2600:1016:B072:8928:8C:D266:7E7C:AD0C: /* Russian sources */Alexander Yaroslavich was 19, not 20.

2025-11-03T17:16:21Z

Russian sources: Alexander Yaroslavich was 19, not 20.

New page

{{Short description|1240 battle of the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars}}
{{About|the battle in 1240|the later battle|Battle of the Neva (1708)}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of the Neva
| partof = the [[Swedish–Novgorodian Wars]]
| image = [[Image:Facial Chronicle - b.06, p.028 - Battle of Neva.png|center|250px]]
| caption = Depiction of the battle in the late 16th century illuminated manuscript of [[Ivan the Terrible]]
| date = 15 July 1240
| place = [[Neva River]], [[Russia]]
| result = Novgorodian victory
| combatant1 = [[Novgorod Republic]]
*[[Karelians|People of Ladoga]]
| combatant2 = [[Kingdom of Sweden (Middle Ages)|Kingdom of Sweden]]
*[[Finns proper|Finns]]
*[[Tavastians]]
*[[Norwegians]]
| commander1 = [[Alexander Yaroslavich]]{{efn|Nicknamed ''Nevsky'' ('of the Neva') for the battle.}}
| commander2 = [[Ulf Fase]] (arguably)<ref>[[Igor Pavlovich Shaskol'skii|Shaskolsky I. P.]] ''Борьба Руси против крестоносной агрессии на берегах Балтики в XII–XIII вв.'' [[Nauka (publisher)|Science]], 1978. p. 178</ref><br/>Spiridon{{KIA}}
| casualties1 = '''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]:'''<br/>20 killed
| casualties2 = '''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]:'''<br/>"great number"
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Swedish–Novgorodian Wars}}
}}

The '''Battle of the Neva''' ({{langx|ru|Невская битва|Nevskaya bitva}}; {{langx|sv|slaget vid Neva}}; {{Langx|fi|Nevan taistelu}}) was fought between the [[Novgorod Republic]], along with [[Karelia]]ns, and the [[Kingdom of Sweden (Middle Ages)|Kingdom of Sweden]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Alan V. |title=Crusade and Conversion on the Baltic Frontier 1150–1500 |date=2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-351-94715-2 |page=143 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1TErDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> including [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Norwegian]], [[Finns proper|Finnish]] and [[Tavastians|Tavastian]] forces, on the [[Neva River]], near the settlement of [[Ust-Izhora]], on 15 July 1240. The battle is mentioned only in Russian sources,<ref name="Philip"/> and it remains unclear whether it was a major invasion or a small-scale raid.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lind |first1=John H. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232840159 |title=Early Russian-Swedish Rivalry: The battle on the Neva in 1240 and Birger Magnussons' second crusade to Tavastia |journal=Scandinavian Journal of History |pages=269, 278 |volume=16 |issue=4 |year=1991 |doi=10.1080/03468759108579222 |access-date=18 July 2022 |issn=0346-8755 |quote=Initially perhaps no more than a raid, maybe on an even lesser scale than the raid in 1164 on Ladoga, described in some detail in the Novgorod chronicles, it had by ca. 1330 grown...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Carleton |first1=Gregory |title=Russia: The Story of War |page=19 |year=2017 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674972483 |quote=For Western scholars, the number and intent of the attacking Swedes and Teutonic knights remain in contention: large raiding parties or full-fledged invasions? That, for example, there is no record in Swedish chronicles of the battle at the Neva River might suggest its scale was smaller than the honorific title the prince claimed from it.}}</ref> In Russian historiography, it has become an event of massive scale and importance.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lind |first1=John H. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232840159 |title=Early Russian-Swedish Rivalry: The battle on the Neva in 1240 and Birger Magnussons' second crusade to Tavastia |journal=Scandinavian Journal of History |page=269 |volume=16 |issue=4 |year=1991 |doi=10.1080/03468759108579222 |access-date=18 July 2022 |issn=0346-8755 |quote=In Russian historiography and tradition the battle has become an event of immense proportions and significance.}}</ref>

==Background==
Pope Honorius III (1216–1227) received a number of petitions regarding new Baltic crusades, mainly concerning [[Prussia]] and [[Livonia]] but also a report from the Swedish Archbishop concerning difficulties with their mission in [[Finland]]. At that time, Honorius responded to the Swedish archbishop only by declaring an embargo against trade with pagans in the region; it is not known if the Swedes requested further help for the moment.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=136}}

