Alexander Nevsky by Boris Vasiliev, summary Automatic translate

This 1997 novel transports the reader to the harsh era of the thirteenth century, revealing the struggle between the strife-torn Russian principalities and the advancing armies of the West and East. The story’s hero, Prince Alexander, is portrayed as a gifted military leader and a far-sighted ruler, making difficult moral compromises for the sake of his people’s survival. This work continues the historical cycle "Princes of Ancient Rus’." This book series includes the novels "Oleg the Prophet," "Olga, Queen of the Rus’," "Prince Svyatoslav," "Vladimir the Red Sun," and "Vladimir Monomakh." This book is the sixth in the series.

Turmoil and invasion

The narrative begins with the death of the great Vladimir prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. His departure sparks a bitter feud between his heirs, Konstantin, Yuri, and Yaroslav. During the Battle of Lipitsa, the life of the young prince Yaroslav is miraculously saved by the unknown knight Yarun. As a form of gratitude, the selfish Yaroslav takes away his savior’s pregnant bride, Milasha. Yarun leaves the prince’s retinue forever. Cruel times punish traitors — Yaroslav’s favorite, Strigunok, drowns in a swamp, awaiting no help from his comrades, who despise him.

Years later, on the Kalka River, the combined forces of the southern Russian princes suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of hitherto unknown Mongol forces. The aged Mongol commander Subedei Bagatur flawlessly directs the nomads’ attacks. The Russian troops perish due to pride and disunity. Yarun, who found himself among the defenders of Rus’, pulls the young Mongol warrior Chogdar from under a mountain of corpses. The rescued and the savior become blood brothers, pledging to forever come to each other’s aid.

The Golden Horde, led by Khan Batu, swept through Russian lands with fire and sword. Grand Prince Yaroslav was deeply distressed by the destruction of his country. Yarun unexpectedly appeared in his chambers, along with his adopted son Sbyslav and his sworn brother Chogdar. Sbyslav was Prince Yaroslav’s biological son from the abducted Milasha. The boy grew up in the wild steppes and was trained by Chogdar in advanced Tatar military tactics. Chogdar was baptized, forever renouncing his former pagan customs.

Yaroslav sends Sbyslav to serve the legitimate heir, Alexander, who reigns in Veliky Novgorod. The old ruler conceals the truth about the young man’s origins. Alexander prepares to repel the threat posed by the Swedes and Teutons. He marries the daughter of the Prince of Polotsk, Alexandra, although he harbors affection for the sister of his faithful comrade, Gavrila Oleksich. Sbyslav and Chogdar help the young prince organize secret reconnaissance, having learned from the harsh steppe experience of observing the enemy.

The Battle of the Neva and the Battle on the Ice

Having received reports of the Swedish landing, Alexander strikes preemptively. The advance guard, commanded by Sbyslav, skillfully steals the knights’ horses. Subsequently, the Novgorodians and the prince’s retinue launch simultaneous flanking attacks on the enemy camp. The battle ends in Alexander’s complete triumph. During the swift cavalry clash, the prince gravely injures the Swedish leader, Earl Birger.

The proud boyars of the Lord of Novgorod the Great refuse to finance further defense. A disgruntled Alexander abandons the free city. The Livonian crusaders immediately take advantage of the boyar republic’s weakness, capturing Pskov and advancing to the very borders of Novgorod. The grave danger forces the townspeople to beg the exiled prince for his speedy return. Having assumed full power, Alexander develops a bold plan for a decisive battle. He orders his warriors to prepare long boathooks to drag knights from their saddles.

Sbyslav lures the heavy knightly "pig" onto the ice of Lake Peipus, near the Uzmen tract. The Livonians fight their way through the militia units, reach the steep bank, and break up their ranks. Yaroslav’s elite squad attacks from an ambush. The crusaders flee onto the thin ice, sinking under the weight of their iron armor.

