Battle on the Ice

The Russian sources describe the battle on Lake Chud (Peipus) on 5 April 1242 more lapidary than the battle of the Neva. However, the historians have at their disposal a record from a foreign source — The Old Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, written in the late decade of the 13th century. The texts provide quite clear general (strategical) descriptions of the battle, while various tactical details are confusing and have to be reconstructed from very small points. The researchers see those small points sometimes quite differently.

Model-scheme of the Ice Battle. Museum of the Battle on the Ice. Samolva

Nevertheless, many facts are initially clear, in particular, that the place of the battle was chosen by the Russians. This indicates directly who was in a better control of the situation. Alexander commanded the force that included the regiments from the Suzdalian land. The number of the parties is another important aspect. Previously, the literature referred to ten (or tens) thousand people. However, the sources do not confirm such figures. The Novgorodian First Chronicle reports on the deaths of the innumerable Chuds, four hundred killed and fifty captured Germans.

Reconstruction of the Ice Battle. Samolva

The Rhymed Chronicle referred to twenty killed Chuds, six dead and surrendered knights (apparently the servants were not included in this number). Therefore, based on the chronicle data, historians have significantly reduced the numbers of the fight participants. From the descriptions in sources we know the general course of the battle: the German knights attacked, broke through the Russian first lines (which consisted of bowmen, according to The Rhymed Chronicle), got stuck in the Russian disposition, lost their penetrative power, were encircled and massacred.

A well-known specialist of the medieval art of war A. N. Kirpichnikov reconstructed the course of the Battle on the Ice, using additionally Elector Albert’s Preparation for the campaign, written in 1477, which does not outline the battle but describes the V-formation. The scholar states that Alexander Nevsky won the day thanks to the mobility enabled by the division of the army into three tactical units at least. The invaders were attacked on the flanks and eventually encircled. To ascertain the number of the knights and their allies, Kirpichnikov draws parallel with the Battle of Rakovor in 1268 and uses the same Preparation for the Campaign. He estimates the crusader numbers as 300–400 people or fewer. The Novgorodians were somewhat more numerous. I. N. Danilevsky, who is sceptical about the significance of Alexander Nevsky’s personality and his victory at Lake Chud, puts the number of the Novgorodian soldiers at 5,000.

A. V. Shishov thinks that Alexander could hide his ace of trumps — the cavalry — and put forward the archers and infantry. This made the knights use V-formation, but eventually their wedge ran into the mounted army, lost space to manoeuvre and was smashed by the flank attack.

The encirclement of the crusaders (similar to the trick used in the Battle of Kulikovo) is sometimes explained by the ambush regiment that Alexander could somehow hide from the charging enemy (A. I. Kozachenko was the first to suggest this idea). However, as it was later rightly stated, neither the sources nor the open terrain allow us to accept such a hypothesis.

Memorial to Alexander Nevsky and the soldiers — Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Russia. Samolva

Of course, it is not the number of warriors that makes the victory on Lake Chud so important, but its result — the end of the hostile aggression threatening the statehood of Northwest Rus’ at a most difficult moment when it was weakened by the dagger blows of Batu’s hordes. Noteworthy, the border that Alexander Nevsky’s force defended is essentially the present-day western border of Russia in Pskov and Leningrad regions.

Lake Peipsi

After the battle, the peace treaty was concluded with the German Order, a most difficult period of Prince Alexander’s life was over, while the victories strengthened his authority.

We express our gratitude to the Museum "Battle on the Ice" (Samolva) for permission to place the museum exhibits on our website. 

R. A. Sokolov

Tags: 13 century, By the route of Alexander Nevsky: Battle on the Ice, Following Alexander Yaroslavich: the Battle of the Neva, Battle on the Ice, North-West Russia