This page was created by Cara Jacobson. The last update was by Kelly O'Neill.
Tribute to the Great St. Aleksandr Nevsky
The Mongols appear to have first invaded the south-Russian steppes in early 1223. As soon as news of the invasion reached the leaders of important Russian provinces of the time, a council of war was summoned in Kiev, which was considered to be the natural gathering point for southern princes. According to the Russian Chronicles, most of the southern and western principalities played a role in the initial attack of the Tatars including Galicia, Kiev and Chernigov, Smolensk, Volynia, and Vsevolod. However, the principality of Suzdalia, which includes Vladimir, is notably absent from participation in the council of war in Kiev. Ultimately, the Russians are defeated by the Tatars.
While Vladimir was largely unaffected by the first Mongol invasion of 1223, it was a main objective of the Tatar invasion from 1237-1240. On February 3, 1238, the Tatars arrived at the walls of Vladimir. According to the Lavrent’evsky Chronicle, by midday the Tatars had broken the defenses and burned as many people as possible to death in the Cathedral of Dormition.
By 1241, the Tatars had conquered all of the Russian principalities. The khans of the Golden Horde exercised political control over these principalities and continued to demand tribute from their Russian “vassals” for centuries thereafter (84, Fennel).
The immediate effects that Tatar invasion had on Russian provinces are unclear. While it is likely that the principalities were disrupted by the Tatar campaign, many chronicles depict the rapid reestablishment of a state of normalcy. For example, the Tale of the Destruction of Ryazan’ describes the immediate aftermath of the invasion: “The pious Grand Prince Ingvar’ Ingvarevich sat upon his father’s throne and he renewed the land of Ryazan’ and built churches and monasteries, he consoled newcomers and gathered together the people. And there was joy amongst the Christians whom God saved from the godless impious khan Baty.” (Fennel, 88). While the chronicles have painted a similar picture of restoration to normalcy in Vladimir, there is little direct evidence of the actual extent of political, cultural or economic damage inflicted by the Tatars.
We do know that in addition to facing the terrible Golden Horde, Western forces had been pushing eastward toward the lands of Rus’ for several decades prior to Tatar invasion. By 1238, the German Knights of the Catholic Order of Livonian Swordbearers, the Teutonic Order as well as the Lithuanians adopted policies of penetration into territories of Rus’. Thus, in addition to military pressure originating from the Golden Horde in the southern steppes, menacing forces from the west simultaneously terrorized the principalities of Rus’.
Fortunately, the diaries of the highly influential Russian grand prince, saint and saviour of Vladimir, Aleksandr Nevsky, have recently been recovered. Aleksandr ruled over Suzdalia as the Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1252-1263. He is known for his legendary victories over German and Swedish invaders while establishing a pragmatic policy in maintaining relative peace with the Golden Hordes through payment of tributes. The following diary entries, written by Aleksandr during his rule, help to illuminate the several challenges Vladimir and the rest of Suzdalia faced when dominated by the Golden Horde. Aleksandr describes some of his military campaigns, his internal family struggles of power and his institution of diplomatic policies when interacting with the khans of the Golden Horde.
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While Vladimir was largely unaffected by the first Mongol invasion of 1223, it was a main objective of the Tatar invasion from 1237-1240. On February 3, 1238, the Tatars arrived at the walls of Vladimir. According to the Lavrent’evsky Chronicle, by midday the Tatars had broken the defenses and burned as many people as possible to death in the Cathedral of Dormition.
By 1241, the Tatars had conquered all of the Russian principalities. The khans of the Golden Horde exercised political control over these principalities and continued to demand tribute from their Russian “vassals” for centuries thereafter (84, Fennel).
The immediate effects that Tatar invasion had on Russian provinces are unclear. While it is likely that the principalities were disrupted by the Tatar campaign, many chronicles depict the rapid reestablishment of a state of normalcy. For example, the Tale of the Destruction of Ryazan’ describes the immediate aftermath of the invasion: “The pious Grand Prince Ingvar’ Ingvarevich sat upon his father’s throne and he renewed the land of Ryazan’ and built churches and monasteries, he consoled newcomers and gathered together the people. And there was joy amongst the Christians whom God saved from the godless impious khan Baty.” (Fennel, 88). While the chronicles have painted a similar picture of restoration to normalcy in Vladimir, there is little direct evidence of the actual extent of political, cultural or economic damage inflicted by the Tatars.
