Battle of the Neva
Part of Swedish-Novgorodian Wars
Alexander Nevsky Fighting the Swedes, by Boris Chorikov
Date 1240 Location Neva River, Russia Result Novgorodian victory
Combatants
Novgorod	Sweden (with Finns and Norwegians)
Commanders
Alexander Yaroslavich	Birger Magnusson(allegedly)
Casualties
Less than 20 killed	Leader, bishop killed At least 2 ships The rest is unknown

Battle of the Neva (Russian: Невская битва, Nevskaya bitva) was fought between the Novgorod Republic and Swedish armies on the Neva River, near the settlement of Ust-Izhora, on July 15, 1240. The purpose of the Swedish invasion was probably to gain control over the mouth of the Neva and the city of Ladoga and, hence, seize the most important part of the Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks, which had been under Novgorod's control for more than hundred years. The battle was part of the medieval Swedish-Novgorodian Wars. The Republic of Novgorod and medieval Sweden waged a number of wars for control of the Gulf of Finland, an area vital for the lucrative Hanseatic trade. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Boris Artemyevich Chorikov (Russian: Борис Артемьевич Чориков) (1802 - 1866) was a Russian graphic artist. ... Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... River Neva (Нева́) is a 74 km long Russian river flowing from the Lake Ladoga (Ладожское Озеро - Ladozhskoye Ozero) through the Carelian Isthmus (Карельский &#1055... The Novgorod Republic was an early republic that existed in the North-West territory of modern day Russia, in Novgorod lands between 1136 and 1478. ... For other uses, see Russian) (May 30, 1220?–November 14, 1263) was a Russian statesman and Grand Prince of Novgorod and Vladimir (from 1252). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Medieval walls of Novgorod City The Novgorod Feudal Republic (Новгородская феодальная республика or Novgorodskaya feodalnaya respublika in Russian) was a powerful medieval state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th century. ... River Neva (Нева́) is a 74 km long Russian river flowing from the Lake Ladoga (Ладожское Озеро - Ladozhskoye Ozero) through the Carelian Isthmus (Карельский &#1055... Ust-Izhora is situated at the confluence of River Izhora into River Neva, approximately halfways between Saint Petersburg and Schlisselburg. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering territory, or altering the established government. ... The fortress of Ladoga was built in stone in the 12th century and rebuilt 400 years later. ... Ships on the Dnieper, by Nicholas Roerich. ... Velikiy Novgorod (Russian: ) is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia, situated on the M10(E95) federal highway connecting Moscow and St. ... The Republic of Novgorod and medieval Sweden waged a number of wars for control of the Gulf of Finland, an area vital for the lucrative Hanseatic trade. ...

Russian sources

Existence of the battle is only known from Russian sources. First to mention the battle is the Novgorod First Chronicle from the 14th century.^[1] According to the chronicle, on receiving the news of the advancing Swedish fleet, the 20-year-old Prince Alexander Yaroslavich of Novgorod quickly moved his small army to face the enemy before they had reached Lake Ladoga. The chronicle described the battle as follows: The Novgorod First Chronicle (Russian: ) is the most ancient extant chronicle of the Novgorod Republic. ... The term prince, from the Latin root princeps, is used for a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy or the nobility. ... For other uses, see Russian) (May 30, 1220?–November 14, 1263) was a Russian statesman and Grand Prince of Novgorod and Vladimir (from 1252). ... Map of lake Ladoga Towpath Bridge between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega (from a photograph taken ca. ...

Battle of the Neva contributed to Alexander's later sainthood.

