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April 18 - Day military glory Russia, the day of the victory of the Russian soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights on Lake Peipsi (the so-called Battle on the Ice, 1242). The date is marked in accordance with the Federal Law "On the days of military glory ( victorious days) of Russia" dated March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ.

In the early 40s. XIII century, taking advantage of the weakening of Rus', which occurred as a result of the devastating invasion of the Mongol-Tatars, the German crusaders, Swedish and Danish feudal lords decided to seize its northeastern lands. Together they hoped to conquer the Novgorod feudal republic. The Swedes, with the support of the Danish knights, tried to capture the mouth of the Neva, but in the Battle of the Neva in 1240 they were defeated by the Novgorod army.

In late August - early September 1240, the crusaders invaded the Pskov land Livonian Order, which was formed by the German knights of the Teutonic Order in 1237 in the Eastern Baltic in the territory inhabited by the tribes of Livs and Estonians. After a short siege, the German knights captured the city of Izborsk. Then they laid siege to Pskov and, with the assistance of the traitorous boyars, soon occupied it as well. After that, the crusaders invaded the Novgorod land, captured the coast of the Gulf of Finland and built their own on the site of the ancient Russian fortress of Koporye. Before reaching Novgorod 40 km, the knights began to rob its environs.

(Military Encyclopedia. Military Publishing. Moscow. in 8 volumes - 2004)

An embassy was sent from Novgorod to the great prince of Vladimir Yaroslav, so that he would release his son Alexander (Prince Alexander Nevsky) to help them. Alexander Yaroslavovich ruled in Novgorod from 1236, but because of the intrigues of the Novgorod nobility, he left Novgorod and went to reign in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Yaroslav, realizing the danger of the threat emanating from the West, agreed: the matter concerned not only Novgorod, but all of Rus'.

In 1241, Prince Alexander Nevsky, returning to Novgorod, gathered an army of Novgorodians, Ladoga, Izhora and Karelians. Covertly making a quick transition to Koporye, it seized this strong fortress by storm. By taking Koporye, Alexander Nevsky secured the northwestern borders of the Novgorod lands, secured his rear and the northern flank for further struggle against the German crusaders. At the call of Alexander Nevsky, troops from Vladimir and Suzdal arrived to help the Novgorodians under the command of his brother Prince Andrei. United Novgorod-Vladimir army in the winter of 1241-1242. undertook a campaign in the Pskov land and, cutting off all roads from Livonia to Pskov, stormed this city, as well as Izborsk.

After this defeat, the Livonian knights, having gathered a large army, marched to the Pskov and Peipsi lakes. The basis of the army of the Livonian Order was the heavily armed knightly cavalry, as well as the infantry (bollards) - detachments of peoples enslaved by the Germans (Ests, Livs, etc.), which many times outnumbered the knights.

Having found out the direction of movement of the main enemy forces, Alexander Nevsky sent his army there as well. Coming to Lake Peipus, the army of Alexander Nevsky was in the center possible ways enemy movement on Novgorod. In this place, it was decided to give battle to the enemy. The armies of the opponents converged on the shores of Lake Peipus at the Voronye stone and the Uzmen tract. Here, on April 5, 1242, a battle took place, which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice.

At dawn, the crusaders approached the Russian position on the ice of the lake at a slow trot. The army of the Livonian Order, according to the established military tradition, attacked with an "iron wedge", which appears in Russian chronicles under the name "pigs". On the tip was the main group of knights, some of them covered the flanks and rear of the "wedge", in the center of which the infantry was located. The wedge had as its task the fragmentation and breakthrough of the central part of the enemy troops, and the columns following the wedge were to crush the enemy flanks with coverage. In chain mail and helmets, with long swords, they seemed invulnerable.

Alexander Nevsky countered this stereotypical tactic of the knights with the new formation of the Russian troops. He concentrated the main forces not in the center ("chela"), as the Russian troops always did, but on the flanks. Ahead was the advanced regiment of light cavalry, archers and slingers. The battle formation of the Russians was facing the rear towards the steep, steep eastern shore of the lake, and the prince's cavalry squad hid in an ambush behind the left flank. The chosen position was advantageous in that the Germans, advancing along open ice, were deprived of the opportunity to determine the location, number and composition of the Russian troops.

The knight's wedge broke through the center of the Russian army. Having stumbled upon the steep shore of the lake, the inactive, armored knights could not develop their success. The flanks of the Russian battle order ("wings") clamped the wedge into pincers. At this time, Alexander Nevsky's squad struck from the rear and completed the encirclement of the enemy.

Under the onslaught of the Russian regiments, the knights mixed their ranks and, having lost their freedom of maneuver, were forced to defend themselves. A fierce battle ensued. Russian infantrymen pulled the knights off their horses with hooks and chopped them with axes. Clamped on all sides in a limited space, the crusaders fought desperately. But their resistance gradually weakened, it took on an unorganized character, the battle broke up into separate pockets. where they accumulated large groups knights, the ice could not withstand their weight and broke. Many knights drowned. The Russian cavalry pursued the defeated enemy over 7 km, to the opposite shore of Lake Peipsi.

