Editing Alexander Nevsky (section)

===Prince of Novgorod===
In 1236, Alexander was appointed by the [[Novgorod Republic|Novgorodians]] to become their [[Prince of Novgorod|prince]] (''[[knyaz]]''), where he had already served as his father's governor in Novgorod.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Alan V. |title=The Crusades [4 volumes]: An Encyclopedia [4 volumes] |date= 2006 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing US |isbn=978-1-57607-863-1 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rETPEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Nazarova|2006|p=42}} The Novgorod chronicle describes how Yaroslav left his son Alexander in Novgorod and took with him "senior Novgorodians" and a hundred men from Torzhok and "sat in Kiev upon the throne".{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=75}}

In 1237, the Swedes received papal authorization to [[Second Swedish Crusade|launch a crusade]], and in 1240, new campaigns began in the easternmost part of the Baltic region.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|pp=216–217|loc=In 1240 new campaigns were launched... first was organized by the Swedes... obtained papal authorization in 1237}} The Finnish mission's eastward expansion led to a clash between Sweden and the city-state of [[Novgorod Republic|Novgorod]], since the [[Karelians]] had been allies and tributaries of Novgorod since the mid-12th century.{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|page=51}} The Swedish army was led by [[Birger Jarl]] and consisted of Norwegians and Finnish tribes.{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|page=51}} After a successful campaign into [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastia]], the Swedes advanced further east.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|pp=216-217}}{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|page=53}} According to Russian sources, the Swedish army landed at the confluence of the rivers [[Izhora]] and [[Neva]], when Alexander and his small army suddenly attacked the Swedes on 15 July 1240 and defeated them in the [[Battle of the Neva]].{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=104}}<ref name="Philip">{{cite book |last1=Line |first1=Philip |title=Kingship and State Formation in Sweden 1130-1290 |date=31 March 2007 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-474-1983-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOCvCQAAQBAJ |language=en |quote=This 'Second' Crusade to Finland was, according to Russian sources, immediately followed by the unsuccessful Swedish expedition to the Neva, which was thwarted by the Novgorodians}}</ref>

The event was later depicted as being of national importance, and in the 15th century, Alexander received the [[sobriquet]] ''Nevsky'' ("of the Neva").{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|pp=216–217|loc=The Russian victory was later depicted as an event of great national importance and Prince Alexander was given the sobriquet "Nevskii"}}{{sfn|Selart|2015|p=144}}{{sfn|Nazarova|2006|p=42}} The Soviet-era historian [[Igor Pavlovich Shaskol'skii|Igor Shaskolsky]] suggested that the attack was coordinated, referring to the ''[[Life of Alexander Nevsky]]'', the only Russian source besides the ''[[First Novgorod Chronicle]]'' that mentions the battle, in which it is stated that the Swedes intended to conquer [[Novgorod]].{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=104}} According to [[John Lister Illingworth Fennell|John Fennell]]: "there is no evidence of any coordination of action between the Swedes, the Germans and the Danes, nor is there anything to show that this was more than a continuation of the Russo-Swedish conflict for mastery over Finland and Karelia".{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=104}} The battle is not mentioned in Swedish sources, and so was likely part of periodic clashes between Sweden and Novgorod.{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=104}}

In September 1240, troops of the [[Bishopric of Dorpat]], the [[Livonian Order]] and the exiled pretender-prince {{ill|Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Pskov|ru|Ярослав Владимирович (князь псковский)|be|Яраслаў Уладзіміравіч (князь пскоўскі)|lt=Yaroslav of Pskov}} conducted [[1240 Izborsk and Pskov campaign|a campaign]] in [[Izborsk]] and [[Pskov]], successfully overthrowing the pro-[[Suzdal]] faction which had supported Alexander.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}}{{sfn|Selart|2015|p=159}} Shortly thereafter, either in late 1240 or early 1241, the Novgorodians rose up against Alexander and banished him to [[Pereslavl-Zalessky]].{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}}{{sfn|Selart|2015|p=159}} 
[[File:Facial Chronicle - b.06, p.068 - Execution of vod and chud.jpg|thumb|Execution of [[Vots]] and [[Chud]]s by Alexander Nevsky in Koporye, during the [[1240–1241 Votia campaign]] (16th-century miniature)]]
That same winter, [[1240–1241 Votia campaign|a campaign]] into [[Votia]] was conducted by the [[Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek]], the [[Livonian Order]], as well as Estonians (''[[Chud']]'') with support from local Votian leaders.{{sfn|Selart|2015|pp=154–155}} It is unclear whether Votia was a tributary of Novgorod at this time, or not.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}}{{sfn|Selart|2015|p=156}} According to [[Anti Selart]], the allies likely only intended to acquire pagan lands and convert them to Catholicism, rather than attacking Novgorod, which was already Christianized.{{sfn|Selart|2015|pp=156–157}} On the other hand, the campaign was "a purely political undertaking which had nothing to do with conversion of pagans".{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=220}} Although the [[Northern Crusades]] were aimed at pagan [[Balts]] and [[Finns]], rather than Orthodox Russians, several unsuccessful attempts were made to persuade Novgorod to convert to Catholicism, which were resisted by Alexander.{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|pages=11–15}}{{sfn|Nazarova|2006|p=43}}

