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The Battle of the Neva (Russian: Невская битва, Nevskaya bitva, Swedish: slaget vid Neva, Finnish: Nevan taistelu) was fought between the Novgorod Republic and Karelians against Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Tavastian armies on the Neva River, near the settlement of Ust-Izhora, on July 15, 1240. The battle is only mentioned in Russian sources, which raises doubts about its significance or even existence.
Do you think it was a small battle, a big battle, or just a legend?
We're taught as children (yes, even in emigration) that it was a huge battle against Sweden (Norway, etc. aren't included in the simplified history for kids), that was definitive in the formation of the Russian state. The information comes from the chronicles, which kids are introduced to at a very young age. The chronicles were probably written to flatter the leaders of the day, though, and IMO can't be assumed to be objective.
She's good at picking dramatic poses. Also, in some of those photos, it looks like they were taken from a helicopter, or perhaps from a nearby building from higher up. What kind of a surname is Nikolau? You say she's Russian, but it sounds possibly Romanian/Moldovan.
We're taught as children (yes, even in emigration) that it was a huge battle against Sweden (Norway, etc. aren't included in the simplified history for kids), that was definitive in the formation of the Russian state. The information comes from the chronicles, which kids are introduced to at a very young age. The chronicles were probably written to flatter the leaders of the day, though, and IMO can't be assumed to be objective.
It would make a lot of sense. The Finnish-Novgorodian wars had been going on for centuries, but by 1240 both the Finns and Tavastians were well under the Swedish crown. Add the Norwegians (who no doubt roamed the Finnish lands during that time). So a combined force of Catholic Western warriors were defeated by a Slavic Orthodox force, thus creating a 'natural' border on the river Neva. But, the Swedish kingdom was close to a civil war at that time, so they could not provide enough troops for a grand battle.
Finnish historians acknowledge that there was a battle at least near the historical location, but in the 19th century it was considered quite a embarrasment if Western Finnish forces would've fought Eastern Finns. (Karelians).
Jukka Korpela, one of the prominent Finnish historians say that there was a battle, but it was merely a skirmish including dozens of warriors on each side. But anyway, this created a pretext for the myth of Alexander Nevski.
The Battle of the Neva (Russian: Невская битва, Nevskaya bitva, Swedish: slaget vid Neva, Finnish: Nevan taistelu) was fought between the Novgorod Republic and Karelians against Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Tavastian armies on the Neva River, near the settlement of Ust-Izhora, on July 15, 1240. The battle is only mentioned in Russian sources, which raises doubts about its significance or even existence.
Do you think it was a small battle, a big battle, or just a legend?
My history book is telling me that Pope "incited the Swedes to take a crusade against Orthodox Novgorod."
Russian Wikipedia gives a lot of details regarding this particular battle, citing description from historical sources ( according to which both Norwegians and Finns were part of the attacking party,) and interestingly enough, although it was STRATEGICALLY very important victory for Russians, it looks like in terms of people involved and number of casualties, it was NOT a big battle at all.
But taking in consideration that Alexander Nevsky is one of the key figures in history of early Russia, ( even including future rise of Moscow, since he willed it to his youngest son,) and keeping in mind that he has been canonized, him receiving "Nevsky" title is not just a legend. Particularly that it was not his last, strategically important victory.
Now I have another question for you - Væringjar is this a Swedish word?
I always wondered where Russian word "Varyag" ( identifying Scandinavians that settled among them) came from, because it's totally urelated to "Norse," as Scandinavians have been identified in Western Europe.
The Battle of the Neva (Russian: Невская битва, Nevskaya bitva, Swedish: slaget vid Neva, Finnish: Nevan taistelu) was fought between the Novgorod Republic and Karelians against Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Tavastian armies on the Neva River, near the settlement of Ust-Izhora, on July 15, 1240. The battle is only mentioned in Russian sources, which raises doubts about its significance or even existence.
Do you think it was a small battle, a big battle, or just a legend?
Official Russian history is little more than imperial fiction. There are so many layers of lies and fabrications, it's pretty much hopeless to know anything for sure especially if it's a period/event/personality crucial for the Russian mythology. I assume all the Russian interpretations of 800 years old events to be straight lies.
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