O famous battle many books and articles were written on the ice of Lake Peipsi in April 1242, but it itself has not been fully studied - and our information about it is replete with blank spots...

At the beginning of 1242, the German Teutonic Knights captured Pskov and advanced towards Novgorod. On Saturday, April 5, at dawn, the Russian squad, led by the Novgorod prince Alexander Nevsky, met the crusaders on the ice of Lake Peipus, at the Raven Stone.

Alexander skillfully flanked the knights, built in a wedge, and with the blow of an ambush regiment took him into the ring. The Battle on the Ice, famous in Russian history, began. “And there was an evil slash, and a crack from breaking spears, and a sound from a sword cut, and the frozen lake moved. And no ice was visible: it was all covered in blood...” The chronicle reports that the ice cover could not withstand the retreating heavily armed knights and collapsed. Under the weight of their armor, the enemy warriors quickly went to the bottom, choking in the icy water.

Some circumstances of the battle remained a real "blank spot" for researchers. Where does truth end and fiction begin? Why did the ice collapse under the feet of the knights and withstand the weight of the Russian army? How could the knights fall through the ice, if its thickness near the shores of Lake Peipsi in early April reaches a meter? Where did the legendary battle take place?

In domestic chronicles (Novgorod, Pskov, Suzdal, Rostov, Lavrentiev, etc.) and the "Senior Livonian Rhymed Chronicle" both the events that preceded the battle and the battle itself are described in detail. Its landmarks are indicated: “On Lake Peipsi, near the Uzmen tract, near the Raven Stone.” Local legends specify that the warriors fought right outside the village of Samolva. The annalistic miniature depicts the confrontation of the parties before the battle, and defensive ramparts, stone and other structures are shown in the background. In ancient chronicles, there is no mention of Voronii Island (or any other island) near the place of the battle. They talk about the battle on the ground, and the ice is mentioned only in the final part of the battle.

In search of answers to the numerous questions of researchers, in the late 50s of the 20th century, Leningrad archaeologists, led by military historian Georgy Karaev, were the first to go to the shores of Lake Peipus. Scientists were going to recreate the events of more than seven hundred years ago.

In the beginning, chance helped. Once, while talking with fishermen, Karaev asked why they called the section of the lake near Cape Sigovets "a cursed place." The fishermen explained: in this place, up to the very severe frosts there remains a polynya, “cigovitsa”, because whitefish have been caught in it for a long time. In a frost, of course, the ice will seize the "sigovitsa", only it is fragile: a person will go in there and disappear ...

So it's no coincidence southern part lakes locals called Warm Lake. Perhaps this is where the crusaders drowned? Here is the answer: the bottom of the lake in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bSigovits is replete with groundwater outlets that prevent the formation of a solid ice cover.

Archaeologists have found that the waters of Lake Peipsi are gradually advancing on the shores, this is the result of a slow tectonic process. Many ancient villages were flooded, and their inhabitants moved to other, higher shores. The lake level is rising at a rate of 4 millimeters per year. Consequently, since the time of the right-believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, the water in the lake has risen by a good three meters!

G.N. Karaev removed depths of less than three meters from the map of the lake, and the map "rejuvenated" by seven hundred years. This map prompted: the narrowest place of the lake in ancient times was just next door to the “sigovitsy”. This is how the annalistic “Uzmen”, a name that does not exist on the modern map of the lake, received an exact reference.

The most difficult thing was to determine the location of the "Raven Stone", because on the map of the lake of the Raven Stones, rocks and islands, there are more than a dozen. Karaev's divers explored Voroniy Island near Uzmen and found that it was nothing more than the top of a huge sheer underwater cliff. A stone rampart was unexpectedly discovered next to it. Scientists decided that the name "Raven Stone" in ancient times referred not only to the rock, but also to a rather strong border fortification. It became clear: the battle began here on that distant April morning.

The expedition members came to the conclusion that several centuries ago the Raven Stone was a high fifteen-meter hill with steep slopes, it was visible from afar and served as a good guide. But time and waves did their job: the once high hill with steep slopes disappeared under the water.