The army of the Livonian Order was completely defeated and suffered huge losses for those times: up to 450 knights died and 50 were captured. Several thousand knechts were destroyed. The Livonian Order was faced with the need to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands, and also renounced part of Latgale (a region in eastern Latvia).

The victory of the Russian troops on the ice of Lake Peipus was of great political and military significance. The Livonian Order was dealt a crushing blow, the advance of the crusaders to the East stopped. The battle on the ice was the first example in history of the defeat of knights by an army consisting mainly of infantry, which testified to the advanced nature of Russian military art.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

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

When the event happened : 5 April 1242

Where did the event take place : Lake Peipus (near Pskov)

Members:

The troops 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 Russian territories in the northwest

Spread of Catholicism

Russian troops:

Defense of the northwestern borders from the German knights

Prevention of subsequent threats of attack on Rus' by the Livonian Order

Defending access to the Baltic Sea, the possibility of trade with Europe

Defense of the Orthodox Faith

move

In 1240, the Livonian knights captured Pskov and Koporye

In 1241, Alexander Nevsky recaptured Koporye.

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

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

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

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

Results

Eliminated the threat of the capture of the northwestern lands

Trade relations with Europe were preserved, Rus' 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.

For a long time the raids of the West on Rus' stopped.

Meaning

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

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

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

Was protected Orthodox faith, since the crusaders wanted to actively introduce Catholicism in Rus'. But it was precisely Orthodoxy in the period of fragmentation and the yoke that was the link that united the people in the struggle against the enemy.

During the battle on the ice and the Battle of the Neva, the military talent of the young Alexander Nevsky manifested itself. He used proven tactics:

before the battle, he delivered a number of successive blows to the enemy, and only then did the decisive battle take place.

used the surprise factor

successfully and on time introduced an ambush regiment into battle

the location 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, he himself used the terrain for a strong blow to the enemy.

This is interesting

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

Material prepared: Melnikova Vera Alexandrovna

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

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

Map 1239-1245

The Rhymed Chronicle specifically says that twenty knights died and six were taken prisoner. The discrepancy in estimates can be explained by the fact that the "Chronicle" refers only to the "brothers" - knights, not taking into account their squads, in this case, out of 400 Germans who fell on the ice of Lake Peipsi, twenty were real "brothers" - knights, and from 50 captured "brothers" were 6.

"Chronicle of the Grand Masters" ("Die jungere Hochmeisterchronik", sometimes translated as "Chronicle of the Teutonic Order"), an official history of the Teutonic Order, written much later, speaks of the death of 70 order knights (literally "70 order gentlemen", "seuentich Ordens Herenn" ), but unites the dead during the capture of Pskov by Alexander and on Lake Peipus.

According to the conclusions of the expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences led by Karaev, the immediate place of the battle can be considered a section of the Warm Lake, located 400 meters west of the modern shore of Cape Sigovets, between its northern tip and the latitude of the village of Ostrov.

Consequences

In 1243, the Teutonic Order concluded a peace treaty with Novgorod and officially renounced all claims to Russian lands. Despite this, ten years later the Teutons tried to recapture Pskov. The wars with Novgorod continued.

According to the point of view traditional 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), had 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 Rus' was greatly weakened Mongol invasion. In Novgorod, the Battle on the Ice, together with the Neva victory over the Swedes, was remembered at litanies in all Novgorod churches back in the 16th century.

However, even in the Rhymed Chronicle, the Battle of the Ice is unequivocally described as a defeat for the Germans, in contrast to Rakovor.

The memory of the battle

Movies

• In 1938 Sergei Eisenstein removed Feature Film"Alexander Nevsky", in which the Battle on the Ice was filmed. The film is considered one of the most prominent representatives historical films. It was he who largely shaped the modern viewer's idea of ​​​​the battle.
• Filmed in 1992 documentary"In memory of the past and in the name of the future." The film tells about the creation of a monument to Alexander Nevsky on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the Battle on the Ice.
• In 2009, the full-length anime film The First Squad was filmed jointly by Russian, Canadian and Japanese studios, where the Battle on the Ice plays a key role in the plot.

Music

• The musical score for the Eisenstein film, composed by Sergei Prokofiev, is a symphonic suite, dedicated to events battles.
• The rock band Aria on the album Hero of Asphalt (1987) released the song " Ballad of an Old Russian Warrior', telling about Battle on the Ice. This song has gone through many different adaptations and re-releases.

Literature

• Poem by Konstantin Simonov "Battle on the Ice" (1938)

monuments

Monument to the squads of Alexander Nevsky on Sokolikha

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

Monument to Alexander Nevsky and Poklonny Cross

The bronze worship 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 direction of D. Gochiyaev 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.