Swedes came with a great army, and Norwegians and Finns and Tavastians with ships in great numbers, Swedes with their prince and bishops, and they stayed on the Neva, at the mouth of the Izhora, willing to take Ladoga, and to put it short, Novgorod and all of its lands. But still protected the merciful, man-loving God us and sheltered us from the foreign people, and the word came to Novgorod that Swedes were sailing to Ladoga; but prince Alexander did not hesitate at all, but went against them with Novgorodians and people of Ladoga and overcame them with the help of Saint Sophia and through prayers of our lady, the Mother of God and Virgin Mary, July 15, in the memory of Kirik and Ulita, on Sunday, (the same day that) the 630 holy fathers^[2] held a meeting in Chalcedon; and there was a great gathering of the Swedes; and their leader called Spiridon^[3] was killed there; but some claimed that even the bishop was slain;^[4] and a great number of them fell; and when they had loaded two ships with the bodies of high-born men, they let them sail to the sea; but the others, that were unnumbered, they cast to a pit, that they buried, and many others were wounded; and that same night they fled, without waiting for the Monday light, with shame. Of Novgorodians there fell: Konstantin Lugotinitch, Yuryata Pinyashchinich, Namest Drochilo, Nesdylov son of Kozhevnik, but including the people of Ladoga 20 men or less, God knows. But prince Alexander came back home with Novgorodians and people of Ladoga, all well, protected by God and Saint Sophia and all the prayers of the holy men. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tavastia, Tavastland or Häme, is a historical province in the south of Finland. ... River Neva (Нева́) is a 74 km long Russian river flowing from the Lake Ladoga (Ладожское Озеро - Ladozhskoye Ozero) through the Carelian Isthmus (Карельский &#1055... River Izhora, in English also known as River Inger, is the main tributary to River Neva on its run through Ingria in western-most Russia from Lake Ladoga to Gulf of Finland. ... The fortress of Ladoga was built in stone in the 12th century and rebuilt 400 years later. ... Russian Orthodox Icon of the Theotokos Theotokos is a Greek word that means God-bearer or Mother of God. It is a title assigned by the early Christian Church to Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. ... The term Virgin Mary has several different meanings: Mary, the mother of Jesus, the historical and multi-denominational concept of Mary Blessed Virgin Mary, the Roman Catholic theological and doctrinal concept of Mary Marian apparitions shrines to the Virgin Mary Virgin Mary in Islam, the Islamic theological and doctrinal concept... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Julietta (also known as Julitta (Greek: Ἰουλίττα)) and her son Saint Quiricus (also known as KÄ“rykos (Greek: ), Cyriacus, Qyriacus, Ciricus and Cyr) were martyred in AD 304 in Tarsus. ... Chalcedon (Χαλκηδών, sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon; see also list of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari (modern Ãœsküdar). ... Holy Wisdom, also called Divine Wisdom (Greek: “Holy Wisdom”, Sancta Sophia in Latin) is the theological idea that in God alone is perfect Wisdom to be found. ...

A 16th century version of the battle gave plenty of additional details, expanding the conflict to biblical proportions, but otherwise following the earlier described developments.^[5]

Later, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich was nicknamed "Nevsky" (of Neva) for his first significant victory. Two years later, Alexander stalled an invasion of the Livonian Knights during the Battle on the Ice. Despite the victories, there were no Novgorodian advances further west to Finland or Estonia. EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order started in 1202 by Albert von Buxhövden, bishop of Riga (or Prince... The Battle of the Ice also known as the Battle on Lake Peipus (Russian: Ледовое побоище, German: Schlacht auf dem Peipussee, Estonian: Jäälahing), took place in 1242. ...

Swedish sources

All references to the battle of the Neva are famously missing from the Swedish sources. This can be presumed to have resulted from Sweden's utter defeat, but the reasons may be more complicated than that.

Situation in Sweden

Romanticized 20th century painting of Bishop Thomas, who may have been involved in the battle.

Since the untimely death of King John in 1222, Sweden was in a de facto state of civil war until 1248 when Birger Jarl managed to seize the power in the kingdom. Unrest was due to the struggle between those who, according to one theory, wanted to keep the old tribal structure,^[6] the folkung party, and the king, who was assisted by the church. Folkungs were mainly from Uppland, allegedly heavily resisting centralization of power,^[7] taxation of the Swedes of Uppland,^[6] and church privileges.^[7] They had temporarily succeeded in deposing the king in 1229, but were forced to give in five years later, however far from defeated yet. Uppland remained largely independent from the king, and its northern areas remained fully in the hands of the folkungs. An uneasy truce continued until 1247, when the folkung rebellion was put to an end at the Battle of Sparrsätra and its leader beheaded a year later. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Bishop Thomas is the first known Bishop of Finland. ... Johan Sverkersson (c. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Coat of arms of Folkung family In modern Swedish, Folkung (from folk kung, peoples king) has two meanings, which appear to be opposites: The medieval House of Bjelbo in Sweden, which produced several Swedish statesmen and kings. ... Uppland ( ) is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden. ... Sweden in the 12th century before the incorporation of Finland during the 13th century. ...

Furthermore, the official Sweden was at the brink of war with Norway ever since Norwegians' infamous Värmland expedition in 1225.^[8] The relations were improved only after the Treaty of Lödöse in 1249, which was forged by the newly empowered Birger Jarl.^[9] Before the treaty, Norway remained an ally to the folkungs, giving them refuge and providing men and arms. â–¶(?) is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. ... Treaty of Lödöse was a peace treaty between Sweden and Norway in 1249. ...

