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Alexander Nevsky was the prince of what cities. Brief biography of Alexander Nevsky

DESCENDANTS OF ALEXANDER NEVSKY

Although the years of the Batu invasion are behind us, peaceful life has not yet returned to the devastated Russian land. According to the historian V.V. Kargalov, for the last quarter of the XIII century. Tatars made at least fifteen significant campaigns against Russia. Vladimir, Suzdal, Yuryev, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Moscow, Kolomna, Tver, Ryazan and other cities were devastated, some of them two, three and even four times (Kargalov V.V. Foreign policy factors development of feudal Russia: Feudal Russia and nomads. M., 1968. S. 171). The tragedy of the situation was aggravated by the fact that the sons of Alexander were selfish and cruel, who had a thirst to take the Grand Duke's table. stronger feelings responsibility to fellow citizens, in their internecine strife themselves often resorted to Tatar assistance. Again people perished and fell into a crowd, again cities and villages burned to the ground, trampled down and overgrown with weeds of arable land. Many years of rivalry between Moscow and Tver, which resulted in constant armed conflicts, brought many disasters to the central regions of Russia.

So, let's turn to the biographies of the princes who lived in the second half of the 13th century. Their names are usually poorly known to the general reader: this troubled period often falls into historical reviews. On the grand-ducal table after death Alexander Nevsky his brothers sat - Yaroslav Yaroslavich (from 1263 to 1272) and Vasily Yaroslavich (from 1272 to 1276), and then his sons.

Dmitry Aleksandrovich(1250(?)-1294). Eldest son of Alexander Nevsky. As a boy, he was left by his father to reign in Novgorod, but after his death he was expelled by the townspeople, who complained that the prince was "still small." Then Dmitry reigned in Pereyaslavl, and in 1276, after the death of his uncle Vasily Yaroslavich, he became the Grand Duke of Vladimir, at the same time being the Prince of Novgorod. In 1281, Dmitry's younger brother, Andrei, received a label for a great reign in the Horde. He came to Russia with the Tatar army and, in alliance with the Russian princes who joined him, devastated the lands near Vladimir, Yuryev, Tver, Torzhok, Rostov. Pereyaslavl was also taken. Dmitry fled to Novgorod, he wanted to stay in Koporye, but the Novgorodians forced him to leave "beyond the sea", from where, however, he soon returned to Pereyaslavl. In 1283, the brothers reconciled, but then Andrei again brought the Tatar army, and Dmitry was again forced to flee, this time to Khan Nogai, who roamed the Black Sea steppes. With the khan's letter, Dmitry returned to his desk, but Andrei subsequently did not abandon his intentions to overthrow his brother. During another feud, Dmitry agreed to go to reign in Pereyaslavl, but along the way he fell ill and died.

Lit .: Instance. 1. S. 44-52.

Andrey Alexandrovich(until 1263-1304). Andrei is first mentioned in the year of his father's death. He reigned in Gorodets (on the Volga, above Nizhny Novgorod). Beginning in 1281, Andrei entered into a struggle with his older brother, using, as mentioned above, the help of the Horde. Especially significant was the "Dudenev's army" - a raid of the Horde led by the brother of Khan Tokhta - Duden, inspired by Andrei: the Tatars "created the whole earth empty." Vladimir, Moscow, Dmitrov, Volokolamsk, Pereyaslavl and other cities were ruined. After the death of his brother in 1294, Andrei received a label in the Horde for a great reign. In 1296, at a congress of princes, Andrei quarreled with his brother, Daniil of Moscow, and with Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich of Tver. The opponents had already converged on the field near Yuryev, but it did not come to a battle. In 1304 Andrei died in Gorodets.

Andrei was married to Vasilisa, daughter of the Rostov prince Dmitry Borisovich.

Lit .: Instance. 1. S. 53-58.

Daniel Alexandrovich(1261 - 1303). Youngest son of Alexander Nevsky. Alexander allocated the Moscow principality to Daniil when he was only two years old, but in fact, after the death of Alexander, the Moscow principality was annexed to the great principality, and Daniel was mentioned as Prince of Moscow only in 1283.

In the strife between the brothers - Dmitry and Andrei - Daniel usually took the side of the latter. But in 1301 he opposed Andrei, on the side of Ivan Dmitrievich Pereyaslavsky. Perhaps that is why Ivan, dying, bequeathed to Daniil Pereyaslavl. This was the first increment of the Moscow principality.

Daniel had at least five sons, the eldest of whom was Yuri.

Lit .: Instance. 2. S. 273-275.

Yuri Danilovich(d. 1325). After the death of Uncle Yuri - Grand Duke Vladimir Andrey Yaroslavich, the struggle for the grand-ducal table between Yuri and his cousin Mikhail Yaroslavich of Tverskoy begins. The rivals went to the Horde, but Mikhail not only had more rights to the label, as the eldest in the family, but also had greater financial opportunities to pay the “exit” - a monetary offering to the khan. The label went to Mikhail of Tver, and Yuri remained the Moscow prince. In subsequent years, Yuri at least twice had to repel the attack of the Tverites under the walls of Moscow.

