Ice battle on Lake Chudskoe. Myths about the Battle of the Ice

Battle on the Ice, artist Serov V.A. (1865-19110

When the event happened : 5 April 1242

Where the event took place : Lake Peipsi (near Pskov)

Participants:

The army of the Novgorod Republic and the Vladimir-Suzdal principality under the leadership of Alexander Nevsky and Andrei Yaroslavich

Livonian Order, Denmark. Commander - Andres von Velven

Causes

Livonian Order:

Capture of the territories of Russia in the northwest

The spread of Catholicism

Russian troops:

Defending the Northwest Borders from German Knights

Prevention of subsequent threats of an attack on Russia by the Livonian Order

Defending access to the Baltic Sea, opportunities for trade with Europe

Defense of the Orthodox Faith

Stroke

In 1240 the Livonian knights captured Pskov and Koporye

In 1241 Alexander Nevsky recaptured Koporye.

At the beginning of 1242, Nevsky and his brother Andrei Yaroslavich of Suzdal took Pskov.

The knights were lined up in a battle wedge, heavy knights on the flanks and light knights in the center. In Russian chronicles such a construction was called "the great pig."

First, the knights attacked the center of the Russian troops, thinking to surround them from the flanks. However, they themselves were caught in pincers. Moreover, Alexander introduced an ambush regiment.

The knights were crowded to the lake, on which the ice was no longer strong. Most of the knights drowned. Only a few managed to escape.

Outcome

Eliminated the threat of capture of the northwest lands

Saved trade links with Europe, Russia defended access to the Baltic Sea.

According to the agreement, the knights left all the conquered lands and returned the prisoners. The Russians also returned all the prisoners.

The raids of the west against Russia stopped for a long time.

Value

The defeat of the German knights is a bright page in the history of Russia.

For the first time, Russian foot soldiers were able to defeat the heavily armed cavalry.

The importance of the battle is also great in the sense that the victory took place during the period of the Mongol-Tatar yoke. In case of defeat, it would be much more difficult for Russia to get rid of the double oppression.

The Orthodox faith was defended, since the crusaders wanted to actively introduce Catholicism in Russia. But it was Orthodoxy in the period of fragmentation and yoke that was the connecting link that united the people in the struggle against the enemy.

In the course of the ice battle and the Battle of the Neva, the leadership talent of the young Alexander Nevsky was manifested. He applied the proven tactics:

before the battle inflicted whole line successive blows to the enemy, and only then a decisive battle took place.

used the surprise factor

successfully and on time entered the ambush regiment into battle

the disposition of the Russian troops was more flexible than the clumsy "pig" of the knights.

skillful use of terrain features: Alexander deprived the enemy of freedom of space, while he himself used the terrain for a strong blow to the enemy.

It is interesting

April 18 (old style - April 5) is the Day of Russian Military Glory. The holiday was established in 1995.

Prepared by: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna

Monument to the squads of Alexander Nevsky on Mount Sokolikha in Pskov

The Battle on the Ice, artist Matorin V.

Battle on the ice, artist Nazaruk V.M., 1982

Alexander Nevskiy. Battle on the ice, artist Kostylev A., 2005

Alexander Nevsky and Battle of the Ice

Alexander Nevsky: A Brief Biography

K nyaz Novgorod and Kiev and Grand Duke Vladimirsky, Alexander Nevskiy best known for stopping the advance of the Swedes and the Knights of the Teutonic Order to Russia. At the same time, instead of opposing the Mongols, he paid tribute to them. Many considered such a position to be cowardice, but perhaps Alexander simply judged his capabilities sensibly.

A son Yaroslav II VsevolodovichThe Grand Duke of Vladimir and the all-Russian leader, Alexander, was elected Prince of Novgorod in 1236 (predominantly a military post). In 1239 he married Alexandra, daughter of the Prince of Polotsk.

Some time ago, the Novgorodians invaded Finnish territory, which was under the control of the Swedes. In response to this, and also wanting to block the Russians' access to the sea, in 1240 the Swedes invaded Russia.

Alexander won a significant victory over the Swedes at the mouth of the Izhora River, on the banks of the Neva, as a result of which he received the honorary nickname Nevsky... However, a few months later, Alexander was expelled from Novgorod due to a conflict with the Novgorod boyars.

Later, the Pope Gregory IX began to call on the Teutonic knights to "Christianize" the Baltic region, although the peoples living there were already Christians. In the face of this threat, Alexander was invited to return to Novgorod, and, after several clashes, in April 1242, he won a famous victory over the knights on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Thus, Alexander stopped the eastward advance of both the Swedes and the Germans.

But there was another serious problem, in the east. Mongol forces conquered most of Russia, which was not politically united at the time. Alexander's father agreed to serve the new Mongol rulers, but died in September 1246. As a result of this, the throne of the Grand Duke was free and Alexander and his younger brother Andrey went to Batu (Batu), the Mongol khan of the Golden Horde. Batu sent them to the great Kagan, who, perhaps in spite of Batu, who preferred Alexander, violating the Russian custom, appointed Andrew the Great Prince of Vladimir. Alexander became the prince of Kiev.

Andrei entered into an agreement with other Russian princes and western neighbors, against the Mongol rulers, and Alexander took the opportunity to inform about his brother Sartak, the son of Batu. Sartak sent an army to overthrow Andrew and Alexander soon took his place as Grand Duke.

As the Grand Duke, Alexander strove to restore the prosperity of Russia through the construction of fortifications, temples and the adoption of laws. He continued to control Novgorod with the help of his son Vasily. This violated the established traditions of government in Novgorod (veche and invitation to reign). In 1255, the inhabitants of Novgorod expelled Vasily, but Alexander gathered an army and returned Vasily back to the throne.

In 1257, in connection with the upcoming population census and taxation, an uprising broke out in Novgorod. Alexander helped force the city into submission, probably fearing that the Mongols would punish all of Russia for the actions of Novgorod. In 1262, uprisings against the Muslim tribute collectors from the Golden Horde began, but Alexander managed to avoid repression by going to Sarai, the capital of the Horde on the Volga, and discussing the situation with the khan. He also achieved the release of Russia from the obligation to supply soldiers for the khan's army.

On the way home, Alexander Nevsky died in Gorodets. After his death, Russia broke up into warring principalities, but his son Daniel received Moscow into the principality, which eventually led to the reunification of the northern Russian lands. In 1547, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Alexander Nevsky.

Battle on the Ice

The Battle on the Ice (Lake Peipsi) took place on April 5, 1242, during the Northern Crusades (12-13 centuries).

Armies and Generals

Crusaders

Herman Dorpat
1,000 - 4,000 people

prince Alexander Nevsky
prince Andrey II Yaroslavich
5,000 - 6,000 people

The Battle of the Ice - Background

In the thirteenth century, the papacy tried to force the Orthodox Christians living in the Baltic region to accept the papal sovereignty. Despite the fact that previous efforts were unsuccessful, in the 1230s a new attempt was made to create an ecclesiastical state in the Baltics.

While preaching the Crusade in the late 1230s, Wilhelm of Modena organized a Western coalition to invade Novgorod land. This papal action against Russia coincided with the desire of the Swedes and Danes to expand their territories to the east, so both states began to supply troops for the campaign, as well as the knights of the Teutonic Order.