The researchers also tried to explain why the fleeing knights fell through the ice and drowned. In fact, at the beginning of April, when the battle took place, the ice on the lake is still quite thick and strong. But the secret was that not far from the Raven Stone, warm springs form “sigovits” from the bottom of the lake, so the ice here is less strong than in other places. Previously, when the water level was lower, underwater springs undoubtedly hit right on the ice sheet. The Russians, of course, knew about this and bypassed dangerous places, and the enemy ran straight ahead.

So this is the solution to the riddle! But if it is true that in this place the icy abyss swallowed up an entire knightly army, then somewhere here his trace must be hidden. Archaeologists set themselves the task of finding this last proof, but the circumstances prevented the achievement of the ultimate goal. It was not possible to find the burial places of the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Ice. This is clearly stated in the report of the complex expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences. And soon there were allegations that in ancient times the dead were taken with them for burial in their homeland, therefore, they say, their remains cannot be found.

A few years ago, a new generation of search engines - a group of Moscow amateur enthusiasts ancient history Russia again tried to solve the centuries-old mystery. She had to find burial places hidden in the ground related to the Battle of the Ice on a large territory of the Gdovsky district of the Pskov region.

Studies have shown that in those distant times, in the area south of the village of Kozlovo, which exists today, there was some kind of fortified outpost of the Novgorodians. It was here that Prince Alexander Nevsky went to join the detachment of Andrei Yaroslavich, hidden in an ambush. At a critical moment in the battle, an ambush regiment could go behind the knights, surround them and ensure victory. The place is relatively flat. The troops of Nevsky from the north-western side were protected by the “sigovits” of Lake Peipsi, and from the eastern side - by the wooded part, where the Novgorodians settled in the fortified town.

On Lake Peipus, scientists were going to recreate the events of more than seven hundred years ago

The knights advanced from the south side (from the village of Tabory). Not knowing about the Novgorod reinforcements and feeling their military superiority in strength, they, without hesitation, rushed into battle, falling into the "nets" placed. From here it can be seen that the battle itself was on land, not far from the shore of the lake. By the end of the battle, the knightly army was driven back to the spring ice of Zhelchinskaya Bay, where many of them died. Their remains and weapons are still at the bottom of this bay.

As a rule, they are associated with an attempt to expand Christianity to the Middle East, and the struggle against Muslims, but this interpretation is not entirely correct.

When the series crusades began to gain momentum, the papacy, which was their main initiator, realized that these campaigns could serve Rome to achieve political goals not only in the fight against Islam. This is how the multi-vector nature of the Crusades began to take shape. Expanding their geography, the crusaders turned their eyes to the north and northeast.

By that time at the borders of Eastern Europe a fairly strong stronghold of Catholicism was formed in the person of the Livonian Order, which was the product of the merger of two German spiritual Catholic orders - the Teutonic and the Order of the Sword.

Generally speaking, the prerequisites for the advancement of the German knights to the east were there for a long time. Back in the 12th century, they began to seize the Slavic lands beyond the Oder. Also in the sphere of their interests was the Baltic, inhabited by Estonians and Karelians, who at that time were pagans.

The first sprouts of the conflict between the Slavs and the Germans took place already in 1210, when the knights invaded the territory of modern Estonia, entering into a struggle with the Novgorod and Pskov principalities for influence in this region. The retaliatory measures of the principalities did not lead the Slavs to success. Moreover, the contradictions in their camp led to a split and a complete lack of interaction.

The German knights, the backbone of which were the Teutons, on the contrary, managed to gain a foothold in the occupied territories and set about consolidating their efforts. In 1236, the Order of the Sword and the Teutonic Order merged into the Livonian Order, and the very next year authorized new campaigns against Finland. In 1238, the Danish king and the head of the order agreed on joint actions against Russia. The most suitable moment was chosen, because by that time the Russian lands had been bled dry by the Mongol invasion.

The Swedes also took advantage of this, who in 1240 decided to capture Novgorod. Having landed on them, they met with a rebuff in the person of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, who managed to defeat the interventionists and it was after this victory that he became known as Alexander Nevsky. The battle on Lake Peipus was the next important milestone in the biography of this prince.

However, before that, a fierce struggle went on between Russia and the German orders for another two years, which brought success to the latter, in particular, Pskov was captured, Novgorod was also under threat. Under these conditions, the battle on Lake Peipsi took place, or, as it is commonly called, the Battle on the Ice.

The battle was preceded by the liberation of Pskov by Nevsky. Having learned that the main units of the enemy were attacking the Russian forces, the prince blocked the path on the lake.