In philately and on coins

In connection with the incorrect calculation of the date of the battle according to the new style, the Day of Military Glory of Russia is the Day of the Victory of the Russian Soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the Crusaders (established by Federal Law No. 32-FZ of March 13, 1995 “On the days of military glory and anniversaries Russia") is celebrated on April 18 instead of the correct one in the new style on April 12. The difference between the old (Julian) and new (first introduced in 1582 Gregorian) style in the 13th century would be 7 days (counting from April 5, 1242), and the difference of 13 days is used only for dates 1900-2100. Therefore, this day of military glory of Russia (April 18, according to the new style in the XX-XXI centuries) is actually celebrated according to the currently corresponding April 5, according to the old style.

Due to the variability of the hydrography of Lake Peipsi, historians for a long time it was not possible to accurately determine the place where the Battle of the Ice took place. Only thanks to long-term research carried out by the expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the USSR Academy of Sciences (led by G. N. Karaev), the place of the battle was established. The battle site is submerged in summer and is located approximately 400 meters from the island of Sigovets.

see also

Notes

Literature

• Lipitsky S.V. Battle on the Ice. - M .: Military Publishing House, 1964. - 68 p. - (The heroic past of our Motherland).
• Mansikka V.J. Life of Alexander Nevsky: Analysis of editions and text. - SPb., 1913. - "Monuments ancient writing". - Issue. 180.
• Life of Alexander Nevsky / Preparatory work. text, translation and comm. V. I. Okhotnikova//Monuments of literature Ancient Rus': XIII century. - M.: Publishing house of Khudozh. literature, 1981.
• Begunov Yu.K. Monument to Russian Literature XIII century: “The Word about the death of the Russian land” - M.-L .: Nauka, 1965.
• Pashuto V. T. Alexander Nevsky - M .: Young Guard, 1974. - 160 p. - Series "Life of remarkable people".
• Karpov A. Yu. Alexander Nevsky - M.: Young Guard, 2010. - 352 p. - Series "Life of remarkable people".
• Khitrov M. Saint Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky. Detailed biography. - Minsk: Panorama, 1991. - 288 p. - Reprint ed.
• Klepinin N. A. Holy Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. - St. Petersburg: Aleteyya, 2004. - 288 p. - Series "Slavonic Library".
• Prince Alexander Nevsky and his era. Research and materials / Ed. Yu. K. Begunov and A. N. Kirpichnikov. - St. Petersburg: Dmitry Bulanin, 1995. - 214 p.
• Fennell John. A crisis medieval Rus'. 1200-1304 - M.: Progress, 1989. - 296 p.
• Battle on the Ice of 1242 Proceedings of a comprehensive expedition to clarify the location of the Battle on the Ice / Responsible. ed. G. N. Karaev. - M.-L.: Nauka, 1966. - 241 p.

April 18th the next Day of military glory of Russia is celebrated - the Day of the victory of Russian soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights on Lake Peipsi (Battle on the Ice, 1242). The holiday was established by Federal Law No. 32-FZ of March 13, 1995 "On the days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia."

According to the definition of all modern historical reference books and encyclopedias,

Battle on the Ice(Schlacht auf dem Eise (German), Prœlium glaciale (Latin), also called ice battle or Battle on Lake Peipsi- the battle of Novgorod and Vladimir under the leadership of Alexander Nevsky against the knights of the Livonian Order on the ice of Lake Peipus - took place on April 5 (in terms of Gregorian calendar- April 12) 1242.

In 1995, Russian parliamentarians, taking the federal law, especially did not think about the dating of this event. They simply added 13 days to April 5 (as is traditionally done to recalculate the events of the 19th century from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar), completely forgetting that the Battle on the Ice did not happen at all in the 19th, but in the distant 13th century. Accordingly, the "correction" to modern calendar is only 7 days.

Today, anyone who has studied high school, I am sure that the Battle on the Ice or the Battle of Lake Peipus is considered the general battle of the conquest campaign of the Teutonic Order in 1240-1242. The Livonian Order, as you know, was the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order, and was formed from the remnants of the Order of the Sword in 1237. The order waged wars against Lithuania and Rus'. The members of the order were "brothers-knights" (warriors), "brothers-priests" (clergy) and "serving-brothers" (squires-artisans). The Knights of the Order were given the rights of the Knights Templar (templars). The hallmark of its members was a white robe with a red cross and a sword on it. The battle between the Livonians and the Novgorod army on Lake Peipus decided the outcome of the campaign in favor of the Russians. It also marked the actual death of the Livonian Order itself. Each schoolboy will enthusiastically tell how, during the battle, the famous Prince Alexander Nevsky and his comrades killed and drowned almost all clumsy, ponderous knights in the lake and liberated Russian lands from German conquerors.

If we abstract from the traditional version set forth in all school and some university textbooks, then it turns out that about famous battle, which went down in history under the name of the Battle on the Ice, practically nothing is known.

Historians to this day break spears in disputes about what were the reasons for the battle? Where exactly did the battle take place? Who took part in it? And was she at all?

Next, I would like to present two not entirely traditional versions, one of which is based on an analysis of well-known chronicle sources about the Battle of the Ice and concerns the assessment of its role and significance by contemporaries. The other was born as a result of the search by amateur enthusiasts for the immediate place of the battle, about which neither archaeologists nor specialist historians still have an unequivocal opinion.

