Alexander Nevsky - Fight at the Neva River

Alexander Yaroslavich Rurickovich, nick name Nevsky Born in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Alexander was the second son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and seemed to have no chance of claiming the throne of Vladimir. In 1236, however, he was summoned by the Novgorodians to become prince of Novgorod and, as their military leader, to defend their northwest lands from Swedish and German invaders After the Swedish army had landed at the confluence of the rivers Izhora and Neva, Alexander and his small army made a surprise attack at dawn on 15 July 1240 and defeated them. The Neva battle of 1240 saved Russia from a full-scale invasion from the North. Because of this battle, 18-year-old Alexander was given the nick name “Nevsky“ (which means “of the Neva“). This victory, coming just three years after the disastrous Mongol invasion of Russia, strengthened Nevsky’s political influence with the common people, but at the same time it worsened his relations with the boyars (the nobility). Soon they