Alexander Nevksy

1
Alexander Nevksy

• Mr. Howard

2

• Born in 1221 to Kievan Prince Yaroslav
  Vsevolodovich.
• Not much is known of his early life he was
  educated in the Kievan Caves Monastery.
• Like Peter The Great he was a large man with
  incredible strength that furthers the legends.

3

• Batu Khan forced Russian princes to bow before
  him and kiss his boots most did not. Remember
  Yuri?
• Nevskys father did.
• Nevsky was given to Batu Khan as a tribute and
  raised by Mongols.
• He remained with the Horde from 1238-1252.

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• Nevsky became a fierce warrior Batu Khan wrote
  he was the finest of all warriors he had met,
  Mongol or otherwise.
• Nevsky became very close with Batu a blood
  brother of his eldest son (Sartak) and he married
  Batus daughter.
• He was given the Vladimir province by Batu Khan
  and later crowned prince of Novgorod.

5
The Battle of the Neva Ice

• The Catholic and Orthodox church collides in the
  Baltic
• Encouraged by the Crusaders capture of
  Constantinople in 1204 they set their eyes on
  Russia
• With the Mongols devastating Russia the Catholic
  Church declares war on Novgorod.

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Battle of the Neva ice

• The Crusade is comprised of three factions
• Swedes from the North
• Danes from the Center
• Teutonic Knights from the South
• Instead of waiting Nevsky takes the fight to them
  and cuts off the Swedes from the North.

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Battle of the Neva

• Fought on the Neva river in 1240 Russia vs
  Sweden.
• Swedish goals were simple take control of
  Novgorod Ladoga along with the mouth of the
  Neva.
• Nevskys forces were outnumbered
• He had the only field army Russia could muster
  stakes were high

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• Nevsky faced off against Birger Jarls forces on
  the banks of the Neva he snuck through the
  forest and caught them off guard
• Nevsky (born a Yaroslovavich) crushed the Swedish
  invasion and sent them running back to Sweden.
• In his honor he had his name changed from
  Alexander Yaroslovavich to Nevsky (Neva).

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The Battle on the Ice

• Once the Swedes were taken care of, Nevsky had to
  direct his attention to the South.
• The stakes were high a loss of Nevsky would
  eliminate the only Russian field army and allow
  the Crusaders to have free reign over Russia.
• A Russian victory would discourage further
  attacks.

10
The Forces

• Nevsky had 1,600 light Calvary 3,400 light
  infantry
• Crusading Knights had 1,200 heavily armored and
  mounted knights and 1,000 heavily armored
  infantry
• Nevskys use of the Roman Turtle Shell to repel
  the first attack proved pivotal.
• He instructed his soldiers to slash back at the
  horses legs and chest dismount the nights.

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• Once dismounted use speed to advantage.
• To compound matters some Knights fell through the
  ice heavy armor, plus weapons, plus soldier and
  plus horse cracked ice.
• After the first charge led to 35 casualties for
  the Knights to only 4 for the Russians, they
  fled back South.
• Nevsky offered lenient peace terms leave all
  Russian lands never to return if you return
  Ill hunt you down and cut your head off.

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• Each side agreed to peace and released all
  prisoners.
• The loss for the Crusaders came with a heavy
  price they faced revolts in all of their
  conquered lands after the loss to the Russians.
• Nevsky became a hero in the same vein as
  Washington voted 1 Russian Hero of All-time

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• Beyond being just a good general and commander,
  Nevsky is much like Hannibal he is revered for
  being a true leader.
• He was an excellent warrior. Very skilled with
  the sword.

14

• Nevsky as politician cautious saw bigger
  picture
• Life of Alexander Nevsky seen as the perfect
  soldier, leader politician and gave Russians a
  sense of pride.
• Whoever comes at us with a sword shall perish
  from a sword gave Russians a motto to live by
  and would resurface many times in Imperial Russia.