"Battle on the Ice" is reflected in the mass of sources. First of all, this is a complex of the Novgorod-Pskov chronicles and the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky, which exists in more than twenty editions; then - the most complete and ancient Laurentian chronicle, which included a number of chronicles of the XIII century, as well as Western sources - numerous Livonian chronicles.

However, analyzing domestic and foreign sources for many centuries, historians have not been able to come to a consensus: do they tell about a specific battle that took place in 1242 on Lake Peipsi, or are they about different ones?

In most domestic sources, it is recorded that on April 5, 1242, some kind of battle took place on Lake Peipus (or in its area). But to establish reliably its causes, the number of troops, their formation, composition - on the basis of annals and chronicles is not possible. How did the battle develop, who distinguished themselves in the battle, how many Livonians and Russians died? No data. How, finally, did Alexander Nevsky prove himself in battle, who is still called the “savior of the fatherland” today? Alas! There are still no answers to any of these questions.

The obvious contradictions that are contained in the Novgorod-Pskov and Suzdal chronicles, telling about the Battle of the Ice, can be explained by the constant rivalry between Novgorod and the Vladimir-Suzdal lands, as well as difficult relationship brothers Yaroslavich - Alexander and Andrey.

The Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, as you know, saw his successor younger son- Andrew. In Russian historiography, there is a version that the father wanted to get rid of the elder Alexander, and therefore sent him to reign in Novgorod. The Novgorod "table" at that time was considered almost a block for the Vladimir princes. The political life of the city was ruled by the boyar "veche", and the prince was only a governor, who, in case of external danger, should lead the squad and the militia.

According to official version Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL), Novgorodians for some reason expelled Alexander from Novgorod after the victorious Battle of the Neva (1240). And when the knights of the Livonian Order captured Pskov and Koporye, they again asked the Vladimir prince to send Alexander to them.

Yaroslav, on the contrary, intended to send for permission difficult situation Andrei, whom he trusted more, but the Novgorodians insisted on the candidacy of Nevsky. There is also a version that the story of the "expulsion" of Alexander from Novgorod is fictional and later. Perhaps it was invented by the "biographers" of Nevsky to justify the surrender of Izborsk, Pskov and Koporye to the Germans. Yaroslav was afraid that Alexander would open the Novgorod gates in the same way to the enemy, but in 1241 he managed to recapture the Koporye fortress from the Livonians, and then take Pskov. However, some sources attribute the date of the liberation of Pskov to the beginning of 1242, when the Vladimir-Suzdal army, led by his brother Andrei Yaroslavich, had already arrived to help Nevsky, and some - to 1244.

According to modern researchers, based on the Livonian Chronicles and other foreign sources, the Koporye fortress surrendered to Alexander Nevsky without a fight, and the Pskov garrison consisted of only two Livonian knights with their squires, armed servants and some militias from local peoples(Chud, Vod, etc.). The composition of the entire Livonian Order in the 40s of the XIII century could not exceed 85-90 knights. That is how many castles at that moment existed on the territory of the Order. One castle, as a rule, put up one knight with squires.

The earliest domestic source that has come down to us mentioning the Battle on the Ice is the Laurentian Chronicle, written by a Suzdal chronicler. It does not mention the participation of the Novgorodians in the battle at all, and Prince Andrei acts as the main character:

“Grand Duke Yaroslav sent his son Andrei to Novgorod to help Alexander against the Germans. Having won over Pskov on the lake and taking many prisoners, Andrei returned with honor to his father.

The authors of numerous editions of the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky, on the contrary, argue that it was after "Battle on the Ice" the name of Alexander became famous "in all countries from the Varangian Sea and to the Pontic Sea, and to the Egyptian Sea, and to the country of Tiberias, and to the mountains of Ararat, even to Rome the Great ...".

According to the Laurentian Chronicle, it turns out that about world fame Alexander was not suspected even by his closest relatives.

The most detailed account of the battle is contained in the First Chronicle of Novgorod (NPL). It is believed that in the most early list In this annals (Synodal), a record of the "Battle on the Ice" was made already in the 30s of the XIV century. The Novgorod chronicler does not mention in a word about the participation in the battle of Prince Andrei and the Vladimir-Suzdal squad:

“Alexander and the Novgorodians built regiments on Lake Peipus on Uzmen near the Raven Stone. And the Germans and Chud ran into the regiment, and made their way like a pig through the regiment. And there was a great slaughter of the Germans and Chudi. God helped Prince Alexander. The enemy was driven and beaten seven versts to the Subolichi coast. And countless Chudi fell, and 400 Germans(later scribes rounded this figure to 500, and in this form it entered the history books). Fifty prisoners were brought to Novgorod. The battle took place on the fifth of April on Saturday.