The trade center of the region, Novgorod, like most of Russia, in the recent past was invaded by the Mongols (the Novgorod lands were only partially devastated, and the Mongols did not go to Novgorod itself per.). While formally remaining independent, Novgorod assumed Mongol rule in 1237. The Western invaders hoped that the Mongol invasion would distract Novgorod's attention and that this was the right time for an attack.

In the spring of 1240, Swedish troops began their advance into Finland. The alarmed residents of Novgorod called the recently exiled Prince Alexander back to the city to lead the army (Alexander was expelled and called back after the Battle of the Neva per.). Having planned a campaign against the Swedes, Alexander defeated them in the battle on the Neva and received an honorary nickname Nevsky.

Campaign in the South

Although the crusaders were defeated in Finland, they were more fortunate in the south. Here, at the end of 1240, the mixed forces of the knights of the Livonian and Teutonic orders, Danish, Estonian and Russian troops managed to capture Pskov, Izborsk, and Koporye. But in 1241 Alexander conquered the eastern lands of the Neva, and in March 1242 he liberated Pskov.

Wanting to strike back at the crusaders, he raided the lands of the Order in the same month. Having finished with this, Alexander began to retreat to the East. Having gathered their troops in this region together, Hermann, Bishop of Dorpat, set off in pursuit.

Battle on the Ice

Although Herman's troops were fewer in number, they were better equipped than their Russian opponents. The chase continued, and on April 5, Alexander's army set foot on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Crossing the lake, in the narrowest place, he looked for a good defensive position and it turned out to be the eastern shore of the lake, with ice blocks protruding from the uneven ground. Having deployed in this place, Alexander lined up his army, placing the infantry in the center and the cavalry on the flanks. Arriving on the west bank, the Crusader army formed a wedge, placing heavy cavalry at the head and along the flanks.

Moving on the ice, the crusaders reached the location of Alexander's Russian army. Their movement slowed down as they had to overcome irregularities and suffer losses from archers. When the two armies clashed, hand-to-hand combat began. As the battle raged, Alexander ordered his cavalry and horse archers to attack the crusaders from the flanks. Rushing forward, they soon successfully surrounded Herman's army and began to beat him. As the battle took such a turn, many of the crusaders began to fight their way back across the lake.

According to myths, the crusaders began to fall through the ice, but most likely there were not many. Seeing that the enemy was retreating, Alexander allowed to pursue him only to the western shore of the lake. Defeated, the crusaders were forced to flee to the West.

Aftermath of the Battle on the Ice

While the losses of the Russian losses are not known with sufficient accuracy, it has been established that about 400 crusaders died and another 50 were captured. After the battle, Alexander offered generous peace terms, which were quickly accepted by Herman and his allies. The defeats on the Neva and Lake Peipsi actually stopped the West's attempts to subjugate Novgorod. Based on a minor event, the Battle of the Ice later became the basis of Russia's anti-Western ideology. This legend was promoted by the film Alexander Nevskiy, filmed by Sergei Eisenstein in 1938.

The legend and iconography of the Battle of the Ice was used for propaganda purposes during World War II as a description of Russia's defense against German invaders.

On April 5, 1242, the famous Battle of the Ice took place on Lake Peipsi. Russian soldiers under the command of Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated the German knights who were about to strike at Veliky Novgorod. For a long time this date did not have official recognition as a public holiday. Only March 13, 1995 was adopted the federal law No. 32-FZ "On the days of military glory (victory days) in Russia". Then, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian government again became concerned with the issue of reviving patriotism in the country. In accordance with this law, April 18 was appointed the day of celebration of the victory over Lake Peipsi. The officially memorable date was named "The Day of the Victory of the Russian Soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German Knights on Lake Peipsi".

It is interesting that in the same 1990s Russian political parties nationalistic sense, at the suggestion of the well-known followers of the writer Eduard Limonov, they began to celebrate April 5 "Day of the Russian nation", also dedicated to the victory at Lake Peipsi. The difference in dates was due to the fact that the "Limonovites" chose the date April 5 to Julian calendar, and the official commemorative date is considered according to the Gregorian calendar. But the most interesting thing is that the proleptic gregorian calendarextending until 1582, this date should have been celebrated on April 12th. But in any case, the very decision to set a date in memory of such a large-scale event in our country was very correct. Moreover, it was one of the first and most impressive episodes of the collision of the Russian world with the West. Subsequently, Russia will fight with Western countries more than once, but the memory of the soldiers of Alexander Nevsky who defeated the German knights is still alive.

The events, which will be discussed below, unfolded against the background of the total weakening of the Russian principalities during the Mongol invasion. In 1237-1240 Mongol hordes invaded Russia again. This time was prudently used by Pope Gregory IX for another expansion to the northeast. Then Holy Rome was preparing, firstly, a crusade against Finland, at that time still inhabited mainly by pagans, and secondly, against Russia, which was considered by the pontiff as the main competitor of Catholics in the Baltic states.

The Teutonic Order was ideally suited for the role of the executor of expansionist plans. The times that will be discussed were the era of the order's heyday. It was then, already during the Livonian War of Ivan the Terrible, the order was far from being in the best condition, and then, in the XIII century, the young military-religious formation represented a very strong and aggressive enemy who controlled impressive territories on the banks Baltic Sea... The order was considered the main conductor of the influence of the Catholic Church in North-Eastern Europe and directed its blows against the Baltic and Slavic peoples who lived in these parts. The main task of the order was the enslavement and conversion to Catholicism of local residents, and if they did not want to accept the Catholic faith, the "noble knights" ruthlessly destroyed the "pagans". Teutonic knights appeared in Poland, called by the Polish prince to help in the fight against the Prussian tribes. The conquest of the Prussian lands by the order began, which took place quite actively and rapidly.

It should be noted that the official residence of the Teutonic Order at the time of the events described was still in the Middle East - in the castle of Montfort on the territory of modern Israel (the historical land of Upper Galilee). Montfort housed the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, the archive and the order's treasury. Thus, the top management managed the order possessions in the Baltic region remotely. In 1234 the Teutonic Order absorbed the remnants of the Dobrin Order, created in 1222 or 1228 on the territory of Prussia to protect the Prussian bishopric from the raids of the Prussian tribes.

When in 1237 the remnants of the Order of the Swordsmen (Brotherhood of the Warriors of Christ) joined the Teutonic Order, the Teutons also gained control over the possessions of the Swordsmen in Livonia. On the Livonian lands of the sword-bearers, the Livonian landmastership of the Teutonic Order arose. Interestingly, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, back in 1224, declared the lands of Prussia and Livonia to be directly subordinate to Holy Rome, and not to local authorities. The order became the main viceroy of the papal throne and the exponent of the papal will in the Baltic lands. At the same time, the course continued for the further expansion of the order in the territory of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States.

Back in 1238, the Danish king Waldemar II and the Grand Master of the Order Hermann Balk agreed to divide the lands of Estonia. Veliky Novgorod was the main obstacle for the German-Danish knights and it was against him that the main blow was directed. Sweden made an alliance with the Teutonic Order and Denmark. In July 1240, Swedish ships appeared on the Neva, but on July 15, 1240, on the banks of the Neva, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish knights. For this he was nicknamed Alexander Nevsky.