In 1315 Yuri went to the Horde. During his two-year stay there, he managed to achieve the goodwill of Khan Uzbek, marry his sister, Konchak, and receive a long-awaited label for a great reign. Yuri led Tatar detachments to Russia, led by Kavgady. After failed diplomatic negotiations, the rivals decided to measure their strength. In the battle near the village of Bortenev (near Tver) in December 1318, Mikhail defeated Yuri. The wife of Yuri, Konchak (Agafya), was also captured by the Tverich. She died in captivity, and there were rumors that she had been poisoned. In the same year, Yuri and Mikhail Tverskoy went to the Horde. Mikhail was accused of shortfall in tribute and, by the verdict of the Khan's court, was executed. Yuri received a label for a great reign. Sources speak contradictory about what happened: it is possible that Yuri to some extent contributed to the massacre of his opponent. He returned from the Horde with Mikhail's son, Konstantin, and in Vladimir reconciled with another son of the murdered man, Alexander. And in 1325 the son of Michael Tverskoy Dmitry"without the king's word", i.e. without the permission of the khan, he killed Yuri in the Horde. Khan executed Dmitry, nevertheless, the label for the great reign was again transferred to the Tver prince Alexander Mikhailovich.

Lit: Instance. 1. S. 59-69; Cherepnin. Formation of the Russian state. pp. 460-475.

Ivan Danilovich Kalita(d. 1340). The youngest son of Daniil Alexandrovich. The first mention of him is found in the annals under 1304, when Ivan took the side of his brother Yuri in the fight against Mikhail of Tver. In 1320, Ivan went to the Horde, probably to negotiate the payment of "exit". He returns with the Tatar detachments and helps them in collecting tribute. In 1322

Ivan is back in the Horde, from where he comes with the Tatar ambassador Akhmyl, who ravaged the Russian lands. The third time Ivan comes with the Horde in 1327, this time to Tver, where an uprising broke out against the Tatar governor Cholkhan (see below). Prince of Moscow from 1325, in 1328 Kalita also became the Grand Duke of Vladimir. According to the chronicler, from that time "there was ... silence great throughout the Russian land for 40 years, and the Tatars were ready to fight the Russian land." We know. however, that this silence was bought at the price of generous "outputs". Kalita expands its inheritance: Rostov, Galich, Beloozero, Uglich became dependent on Moscow. Ivan died in 1340, leaving four sons and five daughters.

Lit .: Instance. 1. S. 71-79; Cherepnin. Formation of the Russian state. pp. 497-517; Greeks and Shakhmagonov. The world of history. pp. 116-121.

Semyon (Simeon) Ivanovich Proud(1318(?)-1353). Eldest son of Ivan Kalita. He succeeded his father in the great reign. According to his father's will, Semyon received 26 cities and villages, including Mozhaisk and Kolomna, as well as a third of Moscow. Under Semyon, relations with Lithuania are complicated. Grand Duke the Lithuanian Olgerd (reigned from 1345 to 1377) even turned to the khan, asking for help against Semyon, but the khan defended the interests of the Moscow princes - his tributaries. In 1353-1357. a plague raged in Russia, from which in March 1353 Metropolitan Theognost, Semyon's children Ivan and Semyon, and then the Grand Duke himself died.

Semyon was married three times: to the Lithuanian princess Anastasia Gediminovna, to the Smolensk princess Evpraksia Fedorovna and to Maria, the daughter of Alexander Mikhailovich of Tverskoy.

Lit .: Instance: 1. S. 80-88; Greeks and Shakhmagonov. The world of history. pp. 129-137.

Ivan Ivanovich(1326-1359). The third son of Ivan Kalita. He received a label for a great reign in the Horde in 1354. His rival was the Suzdal prince Konstantin Vasilievich, for whom Novgorodians also petitioned the khan. But preference was given to Ivan, and perhaps because he was distinguished by a peaceful character. The short reign of Ivan was not marked by significant events.

Ivan was married twice, from his second marriage with Alexandra (known only by name) had two sons - Dmitry and Ivan - and a daughter.

Lit .: Instance. 1. S. 89-92; Greeks and Shakhmagonov. The world of history. pp. 137-140.

Andrey Ivanovich(1327-1353). Youngest son of Ivan Kalita. It was first mentioned in 1339, when he, a twelve-year-old boy, was sent to Novgorod for financial assistance. In 1340 he received Serpukhov from his father. Andrei died of the plague. His son - Vladimir Andreevich (see below) was an associate of his cousin - Dmitry Donskoy.

Lit .: Instance. 2. S. 290-292.

Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy(1350-1389). Son of Ivan Ivanovich. After the death of Ivan, the Khan handed over the great reign to the Suzdal prince Dmitry Konstantinovich, and prince Dmitry (he was then nine years old) remained only the prince of Moscow. However, his entourage did not leave hopes for their lord to receive the grand-ducal table. And although in 1363 the label was again handed over to the prince of Suzdal, he was allowed to stay in Vladimir for only 12 days: the Moscow army devastated the outskirts of the city, and the prince himself was expelled. Dmitry Suzdalsky concluded an agreement with his younger relative, according to which he ceded the great reign to him. When, in 1365, the son of Dmitry Konstantinovich Vasily again brought the label to his father, he voluntarily gave it to Dmitry Ivanovich, in an alliance with whom he was interested, since he fought with his younger brother Boris. In 1366, the prince of Suzdal gave his daughter Evdokia as a wife to Dmitry Ivanovich.

A faithful ally and assistant to the Grand Duke was his cousin Vladimir Andreevich, Prince of Serpukhov and Borovsky. Back in 1362, eight-year-old Vladimir took part in the campaign along with his twelve-year-old relative. In 1366, the brothers were building a stone Kremlin in Moscow.