We do know that in addition to facing the terrible Golden Horde, Western forces had been pushing eastward toward the lands of Rus’ for several decades prior to Tatar invasion. By 1238, the German Knights of the Catholic Order of Livonian Swordbearers, the Teutonic Order as well as the Lithuanians adopted policies of penetration into territories of Rus’. Thus, in addition to military pressure originating from the Golden Horde in the southern steppes, menacing forces from the west simultaneously terrorized the principalities of Rus’.
Fortunately, the diaries of the highly influential Russian grand prince, saint and saviour of Vladimir, Aleksandr Nevsky, have recently been recovered. Aleksandr ruled over Suzdalia as the Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1252-1263. He is known for his legendary victories over German and Swedish invaders while establishing a pragmatic policy in maintaining relative peace with the Golden Hordes through payment of tributes. The following diary entries, written by Aleksandr during his rule, help to illuminate the several challenges Vladimir and the rest of Suzdalia faced when dominated by the Golden Horde. Aleksandr describes some of his military campaigns, his internal family struggles of power and his institution of diplomatic policies when interacting with the khans of the Golden Horde.
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July 1240
Earlier in the month of June, the disdainful Swedish force landed on the banks of Neva. They had scores of armed men. They were supported by the menacing Germans and devilish Danes. The Catholic Pope had clearly orchestrated the whole endeavour.
The army, led by a prince and bishops intended to conquer all of Suzdalia and then forcibly oppress all whom practiced Orthodoxy to submit to Catholicism. Blasphemy!
On the 15th day of that same month, my forces attacked those of the heretical Swedes. And there fell a great multitude of the Nemtsty and of the Chud men a countless number, while only 20 of my forces fell (The Chronicle of Novgorod, 104, 105). On that day God was on our side. With the help of God and St. Sophia and the Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb, I succeeded in the Orthodox faith’s fight against Catholic aggression.
1246
My father Knyaz Yaroslav Vsevolodits died in the Horde of the Khan. I thus made my first voyage to the Tatars.
I brought the khan many fine gifts including large barrels of honey, mead, fine furs, and various glass objects such as bracelets, beads and goblets. My brother Andrey acted impertinently toward khan Baty. I assuaged all of the khan’s concerns by providing our agreed upon tribute with an additional tribute from Vladimir and Kiev. I was crowned the Grand Prince of all of Kiev.
1252
In the second month of the year 1252, I returned to the Golden Horde. The khan was far from satisfied with my brother Andrey’s contributions. Nevryuy had sent an expedition against him.
The Tatars expressed their gratitude for my consistent tributes. They desired the tamga (chronicles of Novgorod, 93, customs-tax), on Vladimir. Although cognizant of the agitation it would cause within my people, I realized it was the only way to protect Orthodoxy. I was then crowned the Grand Prince of Vladimir with seniority over all of my brothers.
In that same year, I returned to Vladimir where I was “met at the Golden Gates by the metropolitan and all the abbots and the citizens" (Fennel, 108). I was placed upon the throne of my father Yaroslav and “there was great joy in the town of Vladimir and in all of the land of Suzdalia” as peace was finally established in our beautiful lands (Fennel, 108).
1260
Metropolitan Kyrill arrived in Vladimir last week for the third time this year. The ever so gracious and pious metropolitan has decided to assume residence in Vladimir at the Church of the Dormition rather than in the metropolitan of Kiev.
Today we discussed the possibility of establishing a bishopric in Saray, the capital of the Golden Horde. In this way, we may help save the souls of the heretical Tatars by bringing God there.
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The following are Orthodox hymns worshiping Aleksandr. Aleksandr was ultimately canonized in the 16th century as a saint of Vladimir for being a “mighty champion of the Orthodox Faith, the great fighter against Catholic aggression.” (Fennel, 103).
Troparion — Tone 4
Christ revealed you, O Blessed Alexander / As a new and glorious worker of wonders; / A man and a prince well pleasing to God / And a divine treasure of the Russian Land. / Today we assemble in faith and love / To glorify the Lord by joyously remembering you. / He granted you the grace of healing, / Therefore entreat Him to strengthen your suffering spiritual children, / And to save all Orthodox Christians.
Kontakion — Tone 8
We honor you as a most radiant, spiritual star, / Rising up from the east; going down in the west! / As you enriched the Russian people with good works and miracles, / So now enlighten us who remember you in faith, O Blessed Alexander. / Today as we celebrate your falling asleep, we ask you to beseech the Lord / That He may strengthen his suffering servants and save all Orthodox Christians!