In later versions of the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky ( late XVI centuries) deliberately eliminated discrepancies with the annalistic news, adding details borrowed from the NPL: the place of the battle, its course and data on losses. The number of killed enemies increases from edition to edition up to 900 (!). In some editions of the "Life" (and there are more than twenty of them in total), there are reports of participation in the battle of the Master of the Order and his capture, as well as an absurd fiction that the knights drowned in the water because they were too heavy.

Many historians, who have analyzed in detail the texts of the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky, noted that the description of the massacre in the "Life" gives the impression of a clear literary borrowing. V. I. Mansikka (“The Life of Alexander Nevsky”, St. Petersburg, 1913) believed that the description of the battle between Yaroslav the Wise and Svyatopolk the Accursed was used in the story about the Battle on the Ice. Georgy Fedorov notes that "The Life" of Alexander "is a military heroic story inspired by the Roman-Byzantine historical literature(Palea, Josephus)", and the description of the "Battle on the Ice" is a tracing-paper of the victory of Titus over the Jews at the Lake of Gennesaret from the third book of the "History of the Jewish War" by Josephus Flavius.

I. Grekov and F. Shakhmagonov believe that "the appearance of the battle in all its positions is very similar to the famous battle of Cannes" ("The World of History", p. 78). In general, the story about the "Battle on the Ice" from the early edition of the "Life" of Alexander Nevsky is just common place, which can be successfully applied to the description of any battle.

In the 13th century, there were many battles that could become a source of “literary borrowing” for the authors of the story about the “Battle on the Ice”. For example, ten years before the expected date of writing the "Life" (80s of the XIII century), February 16, 1270, there was major battle between the Livonian knights and the Lithuanians at Karusen. It also took place on ice, but not on the lake, but on the Gulf of Riga. And his description in the Livonian rhymed chronicle, like two drops of water, is similar to the description of the "Battle on the Ice" in the NPL.

In the Battle of Karusen, as in the Battle of the Ice, the knightly cavalry attacks the center, where the cavalry "gets stuck" in the carts, and bypassing the flanks the enemy completes their defeat. At the same time, in neither case, the winners do not try to somehow take advantage of the result of the defeat of the enemy army, but calmly go home with booty.

The Livonian rhymed chronicle (LRH), telling about a certain battle with the Novgorod-Suzdal army, tends to present as aggressors not the knights of the order at all, but their opponents - Prince Alexander and his brother Andrei. The authors of the chronicle constantly emphasize the superior forces of the Russians and the small number of knightly troops. According to LRH, the loss of the Order in the Battle of the Ice amounted to twenty knights. Six were taken prisoner. This chronicle does not say anything about the date or place of the battle, but the minstrel's words that the dead fell on the grass (ground) allow us to conclude that the battle was fought not on the ice of the lake, but on land. If the author of the Chronicle understands “grass” (gras) not figuratively (the German idiomatic expression is “fall on the battlefield”), but literally, then it turns out that the battle took place when the ice on the lakes had already melted, or the opponents fought not on ice, but in coastal thickets of reeds:

“In Derpt they learned that Prince Alexander had come with an army to the land of knight brothers, fixing robberies and fires. The bishop ordered the men of the bishopric to hasten to the army of the brother-knights to fight against the Russians. They brought too few people, the army of knight brothers was also too small. However, they agreed to attack the Russians. The Russians had many shooters who courageously accepted the first onslaught. It was evident how a detachment of knight brothers defeated the shooters; there was the sound of swords, and helmets could be seen splitting. On both sides, the dead fell on the grass. Those who were in the army of knight brothers were surrounded. The Russians had such an army that perhaps sixty people attacked each German. The knight brothers stubbornly resisted, but they were defeated there. Some of the Derptians escaped by leaving the battlefield. Twenty knight brothers were killed there, and six were taken prisoner. That was the course of the battle."

The author of LRH does not express the slightest admiration for Alexander's military talents. The Russians managed to encircle part of the Livonian army, not thanks to the talent of Alexander, but because there were much more Russians than Livonians. Even with an overwhelming numerical superiority over the enemy, according to LRH, the troops of Novgorod could not surround the entire Livonian army: part of the Derptians escaped by retreating from the battlefield. Only a small part of the "Germans" - 26 brothers-knights, who preferred death to a shameful flight, got into the environment.

A later source, The Chronicle of Hermann Wartberg, was written one hundred and fifty years after the events of 1240-1242. It contains, rather, an assessment by the descendants of the defeated knights of the significance that the war with the Novgorodians had on the fate of the Order. The author of the chronicle tells about the capture and subsequent loss of Izborsk and Pskov by the Order as major events of this war. However, the Chronicle does not mention any battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi.

In the Livonian Chronicle of Ryussov, published in 1848 on the basis of earlier editions, it is said that during the time of Master Konrad ( Grand Master Teutonic Order in 1239-1241. He died of wounds received in a battle with the Prussians on April 9, 1241) King Alexander was in Novgorod. He (Alexander) learned that under Master Herman von Salt (Master of the Teutonic Order in 1210-1239), the Teutons captured Pskov. With a large army, Alexander takes Pskov. The Germans fight hard, but are defeated. Seventy knights died with many Germans. Six brother knights are captured and tortured to death.