But the princes of Tver do not leave hopes for the return of the grand ducal label. In 1371, Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich of Tver finally received the coveted label (see below). However, Dmitry Ivanovich sent his representatives to all the cities, swearing in the townspeople so that they would not be “given” to Mikhail. Dmitry and Vladimir Andreevich stood with regiments at Pereyaslavl, blocking Mikhail's path to Vladimir. Dmitry told the Khan’s ambassador Sarykhozha: “I’m not going to the yarlyk (that is, I won’t obey Mikhail. - O.T.), but I won’t let you into the land to reign for a great one, but to you, the ambassador, the path is clear.” Having generously presented Sarykhozh in Moscow, Dmitry himself went to the Horde for a label. He received the label, but the khan demanded payment of a huge "exit". The war with Tver also continued. According to the chronicler, Dmitry made "the whole Tfer region empty and burned with fire, and people - husband and wife and baby - were littered in the whole country." And Michael was forced to ask for peace. In 1375, the prince of Tver promised that he would no longer seek a great reign.

The threat from the Horde did not weaken. In 1377, the united army of Muscovites and Suzdal, due to their carelessness, was defeated by the Tatars on the river. Pyane (a tributary of the Sura). Believing that the Tatars were far away, the warriors and governors got drunk, walked half-dressed (there was a July heat), without weapons. The Tatars attacked suddenly, "beating, and piercing, and cutting." But a year later, in 1378, Dmitry won the first victory over the Tatars, defeating the Tatar commander Begich, who was heading for exile to Russia, on the Vozha River (the right tributary of the Oka).

Undoubtedly, Dmitry's most outstanding act was his victory over the de facto leader of the Horde, Beklyaribek Mamai, in 1380. The Tatars hoped, by devastating the Russian lands, to remind them of their strength and to achieve payment of a large "exit". But the Grand Duke managed to oppose the huge Tatar army with the combined forces of several Russian principalities. Played a role and skillful tactics on the battlefield; the decisive turning point in the battle was accomplished by the timely introduction of a reserve regiment into battle, commanded by Vladimir Andreevich. The Battle of Kulikovo, or, as it was also called, the Battle of Mamaev, was described in the annals and military stories specially dedicated to it. Although the Horde yoke lasted for another hundred years, the victory at the Kulikovo field made a revolution in the minds of the people, people believed in the possibility of successfully resisting the Tatar invasion, and Dmitry in his will expressed the hope that his children would no longer pay "exit" to the Horde.

These sentiments could not be shaken by the events of 1382, when the new Tatar Khan Tokhtamysh attacked Moscow. Dmitry Ivanovich and Vladimir Andreevich could not defend the capital, it was taken and burned by the Tatars.

The subsequent years of Dmitry's reign were not rich in events.

Source: The Tale of the Massacre on the Pyan River // PLDR: XIV-mid-XV century. pp. 88-91; The Tale of the Battle on the Vozha River // Ibid. pp. 92-95; Zadonshchina // Ibid. pp. 96-111; Chronicle of the Battle of Kulikovo // Ibid. pp. 112-131; The legend of Mamaev massacre// There. pp. 132-189; The Tale of the Invasion of Tokhtamysh // Ibid. pp. 190-207; A word about the life of the Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich // Ibid. pp. 208-229 (some of these monuments are also published in the book: For the Russian Land!; Military Tales of Ancient Russia); Legends and stories about the Battle of Kulikovo. L., 1982.

Lit .: Instance. 1. S. 93-124; Cherepnin. Formation of the Russian state. pp. 557-663; Kulikovo battle. M., 1980.

Vladimir Andreevich Brave(1353-1410). Son of Serpukhov Prince Andrei Ivanovich, grandson of Ivan Kalita, cousin of Dmitry Donskoy. In 1358, his older brother Ivan died, and the five-year-old Vladimir became the prince of his inheritance; As an eight-year-old youth in 1362, he already took part in the campaign to Pereyaslavl, when Dmitry Ivanovich disputed the grand prince's table with Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal. In 1364, an agreement was concluded between the cousins, according to which Vladimir Andreevich promises to obey and serve his elder brother in everything. And in subsequent years, he takes part in all Dmitry's campaigns, fulfills his instructions. In the Battle of Kulikovo, Vladimir Andreevich takes an active part, commanding a reserve regiment, whose entry into battle decided the outcome of the battle. Therefore, all works dedicated to this event necessarily mention the name of Vladimir Serpukhovsky next to the name of the Grand Duke. Only in 1389 between the brothers there comes a kind of "discord": the reason for it was, apparently, the fact that Dmitry Ivanovich took away Dmitrov and Galich from Vladimir Andreevich. "Rozmirye" was short-lived, and in March the Grand Duke reconciled with his brother. Vladimir Andreevich did not establish relations with Dmitry Donskoy's successor, Vasily Dmitrievich, perhaps because the Serpukhov prince did not receive compensation for those taken by Dmitry Donskoy lands. But this quarrel was short-lived, compensation was received, and in further relationship uncle and nephew are getting better. In 1393, for example, Vladimir Andreevich led the Moscow army in a campaign against Novgorod. Vasily Dmitrievich entrusts his family in his will to his care.

And in 1395, when Timur was approaching Moscow, and in 1408, during the invasion of Edigei, the Grand Duke, going out with an army to meet the enemy, left Vladimir Serpukhovsky to "observe" Moscow. In Moscow, Vladimir's estate was located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe modern Trekhgorka; he also owned the courtyard in the Kremlin.

