Battle on the Ice: memorialization of the place

The historical memory of both the Battle on the Ice and the Battle of the Neva, which gave Prince Alexander his honourable surname Nevsky sticking to him in the early 15th century, was kept mostly in books for centuries. The situation changed when in the 20th century both battles became the landmarks of national history and this placed the question of memorializing those victories on the agenda.

A complex expedition to specify the place of the Battle on the Ice was carried out by the USSR Academy of Science at the turn of 1950—1960s which stimulated the discussion of the issue. The monument project and its locations were discussed for decades. In 1970 a plywood model of the future monument was built on Sigovets island only to be destroyed later by wind and weather. In 1993 a sculptural composition devoted to the battle of 1242 was unveiled in Pskov vicinity on Sokolikha hill. It should be noted that in Pskov Kreml a memorial sign in honour of the victory of Alexander Nevsky’s army had been put up by 1972. But in the shoreland located closest to the place of the battle only a collective fishery was named after Alexander Nevsky.

1992 became crucial when due to enthusiasts’ efforts a bust of Alexander Nevsky by sculptor V. G. Kosenyuk was set up in Kobylie ancient settlement. The same year a wooden carved memorial cross made by V. M. Reschikov was installed in that village. Its design is based on Alexander’s biography. The cross fell twice because of strong winds and was replaced in 2006 by a more durable bronze copy (A. A. Seleznev provided inspiration for the project). The original cross resides now in Archangel Michael’s Church.

In 2000s there was an idea to build a high lighthouse-chapel in the name of St Alexander Nevsky at the lake shore opposite the church. Although the foundation had been laid, the project was finally rejected as it could have ruined the architectural ensemble dominated by the church of 1462. However, the chapel was constructed in Kobylie settlement in 2013 on the village edge, on a huge boulder, 50 meters from the shore, and consecrated in the name of St Tryphon — the patron of fishermen and hunters. Thus, Kobylie settlement has come to be a memorial centre of the Battle on the Ice, the starting point to which was the church erected in the 15th century and — what is of great importance! — surviving until now.

A few kilometres away from that settlement, also on the lake shore, a larger village Samolva is located. There used to be the headquarters of the expedition mentioned above. Its participant V. A. Potresov started the museum devoted to the expedition history. At first it was opened in 2012 in the local library; in 2015 it moved to a specially built historical and cultural centre Samolva (founded by A. V. Schmidt). The exposition based on the objects and documents related to the expedition work was constantly growing and becoming more focused on the subject of the Battle on the Ice. Therefore, the name of the museum changed to the Museum of the Battle on the Ice. Samolva.

Recently new projects have been initiated with the aim of memorialization of that place. Hopefully, their authors will be able to realize their goals and the distant corner at the western border of this country will continue to encourage attention.

It seems that it is best to travel to the places related to the Battle on the Ice via Pskov. Firstly, that was how Alexander proceeded to Lake Chud; secondly, that way goes past the monument on Sokolikha hill located to the left from the highway to Gdov. The sign after Yamm village tells you that the left turn will lead to the place of the Battle on the Ice. Then you are in for a challenge — the earth road about 30 km long. However, getting over it, you will be able to see the coveted places — Kobylie settlement and Samolva — and visit the museum devoted to the Battle on the Ice, where you will learn about the fight that took place of the ice of Lake Chud on 5 April 1240, the theories concerning its place, and the history of its studies. Every year in the early April Samolva becomes the place where those distant events are reconstructed and our enthusiastic contemporaries dressed in medieval armours demonstrate their skills with ancient weapons. Those reconstructions traditionally attract large numbers of tourists from various cities.

It is important to remember that this area is immediately adjacent to the national border, which entails certain restrictions. A special permission will be needed in order to visit the islands in the offshore area of Lake Chud.

R. A. Sokolov

Tags: routes, 13 century, By the route of Alexander Nevsky: Battle on the Ice, North-West Russia, Novgorodian Land, Pskovian Land