Some domestic historians interpret the messages of Ryussov's Chronicle in the sense that seventy knights, whose death he mentions, fell during the capture of Pskov. But it's not right. In the Ryussov Chronicle, all the events of 1240-1242 are combined into one whole. This Chronicle does not mention such events as the capture of Izborsk, the defeat of the Pskov army near Izborsk, the construction of a fortress in Koporye and its capture by the Novgorodians, the Russian invasion of Livonia. Thus, “seventy knights and many Germans” are the total losses of the Order (more precisely, Livonians and Danes) throughout the war.

Another difference between the Livonian Chronicles and the NPL is the number and fate of the captured knights. Ryussov's chronicle reports six prisoners, and the Novgorod chronicle reports fifty. The captured knights, whom Alexander proposes to exchange for soap in Eisenstein's film, were "tortured to death" according to LRH. The NPL writes that the Germans offered peace to the Novgorodians, one of the conditions of which was the exchange of prisoners: “what if we captured your husbands, we will exchange them: we will let yours in, and you will let us in.” But did the captured knights live to see the exchange? There is no information about their fate in Western sources.

Judging by the Livonian chronicles, the clash with the Russians in Livonia was a secondary event for the knights of the Teutonic Order. It is reported only in passing, and the death of the Livonian Laidmastership of the Teutons (Livonian Order) in the battle on Lake Peipsi does not find any confirmation at all. The order continued to exist successfully until the 16th century (it was destroyed during Livonian War in 1561).

Place of battle

Until the end of the 20th century, the places of burial of soldiers who died during the Battle of the Ice remained unknown, as well as the place of the battle itself. Landmarks of the place where the battle took place are indicated in the Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL): "On Lake Peipsi, near the tract Uzmen, near the Raven Stone." Local legends specify that the battle was just outside the village of Samolva. In the ancient chronicles, there is no mention of the Voronii Island (or any other island) near the place of the battle. They talk about the battle on the ground, on the grass. Ice is mentioned only in later editions of Alexander Nevsky's Life.

The past centuries have weathered from the history and memory of human information about the whereabouts mass graves, Raven stone, Uzmen tract and the degree of population of these places. For many centuries, the Raven Stone and other buildings have been wiped off the face of the earth in these places. Elevations and monuments of mass graves were leveled with the surface of the earth. The attention of historians was attracted by the name of the Voronii Island, where they hoped to find the Voronii Stone. The hypothesis that the massacre took place near the island of Voronii was taken as the main version, although it contradicted chronicle sources and common sense. The question remained unclear which way Nevsky went to Livonia (after the liberation of Pskov), and from there to the site of the upcoming battle at the Raven Stone, near the Uzmen tract, behind the village of Samolva (it must be understood that from the opposite side of Pskov).

Reading the existing interpretation of the Battle on the Ice, the question involuntarily arises: why did the troops of Nevsky, as well as the heavy cavalry of the knights, have to go through Lake Peipsi on spring ice to Voronii Island, where even in severe frosts the water does not freeze in many places? It should be taken into account that the beginning of April for these places is a warm period of time. Testing the hypothesis about the location of the battle near Voronii Island dragged on for many decades. This time was enough for it to take a firm place in all history textbooks, including military ones. Our future historians, military men, generals gain knowledge from these textbooks... Given the low validity of this version, in 1958 a comprehensive expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences was created to determine the true location of the battle on April 5, 1242. The expedition worked from 1958 to 1966. Large-scale studies have been carried out, a number of interesting discoveries who expanded knowledge about this region, about the presence of an extensive network of ancient waterways between the Chudskoye and Ilmen lakes. However, it was not possible to find the burial places of the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Ice, as well as the Raven Stone, the Uzmen tract and traces of the battle (including the Voronii Island). This is clearly stated in the report of the complex expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The secret remained unsolved.

After that, allegations appeared that in ancient times the dead were taken with them for burial in their homeland, therefore, they say, burials cannot be found. But did they take all the dead with them? How did they deal with the dead enemy soldiers, with the dead horses? A clear answer was not given to the question why Prince Alexander went from Livonia not under the protection of the walls of Pskov, but to the region of Lake Peipsi - to the place of the upcoming battle. At the same time, for some reason, historians paved the way for Alexander Nevsky and the knights through Lake Peipsi, ignoring the presence of an ancient crossing near the village of Bridges in the south of Lake Warm. The history of the Battle on the Ice is of interest to many local historians and lovers of national history.

Over the years, research Battle of Chud a group of Moscow enthusiasts-amateurs also studied independently ancient history Rus' with the direct participation of I.E. Koltsov. The task before this group was, it would seem, almost insoluble. It was necessary to find burial places hidden in the ground related to this battle, the remains of the Raven Stone, the Uzmen tract, etc., hidden in the ground on a large territory of the Gdovsky district of the Pskov region. It was necessary to "look" inside the earth and choose what was directly related to the Battle of the Ice. Using methods and instruments widely used in geology and archeology (including dowsing, etc.), the members of the group plotted on the terrain plan the alleged sites of the mass graves of the soldiers of both sides who fell in this battle. These burials are located in two zones to the east of the village of Samolva. One of the zones is located half a kilometer north of the village of Tabory and one and a half kilometers from Samolva. The second zone with the largest number of burials is 1.5-2 km north of the village of Tabory and about 2 km east of Samolva.