In 1237, the Swedes received papal authorization to launch a crusade. Probably in 1238 or 1239, they made a successful campaign into [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastia]] in Finland, known as the "[[Second Swedish Crusade]]" in later historiography.{{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}} In 1240, new campaigns began in the easternmost part of the Baltic region and the Swedes advanced further east. The Swedish eastward expansion led to a clash between Sweden and Novgorod, since the Karelians had been allies and tributaries of Novgorod since the mid-12th century, and Novgorod had monopoly of the Karelian [[fur trade]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrew Jotischky |title=Crusading and the Crusader States |date=2017 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=9781351983921 |page=220}}</ref> The Swedish expansion was stopped at the Battle of the Neva by a Novgorodian army led by Prince [[Alexander Nevsky|Alexander Yaroslavich]].{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|pp=216–217}}

== Russian sources ==
The existence of the battle is known only from Russian sources.<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 first source to mention the battle is the ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'' from the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://193.184.161.234/DF/detail.php?id=83|title=Description of the battle in the First Novgorod Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051426/http://193.184.161.234/DF/detail.php?id=83|archive-date=2007-09-27}}; in Swedish. Hosted by the [http://www.narc.fi narc.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915000053/http://www.narc.fi/ |date=2010-09-15 }}. See [http://www.narc.fi/Arkistolaitos/sahkoiset/ Arkistolaitos/sahkoiset] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608003759/http://www.narc.fi/Arkistolaitos/sahkoiset/ |date=2007-06-08 }} and ''Diplomatarium Fennicum'' from the menu. See also [http://www.portalus.ru/modules/rushistory/print.php?subaction=showfull&id=1161587409&archive=&start_from=&ucat=14& original text] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927090350/http://www.portalus.ru/modules/rushistory/print.php?subaction=showfull&id=1161587409&archive=&start_from=&ucat=14& |date=2007-09-27 }}; in Russian.</ref> According to the chronicle, on receiving the news of the advancing Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Tavastian fleets, the 19-year-old [[Prince]] [[Alexander Yaroslavich]] of Novgorod quickly moved his small army and local men to face the enemy before they had reached [[Lake Ladoga]]. The chronicle described the battle as follows:

[[File:Alexander Nevsky in the battle with the Swedes by Boris Chorikov.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''Alexander Nevsky Fighting the Swedes'', by [[Boris Chorikov]]]]
<blockquote>"Swedes came with a great army, and [[Norwegians]] and [[Southwest Finland|Finns]] and [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastians]] with ships in great numbers, Swedes with their prince and bishops, and they stayed on the [[Neva River|Neva]], at the mouth of the [[Izhora River|Izhora]], willing to take [[Staraya Ladoga|Ladoga]], and then 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]], 15 July, in the memory of [[Cyricus and Julitta|Kirik and Ulita]], on Sunday, (the same day that) the 630 holy fathers<ref>Actually the meeting was held between 8 October and 1 November, not on 15 July.</ref> held a meeting in [[Chalcedon]]; and there was a great gathering of the Swedes; and their leader called Spiridon<ref>In the later version of the battle, "Spiridon" also appears as the name of the [[Archbishop of Novgorod]], who blessed Alexander before the battle.</ref> was killed there; but some claimed that even the bishop was slain;<ref>No Scandinavian bishop is known to have died in 1240.</ref> 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, Gyuryata Pinyashchinich, Namest, Drochilo Nezdylov son of the tanner, 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 [[Holy Wisdom|Saint Sophia]] and all the prayers of the holy men."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Насонов |first=А. Н. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H-P7AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |title=НОВГОРОДСКАЯ ПЕРВАЯ ЛЕТОПИСЬ |date=2013 |publisher=Рипол Классик |isbn=978-5-458-27022-9 |language=ru}}</ref></blockquote>

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.<ref>[http://www.goldschp.net/SIG/nevskii/nev2.html "Battle on the Neva"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716060541/http://www.goldschp.net/SIG/nevskii/nev2.html |date=2020-07-16 }} 16th century version of the battle, provided by the Slavic Interest Group of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]]. In English.</ref>

Prince Alexander Yaroslavich given the epithet ''Nevsky'' ('of Neva') by a 15th century chronicler.{{sfn|Fennell|1983|p=103}}

Two years later, in 1242, Alexander stalled an invasion of the [[Teutonic Order]] and [[Bishopric of Dorpat]] during the [[Battle on the Ice]]. Despite the victories there were no Novgorodian advances further west to Finland or [[Estonia]].

