(Battle on the Ice )
Artist V. Serov, 1942."Battle on the Ice"
In 1237, in the Eastern Baltic, on the territory inhabited by the Livonian and Estonian tribes, the Livonian Order was formed by German knights. Three years later, the order invaded the Pskov land. And, after a short siege by the Germans, Izborsk was taken.
The Pskov militia, which approached Izborsk, was defeated by the knights. After which the Germans crossed the Velikaya River, pitched tents under the very walls of the Pskov Kremlin, burned the settlement and began to destroy the surrounding villages. As a result, the Livonian knights captured Pskov, took hostages and placed their garrison in the city.
Somewhat later, the Livonian Order invaded the Novgorod lands. Novgorod turned to the Great Prince of Vladimir Yaroslav for help. He sent armed detachments to Novgorod led by his sons Andrei Yaroslavich and Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The Novgorod army, led by Alexander Nevsky, liberated Koporye and Vodskaya land occupied by the knights. Then the army united with the squad of brother Andrei, and, led by Alexander Nevsky, marched to Pskov. The city was taken by storm.
Alexander sent the governors of the order in chains to Novgorod. And inspired by their successes, detachments of Novgorodians invaded the territory of the Livonian Order and began to ravage the settlements of the Estonians, tributaries of the crusaders.
At this very time, Alexander learned that the knights had sent minor forces to Izborsk, and their main forces were moving straight to Lake Pskov. There he sent his army. The opposing armies converged on the shores of Lake Peipsi near the Crow Stone and the Uzmen tract.
It was here (5) on April 12, 1242 that a battle took place, which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. The German army included 10-12 thousand people, Alexander Nevsky had an army of 15-17 thousand. At dawn, the knights lined up in a “wedge” and moved towards the Russians across the flimsy spring ice of the lake.
By that time, Alexander had lined up the Novgorodians with a “heel”, whose rear rested on the steep, steep eastern shore of the lake. Horse squads were located on the flanks of the Russians, infantry armed with spears were lined up at the base of the “heel”, and archers were in front. And the princely squad was hidden in ambush.
The German knights were met with a cloud of arrows, so the flanks of the “wedge” were forced to press closer to the center. Nevertheless, the Germans managed to break through the center of the Novgorod battle formation. Some of the Russian infantry even fled.
However, the knights stumbled upon the steep shore of the lake, their sedentary formation was mixed up and could not develop their success. And at this time, the flank squads of the Novgorodians pinched the German “pig” from the flanks, like pincers. Without wasting time, Alexander and his squad struck from the rear.
The Russian infantry pulled the knights off their horses with hooks and destroyed them. The Germans could not withstand the tension of the battle and began to flee. For seven kilometers, Alexander's army pursued the fugitives. The ice broke under the knights, many of them drowned, many were taken prisoner.
As a result, the Livonian Order was faced with the need to conclude a peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands, and also renounced part of Latgale.
Artist V.A. Serov, 1945 "Entry of Alexander Nevsky into Pskov"
In honor of this victory, Russia celebrates the Day of Military Glory of Russia - the day of the victory of Russian soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights at Lake Peipsi. The holiday is celebrated on April 18. This is the cost of converting dates from the old style to the new one. Apparently, when assigning the date, the rule was not taken into account: when converting dates of the 12th-13th centuries, 7 days are added to the old style (and out of habit they added 13 days).
History of naval art
After the defeat of the Swedes Alexander Nevskiy quarreled with the Novgorod boyars, who were afraid of strengthening the princely power, and was forced to leave Novgorod for his own inheritance - Pereyaslavl Zalessky . They took advantage of his departure German knights . In the autumn of 1240 they invaded the Russian land and captured Izborsk fortress and Koporye . Came out against the Germans Pskov voivode Gavrila Borislavich with his squad and the Pskov militia. However, the Pskovites were defeated by superior enemy forces. The governor and many warriors fell in the battle. The Russians retreated to Pskov. During the attack on Pskov, the knights mercilessly robbed and killed the Russian population, burned villages and churches. For a whole week the Germans unsuccessfully besieged Pskov. And only after a group of traitor boyars led by Tverdila entered into an agreement with the Germans and opened the city gates for them, Pskov was taken.