The defeat of the Swedes did not greatly contribute to the abandonment of their allies from their aggressive plans. The Teutonic Order and Denmark were going to continue their campaign against North-Eastern Russia with the aim of implanting Catholicism. Already at the end of August 1240, Bishop Herman of Dorpat set out on a campaign against Russia. He gathered an impressive army of knights of the Teutonic Order, Danish knights from the Revel Fortress and the Dorpat militia, and invaded the territory of modern Pskov region.

The resistance of the Pskovites did not give the desired result. The knights captured Izborsk and then laid siege to Pskov. Although the first siege of Pskov did not bring desired result and the knights retreated, they soon returned and were able to take the Pskov fortress, using the help of the former Pskov prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich and the traitorous boyars led by Tverdilo Ivankovich. Pskov was taken, a knight's garrison was located there. Thus, the Pskov land became a springboard for the actions of the German knights against Veliky Novgorod.

A difficult situation at that time was developing in Novgorod itself. The townspeople in the winter of 1240/1241 expelled Prince Alexander from Novgorod. Only when the enemy came very close to the city did they send messengers to Pereslavl-Zalessky to call Alexander. In 1241, the prince set out on Koporye, captured it by storm, killing the knight's garrison located there. Then, by March 1242, Alexander, having waited for the help of the troops of Prince Andrew from Vladimir, set out for Pskov and soon took the city, forcing the knights to retreat to the Dorpat bishopric. Then Alexander invaded the Order's lands, but when the advanced forces were defeated by the knights, he decided to retreat and prepare in the Peipsi region for the main battle. The balance of forces of the parties, according to the sources, was about 15-17 thousand soldiers from Russia, and 10-12 thousand Livonian and Danish knights, as well as the militia of the Dorpat bishopric.

The Russian army was commanded by Prince Alexander Nevsky, and the knights were commanded by the Landmaster of the Teutonic Order in Livonia, Andreas von Felfen. A native of the Austrian Styria, Andreas von Felfen was the commander (commandant) of Riga before taking office as viceroy of the order in Livonia. The fact that he was a commander is evidenced by the fact that he decided not to personally participate in the battle on Lake Peipsi, but remained at a safe distance, transferring command to the younger order commanders. The Danish knights were commanded by the sons of King Valdemar II himself.

As you know, the crusaders of the Teutonic Order usually used the so-called "pig" or "boar's head" as a battle formation - a long column, at the head of which was a wedge from the ranks of the most powerful and experienced knights. Behind the wedge were squads of squires, and in the center of the column were mercenary infantry from the Baltic tribes. On the sides of the column followed a heavily armed knightly cavalry. The meaning of such a construction was that the knights wedged themselves into the enemy's formation, splitting it into two parts, then breaking it into smaller parts, and only then finishing off with the participation of their infantry.

Prince Alexander Nevsky made a very interesting move - he placed his forces on the flanks in advance. In addition, the equestrian squads of Alexander and Andrey Yaroslavich were placed in an ambush. In the center stood the Novgorod militia, and in front - a chain of archers. Behind them, they put chained carts, which were supposed to deprive the knights of the opportunity to maneuver and evade the attacks of the Russian army. On April 5 (12), 1242, the Russians and the knights entered into combat contact. The archers were the first to accept the onslaught of the knights, and then the knights were able to break through the Russian system with the help of their famous wedge. But it was not so - the heavily armed knightly cavalry got stuck at the convoy and then the regiments of the right and left arms moved on from the flanks. Then the princely squads entered the battle, which turned the knights to flight. The ice broke, unable to bear the weight of the knights, and the Germans began to sink. The warriors of Alexander Nevsky pursued the knights on the ice of Lake Peipsi for seven miles. The Teutonic Order and Denmark were completely defeated in the battle on Lake Peipsi. According to the Simeon Chronicle, 800 Germans and Chuds "without number" were killed, 50 knights were captured. The losses of the troops of Alexander Nevsky are unknown.

The defeat of the Teutonic Order had an impressive impact on its leadership. The Teutonic Order renounced all territorial claims to Veliky Novgorod and returned all the lands captured not only in Russia, but also in Latgale. Thus, the effect of the defeat inflicted on the German knights was colossal, first of all - in political terms. To the West, the Battle on the Ice showed that in Russia the glorified crusaders await a strong adversary, ready to fight in their native lands to the last. Later, Western historians tried in every possible way to diminish the significance of the battle on Lake Peipsi - either they argued that in reality much smaller forces met there, then they characterized the battle as the starting point for the formation of the "myth of Alexander Nevsky."

Alexander Nevsky's victories over the Swedes and over the Teutonic and Danish knights were of great importance for the further Russian history. Who knows how the history of the Russian land would have developed if Alexander's soldiers had not won these battles then. After all main goal knights was the conversion of the Russian lands to Catholicism and their complete submission to the dominion of the order, and through it - and Rome. Thus, for Russia, the battle was of decisive importance in terms of preserving national and cultural identity. We can say that the Russian world was forged, including in the battle on Lake Peipsi.

Alexander Nevsky, who defeated the Swedes and Teutons, forever entered Russian history both as a church saint and as a brilliant commander and defender of the Russian land. It is clear that the contribution of countless warriors of Novgorod and princely warriors was no less significant. History has not preserved their names, but for us, living 776 years later, Alexander Nevsky is, among other things, those Russian people who fought on Lake Peipsi. He became the personification of the Russian military spirit and power. It was under him that Russia showed the West that it was not going to submit to it, that it was a special land with its own way of life, with its own people, with its own cultural code. Then the Russian soldiers had to “kick in the teeth” of the West more than once. But the starting point was precisely the battles won by Alexander Nevsky.

The followers of political Eurasianism say that Alexander Nevsky predetermined Russia's Eurasian choice. During his reign, Russia developed more peaceful relations with the Mongols than with the German knights. At least, the Mongols did not seek to destroy the identity of the Russian people by imposing their beliefs on them. In any case, the prince's political wisdom was that in difficult times for the Russian land, he was able to relatively secure Novgorod Rus in the east, winning the battles in the west. This was his military and diplomatic talents.

776 years have passed, but the memory of the feat of Russian soldiers in the battle on Lake Peipsi is preserved. In the 2000s, a number of monuments to Alexander Nevsky were unveiled in Russia - in St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Kursk, Volgograd, Alexandrov, Kaliningrad and many other cities. Eternal memory to the prince and all Russian soldiers who defended their land in that battle.

Losses

Monument to the squads of A. Nevsky on Mount Sokolikha

Controversial is the issue of the losses of the parties in the battle. About Russian losses it is said vaguely: "many brave soldiers fell." Apparently, the losses of the Novgorodians were really heavy. The losses of the knights are indicated by specific numbers, which cause controversy. Russian chronicles, and after them domestic historians, say that about five hundred people were killed by the knights, and the chudi "pade beschisla", allegedly fifty "brothers", "deliberate governors" were taken prisoner. Four hundred to five hundred killed knights is a completely unrealistic figure, since there was not such a number in the entire Order.

According to the Livonian chronicle, for the campaign it was necessary to collect "many brave heroes, brave and excellent" headed by the master, plus Danish vassals "with a significant detachment." The Rhymed Chronicle specifically says that twenty knights died and six were taken prisoner. Most likely, the "Chronicle" has in mind only the "brothers" - knights, not taking into account their squads and the chud recruited into the army. The Novgorod First Chronicle says that 400 "Germans" fell in the battle, 50 were taken prisoner, and the "Chud" was also discarded: "beshisla". Apparently, they suffered really serious losses.