Source: The Legend of the Battle of Mamaev // PLDR: XIV - mid-XV century. pp. 132-189.

Lit .: Instance. 2. S. 293-305; Kuchkin V. A. Companion of Dmitry Donskoy // VI. 1979. No. 8. S. 104-116.

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On May 30, 1220, in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Theodosia, daughter of Prince Mstislav Udatny, the son Alexander, Novgorod (1236-1251) and Vladimir (since 1252) Grand Duke, was born. By paternal line he was the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest.

In 1228, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who reigned in Novgorod, came into conflict with the townspeople and was forced to leave for his ancestral inheritance Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Despite this, he left two young sons Fyodor and Alexander in the care of trusted boyars in Novgorod. After the death of Fedor in 1236, Alexander, as the eldest heir to Yaroslav, was placed in the reign of Novgorod. In 1239 he married Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna of Polotsk.

In the first years of his reign, the Russian prince was engaged in the fortification of Novgorod. On the river Sheloni he built several fortresses. Glory to the young prince was brought by a victory won in July 1240 at the mouth of the river. Izhora over the Swedish detachment, after which the Swedish aggression on the Novgorod-Pskov lands was stopped. It is traditionally believed that for this victory the prince began to be called Nevsky. However, according to Russian sources of the 14th century, some descendants of the prince also bore the nickname Nevsky.

The victory on the Neva strengthened political influence Alexander, but at the same time contributed to the aggravation of his relations with the boyars. As a result of clashes with disgruntled boyars, the prince was forced to leave Novgorod and go to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. The Livonian Order, having gathered the German crusaders of the Baltic states and the Danish knights from Reval, invaded the Novgorod lands. In the spring of 1241, Alexander, having gathered a powerful army, recaptured the Koporye and Vodsk land occupied by the knights, and then drove the Livonian detachment out of Pskov. Novgorodians invaded the territory Livonian Order and began to destroy their settlements. Soon, a large cavalry army led by the master of the order came out against the Russian prince and forced him to withdraw his troops to the border of the Livonian Order, which passed along Lake Peipus. April 5, 1242 there was a decisive battle on the ice Lake Peipus at the Raven Stone, which went down in history as the “Battle on the Ice”. The German troops suffered a crushing defeat. The Livonian Order was forced to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands, and also transferred part of Latgale to the Russians. In the history of military art, this victory was of exceptional importance: the Russian foot army surrounded and defeated the knightly cavalry and infantry knechte detachments long before Western Europe infantry learned to prevail over mounted knights. The victory in this battle put Alexander Nevsky among the best commanders of that time.

In the future, Alexander Nevsky continued to strengthen the northwestern borders of Russia. In 1251, he sent an embassy to Norway, which resulted in the first agreement between Russia and Norway, and also made a successful campaign in Finland against the Swedes, who made a new attempt to close the Russian access to the Baltic Sea.

Alexander made a lot of efforts to strengthen the grand ducal power in the country. His political line contributed to the prevention of devastating invasions of the Tatars in Russia. Several times he went to Golden Horde, having achieved the release of the Russians from the obligation to act as an army on the side of the Tatar khans in their wars with other peoples. In 1262, unrest broke out in the Suzdal cities, where the Khan's Baskaks were killed and the Tatar merchants were expelled. To appease the Tatar Khan, the prince personally went with gifts to the Horde. Khan kept him by his side all winter and summer, and only in the fall did the Russian prince get the opportunity to return to Vladimir, but on the way he fell ill and died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets. His body was buried in Vladimir monastery Nativity of the Virgin.

In the 1280s. in Vladimir, the veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a saint began, and later he was officially canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1724, in St. Petersburg, in honor of the right-believing prince, Peter I founded a monastery (Alexander Nevsky Lavra), where the Russian autocrat ordered the remains of the holy prince Alexander to be transported. On May 21 (June 1), 1725, Empress Catherine I established the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky - one of the highest awards of the Russian Empire.

Lit.: Alexander Nevsky and the History of Russia: Materials scientific and practical conference. Novgorod, 1996; The same [Electronic resource]. URL : http:// bibliotekar. ru/rusNevskiy/; Vernadsky G. B. Two exploits of St.Alexander Nevsky // Eurasian Vremennik. Book. IV . Prague, 1925. S. 318-337; Resurrection N. A. Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky; In memory of the king of the peacemaker: a brief biography. M., 1898; Danilevsky AND. N. Alexander Nevsky: Paradoxes historical memory // "The chain of times": Problems of historical consciousness. M., 2005. S. 119-132; Life of Alexander Nevsky// Library of Literature of Ancient Russia. T. 5. St. Petersburg, 1997; The same [Electronic resource]. URL : http:// lib. pushkinskijdom. en/Default. aspx? tabid=4962; Konyavskaya E. L. The image of Alexander Nevsky in the early chronicles 2 (36); The same [Electronic resource]. URL : http:// www. old. ru/vyp/2009_2/part6. pdf; Kuchkin V. A. About the date of birth of Alexander Nevsky// Questions of history. 1986. no. 2; Pashuto V. T. Alexander Nevsky. M., 1974; Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky and the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra: in memory of the bicentenary of the monastery, 1713-1913. SPb., 1913; Seleznev YU. B. The reign of Alexander Nevsky in 1252G.: political realities and their reflection in the Russian written tradition// Ancient Russia. Questions of medieval studies. 2009. No. 1 (35); The same [Electronic resource]. URL : http:// www. old. ru/vyp/2009_1/hist-3. pdf; Fennel J. The Crisis of Medieval Russia: 1200-1304: Per. from English. M., 1989; Khmyrov M. D. Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, Grand Duke of Vladimir and all Russia: a historical and biographical essay. SPb., 1871; Cold G. M. The life and work of Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky in connection with the events in Russia in XIII century. Tambov, 1883; Tsamutali BUT. N. Prince Alexander Nevsky (according to Russian and foreign sources)// Star. 2007. No. 10. ;