At this difficult time for the entire Russian land, at the request of the people, the boyars were forced to again call Alexander Nevsky to Novgorod.
Alexander Yaroslavich returned to Novgorod. On his behalf, the vigilantes called: “Get together, everyone from the smallest to the greatest: whoever has a horse is on the horse, and whoever doesn’t have a knight, let him go on the rook.” In a short time, he created a strong army of Novgorodians, Ladoga residents, Izhorians and Karelians.
Having gathered an army, Alexander Nevsky with a sudden blow knocked the Germans out of Koporye - an important strategic point from where they sent their troops deep into the Novgorod possessions. Anticipating fierce enemy resistance, Alexander Nevsky turned to his father, the Grand Duke, for help, asking him to send Vladimir-Suzdal regiments. Help was provided to him: Nevsky’s brother Andrei Yaroslavich brought him to Novgorod "lower" shelves . Having united with these regiments, Alexander Nevsky went to Pskov, surrounded and took it by storm. The capture of such a fortress as Pskov in such a short time testified to high level Russian military art and the presence of advanced siege and military equipment among our ancestors. The traitorous boyars were executed, and the captured knights were sent to Novgorod.
Having strengthened the borders of the liberated Novgorod land, Alexander Nevskiy led his army to the land of the Estonians , where the eye forces of the German knights were located. Faced with the threat of mortal danger, the knights increased their armed forces, headed by himself master of the order .
In the second half of March 1242 advance detachment of Russians under the command of Domash Tverdislavovich scouted the main forces of the Germans, but, forced to engage them in battle, was defeated by a numerically superior enemy and retreated to his main forces. Based on intelligence reports, Alexander Nevskiy decided to give battle to the enemy on the ice of Lake Peipsi. For this purpose, he transferred his troops to the eastern shore of this lake and stationed them in the Uzmen area, at the Crow Stone.
Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky knew well the weak and strengths your opponent. He chose a convenient position for battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi.
The spring ice was strong enough to withstand Russian soldiers armed with spears, swords, axes and axes, but the ice, as it soon became clear, could not withstand the knightly cavalry with riders clad in armor.
The strength of the knights lay not only in their excellent weapons, but also in their combat formation. The battle formation of the German knights was shaped like a wedge, or, as the Russian chronicle calls it, a “pig.”
According to historians, "pig" had the following appearance: from three to five mounted knights lined up in front; behind them, in the second rank, were already five to seven knights; subsequent rows increased by two or three people. Total the rows that made up the “pig” could reach up to ten, and the number of knights - up to 150. The remaining knights were lined up in a column behind the “pig”.
This formation was repeatedly successfully used by knights to break through the enemy’s center and encircle his flanks.
Together with the knights, the infantry also acted, which consisted of squires, servants and partly from the population of the conquered countries. The infantry came into action when the “pig” broke the formation of the enemy’s central regiment and reached its flanks. But the infantry was always followed by a line of knights, for the crusaders did not place much hope in it.
Contrary to the usual formation of the battle formation of Russian troops, when in the center they placed big regiment , and on the flanks are weaker right and left hand shelves , Alexander Nevskiy , taking into account the enemy’s tactics, deliberately weakened its center, concentrating the main forces of the Russian army on the flanks. Was pushed forward a great distance insignificant vanguard , which, retreating, was supposed to lure the Germans on the ice of Lake Peipus . Alexander Nevsky placed the selected part of his squad behind the Crow Stone. This detachment was supposed to hit the enemy in the rear.
On the morning of April 5, 1242, the bulk of the German troops moved towards the Russians, who were standing in battle formation at the Raven Stone. As one would expect, this time the Germans used their favorite battle formation - wedge formation. The vanguard of the Russians retreated, dragging the knights with them. The Germans, as usual, attacked the Russian center, which they easily managed to break through. But at this time the main Russian forces, concentrated on the flanks, suddenly attacked them. Russian soldiers advanced quickly and acted decisively. In a relatively short time, they managed to surround the German wedge and cause confusion in the ranks of the knights. The German cavalry, pinched by the Russians, began to retreat, crushing their infantry. The ice could not withstand the weight of the enemy knights, horses and infantry huddled together. Many knights fell through the ice and died, along with their horses. The strike of the warriors from behind the Crow Stone into the rear of the Germans completed their defeat. “There was an evil slaughter,” writes the chronicler of the battle with the German knights, “and the Russian soldiers flogged them, chasing them as if through the air, and they had nowhere to hide.” 500 knights were killed and 50 captured.
