The Ice April 5, 1242 Strategic Context The Catholic and Orthodox Churches collided in the Baltic during Christianity’s spread from Palestine, hence the Papacy’s interest in crusading in the region. Encouraged by the Crusader capture of Constantinople in 1204, seat of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the devastation of Russia during the Mongol invasions of 1237, the Papacy organizes a crusade against Novgorod. The crusade comprises an invasion by three separate factions each with its own goals and axis: Swedes in the north by sea, Danes and allies in the center, and the Teutonic Knights and allies in the south. Alexander Nevsky, leading an army comprised of contingents from various Russian states, neutralizes the two northernmost thrusts and raids into Crusader Livonia. Hermann von Buxhövden, Bishop of nearby Dorpat (Tartu), leads a mixed Crusader force against Nevsky. Nevsky retreats back into Russia, but turns to fight on the eastern edge of frozen Lake Peipus. Stakes + A Crusader victory would eliminate the only Russian field army, permitting a renewal of the crusade against Orthodox Novgorod. + A Russian victory would discourage further Crusader attacks against Novgorod and other Russian Orthodox states. By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©

The Ice, 1242 Strength  Russians  Well  Crusaders  Well  Hermann von Buxhövden  Alexander Nevsky By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©  800 knights  1,000 light infantry  1,600 light cavalry  3,400 light infantry

Russians (Nevsky) Crusaders (Hermann) Hermann deploys his knights in a wedge formation with the tiny but elite contingent of Teutonic Knights at the tip, Livionian feudal knights on the left and Danish feudal knights on the right. The Crusader light infantry, Estonian levies, deploy to the rear. Hermann plans to break the Russian center with a heavy cavalry charge, perhaps killing Nevsky, scattering the Russian forces. Nevsky deploys his infantry, largely Novgorodian militia and other tribal levies, at the center. Nevsky deploys his druzhina, elite light cavalry, on the right, with horse-archers and other cavalry on the left. As the Crusader knights begin their charge across the ice, their Estonian levies flee the battlefield when they see that the Russians are actually staying to fight. Meanwhile, the Crusader charge gains little momentum on the slippery ice and lacks the desired fierce impact on the Russian center. However, on the Crusader right, Russian horse-archers advance, riding alongside the Danish knights and firing arrows into their unshielded right side. The unexpected horse-archers’ volley disrupts the Danish charge, preventing the knights from engaging the Russian infantry. The Teutonic Knights at the Crusader center cut deeply into the mass of Russian but do not notice the Russian infantry enclosing around them, nor Nevsky sending his cavalry to hit the Crusader flanks and rear. The weakened Danish knights flee back across the ice while Nevsky’s druzhina smash the left flank of the Livonian knights, killing many before their poor periphery vision alerts them to the danger. The Livonian knights flee back across the ice not long after the Danish knights break, leaving the Teutonic Knights surrounded and heavily outnumbered. The Teutonic Knights break out of the Russian envelopment but suffer heavy casualties in the process. Nevsky allows pursuit of the Crusaders only as far as the western shore. Russians (Alexander Nevsky) 1,600 light cavalry 3,400 light infantry Crusaders (Hermann von Buxhövden) 800 knights 1,000 light infantry

The Ice, 1242 Casualties & Aftermath Russians:Crusaders: ≈200 or 4% 450 or 25% By Jonathan Webb, 2012 © Nevsky offered lenient peace terms which Hermann readily accepted: the Crusaders withdrew from all Novgorodian lands and each side released its prisoners. The Crusaders’ defeat did damage their prestige however, resulting in revolts against the Teutonic Knights and Danes in Prussia and Estonia respectively. Nevsky used the victory to consolidate Novgorodian rule in the Arctic north and Ural mountains. Nevsky ceded to Mongol rule when they returned, collecting taxes on their behalf and crushing anti-Mongol revolts, including one initiated by his brother, Andre. For his efforts, the Mongols elevated Nevsky to Grand Prince of Russia in 1252, marking the foundations for future tsars.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©