Tikhonravov KN Vladimirsky Nativity Monastery of the XII century, where the holy relics of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky rested, before being transferred to St. Petersburg. Vladimir, 1869 .

Daniel Alexandrovich - Jr.. He went down in history thanks not only to the reign, but also to the creation of the St. Danilov Monastery. In addition, Daniil Alexandrovich is considered one of the revered Moscow saints. Today we will get acquainted with his biography and merits.

Childhood

Prince Alexander Nevsky and sonsmade a rather significant contribution to the well-being of Russia. Daniel was born in 1261. When the greatdied, Daniel was only 2 years old. The first years the boy lived in Tver, with his uncle Yaroslav Yaroslavich. The latter was first prince of Tver, and then Vladimir. Moscow then was part of the grand duke's inheritance and was under the leadership of the "tiuns" - the governors of the prince of Tver.

Principality

What time and from whomyounger son of Alexander Nevskyreceived Moscow as his lot, it is not known exactly. Historians believe that this happened in the 70s years XIII century. Daniel first appears in the chronicle in 1282. At this time, he was already a full-fledged prince of Moscow. It is worth noting that this was in the annals after the terrible Batu ruin, which occurred in 1238. Such a long silence was very significant. The fact is that in the annals of that time, mentions of cities were made only if there were any disasters, civil strife, major fires, invasions of the Tatars, and so on.

Thus, there is reason to believe that things were more or less calm in Moscow at that time. According to many historians, it was this silence, which lasted for more than forty years, that predetermined the future greatness of Moscow. In calm times, the city and its districts gained strength. Many refugees moved here from the devastated regions of Russia, mainly the southern ones: the Ryazan, Kyiv and Chernigov lands. Among the settlers there were artisans, farmers, and warriors.

According to The Tale of the Birth of the Great City of Moscow, Prince Danilo loved life in Moscow and therefore tried to populate the city and expand its borders. It is also said that he was virtuous and tried to help the poor. Speaking of Daniil Aleksandrovich, one cannot ignore the fact that he has always been a deeply religious person.

Internecine wars

The Russian land was then often shaken, despite the peacefulness that Moscow was famous forprince, younger son of Alexander Nevsky,he was forced to take part in them. Most of the conflicts in which he participated ended in peace and did not reach the point of bloodshed.

In 1281, a war broke out between Danil's older brothers, Dmitry and Andrei. Both princes wanted to find support in the Horde. Andrei asked for help from Tuda-Mengu, the legitimate khan, and Dmitry tried to enlist the support of Nogai, the main rival of Tuda-Mengu. AT different times Daniel supported first one brother, then another. His only interest in this conflict was the maximum security of Moscow and the prevention of another defeat.

In 1282, the Moscow prince stepped on the side of Andrei. According to the chronicle, he, together with the Novgorodians, Muscovites and Tverites, went to war against Prince Dmitry to Pereyaslavl. Upon learning of this, Dmitry went to meet them. He stopped at Dmitrov, but the opponents did not reach the city for five miles. There, the troops of both sides stood for five days, communicating through messengers. Ultimately, they decided to reconcile. Soon the elders also reconciledsons of Alexander Nevsky. BiographyDaniil of Moscow in the future will be closely associated with one of them - Dmitry.

Friendship with Tver

In 1287, the three brothers of Alexandrovich together went to war against Mikhail Alexandrovich, the newly-made prince of Tver. Approaching Kashin, they stayed there for nine days. The army of princes devastated the city, burned the neighboring Ksnyatin and from there decided to advance to Tver. Prince Mikhailo of Tver sent his messengers to meet them, the brothers answered. After short negotiations, the parties decided that the war was useless to them. FurtherDaniel will either be friends with Tver, or compete again. With whom his relationship will grow stronger is with his older brother, Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich. It is worth noting that thanks to his friendship with Dmitry, and later his son Ivan, Danil of Moscow will receive serious political benefits.

End of the truce

In 1293, the shaky truce between Princes Andrei and Dmitry broke down. AT again Andrei went to the Horde to the newly minted Khan Tokt to ask him for help. As a result, a huge army of Tatars went to Russia, led by the brother of the khan, Tudan. Accompanied by the Tatars were many Russian princes. Upon learning of the Tatar invasion, Dmitry decided to flee. The inhabitants of Pereyaslavl also fled. At that time, the Tatars conquered and defeated Vladimir, Suzdal, Yuryev-Polsky and some other cities. Moscow was also not spared the trouble. Having deceived Daniel, the Tatars entered the city and inflicted irreparable harm. As a result, they took Moscow completely, along with villages and volosts.