The Russian victory at Lake Peipus was of historical significance. She saved Rus' from German slavery. Karl Marx highly appreciated this victory of Alexander Nevsky. "Alexander Nevsky opposes the German knights, smashes them on the ice of Lake Peipus, so that the scoundrels (die Lumpacii) were finally driven back from the Russian border ".
conclusions
Alexander Nevsky is a great Russian commander. His military activities are inextricably linked with the heroic struggle of the Russian people for their national independence.
In the fight against the Swedes and Germans, he showed high examples of strategic and tactical art. His strategy was active; it fully met the interests of the people, who sought to protect themselves from foreign invaders.
If, as a strategist, Alexander Nevsky unmistakably determined the main direction of the attack, then as a tactician he was no less skillfully able to concentrate the main forces and means in the decisive sector of the battle. Alexander Nevsky fought according to a pre-thought-out and carefully prepared plan. His tactics were active, offensive in nature.
“Prince Alexander won everywhere, was invincible” , wrote a contemporary of the prince in "The Lives of Alexander Nevsky."
At the Battle of the Neva, the Russians launched a surprise attack on the Swedish troops, who were completely defeated despite their numerical superiority.
At the first stage of the fight against the Germans, Alexander Nevsky showed high military art, taking the fortress of Koporye and Pskov by storm.
Having liberated their cities, the Russians moved their actions to enemy territory. Then, having lured his main forces to a pre-selected position on Lake Peipsi, they delivered a decisive blow to the enemy in Battle on the Ice .
After the Battle of the Ice, the knights recognized that the Russian people could neither be conquered nor enslaved. The ice of Lake Peipsi put a limit on the Germans' advance to the east.
“Whoever comes to us with a sword,” said Alexander Nevsky, “will die from the sword. This is where the Russian land stands and will stand.”
Alexander Nevsky was not only a great commander, but also a major statesman. During the Tatar invasion, he managed to subordinate the interests of the most important state centers of northwestern Rus' common cause saving the Russian people from German-Swedish aggression. At the same time, he upset the machinations of the Pope, who provoked the Russian people into an open armed uprising against the Tatars. Alexander Nevsky understood that a premature attack against the Tatars could break the resistance of the Russian people and would give the Germans and Swedes the opportunity to seize the northwestern part of the Russian land that had not been conquered by the Tatars.
***
After the defeat of the Swedes and Germans, Novgorod secured its possessions from invaders for a long time. The crushing blows of Alexander Nevsky were so strong that the enemies of Rus' could not recover from them for a long time. Only 44 years after the Battle of the Neva, the Swedes resumed their predatory campaigns against Novgorod. In 1248 they organized a campaign against the possessions of Novgorod with the aim of capturing Ladoga. But this campaign ended completely for themdestructionmom. The Novgorodians freely allowed the Swedes to enter the Neva, blocked them and then destroyed them.
In 1300, the Swedes, taking advantage of the difficult internal situation of Rus' (Tatar yoke) and the weakening of Novgorod itself due to the intensified struggle of boyar groups for power, decided to cut off Novgorod from the Baltic Sea. For this purpose, they sent their fleet of 111 ships to the Gulf of Finland and the Neva. Climbing up the Neva, the Swedes stopped at the mouth of the Okhta River, where, under the supervision of Italian engineers, they built the Landskrona fortress.
The Novgorodians, having learned about the arrival of the enemy fleet in the Neva, decided to destroy it with the help of burning ships sent downstream. But the Swedes, warned by their intelligence, managed to prevent this danger by driving piles above the parking lot of their fleet. Then the Novgorodians were forced to strengthen their ground army, which took Landskrona by storm and destroyed it (1301).