In the battle, old Yarun dies heroically, shielding his warriors from enemy spears. Sbyslav miraculously pulls Prince Andrei out of a deep hole with a lasso. Victory comes at a high price, but the western borders are saved. After heavy losses, Alexander realizes the impossibility of waging war on two fronts. He seeks peace with the Golden Horde, gathering loyal allies around him. Gavrila Oleksich marries, and his sister Marfusha enters a monastery, ceding Alexander the right to legal marriage.

Intrigues of the Golden Horde and Karakorum

Prince Mikhail of Chernigov refuses to undergo the pagan rite of purification by fire before Batu’s headquarters. The insulted Tatars execute the rebellious ruler, and European monarchs use his martyrdom to call for a new campaign to the East. The Mongol Empire is experiencing a period of latent hostility. The Golden Horde fears the strengthening of central power in Karakorum. Batu Khan summons Alexander Nevsky and concludes a peace treaty with him. Sartak, Batu’s son, exchanges weapons with Alexander, undergoing the ancient rite of brotherhood.

Khan Guyuk demands the old Prince Yaroslav to his headquarters. He promises the ruler of Vladimir control over all of Rus’ in exchange for an armed uprising against Batu. Chogdar, who has become Batu’s chief advisor, clearly sees the impending threat. The agreement between Guyuk and Yaroslav will result in the death of Alexander Nevsky and the complete enslavement of the Russian lands. Chogdar gives Sbyslav, who accompanies Yaroslav to Karakorum as an interpreter, a secret mission to disrupt this disastrous treaty at any cost.

The long journey across the Great Steppe exhausts the travelers. Batu sends Guyuk a luxurious living gift — the captive Polish woman Grażyna. The girl attempts to seduce Sbyslav in order to learn the secrets of the warriors accompanying her. The naive Khan Ordu catches the young people together, threatening them with cruel reprisals. The cunning Grażyna slanders Sbyslav, revealing his long-standing crime against Tatar law. Only Chogdar’s firm intercession saves the young man from certain death.

Tragedy in Karakoram

In Karakorum, Guyuk is proclaimed Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He grants Yaroslav the charter of Grand Princeship and openly demands that he oppose Batu. Sbyslav recognizes his father’s willingness to sacrifice his allies to preserve his illusory power. Through the gullible Khan Orda, the young boyar whispers a cunning lie to Guyuk’s mother, Khansha Turakina. Turakina is informed that Yaroslav is maintaining secret ties with Catholic Europe through the papal ambassador, Plano Carpini.

The enraged khan’s wife treats Yaroslav to poisoned meat right at the celebratory feast. The Grand Prince dies painfully on the way home, surrounded by the silent steppe. Returning to the Horde, Sbyslav confesses to Alexander what he did. He sincerely believes he acted to save Rus’ from a second devastating invasion. Driven into a corner, Alexander reveals to the young man the terrible truth about his origins.

Upon learning that he had personally murdered his own father, the young man demands his immediate execution. The life of the involuntary parricide is cut short by the saber of the loyal Tatar captain Kirdyash. Alexander buries his brother with due honors, concealing the true cause of his death from all. Rus’ is left without a Grand Prince, but this heavy sacrifice prevents a catastrophic clash with the armies of Karakorum.

The fate of Alexander

The events of recent years have disrupted the princely families’ traditional way of life. Prince Andrei conspires with Daniil Galitsky and launches a doomed anti-Tatar rebellion. Alexander Nevsky betrays the conspiracy to Khan Batu to prevent a large-scale punitive campaign by the nomads. The tsar Nevryuy harshly suppresses the rebellion, and Andrei flees to Sweden. Later, Alexander begs for a full pardon for his younger brother, returning him to his native land.

Alexander Nevsky devoted the rest of his life to the unification of Rus’. He concluded peace treaties with the Golden Horde, defending the western borders from the encroachments of the knightly orders. Grand Duke Mindaugas of Lithuania routed the crusaders at Lake Durbe, helping the Russian regiments hold the line. The Horde assumed the protection of Rus’’s external borders in exchange for a general tribute, freeing the people from heavy poll taxes. Sbyslav’s sacrifice proved in vain — Guyuk assembled an army for a march west, but died suddenly from poison administered by the vengeful Grażyna.