== Swedish sources ==
There is no reference to a battle of the Neva in Swedish sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arzamas.academy/materials/785|title=Мифы о главных русских победах|last=Lourie|first=Lev|publisher=Arzamas Academy|language=ru|access-date=21 April 2016|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424012149/http://arzamas.academy/materials/785|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Situation in Sweden ===
After the death of King [[Johan Sverkersson]] in 1222, Sweden was in a ''de facto'' state of civil war until 1248 when [[Birger Jarl]] managed to seize power in the kingdom. Unrest was due to the struggle between those who wanted to keep the old tribal structure,<ref name="Larsson1">Larsson 2002, p. 178.</ref> the [[folkung]] party, and the king, who was assisted by the church. Folkungs, who were mainly from [[Uppland]], stoutly resisted the centralization of power,<ref name="harv">{{Harvnb|Kari|2004|p=117}}.</ref> taxation of the [[Suiones|Swedes of Uppland]],<ref name="Larsson1"/> and church privileges.<ref name="harv"/>

[[File:AlexanderNevski.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Battle of the Neva contributed to Alexander's sainthood]]
Furthermore, the official Sweden was on the brink of war with [[Norway]] ever since the Norwegians' infamous [[Värmland]] expedition in 1225.<ref>[http://www.smb.nu/index.php/svenskakrig/krig-1222-1388/vaermlandstaget-1225/88-krig-1222-1388/171-vaermlandstaget-1225 Värmland expedition by the Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317111515/http://www.smb.nu/index.php/svenskakrig/krig-1222-1388/vaermlandstaget-1225/88-krig-1222-1388/171-vaermlandstaget-1225 |date=2014-03-17 }}.</ref> Relations improved only after the [[Treaty of Lödöse]] in 1249, which was forged by the newly empowered Birger Jarl.<ref>[http://www.smb.nu/svenskakrig/freder/1249.asp Treaty of Lödöse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519050953/http://www.smb.nu/svenskakrig/freder/1249.asp |date=2007-05-19 }}.</ref>

=== Theories ===
Taking these facts into consideration, it has been suggested in a recent book aimed at a wide readership,<ref>Kari, Risto. ''Suomalaisten keskiaika''. WS Bookwell Oy. Porvoo 2004. {{ISBN|951-0-28321-5}}. See page 107.</ref> that the Swedish expedition may have been an indirect result of the papal letter in 1237 that was sent to the Swedish [[Archbishop of Uppsala]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://193.184.161.234/DF/detail.php?id=82|title=Letter by Pope Gregory IX about an uprising against the church in Tavastia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051432/http://193.184.161.234/DF/detail.php?id=82|archive-date=2007-09-27}}. In Latin. Hosted by the [http://www.narc.fi National Archive of Finland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915000053/http://www.narc.fi/ |date=2010-09-15 }}. See {{cite web |url=http://www.narc.fi/Arkistolaitos/sahkoiset/ |title=Arkistolaitos - Sähköiset palvelut |access-date=2007-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608003759/http://www.narc.fi/Arkistolaitos/sahkoiset/ |archive-date=2007-06-08 }} and ''Diplomatarium Fennicum'' from the menu.</ref> 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 act, but the letter may have provided the frustrated folkungs an opportunity to regain part of their [[Viking Age]] glory. Mostly free to act without interference from the king, folkungs would have been able to [[leidang|raise an army of their own]], get volunteers from Norway and even assistance from [[Thomas (bishop of Finland)|Thomas]], the independent [[Bishop of Finland]], who needed to constantly worry about [[Finnish–Novgorodian wars|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 at the hands of Alexander.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} In the possible aftermath of the said battle, the King of Norway approached his Swedish counterpart for peace talks in 1241, but was turned down at the time.