Death of Dmitry

In 1294, Prince Dmitry died. Pereyaslavl passed to his son Ivan, with whom Daniel supported a good relationship. In 1296, during the congress of princes, which took place in Vladimir, another conflict arose between the brothers. The fact is that Andrei Gorodetsky, who was now the Grand Duke, decided, together with some other princes, to capture Pereyaslavl. Daniel and Michael prevented him.

Acting now by conviction, now by force and passionately believing in his cause, the youngerwas able to strengthen his principality and expand its borders. For a short period, he even managed to establish himself in Veliky Novgorod. There, his young son Ivan, who in the future will be called Ivan Kalita, became the prince.

Change of priorities

In 1300, at the next congress of princes in Dmitrov, Daniil of Moscow confirmed the agreement with the princes Andrei Ivan. However, at the same time, his alliance with Mikhail Tversky had to be broken. In subsequent years, there will be fierce enmity between the sons of Danil and the prince of Tver. In the same year, Daniel fought with Prince Konstantin of Ryazan. Then the army of the Moscow prince defeated many Tatars who came to the defense of Ryazan, and even managed to capture Konstantin. According to the widespread assumption of historians, it was as a result of the campaign against Ryazan that Kolomna, located near the confluence of the Moscow River with the Oka, was annexed to the Moscow principality.

Territory expansion

In 1302, Prince Ivan of Pereyaslav died, who was Danilo of Moscow's nephew. The God-loving, meek and quiet Ivan Dmitrievich did not have time to have children, so he bequeathed his principality to Daniil Alexandrovich, whom he loved more than anyone. At that time, Pereyaslavl was considered one of the main cities in the north-east of Russia. His accession immediately strengthened Moscow several times over. Chronicles and "Life" of Prince Danil special attention emphasize that Pereyaslavl was annexed to Moscow in an absolutely legal way.

Prince Andrei also tried to encroach on the reign of Pereyaslavl. Upon learning of Ivan's decision regarding the succession to the throne,Daniel, son of Alexander Nevsky, did not hesitate and immediately sent his son Yuri to Pereyaslavl. When he arrived in the city, he saw that the governors of Prince Andrei had already begun to manage there. Apparently, they appeared in the city immediately after the death of Ivan Dmitrievich. Yuri drove the uninvited guests away. Fortunately, everything was resolved peacefully. In the autumn of 1302, Prince Andrei again went to the Horde in the hope of enlisting support in a campaign against his brother. But another war was not destined to take place.

Death of Prince Daniel

March 5, 1303 MoscowPrince Daniel, son of Alexander Nevsky,died. Before his death, he took monastic vows. Regarding the burial place of the Grand Duke, the sources differ. According to some reports, the prince was buried in the Church of the Archangel Michael, on the site of which the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin now stands. And according to others - in the Danilovsky monastery, which the prince himself founded.

Monastery

Even during the reign of the youngerfounded a monastery in the south of Moscow in honor of the Monk Daniel the Stylite - his heavenly patron. This monastery was the first famous history Moscow monasteries. In the "Life" of the saint, it is said that, pleasingly ruling in the Moscow region, Prince Daniel erected a monastery beyond the Moscow River and named it in honor of his angel Daniel the Stylite.

The fate of the monastery developed in an amazing way: 27 years after the death of the prince, his son Ivan Kalita transferred the monastery, together with the archimandrite, to his princely court in the Kremlin and built a church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Savior. So the Spassky Monastery was founded. As the "Life" of Daniil of Moscow tells, after many years, due to the negligence of the Spassky archimandrites, the Danilovsky monastery became so impoverished that even the trace of it was smoothed out. Only one church remained - the church of Daniel the Stylite. And the place where she stood was called the village of Danilovskoye. Everyone soon forgot about the monastery. Under the reign of Ivan the Third, the Spassky Monastery was again moved outside the Kremlin, across the Moskva River, to Mount Krutitsy. This monastery still stands there and is called Novospassky.

Miracles

On the site of the ancient Danilov Monastery, miracles happened more than once, confirming the holiness of its founder. Let's get acquainted with the description of some of them.

Once, Prince Ivan Vasilyevich (aka Ivan the Third), while in the ancient Danilovsky Monastery, drove past the place where the relics of Prince Daniel rested. At this moment, a horse stumbled at a noble young man from the princely regiment. The young man lagged behind the others and remained alone in that place. Suddenly a stranger appeared to him. So that the prince’s companion would not be frightened, the stranger said to him: “Do not be afraid of me, I am a Christian, master of this place, my name is Daniel of Moscow. By God's will, I am placed here. Then Danil asked the young man to convey a message from him to the prince with the following words: “You console yourself in every possible way, but why did you betray me into oblivion?” After that, the appearance of the prince disappeared. The young man immediately caught up with the Grand Duke and told him everything to the smallest detail. Since then, Ivan Vasilyevich ordered to sing memorial services and conduct divine services, and also distributed alms for the departed souls of his relatives.

Many years later, the son of Ivan the Third, Prince Vasily Ivanovich, drove past the same place with many close associates, among whom was Prince Ivan Shuisky. When the latter stepped on a stone, under which the relics of Daniel of Moscow were buried, in order to sit on his horse, a peasant who happened here prevented him. He asked him not to desecrate the stone under which Prince Daniel lies. Prince Ivan scornfully replied: “Are there many princes here?”, And finished what he had planned. Suddenly the horse reared up, fell to the ground and died. The prince was dragged out from under the horse with great difficulty. He repented and commanded to serve a prayer service for his sin. Soon Ivan recovered.