So, it is possible that on the ice of Lake Peipsi 400 German mounted warriors did indeed fall (twenty of them were real "brothers" - knights), and 50 Germans (of them 6 "brothers") were captured by the Russians. The Life of Alexander Nevsky asserts that the prisoners walked alongside their horses during the joyful entry of Prince Alexander into Pskov.

The immediate place of the battle, according to the conclusions of the expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR under the leadership of Karaev, can be considered a section of Warm Lake, located 400 meters west of the modern coast of Cape Sigovets, between its northern tip and the latitude of the village of Ostrov. It should be noted that the battle on a flat surface of ice was more beneficial to the heavy cavalry of the Order, but it is traditionally believed that the place for meeting the enemy was chosen by Alexander Yaroslavich.

Effects

According to the traditional point of view in Russian historiography, this battle, together with the victories of Prince Alexander over the Swedes (July 15, 1240 on the Neva) and over the Lithuanians (in 1245 near Toropets, near Lake Zhiztsa and near Usvyat), was of great importance for Pskov and Novgorod, holding back the pressure of three serious enemies from the west - at the very time when the rest of Russia suffered heavy losses from the princely strife and the consequences of the Tatar conquest. Novgorod has long remembered the Battle of the Germans on the Ice: along with the Neva victory over the Swedes, it was recalled in litanies in all Novgorod churches back in the 16th century.

The English researcher J. Fannell believes that the significance of the Battle of the Ice (and the Battle of the Neva) is greatly exaggerated: “Alexander did only what the numerous defenders of Novgorod and Pskov did before him and what many did after him, namely, rushed to protect the extended and vulnerable borders from the detachments of invaders. " Russian professor IN Danilevsky agrees with this opinion. He notes, in particular, that the battle was inferior in scale to the battles of Siauliai (g.), In which the master of the order and 48 knights were killed by the Lithuanians (20 knights perished on Lake Peipsi), and the battle of Rakovor in 1268; contemporary sources even describe the battle of the Neva in more detail and attach more importance to it. However, even in the "Rhymed Chronicle" the Battle of the Ice is unambiguously described as a defeat for the Germans, in contrast to Rakovor.

Memory of the battle

Movies

Music

The musical accompaniment to Eisenstein's film, written by Sergei Prokofiev, is a symphonic suite dedicated to the events of the battle.

Monument to Alexander Nevsky and Poklonny cross

A bronze bow cross was cast in St. Petersburg at the expense of patrons of the Baltic Steel Group (A. V. Ostapenko). The prototype was the Novgorod Alekseevsky cross. The author of the project is A. A. Seleznev. A bronze sign was cast under the leadership of D. Gochiyayev by the foundry workers of ZAO NTTSKT, architects B. Kostygov and S. Kryukov. During the implementation of the project, fragments from the lost wooden cross by sculptor V. Reshchikov were used.

Cultural and sports educational raid expedition

Since 1997, a raid expedition has been carried out annually to the places of military exploits of the squads of Alexander Nevsky. During these trips, the participants of the arrival help to improve the territories related to the monuments of cultural and historical heritage. Thanks to them, memorial signs were erected in many places in the North-West in memory of the exploits of Russian soldiers, and the village of Kobylye Gorodishche became known throughout the country.

The battle on April 5, 1242 on the ice of Lake Peipsi is one of the glorious episodes of Russian history. Naturally, it constantly attracted the attention of researchers and popularizers of science. But the assessment of this event was often influenced by ideological tendencies. The description of the battle was overgrown with speculation and myths. It is said that from 10 to 17 thousand people from each side participated in this battle. This equates the battle to be extremely crowded.

For the sake of objectivity, it should be noted that positive results have been achieved in the study of the Battle of the Ice. They are associated with clarifying the place of the battle, bringing into the system all the surviving Russian and foreign sources.

The main reliable information about the battle of 1242 is contained in Novgorod First Chronicle of the Elder... Her recording is contemporary to the event. The chronicler gave general information about the war between Novgorod and the Livonian Order in 1242. He left a few brief remarks about the battle itself. The next Russian source is "The Life of Alexander Nevsky", created in the 1280s. Largely based on the stories of witnesses who knew and watched Prince Alexander Yaroslavich as a commander, slightly supplements the chronicle. Only the testimony of "a self-seeker who allegedly saw a favorable sign in heaven - the regiment of God" is cited.

The data of the two named sources were reflected in many later chronicles. The latter rarely contain new factual additions, but add a number of decorative details. Summing up the annalistic and hagiographic messages, we can state that they are rather laconic. We learn about the campaign of 1242, the failure of the reconnaissance detachment, the withdrawal of Russian troops to the ice of Lake Peipsi, the formation of a German detachment, its defeat and flight. Details of the battle are not provided. There is no usual data on the disposition of their regiments, the exploits of the combatants, the behavior of the commander. The chiefs of the German army were not mentioned either. There are no names of the dead Novgorodians, which was usually noted if their number was significant. Apparently, a certain etiquette of the chronicler had an effect here, who often bypassed many details of military clashes, taking them for granted and unnecessary for weather records.

The brevity of Russian sources is partly complemented by the presentation "The Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle". Compiled in the last decade of the XIII century. The chronicle was intended for reading among the Livonian brothers-knights, therefore, many of the poetic stories given in it, despite the well-known stereotype, are documentary and very valuable for understanding the military side of the matter.

Political and military environment

In the first half of the 13th century, in the north-west of Russia, weakened by the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the aggression of the German knights of the Livonian Order posed a great danger. They entered into an alliance with the Swedish and Danish knights on a joint attack on Russia.

A formidable danger hung over Russia from the West, from the Catholic spiritual-knightly orders. After the founding of the Riga fortress at the mouth of the Dvina (1198), frequent clashes began between the Germans on the one hand, and the Pskovites and Novgorodians on the other.

In 1237, the Teutonic Order of the Knights of the Blessed Virgin Mary, having united into one whole with the Livonian Order, began to carry out a widespread violent colonization and Christianization of the Baltic tribes. The Russians helped the pagan Balts, who were tributaries of Veliky Novgorod and did not want to receive baptism from the Catholic Germans. After a series of minor skirmishes, it came to war. Pope Gregory IX blessed the German knights in 1237 to conquer the indigenous Russian lands.

In the summer of 1240, German crusaders, gathered from all the fortresses of Livonia, invaded the Novgorod land. The invading army consisted of Germans, Bears, Yurievites and Danish knights from Revel. With them was a traitor - Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich. They appeared under the walls of Izborsk and took the city by storm. The Pskovites rushed to the rescue of their fellow countrymen, but their militia was defeated. There were over 800 people killed alone, including the governor Gavrila Gorislavich.

In the footsteps of the fugitives, the Germans approached Pskov, crossed the Velikaya River, smashed their camp under the very walls of the Kremlin, set fire to the townships and began to destroy churches and surrounding villages. For a whole week they kept the Kremlin under siege, preparing for the assault. But it did not come to this: the Pskovite Tverdilo Ivanovich surrendered the city. The knights took hostages and left their garrison in Pskov.