In order to prevent the enemy from penetrating the Neva in the future, the Novgorodians built the Oreshek fortress (now Petrokrepost) at its source on Orekhov Island in 1323.
Due to the increased resistance of the Novgorodians, the Swedes suffered constant failures in their expensive campaigns against Rus', so in 1323 they sent their representatives to the Novgorodians in Oreshek with peace proposals. The latter accepted the Swedes' offer, and peace was signed in the Oreshek fortress.
According to the Orekhov Peace Treaty, the Sestra River became the border of Novgorod’s possessions on the Karelian Isthmus, and on the southern bank Gulf of Finland- Narova River.
The peace treaty of 1323 remained in force until 1348, when the Swedish king Magnus decided to cut off Russian access to the Baltic Sea, seize their land, and convert and enslave them. In 1348, a large Swedish fleet under the command of the king himself entered the Gulf of Finland and, going up the Neva, took the Oreshek fortress.
To liberate Oreshek, the Novgorodians gathered a large militia and moved by water and land against the Swedes. The Swedish king, having learned about the movement of a large Russian army, left a strong garrison in Oreshka, and he and his retinue fled to Sweden. In 1349, the Novgorodians took the Oreshek fortress by storm.
After the liberation of Oreshek, the Novgorodians founded a new fortress, Kantsy, at the mouth of the Okhta River on the site of the former Swedish fortress of Landskrona.
Before my first year at university, I was sure that I knew the history of the Battle of the Ice. The legend that Russian warriors defeated the knights of the Livonian Order by cunning. And then at the university they ask me to find and analyze a problematic historical article. And then I am surprised to learn that everything I knew about the Battle of the Ice was a lie.
What year was the Battle of the Ice?
Perhaps the only truth from my knowledge was that The Battle of the Ice occurred in 1242. Presumably in the beginning of April. The matter is old, so, you understand, the exact date cannot be determined. However, historians, based on chronicles, saythat the battle took place on the 5th. What other facts are known for certain about the battle:
- The Danish king and the Master of the Order decided to divide Estonia and, with the help of the Swedes, defeat the power of Rus'. The Swedes, as you know, lost on the Neva, and Order came out after them.
- Rus' was defended by Novgorodians and representatives of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality in the amount of 15-17 thousand people.
- The Livonian Order and Denmark were represented by 10-12 thousand people.
The battle led by Alexander Nevsky is also called the Battle of Lake Peipsi. It is this very lake that haunts the Russian people and creates one of the main myths of Russian history.
The myth of the Battle of the Ice
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you remember the Battle of the Ice? I am sure that many will answer that the battle on Lake Peipsi was won because the knights wore too heavy armor. The ice cracked. And the warriors bravely sank. And the Russians, dressed in lighter chain mail, of course, avoided this fatal trouble. For some reason, it even seems to me that we were told about this at school. But - All lies. The knights did not drown. And that's why:
- there is no mention of this in historical sources (chronicles) at all;
- weight of equipment of the Livonian warrior and the Russian approximately same;
- the exact geographical location of the battle has never been found, the battle most likely took place on a dry bank.
So where did the beautiful tale come from that the knights sank under the weight of their armor? This legend has no ancient roots. Everything is much more prosaic. In 1938 Eisenstein and Vasiliev made the film “Alexander Nevsky”, which included a scene with the drowning of enemies for entertainment purposes. This is the story of the battle that took place in 1242 and grew a beautiful legend already in the 20th century.
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Last year we vacationed on the shores of Lake Peipsi. Before the trip, I decided to refresh my memory of the history of our country, and the further I plunged into the study of the famous Battle of the Ice, the more I realized that my idea of many significant facts of the battle was very different from how it actually happened.
When was the Battle of the Ice?
Perhaps the only thing historians agree on regarding this battle is its year. The Battle of the Ice took place in April 1242 on Lake Peipsi between the knights of the Livonian Order and Novgorod troops led by Alexander Nevsky.
It is worth noting that a number of scientists believe that there was no battle at all. In their theory, they rely on the fact that its exact location has not yet been determined; no knightly armor or other traces of the battle were found in the vicinity of the lake. Others argue that the significance of this historical event is greatly exaggerated, but in fact it was an ordinary inter-feudal skirmish. But these theories are refuted by data from Russian and German chronicles.