During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, a merchant from Kolomna sailed to Moscow in the same boat with his young son and the Tatars. On the way, the young man became very ill, so that his father no longer believed in his recovery. When the boat approached the church in which the relics of Prince Daniel rested, the merchant and his son approached the tomb of the saint. Ordering the priest to sing a prayer service, the merchant began to great faith pray to God, calling on Prince Daniel to help. Suddenly, his son, as if awakened from a dream, recovered and gained strength. Since then, the merchant believed in Saint Daniel with all his heart and annually came to his tomb to perform prayers there.

Alexander Nevsky - named son of Batu

Another interesting fact which, of course, affected the lives of the children of Alexander Nevsky, is his named brotherhood with Prince Sartak. Information about whatAlexander Nevsky - son of Batu, is perceived by historians contradictory. One thing is known for sure - Alexander Nevsky made the decision to serve the Golden Horde and the named brotherhood with Tsarevich Sartak purely in the interests of the state. At that time, consanguinity was little valued: the princes competed with each other for inheritances and did not disdain betrayal. But the named relationship was unshakably revered as a shrine. Therefore, taking such a step,Alexander Nevsky, son of KhanBatu Sartak and the khan himself acted purely in political interests.

Alexander Nevsky, whose biography is presented in this article, is the Prince of Novgorod in the period from 1236 to 1251, and from 1252 - the Grand Duke of Vladimir. He was supposedly born in 1221 and died in 1263. The son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the Russian prince, was Alexander Nevsky. His biography in a nutshell is as follows. He secured Russia, its western borders, with victories over the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva in 1240, as well as over the knights of the Livonian Order in 1242 (Battle on the Ice). Alexander Nevsky was canonized Orthodox Church. Read more about these and other events below.

Origin of Alexander, beginning of reign

The future prince was born in the family of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Feodosia, the daughter of Mstislav the Udaly. He is the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest. The first information about the future prince belongs to 1228. Then in Novgorod Yaroslav Vsevolodovich came into conflict with the townspeople and was forced to go to his ancestral inheritance, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Despite the forced departure, this prince left two sons in Novgorod in the care of the boyars. These were Fedor and Alexander Nevsky. Biography of the latter marked important events it was after the death of his older brother, Fedor. Then Alexander becomes the heir of his father. He was planted in 1236 to reign in Novgorod. Three years later, in 1239, Prince Alexander Nevsky married Alexandra Bryachislavna.

short biography him for this period next. Alexander Nevsky in the first years of his reign had to strengthen Novgorod, as the Mongol-Tatars threatened the city from the east. He built several fortresses on the Shelon River.

Victory on the Neva

The victory that he won over the Swedish detachment on the banks of the Neva River, at the mouth of the Izhora, in 1240 on July 15 brought universal fame to the young prince. They were commanded, according to legend, by Yar Birger, the future ruler of Sweden, although this campaign is not mentioned in the chronicle dating back to the 14th century. Alexander personally participated in the battle. It is believed that Nevsky began to be called the prince precisely for this victory, although this nickname is first found only in the sources of the 14th century. It was known that some of the princely descendants bore the nickname Nevsky. It is possible that this secured their possessions in the area. That is, there is a possibility that Prince Alexander was awarded this nickname not only for the victory on the Neva. The Nevskys, whose biography has not been fully studied, may have simply passed this nickname on to their descendant. It is traditionally believed that the battle that took place in 1240 saved the shores of the Gulf of Finland beyond Russia, stopped the Swedish aggression aimed at the Pskov and Novgorod lands.

Events leading up to the Battle of the Ice

Due to another conflict, upon returning from the banks of the Neva, Alexander was forced to leave Novgorod for Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, an enemy threat loomed over the city from the west. Having gathered German crusaders in the Baltics, as well as Danish knights in Revel, the Livonian Order, with the support of the Pskovites, longtime rivals of the Novgorodians, as well as the papal curia, invaded the territory of Novgorod lands.

An embassy with a request for help was sent from Novgorod to Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In response, he provided an armed detachment, headed by Andrey Yaroslavich, his son. Soon he was replaced by Alexander Nevsky, whose biography interests us. He liberated the Vodskaya land and Koporye, occupied by the knights, after which he drove the German garrison out of Pskov. The Novgorodians, inspired by their successes, invaded the lands of the Livonian Order and began to ravage the settlements of tributary crusaders, the Estonians. The knights who left Riga destroyed the regiment of Domash Tverdislavich, which was considered the foremost among the Russians, forcing Alexander Nevsky to withdraw his troops to the border of the Livonian Order. At that time, she passed along Lake Peipus. After that, both sides began to prepare for a decisive battle.

Ice battle and the defeat of the Lithuanian troops

Happened decisive battle at the Raven Stone, on the ice of Lake Peipsi, in 1242 on April 5. This battle went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. The German knights were defeated. The Livonian Order was put before the need to make peace. According to the terms of the truce, the crusaders had to give up their claims to the Russian lands, transferring part of Latgale to Russia.

After that, Alexander Nevsky began to fight with the Lithuanian detachments. His biography at this time can be briefly presented as follows. In the summer of the same year (1242), he defeated seven Lithuanian detachments that attacked the Russian lands in the northwest. After that, in 1245, Alexander recaptured Toropets, which was captured by Lithuania, destroyed the Lithuanian detachment near Lake Zhiztsa, and finally defeated the Lithuanian militia near Usvyat.