Prince Alexander Yaroslavich ruled in Novgorod since 1236. In 1240, when the aggression of the Swedish feudal lords against Novgorod began, he was not yet 20 years old. He participated in his father's campaigns, was well-read and had an understanding of war and the art of war. But he didn't have much experience of his own. Nevertheless, on July 21 (15), 1240, with the help of his small squad and the Ladoga militia, he with a sudden and swift attack defeated the Swedish army, which landed at the mouth of the Izhora River (at its confluence with the Neva). For the victory in the Battle of the Neva, in which the young prince showed himself to be a skilled military leader, displayed personal valor and heroism, he was nicknamed "Nevsky". But soon, due to the intrigues of the Novgorod nobility, Prince Alexander left Novgorod and went to reign in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.

The defeat of the Swedes on the Neva did not completely eliminate the danger hanging over Russia. The German appetite was growing. They have already said: "Let's reproach the Slovenian language ... for ourselves," that is, we will subjugate the Russian people. Already at the beginning of autumn 1240, the Livonian knights occupied the city of Izborsk. Soon Pskov, captured with the help of traitors - boyars, shared his fate. In the same autumn of 1240, the Livonians seized the southern approaches to Novgorod, invaded the lands adjacent to the Gulf of Finland, and created the Koporye fortress here, where they left their garrison. It was an important foothold, which made it possible to control the Novgorod trade routes along the Neva, to plan further advancement to the East. After that, the Livonian aggressors invaded the very center of the Novgorod possessions, seized the Novgorod suburb of Tesovo. In the winter of 1240-1241, the knights reappeared uninvited guests to the Novgorod land. This time they captured the territory of the Vod tribe, east of the river. Narova, "you will fight everything and will impose a tribute on them." Having seized the Vodskaya Pyatina, the knights captured Tesov (on the Oredezh River), and their patrols appeared 35 km from Novgorod. Thus, in the hands of the Germans was a vast territory in the region of Izborsk - Pskov - Sabel - Tesov - Koporye.

The Germans already considered the Russian borderlands in advance as their property; Pope "transferred" the coast of the Neva and Karelia under the jurisdiction of the Ezel bishop, who concluded a treaty with the knights: he pronounced himself a tenth of everything that the land gives, and left everything else - fishing, mowing, arable land - to the knights.

Then Novgorodians remembered about Prince Alexander. The Vladyka of Novgorod himself went to ask the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich to let his son go, and Yaroslav, realizing the danger of the threat emanating from the West, agreed: the matter concerned not only Novgorod, but all of Russia.

Neglecting past grievances, at the request of the Novgorodians, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod at the end of 1240 and continued to fight the invaders. Alexander organized an army from Novgorodians, Ladoga residents, Karelians and Izhorians. First of all, it was necessary to decide the question of the course of action. Pskov and Koporye were in the hands of the enemy. Alexander understood that the simultaneous performance in two directions would dissipate forces. Therefore, having determined the Koporye direction as a priority - the enemy was approaching Novgorod, - the prince decided to strike the first blow at Koporye, and then liberate Pskov from the invaders.

This operation showed that the forces of the united army of Novgorodians and some Finnish tribes can achieve success. The moment of the campaign was well chosen. In the same year 1241, the prince recaptured the knights and Pskov. The Germans, who captured Pskov and its regions, did not have time to fortify there. Part of their forces fought against the Curonians and Lithuanians. But the enemy was still strong, and the decisive battle was ahead.

The march of the Russian troops came as a surprise to the Order. As a result, the knights were driven out of Pskov without a fight, and Alexander's army, after achieving this important goal, invaded the Livonian borders.

Preparing for war

Arriving in Novgorod in 1241, Alexander found Pskov and Koporye in the hands of the Order and immediately began retaliatory actions, taking advantage of the difficulties of the Order, which was then distracted to fight the Mongols (Battle of Legnica).

Before the campaign against the knights, Alexander Nevsky prayed in the temple of Sophia, asking the Lord for help in victory: “Judge me, O God, and judge my quarrel with the great people (with the Livonian Germans), and help me, O God, how you helped Moses in ancient times to defeat Amalik, and helped my great-grandfather Yaroslav to defeat the accursed Svyatopolk. "

After this prayer, he left the church and addressed the squad and the militia with the words: “Let us die for Saint Sophia and free Novgorod! Let's die for the Holy Trinity and free Pskov! For Zane the Russians have no other fate than to harrow their Russian land, the Christian Orthodox faith! " And all the Russian soldiers answered him: "With you, Yaroslavich, we will win or die for the Russian land!"

Thus, in 1241, Alexander set out on a campaign. The invasion of the Livonian land pursued limited, "probing" goals. However, the Novgorodians were ready to accept a field battle. In anticipation of the enemy, reconnaissance was carried out, food supplies were replenished, the "full" was captured. The regiments overtook the Dorpat bishopric, but they did not besiege the castles and cities, but held on to the coastal part of Lake Peipsi. The brothers-knights of the Livonian Order and the Dorpatians (the chronicle calls them chudyu), possibly with the support of the Danes who ruled Northern Estonia, were preparing for retaliatory actions.

Alexander reached Koporye, took it by storm, "and erupted hail from the base," interrupted most of the garrison: "but the Germans themselves beat them up, and others with you will be driven to Novgorod." Some of the knights and mercenaries from the local population were taken prisoner, but released: "and let others go, be merciful even more than measure", and the traitors from among the Chuds were hanged: ) ". The Vodskaya pyatina was cleared of the Germans. The right flank and rear of the Novgorod army were now safe.

In March 1242, the Novgorodians again set out on a campaign and were soon near Pskov. Alexander, believing that he did not have enough strength to attack a strong fortress, was expecting his brother Andrey Yaroslavich with the Suzdal ("lower") squads, who soon approached. When the "grassroots" army was still on its way, Alexander marched with Novgorod forces near Pskov. The city was surrounded by it. The order did not have time to quickly collect reinforcements and send them to the besieged. The army consisted of Novgorodians (black people - wealthy citizens, as well as boyars and city foremen), the princely squad of Alexander himself, the "lower men" from the Vladimir-Suzdal land - the detachment of the Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodich, detached under the leadership of Alexander's brother, Andrei Yaroslavich (in this detachment, according to the "Rhymed Chronicle", were Suzdal). In addition, according to the Pskov First Chronicle, there were Pskovites in the army, who apparently joined after the liberation of the city. The total number of Russian troops is not known, but for its time it seemed significant. According to Zhitia, the regiments went “in great strength”. The German source generally testifies to the 60-fold superiority of the Russian forces, which is clearly exaggerated.

Pskov

Pskov was taken, the garrison was killed, and the governors of the order (2 brothers-knights) in chains were sent to Novgorod. According to the Novgorod first chronicle of the older edition (came down to us as part of the parchment Synodal list of the 14th century, containing records of the events of 1016-1272 and 1299-1333) "In the summer of 6750 (1242/1243). Poide Prince Oleksandr with Novgorodians and with his brother Andreem and from lowering to the Chud land on Nemtsi and Chud and zaya all the way to Plskov; and expel Prince Plskov, seizing Nemtsi and Chud, and pinning the streams to Novgorod, and he himself will go to Chud. "

All these events took place in March 1242. After this defeat, the Order began to concentrate its forces within the Dorpat bishopric, preparing an offensive against the Russians. The order gathered great strength: here were almost all of its knights with a "maester" (master) at the head, "with all their bishops (bishops), and with all the multitude of their language, and their power, which is not in this country, and with with the help of the queen, ”that is, there were German knights, the local population and the army of the Swedish king. In the spring of 1242, intelligence of the Livonian Order was sent from Dorpat (Yuryev) in order to test the strength of the Russian troops.

