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Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky ((ロシア語:Алекса́ндр Яросла́вич Не́вский); ; ); 13 May 1221〔 – 14 November 1263) served as Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kiev and Grand Prince of Vladimir during some of the most difficult times in Kievan Rus' history. Commonly regarded as a key figure of medieval Rus', Alexander - the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest - rose to legendary status on account of his military victories over German and Swedish invaders while agreeing to pay tribute to the powerful Golden Horde. He was canonized as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church by Metropolite Macarius in 1547.〔("The Faithful Saint Prince Alexandr Nevsky" ) , article read on 4.11.2010〕 Popular polls rank Alexander Nevsky as the greatest Russian hero in history. ==Great victories== From ''Tales of the Life and Courage of the Pious and Great Prince Alexander'' found in the ''Second Pskovian Chronicle'', circa 1260–1280, comes one of the first known references to the Great Prince:
Born in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Alexander was the second son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Rostislava Mstislavna, daughter of Kievan Rus' Prince Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold. Alexander seemed to have no chance of claiming the throne of Vladimir. In 1237, however, the Tatar-Mongols came to the Suzdal region. All who bowed their heads, kissed the boots of the Khan, and gave up their citizenship remained alive and well; those who did not submit were destroyed. Vladimir princes Yuriy Vsevolodovich and Yaroslav Vsevolodovich submitted to Batu Khan. Thus, the land became part of the Genghisid Golden Horde empire and its military force merged with the Tatar-Mongols military. During the military campaigns of Yuriy Vsevolodovich, his younger brother Yaroslav was seated as Prince. He gave his 8-year-old son Alexander Yaroslavich to Batu into amanat (hostages). While staying in the Horde from 1238 to 1252, Alexander learned the whole structure and customs, became "blood brother" to Batu's son Sartak, wed Batu Khan's daughter, and later became a loyal servant of the Golden Horde as head of the Vladimir principality (1252-1263). He was summoned by the Novgorodians to become knyaz (or prince) of Novgorod and, as their military leader, to defend their northwest lands from Swedish and German invaders. After the Swedish army had landed at the confluence of the rivers Izhora and Neva, Alexander and his small army suddenly attacked the Swedes on 15 July 1240 and defeated them. The Neva battle of 1240 saved Rus' from a full-scale invasion from the North. Because of this battle, 19-year-old Alexander was given the sobriquet "Nevsky" (which means ''of Neva''). This victory, coming just three years after the disastrous Mongol invasion of Rus, strengthened Nevsky’s political influence, but at the same time it worsened his relations with the boyars. He would soon have to leave Novgorod because of this conflict. After Pskov had been invaded by the Germans and Estonians, the Novgorod authorities sent for Alexander. In spring of 1241 he returned from his exile, gathered an army, and drove out the invaders. Alexander and his men faced the Livonian heavy cavalry led by the bishop of Dorpat Hermann, brother of Albert of Buxhoeveden. Nevsky faced the enemy on the ice of the Lake Peipus and defeated the German knights and Estonian infantry during the Battle of the Ice on 5 April 1242. Alexander’s victory was a significant event in the history of the Middle Ages. Foot soldiers of Novgorod had surrounded and defeated an army of knights, mounted on horseback and clad in thick armour. Nevsky's great victory against the Livonian Brothers apparently involved only a few knights killed rather than hundreds claimed by the Russian chroniclers; decisive medieval and early modern battles were won and lost by smaller margins than are seen in contemporary conflicts. Strategic considerations aside, Alexander's victory was an important milestone in the development of Muscovite Russia. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alexander Nevsky」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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