Schlacht an der Newa

The Battle of the Neva (Невская битва in Russian, or Nevskaya bitva), a battle between the Russian and Swedish armies on the Neva River on July 15, 1240.

The purpose of the Swedish invasion was to gain control over the mouth of the Neva and the city of Ladoga and, hence, seize the most important part of the Road from Varangians to Greeks, which had been under Novgorod's control.

On receiving the news of the advancing Swedish army under the command of Birger Jarl, the Prince of Novgorod Alexander Yaroslavich moved his army down the Volkhov River and reached Ladoga before the enemy. Here, he was joined by the army of the Ladoga citizens. In the meantime, the Swedes with their Norwegian and Finnish allies reached the mouth of the Izhora River.

The Russians took advantage of the thick fog and attacked the Swedish camp, defeating the enemy. It was darkness that stopped the battle and let the remnants of the Jarl army flee from the scene. Alexander Yaroslavich put out Birger Jarl's eye in the course of the battle.

Later, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich would be nicknamed "Nevsky" (of Neva) for displaying outstanding leadership and courage during the battle. Thus, the Russians repelled the threat of the enemy invasion from the North and secured the Russo-Swedish borders.