to invite the princes from other regions of Russia along with their warriors to protect them from outside threats and ban those princes when they were no longer necessary. Yaroslav and later his son Alexander were among such princes.
Russia appeared to be unable to stop the Mongol invasion in 1237 due to conflicts between feudals, and Yaroslav himself died in one of the battles, leaving his 18 years old son to be the senior of the surviving princes. Although, Novgorod never experienced the Mongol’s attacks, it’s reach lands attracted Swedish rulers, as well as the knights of the Teutonic order.
In 1240 young Alexander proved himself to be a true protector of Novgorod by defeating the Swedish invading force on the Neva river and thus obtaining his second name Nevsky, meaning in Russian “of Neva”.
But the true moment of his glory came in 1242 when he surrounded and destroyed the army of the Teutons on the Chudskoye lake. According to Russian sources (which are likely to overestimate the victory) 500 knights were killed and 50 brought to Novgorod as prisoners.
Thus, movement of Germans to the East (Drang nach Osten) has forever been stopped and Russian north-west managed to retain it’s independence. The people of Novgorod appeared to be ungrateful and exiled Nevsky as they often did earlier with other princes.This was, however, only one of the enemies, and Mongols were mach harder to combat. In 1257 they have once more invaded Vladimir principality (the strongest at the North of Russia) and reestablished their power after prince’s Andrew, brother of Nevsky, failed attempt to make war against them.
Alexander did nothing to help his brother. Moreover, he severely suppressed an anti-Tatar rebellion in Novgorod and established himself as a prince of Vladimir.
As Grand Prince, Alexander worked to restore Russian prosperity by building fortifications and churches and passing laws. He continued to control Novgorod through his son Vasily. This altered the tradition of rule from one based on a process of invitation to an institutional sovereignty. In 1255 Novgorod expelled Vasily, and Alexander put together an army and got Vasily back on the throne.
In 1262 Russian principalities have once again raised against the foreign rule. It seems, that Alexander has first supported the rebellion, however, later he traveled to the Horde to plea Berke-khan not to invade Russia, promising to punish the rebels himself.
Being probably worried by a tensed political situation in the Golden Horde the khan agreed. Alexander died on the way back, and some researchers believe, that he has been poisoned by the Tatars, in order to remove a possible threat to their power in Russia.
The true life of Alexander Nevsky can hardly be narrowed down to iconographic schemes. He was a formidable warrior and pitiless ruler, a true son of his time, caring about his own interests more, than about good of his subjects.
He smashed the enemies of Russia where possible and obeyed to those, who were too powerful. His supremacy has been to a great part upheld by the Mongols, but his choice was simple: to die fighting or to incline his head, giving chance to his heirs.
References
1. Isoaho, Mari. The Image of Aleksandr Nevskiy in Medieval Russia: Warrior and Saint (The Northern World; 21). Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 2006
2. Alexander Nevsky, Saint. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 8, 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-234