Novgorodians outplayed them in time. Alexander decided to transfer the war to the territory of the Order itself, led his troops to Izborsk, his reconnaissance crossed the border. "And go," the chronicler says, "on the German land, although Christian blood will take revenge." Alexander sent ahead several reconnaissance detachments. One of them, "dispersal" under the command of the mayor's brother Domash Tverdislavich and Kerbet (one of the "lower" governors), came across the German knights and Chud (Estonians), was defeated about 18 kilometers south of Derpt by the order reconnaissance detachment. At the same time, Domash died: "And as if he was on the ground (chudi), let the regiment all into prosperity; and Domash Tverdislavich and Kerbet were in the canal, and I squeaked out the Germans and Chyud at the bridge and beat that; and killed that Domash, the brother of the posadnich, I am honest with him, and I have beaten him with him, and I have taken away with him, and with my hands I have taken away, and I have taken refuge in the regiment to the prince; the prince will go to sleep on the lake. "

The surviving part of the detachment returned to the prince and reported to him about the incident. The victory over a small detachment of Russians inspired the order's command. He developed a tendency to underestimate the Russian forces, and the conviction was born in the possibility of their easy defeat. The Livonians decided to give the Russians a battle and for this they set out from Dorpat to the south with their main forces, as well as their allies, headed by the master of the order himself. The main body of the troops consisted of knights clad in armor.

Alexander was able to determine that the main forces of the knights moved much further north, to the junction between Pskov and Peipsi lakes. Alexander's reconnaissance found out that the enemy had sent insignificant forces to Izborsk, and his main forces were moving towards Lake Peipsi. Thus, they took a short road to Novgorod and cut off the Russian troops in the Pskov region.

The Novgorod army turned to the lake, "the Germans and the monsters followed them." The Novgorodians tried to repel the roundabout maneuver of the German knights, having carried out an unusual maneuver: they retreated to the ice of Lake Peipsi, north of the Uzmen tract, near the island of Voroniy Kamen: "Voronen stones are on Uzmeniu."

Coming to Lake Peipsi, the Novgorod army found itself in the center of possible routes for the enemy's movement to Novgorod. The Order army also approached there in battle formation. Thus, the site of the battle was proposed by the Russian side with an explicit calculation to carry out against the German formation, called the "pig", a maneuverable battle at the same time by several detachments. Now Alexander decided to give battle and stopped. "The howling of the Grand Duke Alexander, filled with the spirit of the battle, byahu their heart is like a lion," they were ready to "lay down their heads." The forces of the Novgorodians were slightly larger than the knightly army.

The position of Alexander Nevsky

The troops opposing the knights on the ice of Lake Peipsi had a heterogeneous composition, but a single command in the person of Alexander.

The order of battle of the Russians is not described in the sources, however, according to indirect data, it lends itself to interpretation. In the center was the princely regiment of the commander-in-chief, next to it were the regiments of the right and left hand. In front of the main regiment, according to the "Rhymed Chronicle", there were archers. Before us is the three-part division of the main army, typical for its time, which could, however, be more complex.

"Grassroots regiments" consisted of princely squads, boyars squads, city regiments. The army put forward by Novgorod had a fundamentally different composition. It included the squad of the prince invited to Novgorod (that is, Alexander Nevsky), the squad of the bishop ("lord"), the garrison of Novgorod, who served for a salary (greedy) and subordinate to the mayor (however, the garrison could remain in the city itself and not participate in the battle) , Konchansk regiments, militia of posadov and squads of "volunteers", private military organizations of boyars and rich merchants.

On the whole, the army exhibited by Novgorod and the "grassroots" lands was a fairly powerful force, distinguished by a high fighting spirit. A significant part of the Russian troops, judging by their mobility, significant marching movements on Estonian soil, the desire to measure their strength with the mounted knights, finally, the choice of the battle site, which created freedom of maneuver in a significant open space, could be horse.

According to some historians, the total number of the Russian army reached 15-17 thousand people. However, this figure is most likely grossly overestimated. A real army could number up to 4 - 5 thousand people, of which 800 - 1000 people were on horseback princely squads. Most of it was made up of foot soldiers of the militia.

Position of the Order

Of particular importance is the question of the number of troops of the order who set foot on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Historians also differ on the number of German knights. Domestic historians usually cited the number of 10-12 thousand people. Later researchers, referring to the German "Rhymed Chronicle", name three or four hundred people, supported by foot mercenaries armed with spears, and the order's allies - the Livs. The figures available in the chronicle sources are the losses of the order, which amounted to about twenty "brothers" killed and six prisoners. Considering that for one “brother” there were 3–5 “half-brothers” who did not have the right to prey, the total number of the Livonian army itself can be estimated at 400–500 people.

Given the recent defeat that the Teutons suffered from the Mongols near Legnica on April 9, 1241, the order could not provide assistance to its Livonian "branch". Also in the battle were Danish knights and the militia from Dorpat, which included a large number of Estonians, but the knights, which could not be numerous. Thus, the order had a total of about 500 - 700 cavalry and 1000 - 1200 Estonian militias. Like the estimates of Alexander's troops, these numbers are debatable.

Unresolved is the question of who commanded the troops of the order in battle. Given the heterogeneous composition of the troops, it is possible that there were several commanders.

Despite the defeat of the Order, Livonian sources do not contain information that any of the Order leaders were killed or taken prisoner.

Battle

The Battle on Lake Peipsi, which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice, began on the morning of April 5, 1242.

Alexander Nevsky placed the Russian army on the southeastern shore of Lake Peipsi, opposite the island of Voroniy Kamen. There is no information about the order of battle of the troops. It can be assumed that this was a "regiment row" with a guard regiment in front. Judging by the annalistic miniatures, the battle formation was turned with its rear to the steep steep eastern shore of the lake, and Alexander's best squad took refuge in ambush behind one of the flanks. The chosen position was advantageous because the Germans advancing on open ice, were deprived of the opportunity to determine the location, number and composition of the Russian army.

The army of the Crusaders lined up in a "wedge" ("pig", according to Russian chronicles). In chain mail and helmets, with long swords, they seemed invulnerable. The plan of the Livonian knights was to crush the large regiment of Alexander Nevsky with a powerful blow, and then the flank regiments. But Alexander guessed the enemy's plan. In the center of his formation he placed the weaker regiments, and the strongest on the flanks. An ambush regiment was sheltered to the side.

At sunrise, noticing a small detachment of Russian riflemen, the knightly "pig" rushed at him.