It can be assumed that the knights were wedged into the ranks of Russian soldiers in the area of ​​the first burial (the first zone), and in the area of ​​the second zone the main battle and encirclement of the knights took place. The encirclement and defeat of the knights was facilitated by additional troops from the Suzdal archers, who arrived here the day before from Novgorod, led by A. Nevsky's brother, Andrei Yaroslavich, but who were in ambush before the battle. Research has shown that in those distant times in the area south of the now existing village of Kozlovo (more precisely, between Kozlov and Tabory) there was some kind of fortified outpost of the Novgorodians. It is possible that there was an old "gorodets" (before the transfer, or the construction of a new gorodets on the site where Kobylye Gorodishe is now located). This outpost (gorodets) was located 1.5-2 km from the village of Tabory. He was hidden behind the trees. Here, behind the earthen ramparts of the fortification that no longer exists, was the detachment of Andrei Yaroslavich, hidden in an ambush before the battle. It was here, and only here, that Prince Alexander Nevsky sought to unite with him. At a critical moment in the battle, an ambush regiment could go behind the knights, surround them and ensure victory. This was repeated later during the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

The discovery of the burial area of ​​the dead soldiers made it possible to draw a confident conclusion that the battle took place here, between the villages of Tabory, Kozlovo and Samolva. The place is relatively flat. Troops of Nevsky from the northwestern side (according to right hand) were protected by the weak spring ice of Lake Peipus, and on the eastern side (along left hand) - a wooded part, where fresh forces of Novgorodians and Suzdalians, who settled in a fortified town, were in ambush. 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" set up. From here it can be seen that the battle itself was on land, not far from the shore of Lake Peipsi. By the end of the battle, the knightly army was driven back to the spring ice of the Zhelchinskaya Bay of Lake Peipsi, where many of them died. Their remains and weapons are now located half a kilometer northwest of the Church of Kobylye Gorodische at the bottom of this bay.

Our research also determined the location of the former Raven Stone on the northern outskirts of the village of Tabory - one of the main landmarks of the Battle of the Ice. Centuries have destroyed the stone, but its underground part still rests under the layers of cultural layers of the earth. This stone is represented on the miniature of the Chronicle of the Battle on the Ice in the form of a stylized statue of a raven. In ancient times, it had a cult purpose, symbolizing wisdom and longevity, like the legendary Blue Stone, which is located in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky on the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo.

In the area where the remains of the Raven Stone were located ancient temple with underground passages that also went to the Uzmen tract, where there were fortifications. Traces of former ancient underground structures testify to the fact that there were once also ground-based religious and other structures made of stone and brick.

Now, knowing the burial places of the soldiers of the Battle of the Ice (the place of the battle) and again referring to the chronicle materials, it can be argued that Alexander Nevsky with his troops went to the area of ​​the upcoming battle (to the Samolva area) from the south side, on the heels of which the knights followed. In the "Novgorod First Chronicle of the Senior and Junior Editions" it is said that, having freed Pskov from the knights, Nevsky himself went to the possessions of the Livonian Order (pursuing the knights to the west of Lake Pskov), where he let his soldiers live. The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle testifies that the invasion was accompanied by fires and the removal of people and livestock. Upon learning of this, the Livonian bishop sent troops of knights to meet them. The stopping place of Nevsky was somewhere halfway between Pskov and Derpt, not far from the border of the confluence of the Pskov and Warm lakes. There was a traditional crossing near the village of Bridges. A. Nevsky, in turn, having found out about the performance of the knights, did not return to Pskov, but, having crossed to the eastern shore of the Warm Lake, hurried northward to the Uzmen tract, leaving a detachment of Domash and Kerbet in the rear guard. This detachment entered into battle with the knights and was defeated. The burial place of warriors from the detachment of Domash and Kerbet is located at the southeastern outskirts of Chudskiye Zahody.

Academician Tikhomirov M.N. believed that the first skirmish between the detachment of Domash and Kerbet and the knights took place on the eastern shore of the Warm Lake near the village of Chudskaya Rudnitsa (see "Battle on the Ice", ed. of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, series "History and Philosophy", M., 1951, No. 1 , vol. VII, pp. 89-91). This area is much south of vil. Samolva. The knights also crossed over at the Bridges, pursuing A. Nevsky to the village of Tabory, where the battle began.