Truth and myths about the Battle of the Ice
The main myth goes like this: Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod meets hordes of German knights on the ice of a lake, where heavily armed knights suffer a crushing defeat and, retreating, fall through the ice.
The real facts look a little different:
- No more than 90 knights could participate in the battle. In the Baltics, the Order had exactly this number of castles by 1290. The rest of the army was a retinue, which could reach up to 100 people for each noble warrior.
- Nevsky entered into an alliance with Batu Khan, who helped Novgorod defeat the foreign invaders.
- The prince did not specifically plan to lure the knights onto thin ice so that they would drown under the weight of their armor. The Russian warriors were no worse equipped than the Germans, and such a strategy would have been suicidal.
- The victorious strategy was that Nevsky lined up the weakest part of his army - the infantry - in the central part of his army, and the main forces struck the flanks of the enemy moving like a pig.
The victory in the Battle of the Ice helped stop the expansion of the Livonian Order into Rus'. This was the first example of the defeat of a knightly army by infantry.
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I live in the Pskov region, so I was lucky enough to visit places more than once great battle. On excursions, I always experienced twofold sensations: on the one hand, pride in the glorious warriors, on the other, sadness. After all, war is war - it means human sacrifices, first of all.
How did the Battle of the Ice take place?
The Battle of the Ice is a famous battle that took place on the ice of Lake Peipsi; the knowledge base about it is replenished with new facts every year. Sometimes fictitious.
But, nevertheless, it is known for sure that in 1238, Landmaster Herman Balk and the Danish king Valdemar decided to divide Estonia among themselves and seize Rus'. It was during this period that the defensive forces of Rus' were weaker than ever. They were exhausted by constant Mongol invasions.
The following military forces took part in the struggle:
- Swedes and Livonian knights;
- squad of Yaroslav Vladimirovich;
- Estonian army;
- Dorpat army.
The year in which the Battle of the Ice took place
They began their offensive in 1240. In the same year, Swedish troops were completely overthrown on the Neva.
The land battle continued for another 2 years, until in 1242 the main Russian troops entered the ice of Lake Peipsi to conduct the final battle. An important event took place on April 5, 1242 under the leadership of Alexander Nevsky (from the Russian side) and the military of the Livonian Order from the enemy.
Results
But there is still debate on whose side won. Some claim that she was behind Nevsky, others that she was not on a draw at all. Because in the same year Herman Balk and the Teutonic Order:
- abandoned all previously captured Russian territories;
- concluded a peace agreement with Novgorod;
- returned the prisoners to their homeland.
True, 10 years later they attacked Pskov again, but that’s a completely different story...
In memory of the Battle of the Ice
It was quite an important event in the life of Russia, so April 5 is considered one of the memorable days in our country.
In honor of the battle, many interesting and instructive films were made, beautiful songs and books were written.
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Some consider the Battle of the Ice one of the main events of our ancient history, others attribute it to local battles that were not distinguished by either scale or historical significance. For me, this is a good reason to get to know this corner of Russia better, where the knightly armor once thundered and the Novgorodians and Suzdalians harrowed their native Rus' under the leadership of Alexander Nevsky.
When did the Battle of the Ice happen?
It is this date that is indicated in the Novgorod First Chronicle, which describes the massacre in more detail. The day of the week when it happened is even indicated - Saturday. But in the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle (Russian troops fought with the knights of the Livonian Order, which was an offshoot of the Teutonic Order), where the battle is mentioned, it is noted that the dead fell into the grass. It turns out that the battle took place later, since there is still no grass in these parts at the beginning of April
Historical places
They remind us of the affairs of long-ago years in the Pskov region:
the “Battle on the Ice” monument, which was opened in 1993 near Pskov, on Mount Sokolikha;
Kobylye Settlement is an ancient village not far from the battle site;
a museum in the village of Samolva, where materials from a scientific expedition that studied the events of 1242 were collected.
There are not even two dozen inhabitants in Kobylye Settlement now. But this place has been inhabited since time immemorial and is mentioned in ancient chronicles. The Church of the Archangel Michael, built in 1462, testifies to its past prosperity. The Poklonny Cross and the monument to Alexander Nevsky remind us of the Battle of the Ice.