Historians considered the "pig" to be a kind of wedge-shaped troop formation - a sharp column. The Russian term in this respect was an exact translation of the German Schweinkopf from the Latin caput porci. In turn, the mentioned term is related to the concept of wedge, tip, cuneus, acies. The last two terms have been used in sources since Roman times. But they cannot always be interpreted figuratively. This was often the name of individual military units, regardless of the method of their formation. For all that, the very name of such units hints at their peculiar configuration. Indeed, the wedge-shaped structure is not a product of the theoretical imagination of ancient writers. Such a construction was actually used in combat practice in the 13th - 15th centuries. in Central Europe, and fell out of use only at the end of the 16th century.
Based on the surviving written sources, which have not yet attracted the attention of Russian historians, the construction of a wedge (in the chronicle text - "pig") lends itself to reconstruction in the form of a deep column with a triangular crown. This construction is confirmed by a unique document - the military instruction "Preparation for the campaign", written in 1477. for one of the Brandenburg military leaders. It lists three Banner divisions. Their names are typical - "Hound", "St. George" and "Great". The banners numbered respectively 400, 500 and 700 mounted warriors. At the head of each detachment, a standard bearer and selected knights were concentrated, located in 5 ranks. In the first rank, depending on the number of gonfalons, there were from 3 to 7-9 mounted knights, in the last - from 11 to 17. The total number of warriors of the wedge ranged from 35 to 65 people. The ranks were lined up in such a way that each subsequent one on its flanks increased by two knights. Thus, the extreme warriors in relation to each other were placed as if on a ledge and guarded the one riding in front from one of the sides. This was the tactical feature of the wedge - it was adapted for an assembled frontal strike and at the same time was difficult to vulnerable from the flanks.

The second, columnar part of the banner, according to "Preparation for the campaign", consisted of a quadrangular structure, which included bollards. The number of bollards and each for the three above-mentioned detachments was 365, 442 and 629 (or 645), respectively. They were located in depth from 33 to 43 ranks, each of which contained from 11 to 17 cavalry. Among the bollards were servants who were part of the knight's combat retinue: usually an archer or a crossbowman and a squire. All together they formed the lowest military unit - "spear" - numbering 3-5 people, rarely more. During the battle, these warriors, equipped no worse than a knight, came to the aid of their master, changed his horse. The advantages of the columnar-wedge-shaped banner include its cohesion, flank coverage of the wedge, ramming force of the first strike, and precise controllability. The formation of such a banner was convenient both for movement and for starting a battle. The tightly closed ranks of the detachment's head did not have to turn around in order to protect their flanks in contact with the enemy. The wedge of the advancing army made a frightening impression, could cause confusion in the ranks of the enemy at the first onslaught. The wedge detachment was designed to break the formation of the opposing side and speed up victory.

The described system had both inherent and disadvantages. During the battle, if it dragged on, the best forces - the knights, could be the first to be incapacitated. As for the bollards, during the battle of the knights they were in a waiting-passive state and had little effect on the result of the battle.

There is also an opportunity to more specifically determine the size of the Livonian military detachment of the 13th century. In 1268. in the battle of Rakovor, as the chronicle mentions, the German iron regiment - "the great pig", was fighting. According to the Rhymed Chronicle, 34 knights and militia took part in the battle. This number of knights, if we supplement it with a commander, will amount to 35 people, which exactly corresponds to the composition of the knightly wedge of one of the detachments noted in "Preparing for a campaign" in 1477. (true for the "Hound" - the banner, not the "Great"). In the same "Preparation for the campaign" the number of bollards of such a banner is given - 365 people. Taking into account the fact that the numbers of the warheads of the detachments according to the data of 1477 and 1268 practically coincided, it can be assumed without the risk of a big mistake that, in terms of their overall quantitative composition, these units also approached each other. In this case, we can, to a certain extent, judge the usual size of the German wedge-shaped banners that took part in the Livonian-Russian wars of the 13th century.

As for the German detachment in the battle of 1242, it was hardly superior in composition to the Rakhorian - "great pig". During the period under review, the Livonian Order, distracted by the struggle in Courland, could not send a large army.

The details of the battle are poorly known - and much can only be guessed at. The German column, pursuing the retreating Russian detachments, apparently received some information from the patrols sent forward, and already entered the ice of Lake Peipsi in battle formation, the bollards were in front, behind them was a discordant column of "Chudins", which was pressed from the rear a line of knights and sergeants of the Dorpat bishop. Apparently, even before the collision with the Russian troops, a small gap formed between the head of the column and the chud.

The "Rhymed Chronicle" describes the moment of the beginning of the battle as follows: "The Russians had many riflemen who courageously stepped forward and were the first to take the onslaught in front of the prince's squad." Apparently the archers did not inflict serious losses. Having fired at the Germans, the archers had no other choice but to retreat to the flanks of the large regiment. The riflemen took the brunt of the "iron regiment" and, with courageous resistance, markedly upset its advance.

Putting out their long spears, the Germans attacked the center ("chelo") of the Russian battle formation. Here is what is written in the "chronicle": "The banners of the brothers penetrated the ranks of the shooting, it was heard how swords rang, helmets were cut, how the fallen fell on the grass from both sides" most likely this was recorded from the words of an eyewitness who was in the rear ranks of the army, and it is quite possible that the warrior mistook some other Russian unit for the advanced archers.

The chosen tactics paid off. A Russian chronicler writes about the enemy's breakthrough of the Novgorod regiments: "The Germans and others have made their way through the regiments as a pig." The knights broke through the defensive lines of the Russian "chela". However, having stumbled upon the steep shore of the lake, the sedentary, armored knights could not develop their success. The knightly cavalry crowded together, as the rear ranks of the knights pushed the front ranks, which had nowhere to turn to fight. A fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued. And in the midst of it, when the "pig" was completely involved in the battle, at the signal of Alexander Nevsky, the regiments of the left and right hands hit its flanks with full might.

The German "wedge" was caught in the pliers. At this time, Alexander's squad struck from the rear and completed the encirclement of the enemy. "The brothers' army was surrounded."

The warriors, who had special spears with hooks, pulled the knights from their horses; warriors, armed with knives "boot-makers", incapacitated the horses, after which the knights became easy prey. "And that slash of evil and great by the German and the chudi, and the coward from the copy of the lomlenia, and the sound of the sword-slashing, as if the lake was frozen to move, and do not bear witness to the ice, being covered in blood." The ice began to crack under the weight of the heavily armed knights knocked together. The enemy was surrounded.

Suddenly, from behind cover, a cavalry ambush regiment rushed into battle. Not expecting the appearance of such Russian reinforcements, the knights were confused and, under their powerful blows, began to gradually retreat. And soon this retreat took on the character of a disorderly flight. Some knights managed to break through the encirclement ring, and they tried to flee, but many of them drowned.

The order chronicler, wishing to somehow explain the fact of the defeat of brothers in faith, extolled the Russian soldiers: “The Russians had countless bows, a lot of beautiful armor. Their banners were rich, their helmets radiated light. " He spoke about the defeat itself sparingly: “Those who were in the army of the brothers-knights were surrounded, the brothers-knights defended rather stubbornly. But they were overpowered there. "

From this we can conclude that the German formation was drawn into battle with the opposing central regiment, while the side regiments were able to cover the flanks of the German army. The Rhymed Chronicle writes that "a part of the Dorpatites (" Chudi "of the Russian chronicle) withdrew from the battle, this was their salvation, they were forced to retreat." We are talking about the bollards who protected the knights from the rear. Thus, the striking force of the German army - the knights - was left without cover. Surrounded, they were apparently unable to maintain their formation, rebuild for new attacks and, moreover, were left without reinforcements. This predetermined the complete defeat of the German army, first of all, its most organized and combat-ready force.