The place of the Battle of the Ice in our time is located away from busy roads. You can get here on the overhead, and then on foot. This is probably why many authors of numerous articles and scientific works we have never been to Lake Peipus about this battle, preferring the silence of an office and a fantasy far from life. It is curious that this area near Lake Peipus is interesting in historical, archaeological and other terms. In these places there are ancient burial mounds, mysterious dungeons, etc. There are also periodic appearances of UFOs and the mysterious Bigfoot (north of the Zhelcha River). So done milestone work to determine the location of the mass graves (burials) of soldiers who died in the Battle of the Ice, the remains of the Raven Stone, the area of ​​​​the old and new settlements and a number of other objects associated with the battle. More detailed studies of the battle area are now needed. It's up to the archaeologists.

... About ten years ago I stayed at the Monument Hotel, intending to spend the night waiting for a train. I sat alone by the fire with a newspaper and coffee after supper; it was a snowy, dull evening; the blizzard, interrupting the draft, every minute threw clouds of smoke into the hall.
Outside the windows came the creaking of sledges, the clatter, the crackling of a whip, and behind the open door darkness opened up, full of disappearing snowflakes;
covered with snow entered the hall small group travelers. While they dusted themselves off, ordered and sat down at the table, I carefully examined the only woman this company: a young woman of about twenty-three. She seemed to be deeply distracted. None of her movements were directed towards natural goals in this position:
look around, wipe your face wet from snow, take off your fur coat, hat; not even showing signs of the revival inherent in a person falling from a snow storm into the light and warmth of a dwelling, she sat down, as if lifeless, on the nearest chair, now lowering her surprised eyes of rare beauty, now directing them into space, with an expression of childish bewilderment and sadness. Suddenly, a blissful smile lit up her face - a smile of tremendous joy, and I, as if from a push, looked around, looking in vain for the reasons for the lady's abrupt transition from thoughtfulness to delight. ...

01. Vasily Avseenko. On pancakes (read by Julius Fayt)
02. Vasily Avseenko. Under New Year(read by Vladimir Antonik)
03. Alexander Amfiteatrov. Fellow traveler (read by Alexander Kuritsyn)
04. Vladimir Arseniev. Night in the Taiga (read by Dmitry Buzhinsky)
05. Andrey Bely. We are waiting for his return (read by Vladimir Golitsyn)
06. Valery Bryusov. In the tower (read by Sergei Kazakov)
07. Valery Bryusov. Marble head (read by Pavel Konyshev)
08. Mikhail Bulgakov. In a cafe (read by Vladimir Antonik)
09. Vikenty Veresaev. In the wilderness (read by Sergei Danilevich)
10. Vikenty Veresaev. To hurry (read by Vladimir Levashov)
11. Vikenty Veresaev. Marya Petrovna (read by Stanislav Fedosov)
12. Vsevolod Garshin. A very short novel (read by Sergey Oleksyak)
13. Nikolai Heinze. The impotence of art (read by Stanislav Fedosov)
14. Vladimir Gilyarovsky. Uncle (read by Sergei Kazakov)
15. Vladimir Gilyarovsky. Sea (read by Sergei Kazakov)
16. Peter Gnedich. Father (read by Alexander Kuritsyn)
17. Maxim Gorky. Mother Kemskikh (read by Sergey Oleksyak)
18. Alexander Green. Enemies (read by Sergey Oleksyak)
19. Alexander Green. Terrible vision (read by Yegor Serov)
20. Nikolay Gumilyov. Princess Zara (read by Sergey Karyakin)
21. Vladimir Dal. Talk. (read by Vladimir Levashov)
22. Don Aminado. Notes of an unwanted foreigner (read by Andrey Kurnosov)
23. Sergei Yesenin. Bobyl and Druzhok (read by Vladimir Antonik)
24. Sergei Yesenin. Red-hot chervonets (read by Vladimir Antonik)
25. Sergei Yesenin. Nikolin is thrashed (read by Vladimir Antonik)
26. Sergei Yesenin. Candle of thieves (read by Vladimir Antonik)
27. Sergei Yesenin. By the white water (read by Vladimir Antonik)
28. Georgy Ivanov. Carmencita (read by Nikolai Kovbas)
29. Sergey Klychkov. Gray master (read by Andrey Kurnosov)
30. Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak. Medvedko (read by Ilya Prudovsky)
31. Vladimir Nabokov. Christmas story (read by Mikhail Yanushkevich)
32. Mikhail Osorgin. Clock (read by Kirill Kovbas)
33. Anthony Pogorelsky. Magician's visitor (read by Mikhail Yanushkevich)
34. Mikhail Prishvin. Chanterelle's bread (read by Stanislav Fedosov)
35. Georgy Severtsev-Polilov. On Christmas Eve (read by Marina Livanova)
36. Fedor Sologub. White dog (read by Alexander Karlov)
37. Fedor Sologub. Lyolka (read by Yegor Serov)
38. Konstantin Stanyukovich. Yolka (read by Vladimir Levashov)
39. Konstantin Stanyukovich. One moment (read by Stanislav Fedosov)
40. Ivan Turgenev. Drozd (read by Yegor Serov)
41. Sasha Black. Soldier and Mermaid (read by Ilya Prudovsky)
42. Alexander Chekhov. Something is over (read by Vadim Kolganov)