Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1221–1263) was prince of Novgorod and later grand prince of Vladimir, the Rurikid who fought crusaders in the west while submitting to the Mongols in the east. Second son of Yaroslav II, he became prince of Novgorod in 1236. In July 1240 he attacked Swedish forces on the Neva; Nevsky, meaning of the Neva, was given to him in the 15th century.

Recalled in 1241 after crusaders took Pskov, he retook it and on 5 April 1242 met Livonian cavalry on Lake Peipus in the Battle on the Ice, halting the Teutonic Order's eastward push. When his brother Andrey plotted against the Mongols and fled, Alexander became grand prince of Vladimir in 1252.

On 14 November 1263 he died at Gorodets. The chronicle records Metropolitan Cyril saying the sun of the Suzdalian land had set. Canonized in 1547, his youngest son Daniel became prince of Moscow.