In this situation, it seems unlikely, that Sweden could have been able to organize a major expedition against Novgorod. Between 1222 and 1249, Swedes are not known to have done any other military campaigns, making the claims about their forceful appearance at the Neva with Norwegians as their allies seem questionable.

Theories

Alexander Nevsky monument in Ust-Izhora marks the supposed location of the battle.

Taking these facts into consideration, it has been suggested,^[10] that the Swedish expedition may have been an indirect result from the papal letter in 1237 that was sent to the Swedish Archbishop of Uppsala.^[11] The letter eloquently called for a crusade, not against Novgorod, but against Tavastians in Finland, who had allegedly started hostilities against the church. In his defunct position, the king may not have been willing or able to react, but the letter may have provided the frustrated folkungs an opportunity to regain part of their Viking Age glory. Mostly free to react without interference from the king, folkungs would have been able to raise an army of their own, get voluntaries from Norway and even assistance from Thomas, the independent Bishop of Finland, who needed to constantly worry about the attacks from the east. Instead of Tavastia, this mixed set of interests and nationalities would have headed for the more lucrative Neva and there met its fate in the hands of Alexander. In the possible aftermath of the said battle, King of Norway approached his Swedish counterpart for peace talks in 1241, but was turned down at the time. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (638 × 850 pixel, file size: 123 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Alexander Nevsky Monument near the church in Ust-Izhora. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (638 × 850 pixel, file size: 123 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Alexander Nevsky Monument near the church in Ust-Izhora. ... Ust-Izhora is situated at the confluence of River Izhora into River Neva, approximately halfways between Saint Petersburg and Schlisselburg. ... The Patriarchal cross The Archbishops Palace in Uppsala, designed in the 18th century by the architect Carl HÃ¥rleman, but built on older foundations. ... Tavastia, Tavastland or Häme, is a historical province in the south of Finland. ... Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 800 to 1066 in Scandinavian History[1][2][3]. // The Vikings have been much maligned in European history, due in large part to their violent attacks on Christians in the first centuries of their excursions out of Scandinavia. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bishop Thomas is the first known Bishop of Finland. ... Diocese of Finland was the predecessor of the Catholic diocese of Turku. ... Finnish-Novgorodian wars were a series of badly documented conflicts that took place between the Finnish tribes and the Republic of Novgorod in the 12th and early 13th centuries. ...

However, some recent research has altogether questioned the importance of the battle, seeing it as an ordinary border skirmish that was exaggerated for political purposes, thus also explaining its absence from Swedish and other western sources.^[12] Noteworthy is that any exact numbers of Russian or Swedish losses in the battle were exceptionally small.

Additional theories are numerous. Some historians have expressed that the Swedish army was under the command of the very young Birger Jarl already then, 8 years before his appointment to the position of the jarl.^[13] It has also been suggested, that the suspicious information on Norwegians', Finns' and Tavastians' participance was made up in the 14th century, the time when the First Novgorod Chronicle was written, with Sweden in control of Norway, Finland and Tavastia. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Consequences

All in all, the first known Swedish military expedition against Novgorod after the events at the Neva took place in 1256, following folkungs' demise, peace with Norway and conquest of Finland. If the battle of the Neva had any long-term consequences, it was in Sweden's determination to take over Finland first before attempting to proceed further east.

See also

• Battle of Lihula
• Second Swedish Crusade
• Bishop Thomas

Combatants Estonian tribes Sweden Commanders  ? Jarl Charles the Deaf Strength  ? 500 men Casualties  ? Leader, bishop killed 500 men killed Battle of Lihula was fought between invading Swedes and Estonians for the control of the Lihula Castle in Lihula, Estonia in 1220. ... Second Swedish Crusade was a semi-historical Swedish military expedition to Finland by Birger jarl in the 13th century. ... Bishop Thomas is the first known Bishop of Finland. ...

References

is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Archbishop of Novgorod, alternatively known as Vladyka (Russian: Владыка), is the head of the eparchy of Novgorod the Great and is one of the oldest offices in the Russian Orthodox Church. ... The Society for Creative Anachronism (usually shortened to SCA) is a historical reenactment and living history group approximating mainly pre-17th century Western European history and culture. ...

Bibliography

• Kari, Risto (2004), Suomalaisten keskiaika, WSOY, ISBN 951-0-28321-5
• Larsson, Mats G (2002). Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande. Bokförlaget Atlantis AB ISBN 9789174866414

Coordinates: 59°48′27″N 30°36′15″E / 59.8075, 30.60417 Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...