The motor rally became a new chance for the development of these places." silver ring Alexander Nevsky”, which was invented and implemented by St. Petersburg residents. Every summer since 1997, they start from northern capital and make their way through the preserved fortresses and monasteries of the Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov regions to Kobylye Settlement. Rally participants have already improved this historical place and installed a new chapel.
Whoever comes to us with a sword will die by the sword.
Alexander Nevskiy
The Battle of the Ice is one of the most famous battles in Russian history. The battle took place in early April 1242 on Lake Peipsi, on the one hand, the troops of the Novgorod Republic, led by Alexander Nevsky, took part in it, on the other hand, it was opposed by the troops of the German crusaders, mainly representatives of the Livonian Order. If Nevsky had lost this battle, the history of Russia could have gone a completely different way, but the prince of Novgorod was able to win. Now let's look at this page of Russian history in more detail.
Preparing for battle
To understand the essence of the Battle of the Ice, it is necessary to understand what preceded it and how the opponents approached the battle. So... After the Swedes lost the Battle of the Neva, the German crusaders decided to more carefully prepare for a new campaign. The Teutonic Order also allocated part of its army to help. Back in 1238, Dietrich von Grüningen became the master of the Livonian Order; many historians attribute to him the decisive role in shaping the idea of a campaign against Rus'. The crusaders were further motivated by Pope Gregory IX, who in 1237 declared a crusade against Finland, and in 1239 called on the princes of Rus' to respect the border orders.
At this point, the Novgorodians already had successful experience of war with the Germans. In 1234, Alexander's father Yaroslav defeated them in the battle on the Omovzha River. Alexander Nevsky, knowing the plans of the crusaders, began to build a line of fortifications along the southwestern border in 1239, but the Swedes made minor adjustments to his plans by attacking from the northwest. After their defeat, Nevsky continued to strengthen the borders, and also married the daughter of the Prince of Polotsk, thereby enlisting his support in case of a future war.
At the end of 1240, the Germans began a campaign against the lands of Rus'. In the same year they took Izborsk, and in 1241 they besieged Pskov. At the beginning of March 1242, Alexander helped the residents of Pskov liberate their principality and drove the Germans northwest of the city, to the region of Lake Peipus. It was there that the decisive battle took place, which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice.
The course of the battle briefly
The first clashes of the ice battle began in early April 1242 on the northern shore of Lake Peipsi. The crusaders were led by a famous commander Andreas von Felfen, who was twice as old as the Novgorod prince. Nevsky's army numbered 15-17 thousand soldiers, while the Germans had about 10 thousand. However, according to chroniclers, both in Rus' and abroad, the German troops were much better armed. But as shown further development events, this played a cruel joke on the crusaders.
The Battle of the Ice took place on April 5, 1242. German troops, who mastered the “pigs” attack technique, that is, in a strict and disciplined formation, directed the main blow to the enemy’s center. However, Alexander first attacked the enemy army with the help of archers, and then ordered a strike on the flanks of the crusaders. As a result, the Germans were forced forward onto the ice of Lake Peipsi. The winter at that time was long and cold, so at the time of April the ice (very fragile) remained on the reservoir. After the Germans realized that they were retreating onto the ice, it was already too late: the ice began to crack under the pressure of the heavy German armor. That is why historians called the battle the “Battle of the Ice.” As a result, some of the soldiers drowned, others were killed in battle, but most still managed to escape. After this, Alexander's troops finally drove the crusaders out of the territory of the Pskov principality.
The exact location of the battle has not yet been established, this is due to the fact that Lake Peipsi has very variable hydrography. In 1958-1959, the first archaeological expedition was organized, but no traces of the battle were found.
Historical reference
Result and historical significance of the battle
The first result of the battle was that the Livonian and Teutonic orders signed a truce with Alexander and renounced their claims to Rus'. Alexander himself became the de facto ruler of Northern Rus'. After his death, in 1268, the Livonian Order violated the truce: the Battle of Rakovsk took place. But this time, too, the Russian troops achieved victory.