However, some recent research has fundamentally 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.<ref>[http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/historia/sivut/ylhitutsem2001/Maki-PetaysMari.pdf Alexander Nevskij and the Holy War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219061343/http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/historia/sivut/ylhitutsem2001/Maki-PetaysMari.pdf |date=2008-12-19 }}. Based on presentations in the Leeds International Medieval Conference. Hosted by the Tampere University.</ref>

Additional theories are numerous. The dating of the Swedish Crusade to Tavastia is controversial. Traditionally dated to 1249{{Endash}}1250 based on the chronology of ''[[Erikskrönikan]]'', many scholars now consider it more likely that the expedition took place in 1238{{Endash}}1239.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Lind |first=John H. |date=1991-01-01 |title=Early Russian‐Swedish Rivalry: The battle on the Neva in 1240 and Birger Magnussons’ second crusade to Tavastia |url=https://www.academia.edu/14546779/Early_Russian_Swedish_Rivalry_The_Battle_on_the_Neva_in_1240_and_Birger_Magnusson_s_Second_Crusade_to_Tavastia_Scandinavian_Journal_of_History_16_4_1991_269_95 |journal=Scandinavian Journal of History |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=269–295 |doi=10.1080/03468759108579222 |issn=0346-8755}}</ref> (See {{Section link|Second Swedish Crusade|Dating controversy}}) This would suggest that the Swedish forces at Neva were led by [[Birger Jarl|Birger Magnusson]] (later known as ''Birger Jarl''), eight years before his appointment as [[Jarl in Sweden|jarl]].<ref>Even if Spiridon was said to have died in the battle, some historians still associate him with Birger. See e.g. Riasanovsky, Nicholas V.: A History of Russia. Oxford 1993.</ref>

The ''Pskov Chronicle'' and related chronicles do not mention the Norwegians, Finns, or Tavastian in their entries about the Swedish incursion to Neva. John H. Lind also finds it unlikely that the Norwegians could have joined the expedition, as King [[Haakon Haakonsson]] of Norway was occupied suppressing an uprising of [[Skule Bårdsson]] at the time. This also casts doubt on the participation of the Finns and the Tavastians. Lind suggests that the list of enemies may have been exaggerated by duplicating names from later entries, due to the great symbolic significance ascribed to the Battle of Neva.<ref name=":0" />

=== 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.{{citation needed|date = July 2013}}

== Legacy ==
In 2007, scholar [[Janet L. B. Martin]] wrote: "Novgorod and Sweden were competitors both for dominance over [[Baltic Finnic peoples|Finnic tribes]] north of the Novgorod lands and for control over access to the Gulf of Finland. The Swedish attack on the Neva River in July 1240 was one of a long series of hostile encounters over these issues, not, as is sometimes asserted, a full-scale campaign timed to take advantage of the Russians' adversity and aimed at conquering the entire Novgorodian realm. Nevertheless, Alexander's victory there was celebrated and became the basis for his epithet Nevsky."{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=180}}

==See also==
* [[Battle of Lihula]]
* [[Thomas (bishop of Finland)|Bishop Thomas]]
* [[Second Swedish Crusade]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Citation|surname=Kari|given=Risto|year=2004|title=Suomalaisten keskiaika|publisher=WSOY|isbn=951-0-28321-5}}
*Larsson, Mats G (2002). ''Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande''. Bokförlaget Atlantis AB {{ISBN|978-91-7486-641-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Fonnesberg-Schmidt |first1=Iben |title=The popes and the Baltic crusades, 1147–1254 |date=2007 |publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004155022}}
* {{cite book |title=Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book |last=Martin |first=Janet |authorlink=Janet L. B. Martin |url=https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/book/802816/medieval-russia-980-1584/janet-martin/ |year=2007 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-511-36800-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Fennell |first=John |title=The Crisis of Medieval Russia, 1200-1304 |date=1983 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-582-48150-3 |publication-place=Hoboken}}
*{{Efron|Александр Ярославич Невский}}

{{Coord|59|48|27|N|30|36|15|E|display=title|type:event_source:dewiki}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neva, Battle of the}}
[[Category:1240 in Europe]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Novgorod Republic|Neva 1240]]
[[Category:Battles involving Sweden|Neva 1240]]
[[Category:Battles of the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1240]]
[[Category:Wars involving Sweden]]

Battle of the Neva - Revision history

2600:1016:B072:8928:8C:D266:7E7C:AD0C: /* Russian sources */Alexander Yaroslavich was 19, not 20.