The battle on Lake Peipsi took place on April 5, 1242. The knightly forces managed to break through the center of the Russian defense and hit the shore. Russian flank strikes gripped the enemy and decided the outcome of the battle. This is how the battle on Nevsky ended and reached the peak of its glory. He has gone down in history forever.

The battle on Lake Peipsi has long been considered almost a turning point in the entire struggle of Russia against the crusaders, however modern tendencies question such an analysis of events, which is more characteristic of Soviet historiography.

Some authors note that after this battle the war took on a protracted character, but the threat from the knights was still tangible. In addition, even the role of Alexander Nevsky himself, whose successes in the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of the Ice elevated him to unprecedented heights, is disputed by historians such as Fenell, Danilevsky and Smirnov. The battle on Lake Peipus and, according to these researchers, are embellished, however, as well as the threat from the crusaders.

History of naval art

After the defeat of the Swedes Alexander Nevskiy quarreled with the Novgorod boyars, who were afraid of the strengthening of princely power, and was forced to leave Novgorod for his inheritance - Pereyaslavl Zalessky . They took advantage of his departure. german knights . In the autumn of 1240 they invaded the Russian land and captured Fortress Izborsk and Koporye . opposed the Germans Pskov Governor 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 withdrew to Pskov. When attacking Pskov, the knights ruthlessly robbed and killed the Russian population, burned villages and churches. For a whole week the Germans unsuccessfully besieged Pskov. And only after a bunch of traitorous boyars led by Tverdila entered into an agreement with the Germans and opened the gates of the city to them, Pskov was taken.

In 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 combatants called: “Get all together, from small to large: whoever has a horse, he is on a horse, and whoever does not have a horse, let him go on a boat.” In a short time he created a strong army of Novgorodians, Ladoga, Izhors and Karelians.

Having gathered an army, Alexander Nevsky with a sudden blow knocked out the Germans from Koporye - an important strategic point, from where they sent their detachments into the depths of Novgorod possessions. Anticipating fierce resistance from the enemy, 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, Andrey 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 the high level of Russian military art and to the availability of improved siege and military equipment among our ancestors. The traitorous boyars were executed, the captured knights were sent to Novgorod.

Having strengthened the borders of the liberated Novgorod land, Alexander Nevskiy led his army into the land of the Estonians where the eye forces of the German knights were located. In the face of the threat of mortal danger, the knights increased their armed forces, led by master of the order .

In the second half of March 1242 advance detachment of Russians under the command of Domash Tverdislavovich reconnoitered 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 Peipus. To this end, he transferred his troops to the eastern shore of this lake and placed them in the Uzmeni region, near the Raven Stone.

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky knew well the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent. He chose a comfortable position for the battle on the ice of Lake Peipus.

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 armored riders.

The strength of the knights was not only in their excellent weapons, but also in their battle formation. The order of battle of the German knights was in the form of a wedge, or, as the Russian chronicle calls it, “pigs”.

According to historians, "pig" had the following appearance: three to five mounted knights lined up in front; behind them, in the second rank, were already five or seven knights; subsequent rows increased by two or three people. The total number of rows that made up the "pig" could reach up to ten, and the number of knights - up to 150. The rest of the knights were built in a column behind the "pig".

Such a system was repeatedly successfully used by the knights to break through the center of the enemy and encircle his flanks.

Along 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 went to his flanks. But the infantry was always followed by a formation of knights, for the crusaders did not place special hopes on it.

Contrary to the usual formation of the battle order of the Russian troops, when big regiment , and on the flanks are weaker right and left hand shelves , Alexander Nevskiy , taking into account the tactics of the enemy, deliberately weakened his center, concentrating the main forces of the Russian army on the flanks. Forward was pushed a long distance insignificant vanguard , which, retreating, was supposed to lure the Germans on the ice of Lake Peipsi . Alexander Nevsky placed the select part of his squad behind the Raven 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 against the Russians, who were standing in order of battle at the Raven Stone. As expected, the Germans this time also used their favorite battle formation - wedge action. The advance detachment of the Russians retreated, dragging the knights with them. The Germans, as usual, hit the Russian center, which they easily managed to break through. But at this time, the main forces of the Russians, concentrated on the flanks, suddenly fell upon them. Russian soldiers advanced swiftly and acted decisively. In a relatively short time, they managed to surround the German wedge and bring confusion to the ranks of the knights. The German cavalry, squeezed by the Russians in pincers, began to retreat, crushing their infantry. The ice could not bear the weight of the enemy knights, horses and infantry huddled together. Many knights fell through the ice and died, along with their horses. The blow of the combatants from behind the Raven Stone to the rear of the Germans completed their rout. “There was an evil slash,” writes the chronicler of the battle with the German knights, “and the Russian soldiers flogged them, pursuing them as if through the air, and they had nowhere to hide.” 500 knights were killed and 50 captured.