After the victory in the “Battle on the Ice,” the Novgorod Republic, led by Nevsky, was able to move from defensive tasks to the conquest of new territories. Alexander undertook several successful campaigns against the Lithuanians.
As for the historical significance of the Battle of Lake Peipus, then the main role Alexander is that he managed to stop the advance of a powerful army of crusaders on Russian lands. The famous historian L. Gumelev argues that the fact of conquest by the crusaders would have meant the end for the very existence of Rus', and therefore the end of the future Russia.
Some historians criticize Nevsky for his truce with the Mongols, and that he did not help defend Rus' from them. In this discussion, most historians still side with Nevsky, because in the situation in which he found himself, it was necessary either to negotiate with the khan or to fight two powerful enemies at once. And as a competent politician and commander, Nevsky made a wise decision.
The exact date of the Battle of the Ice
The battle took place on April 5, old style. In the 20th century, the difference between the styles was 13 days, which is why the holiday was assigned to April 18th. However, from the point of view of historical justice, it is worth recognizing that in the 13th century (when the battle took place) the difference was 7 days. Based on this logic, the Battle of the Ice took place on April 12, according to the new style. Nevertheless, today April 18 is a public holiday in Russian Federation, Military Glory Day. It is on this day that the Battle of the Ice and its significance in the history of Russia are remembered.
Participants in the battle after
Having achieved victory, the Novgorod Republic begins its rapid development. However, in the 16th century there was a decline in both the Livonian Order and Novgorod. Both of these events are associated with the ruler of Moscow, Ivan the Terrible. He deprived Novgorod of the privileges of the Republic, subordinating these lands to a single state. After the Livonian Order lost its strength and influence in Eastern Europe, Grozny declared war on Lithuania to strengthen his own influence and expand the territories of his state.
An alternative view of the Battle of Lake Peipsi
Due to the fact that during the archaeological expedition of 1958-1959 no traces and exact location of the battle were found, and also taking into account the fact that the chronicles of the 13th century contain very little information about the battle, two alternative views on the Battle of the Ice of 1242 were formed, which briefly discussed below:
- According to the first glance, there was no battle at all. This is an invention of the historians of the end XVIII-early XIX century, in particular Solovyov, Karamzin and Kostomarov. According to historians who share this point of view, the need to create this battle was caused by the fact that it was necessary to justify Nevsky’s cooperation with the Mongols, as well as to show the strength of Rus' in relation to Catholic Europe. Basically, a small number of historians adhere to this theory, since it is very difficult to deny the very fact of the existence of the battle, because the battle on Lake Peipsi is described in some chronicles of the late 13th century, as well as in the chronicles of the Germans.
- Second alternative theory: The Battle of the Ice is briefly described in the chronicles, which means it is a greatly exaggerated event. Historians who adhere to this point of view say that there were much fewer participants in the massacre, and the consequences for the Germans were less dramatic.
If the first theory is professional Russian historians deny how historical fact, as for the second version, they have one weighty argument: even if the scale of the battle is exaggerated, this should not reduce the role of the victory over the Germans in the history of Russia. By the way, in 2012-2013 archaeological expeditions were carried out, as well as studies of the bottom of Lake Peipsi. Archaeologists have found several new probable sites of the Battle of the Ice, in addition, a study of the bottom showed the presence of a sharp decrease in depth near Raven Island, which suggests the existence of the legendary “Raven Stone”, that is, the approximate location of the battle, named in the chronicle of 1463.
The Battle of the Ice in the country's culture
1938 has great importance in the history of lighting historical events V modern culture. This year, the famous Russian writer Konstantin Simonov wrote the poem “Battle of the Ice,” and director Sergei Eisenstein shot the film “Alexander Nevsky,” in which he highlighted the two main battles of the Novgorod ruler: on the Neva River and Lake Peipsi. The image of Nevsky was of particular importance during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War. Poets, artists, directors turned to him to show citizens Soviet Union example successful war with the Germans and thereby raise the morale of the army.
In 1993, a monument was erected on Mount Sokolikha near Pskov. A year earlier, in the village of Kobylye, a settlement (as close as possible to the battle site) locality) erected a monument to Nevsky. In 2012, a museum of the Battle of the Ice of 1242 was opened in the village of Samolva, Pskov region.