The Novgorodian authorities recalled Alexander, and in the spring of 1241, he returned from exile and assembled an army. Alexander managed to retake Pskov and [[Koporye]] from the crusaders and drive out the invaders.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218|loc=After pleas from Novgorod Alexander returned in 1241 and marched against Kopor'e. Having conquered the fortress and captured the remaining Latin Christians, he executed those local Votians who had cooperated with the invaders.}} He then continued into Estonian-German territory.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}} The crusaders defeated a detachment of the Novgorodian army.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}}{{efn|According to the ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'' (NPL), this battle took place at an unidentified bridge, where the Novgorodians were killed (including commander Domash Tverdislavich), captured or chased away by the ''[[Nemtsy]]'' ("Germans") and ''[[Chud]]{{'}}'' ("Estonians").{{sfn|Michell|Forbes|1914|pp=86–87}}}} As a result, Alexander set up a position at [[Lake Peipus]].{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}} Alexander and his men then faced the Livonian heavy cavalry led by [[Hermann of Dorpat]], brother of [[Albert of Buxhoeveden]], where they met on 5 April 1242.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218}} Alexander's army then defeated the enemy in the [[Battle on the Ice]], halting the eastward expansion of the [[Teutonic Order]].<ref>Riley-Smith Jonathan Simon Christopher. ''The Crusades: a History'', US, 1987, {{ISBN|0300101287}}, p. 198.</ref> Later in the same year, the Germans agreed to relinquish control of any Russian territory still occupied, as well as to exchange prisoners of war.{{sfn|Fennell|2014|p=104}} Later Russian sources would elevate the importance of the battle and portray it as one of the great Russian victories of the Middle Ages.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=218|loc=...later to become hailed as one of the great Russian victories of the Middle Ages... scale of the battle was, however, most likely exaggerated in the later Russian sources, as was indeed its significance}}

The ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle]]'' narrates the events of the battle:

{{Blockquote|text=
There is a city in Russia called Novgorod, and when its king [Alexandre] heard what had happened he marched towards Pskov with many troops. He arrived there with a mighty force of many Russians to free the Pskovians and these latter heartily rejoiced. When he saw the Germans he did not hesitate long. They drove away the two Brothers, removed them from their governorship and routed their troops. The Germans fled and allowed the land to revert to the Russians. Thus it went for the Teutonic Knights, but if Pskov had been protected it would have benefited Christianity until the end of the world. It is a mistake to take a fair land and fail to occupy it properly. It is deplorable, for the result is sure to be disastrous. The king of Novgorod then returned home.{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|pages=60–61}}
}}

After the Livonian invasion, Nevsky continued to strengthen the Republic of Novgorod. He sent his envoys to Norway and, as a result, they signed a first peace treaty between Novgorod and Norway in 1251. Alexander led his army to Finland and successfully routed the Swedes, who had made another attempt to block the [[Baltic Sea]] from the Novgorodians in 1256.{{sfn|Michell|Forbes|1914|p=95}}{{npsn|date=November 2024}} In 1261, Alexander also concluded a treaty with Lithuanian king [[Mindaugas]] against the Livonian Order, but the planned attack failed as Alexander was summoned to Sarai by the khan.{{sfn|Nazarova|2006|p=43}}