The Russian victory on Lake Peipus was of historical significance. She saved Russia from German slavery. Karl Marx highly appreciated this victory of Alexander Nevsky. "Alexander Nevsky opposes the German knights, breaks them on the ice of Lake Peipus, so that the scoundrels (die Lumpacii) were finally driven back from the Russian border ".

conclusions

Alexander Nevsky - the 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 accurately determined the main direction of the strike, then as a tactician, he was no less skillfully able to concentrate the main forces and means on the decisive sector of the battle. Alexander Nevsky fought according to a well-thought-out and carefully prepared plan. His tactics were active, offensive.

"Prince Alexander won everywhere, was invincible" , - wrote a contemporary of the prince in "The Life of Alexander Nevsky".

In the Battle of the Neva, the Russians delivered a surprise blow to the Swedish troops, who were utterly defeated, despite their numerical superiority.

At the first stage of the fight against the Germans, Alexander Nevsky showed high military skill, taking the fortress of Koporye and Pskov by storm.

Having liberated their cities, the Russians shifted their actions to enemy territory. Then, having lured his main forces to a pre-selected position on Lake Peipus, 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. On the ice of Lake Peipus, a limit was placed on the advance of the Germans to the east.

“Whoever comes to us with a sword,” said Alexander Nevsky, “will die by the sword. On that stands and will stand the Russian land.

Alexander Nevsky was not only a great commander, but also a major statesman. During the period of the Tatar invasion, he managed to subordinate the interests of the most important state centers of northwestern Russia to the common cause of saving the Russian people from German-Swedish aggression. At the same time, he upset the intrigues of the Pope, who provoked the Russian people into an open armed uprising against the Tatars. Alexander Nevsky understood that a premature action against the Tatars could break the strength of the resistance of the Russian people and would enable the Germans and Swedes to capture the northwestern part of the Russian land, not 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 Russia could not recover from them for a long time. Only 44 years after the Battle of 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 for them completeroutmom. The Novgorodians let the Swedes into the Neva without hindrance, blockaded them and then destroyed them.

In 1300, the Swedes, taking advantage of the difficult internal situation of Russia ( Tatar yoke) and the weakening of Novgorod itself due to the intensified struggle of boyar groups for power, they decided to cut off Novgorod from Baltic Sea. To this end, 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.

Novgorodians, having learned about the arrival of the enemy fleet in the Neva, decided to destroy it with the help of burning ships launched downstream. But the Swedes, warned by their intelligence, managed to avert this danger by driving piles above the parking lot of their fleet. Then the Novgorodians were forced to strengthen their ground army, which stormed Landskrona and destroyed it (1301).

In order to prevent the enemy from penetrating the Neva in the future, the Novgorodians built in 1323 at its source on the Orekhov Island, the Oreshek fortress (now Petrokrepost).

Due to the increased resistance of the Novgorodians, the Swedes suffered constant setbacks in their expensive campaigns against Russia, so in 1323 they sent their representatives to the Novgorodians in Oreshek with peace proposals. The latter accepted the offer of the Swedes, and peace was signed in the Oreshek fortress.

According to the Orekhov peace treaty, the border of Novgorod possessions on Karelian Isthmus became the Sestra River, and on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland - the 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 turn them into catholic faith and enslave. In 1348, a large Swedish fleet under the command of the king himself entered the Gulf of Finland and, having risen up the Neva, took the Oreshek fortress.

To liberate Oreshok, 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 fled to Sweden with his squad. In 1349, the Novgorodians stormed the Oreshek fortress.

After the liberation of Oreshok, at the mouth of the Okhta River, on the site of the former Swedish fortress of Landskrona, the Novgorodians founded a new fortress of Kantsy.