Alexander Nevski, lived a short (1220 -1263 gg.), But brilliant life.During his reign, he spent at least 12 military operations and battles, which include Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice.He had to fight with the Germans, Swedes and Lithuanians.And in all these battles, Prince succeeded.And most of all he had to fight for that period when he was a prince of Novgorod.It's 1236 - 1252 years.Times were hard then, and Alexander was able to show their talents commander in full.
In 1237 - 1241 years in Russia was unfolding heavy military catastrophe, which was associated with the invasion of the Mongols.Most of the Russian land was destroyed these tribes, and west borders of Russia threatened Livonians.And the Swedes, seeing a situation at the beginning of July 1240 started their march to the sea north-western Russian lands.Plans invaders were the most ambitious.They planned to take if not all, then at least a strategically important part of the Novgorod lands.In this way they would have blocked the access of Russia to the Baltic Sea, as well as the Finnish and Karelian land.That is, the trade routes to the West for Russian would have been cut off.
Exploration in those days, too, worked well.And as soon as the Swedes came to the mouth of the Neva, the Prince of Novgorod reported it.Alexander Nevsky responded to this threat immediately.He managed to gather an army for one day.Swedes during this time had to come to the mouth of the river Izhora, and they encamped there.A young 20-year-old commander, apparently, was in a hurry is not in vain.He did not want to come to Ladoga Swedes and ravaged adjacent to Neve place.
and July 15, 1240 the troops of Alexander Nevsky suddenly came to the camp of the Swedes, and started all famous Battle of the Neva.In this battle of Novgorod showed courage, perseverance and desperate courage.Combat lead they held in their hands from the very beginning of the battle.The Swedes, too, put up fierce resistance.This was due to the fact that in fact they had nowhere to retreat.Behind them there was water, and if they were in a panic rushed to the ships, it would be completely destroyed.
Battle of the Neva in 1240 unfolded tactical rules, which were adopted in the Middle Ages.Usually in such battles they participated cohesive units that were built in the echelon battle formations.These units under the command of their governor agreed with the enemy on the battlefield.And if the first attack is not successful, then they diverge and converge again.And such a collision were repeated over and over again.This kind of fight is possible only when the combat troops maintain order during the attack and retreat, and always obey the management.
According to historical sources, Alexander Nevsky squad was divided into five units.These sources are preserved the names of some of the commanders.For example, referred to the two nobles of Novgorod: Sbyslav Yakunovich and Gabriel Oleksich.They undoubtedly led detachments.The Swedish army was also divided into tactical units.This noble knight detachment commanded by ordinary soldiers.
Neva battle, as was the custom in those days, began with an attack of cavalry, armed with spears.And when the first attack Novgorod Swedes inflicted considerable damage.The chronicles mention the fighters who have distinguished themselves in a special way in this battle.They fought with great courage, engaging in combat with the enemy is down.During the battle, these daredevils used battle axes.Such brave men during this battle marked six.They kerf in the middle of Swedish army, reached the tent of his commander and pull up the support pillar.A drop in the tent of the commander demoralized Swedish soldiers.Also, these brave managed to break through to the enemy ships and destroy three of them.
And it says that the ranks of the Swedes during the melee were torn and upset.Their troops fought not together, but separately.It turns out that the attack lancers, which began with the Battle of the Neva, prejudge the outcome of the battle.Novgorod from the outset gained the upper hand, which has led them to victory.Also, the reason for this victory, some historians believe the Russian breakthrough in the rear of the Swedes and the severance of their ships.But whatever the reason, the Alexander Nevsky managed to achieve the main thing: the Swedes were defeated.They left the battlefield and simply fled.But Russia has maintained free access to the Baltic Sea.