Alexander and the Horde

For a long time, the successful actions of Alexander ensured the security of the Russian borders in the west, but in the east the princes had to be defeated by the Mongol-Tatars.

Khan Batu, the ruler of the Golden Horde, in 1243 handed over a label to rule the Russian lands conquered by them to Alexander's father. Guyuk, the great Mongolian khan, called him to Karakorum, his capital, where in 1246, on September 30, Yaroslav died unexpectedly. He was poisoned, according to the generally accepted version. Then his sons, Andrei and Alexander, were summoned to Karakorum. While they were getting to Mongolia, Khan Guyuk himself died, and Khansha Ogul-Gamish, the new mistress of the capital, decided to make Andrei the Grand Duke. Alexander Nevsky (the prince whose biography interests us) only received Kyiv and the devastated southern Russia.

Alexander refuses to accept the Catholic faith

The brothers only in 1249 were able to return to their homeland. Prince Alexander Nevsky did not go to his new possessions. A brief biography of his later years is as follows. He went to Novgorod, where he fell seriously ill. Innocent IV, the pope of Rome, sent an embassy to him about this time with an offer to convert to the Catholic faith, offering in exchange his help in the fight against the Mongols. However, Alexander categorically refused.

Ogul-Gamish in Karakorum in 1252 was overthrown by Khan Mengke (Mongke). Batu, taking advantage of this circumstance in order to remove Andrei Yaroslavich from the great reign, handed Alexander Nevsky the label of the Grand Duke. Alexander was summoned urgently to Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde. However, Andrei, supported by Yaroslav, his brother, as well as the Galician prince Daniil Romanovich, refused to obey the decision of Batu Khan.

He, in order to punish the recalcitrant princes, sent the Mongol detachment, commanded by Nevryuy (the so-called "Nevryuev's army"), or Batu. Yaroslav and Andrei as a result of this fled from North-Eastern Russia.

Alexander restores his son's rights

Yaroslav Yaroslavovich later, in 1253, was invited to Pskov to reign, and then to Novgorod (in 1255). At the same time, the Novgorodians drove out Vasily, their former prince, who was the son of Alexander Nevsky. However, Alexander, having planted him again in Novgorod, severely punished his warriors, who failed to protect the rights of his son. All of them were blinded.

Alexander suppresses the uprising in Novgorod

The glorious biography of Alexander Nevsky continues. Summary events related to the uprising in Novgorod, the following. Khan Berke, the new ruler of the Golden Horde, introduced in Russia from 1255 a system of taxation of tribute, common to all conquered lands. In 1257, as in other cities, "numerals" were sent to Novgorod in order to carry out a population census. This angered the Novgorodians, who were supported by Prince Vasily. An uprising began in the city, which lasted more than a year and a half. Alexander Nevsky personally brought order, ordered the execution of the most active participants in these unrest. Vasily Alexandrovich was also captured and taken into custody. Novgorod turned out to be broken, which was forced to obey the order and begin to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Dmitry Alexandrovich from 1259 became the new governor in the city.

Death of Alexander Nevsky

Unrest broke out in the Suzdal cities in 1262. Here the Khan's Baskaks were killed, and the Tatar merchants were also expelled from here. In order to soften the anger of Khan Berke, Alexander decided to personally go to the Horde with gifts. All winter and summer, the Khan kept the prince beside him. Only in the autumn Alexander was able to return to Vladimir. On the way, he fell ill and died in Gorodets in 1263, on November 14. This date ends the biography of Alexander Nevsky. We have tried to describe it briefly as concisely as possible. His body was buried in the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin in Vladimir.

Canonization of Alexander Nevsky

This prince, in the conditions that hit the lands of Russia with terrible trials, was able to find the strength in himself to resist the conquerors from the west, thereby gaining fame as a great commander. Thanks to him, the foundations of interaction with the Golden Horde were also laid.

In Vladimir, since the 1280s, the veneration of this man as a saint begins. Prince Alexander Nevsky was officially canonized somewhat later. A brief biography of him, compiled by us, mentions that he refused the offer of Innocent IV. And this is an important detail. Alexander Nevsky is the only secular Orthodox ruler in all of Europe who, in order to maintain his power, did not compromise with the Catholics. His life story was written with the participation of Dmitry Alexandrovich, his son, and also Metropolitan Kirill. It was widely used in Russia (15 editions have come down to us).

Monastery and orders in honor of Alexander

The monastery in honor of Alexander was founded in St. Petersburg by Peter I in 1724. Now it is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The remains of the prince were transported there. Peter I also ordered to honor the memory of this man on August 30, on the day of the conclusion of peace with Sweden. Catherine I in 1725 founded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

This award until 1917 existed as one of the highest in Russia. The Soviet order named after him was established in 1942.

So Prince Alexander Nevsky was immortalized in our country, a brief biography of which was presented to you.

This person is in national history is an important figure, so we get to know him for the first time back in school years. The biography of Alexander Nevsky for children, however, notes only the most basic points. In this article, his life is considered in more detail, which allows you to get a more complete picture of this prince. Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich, whose biography we have described, fully deserved his fame.

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 great commander who led our troops - Alexander Nevskiy.

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 Kyiv.

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

Personal life

In 1239 the prince acquired family happiness in Toropets 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 only appeared in late 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 was in control Kiev principality, and his brother Andrey - 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.