The battle ended with the pursuit of the fleeing enemy in panic. At the same time, some of the enemies died in the battle, some were captured, and some, once in place thin ice - "sigovina", fell through the ice. The cavalry of the Novgorodians pursued the remnants of the knightly troops who had fled in disarray across the ice of Lake Peipsi up to the opposite shore, seven miles, completing their defeat.

The Russians also suffered losses: "This victory cost Prince Alexander many brave people." The Novgorod First Chronicle reports that as a result of the battle, 400 Germans were killed, 90 were taken prisoner, and "the pade of chudi beshisla". The pots given seem to be exaggerated. According to the "Rhymed Chronicle," 20 knights were killed and 6 were taken prisoner. Taking into account the composition of the usual knight's spear (3 combatants), the number of killed and captured knights and bollards could reach 78 people. An unexpectedly close figure - 70 dead order knights - is given by German sources of the second half of the 15th-16th centuries. It is not known where such an exact figure of "damage" came from. Did the "late" German chronicler not triple the losses indicated in the "Rhymed Chronicle" (20 + 6x3 \u003d 78)?

The pursuit of the remnants of a defeated enemy outside the battlefield was a new phenomenon in the development of Russian military art. Novgorodians did not celebrate the victory "on the dice", as was customary before. The German knights were completely defeated. In the battle, more than 400 knights and "countless" other troops were killed, 50 "deliberate warlords", that is, noble knights, were taken prisoner. All of them on foot followed the victors' horses to Pskov. Only those who were in the tail of the "pig" and were on horseback managed to escape: the master of the order, the commanders and the bishops.

The figures of the incapacitated soldiers cited by the Rhymed Chronicle are probably close to the true ones. The killed and captured knights, as mentioned, were 26. Probably almost all of them were part of the wedge: these people were the first to enter the battle and were most in danger. Taking into account the five-legged structure, it can be assumed that the number of the wedge was no more than 30-35 knights. Not surprisingly, most of them died on the battlefield. Such a wedge composition assumes its maximum width in the form of a line of 11 fighters.

The number of bollards in such columns was slightly more than 300 people. As a result, with all the calculations and assumptions, the total number of the German-Chud army that took part in the battle of 1242 hardly exceeded three or four hundred people, but most likely was even smaller.

After the battle, the Russian army went to Pskov, as it is said in the Life:. “And Alexander returned with a glorious victory, and many a multitude of prisoners marched in his army, and led them barefoot beside the horses, those who called themselves“ God's knights ”.

The Livonian troops suffered a crushing defeat. The "Battle on the Ice" dealt a heavy blow to the order. This battle stopped the advance to the East, begun by the crusaders, with the goal of conquering and colonizing the Russian lands.

The significance of the victory of the Russian troops under the leadership of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights was truly historical. The order asked for peace. The peace was concluded on terms dictated by the Russians.

In the summer of 1242, the "order brothers" sent ambassadors to Novgorod with a bow: we will let yours in, and you let ours in, and we will let the Pskov go. " Order ambassadors solemnly renounced all encroachments on the Russian lands, which were temporarily captured by the order. The Novgorodians agreed to these conditions, and peace was concluded.

The victory was won not only by the force of Russian arms, but also by the strength of the Russian faith. The squads fought further under the command of the glorious prince in 1245 with the Lithuanians, in 1253 again with the German knights, in 1256 with the Swedes, and in 1262 together with the Lithuanians against the Livonian knights. All this happened later, and after the Battle of the Ice, Prince Alexander lost his parents one by one, becoming an orphan.

The Battle on the Ice went down in history as a remarkable example of military tactics and strategy and became the first time in the history of military art when a heavy knightly cavalry was defeated in a field battle by an army, which consisted mostly of infantry. The Russian battle formation ("regiment line" in the presence of a reserve) turned out to be flexible, as a result of which it was possible to encircle the enemy, whose battle formation was a sedentary mass; the infantry successfully interacted with their cavalry.

Skillful formation of battle formation, clear organization of interaction of its individual units, especially infantry and cavalry, constant reconnaissance and accounting weaknesses the enemy when organizing a battle, right choice place and time, a good organization of tactical pursuit, the destruction of most of the superior enemy - all this defined the Russian military art as the most advanced in the world.

The victory over the army of the German feudal lords was of great political and military-strategic importance, postponing their advance to the East - "Drang nach Osten" - which was the leitmotif of German policy from 1201 to 1241. The northwestern border of the Novgorod land was reliably secured just by the time the Mongols were returning from their campaign to Central Europe. Later, when Batu returned to Eastern Europe, Alexander showed the necessary flexibility and agreed with him to establish peaceful relations, eliminating any reason for new invasions.

Losses

Russian chronicles, and after them domestic historians, say that about five hundred people were killed by the knights, and the chudi "pade beschisla", allegedly fifty "brothers", "deliberate governors" were taken prisoner. Five hundred killed knights is a completely unrealistic figure, since there was not such a number in the entire Order.

According to the Livonian chronicle, the battle was not a major military clash, and the losses of the Order were negligible. The Rhymed Chronicle specifically says that twenty knights died and six were taken prisoner. Perhaps the "Chronicle" has in mind only the knight brothers, not taking into account their squads and the monster recruited into the army. The Novgorod "First Chronicle" says that 400 "Germans" fell in the battle, 50 were taken prisoner, and the "Chud" was also discarded: "beshisla". Apparently, they suffered really serious losses.

So, on the ice of Lake Peipsi, 400 German soldiers did indeed fall (twenty of them were real brothers-knights), and 50 Germans (of whom 6 were brothers) were captured by the Russians. The Life of Alexander Nevsky states that the prisoners then walked beside their horses during the joyful entry of Prince Alexander into Pskov.

In the Rhymed Chronicle, the Livonian chronicler asserts that the battle did not take place on ice, but on the shore, on land. The immediate place of the battle, according to the conclusions of the expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR under the leadership of Karaev, can be considered a section of Lake Warm, located 400 meters west of the modern coast of Cape Sigovets, between its northern tip and the latitude of the village of Ostrov.

It should be noted that the battle on a flat surface of ice was more beneficial to the heavy cavalry of the Order, but it is traditionally believed that the place for meeting the enemy was chosen by Alexander Yaroslavich.

Effects

The English researcher J. Fannell believes that the significance of the Battle of the Ice (and the Battle of the Neva) is greatly exaggerated: “Alexander did only what the numerous defenders of Novgorod and Pskov did before him and what many did after him, namely, rushed to protect the extended and vulnerable borders from the detachments of invaders. " Russian professor I.N. Danilevsky agrees with this opinion. He notes, in particular, that the battle was inferior in scale to the battles of Siauliai (1236), in which the master of the order and 48 knights were killed by the Lithuanians (20 knights perished on Lake Peipus), and the battle of Rakovor in 1268; contemporary sources even describe the battle of the Neva in more detail and attach more importance to it.

"Battle on the Ice" - a monument in honor of the victory of Russian soldiers over the German knights on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipsi.

Located on Mount Sokolikha, Piskovichi volost, Pskov region. Opened in July 1993.

The main part of the monument is a bronze sculpture of Russian soldiers led by A. Nevsky. The composition includes copper ensigns, which testify to the participation in the battle of the Pskov, Novgorod, Vladimir and Suzdal soldiers.