As we see, even Short story The Battle of the Ice is not only the battle of April 5, 1242 between the Novgorodians and the Germans. This is a very important event in the history of Russia, since thanks to the talent of Alexander Nevsky, Rus' was saved from conquest by the crusaders.
Rus' in the 13th century and the arrival of the Germans
In 1240, Novgorod was attacked by the Swedes, by the way, allies of the Livonians, future participants in the Battle of the Ice. Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich, who at that time was only 20 years old, defeats the Swedes on Lake Neva, for which he received the nickname “Nevsky”. In the same year, the Mongols burned Kyiv, that is, most of Rus' was busy with the war with the Mongols, Nevsky and its Novgorod Republic were left alone with strong enemies. The Swedes were defeated, but a stronger and more powerful opponent awaited Alexander ahead: the German crusaders. In the 12th century, the Pope created the Order of the Swordsmen and sent them to the Baltic Sea coast, where they received from him the right to own all the conquered lands. These events went down in history as the Northern Crusades. Since most of the members of the Order of the Sword were immigrants from Germany, this order was therefore called German. At the beginning of the 13th century, the order split into several military organizations, the main ones of which were the Teutonic and Livonian orders. In 1237, the Livonians recognized their dependence on the Teutonic Order, but had the right to choose their master. It was the Livonian Order that was the closest neighbors of the Novgorod Republic.
Battle on the Ice
On April 5, 1242, the Russian army led by Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated the Livonian knights in the Battle of the Ice on the ice of Lake Peipsi.
However, the defeat of the Swedes on the Neva did not completely eliminate the danger hanging over Russia: the threat from the north, from the Swedes, was replaced by a threat from the west, from the Germans.
Back in the 12th century, the advance of German knightly detachments from East Prussia to the east was noted. In pursuit of new lands and free labor, under the guise of the intention to convert pagans to Christianity, crowds of German nobles, knights and monks went east. They suppressed resistance with fire and sword local population, sitting comfortably on its lands, built castles and monasteries here and imposed unbearable taxes and tribute on the people. By the beginning of the 13th century, the entire Baltic region was in the hands of German rapists. The population of the Baltic states groaned under the whip and yoke of warlike aliens.
And 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 - the Germans were helped to take it by the betrayal of the Pskov mayor Tverdila Ivankovich, who went over to the side of the Germans. Having subjugated the Pskov volost, the Germans built a fortress in Koporye. 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, captured Luga and the Novgorod suburb of Tesovo. In their raids they came within 30 kilometers of Novgorod. Disregarding past grievances, Alexander Nevskiy at the request of the Novgorodians, at the end of 1240 he returned to Novgorod and continued the fight against the invaders. IN next 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 was still ahead. 
In the spring of 1242, reconnaissance of the Livonian Order was sent from Dorpat (the former Russian Yuryev, now the Estonian city of Tartu) in order to test the strength of the Russian troops. 18 versts south of Dorpat, the order's reconnaissance detachment managed to defeat the Russian "dispersal" under the command of Domash Tverdislavich and Kerebet. It 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.
The Battle of Lake Peipsi, which went down in history as Battle on the Ice, began on the morning of April 5, 1242. At sunrise, noticing a small detachment of Russian riflemen, the knightly “pig” rushed towards him. Alexander contrasted the German wedge with the Russian heel - a formation in the form of the Roman numeral "V", that is, the angle with the hole facing the enemy. This very hole was covered by a “brow”, consisting of archers, who took the main blow of the “iron regiment” and with courageous resistance noticeably disrupted its advance. Still, the knights managed to break through the defensive formations of the Russian “chela”. 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 hand. Not expecting the appearance of such Russian reinforcements, the knights were confused and began to gradually retreat under their powerful blows. 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 for another seven miles to the western shore of Lake Peipsi. 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 victory of Russian troops under the leadership of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German “dog knights” has important historical significance. 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, right choice place and time, good organization of tactical pursuit, destruction of most of the superior enemy - all this determined Russian military art as advanced in the world.
