The Izhora land and the Karelian Isthmus attracted both Russians and Swedes in the 13th century. These armies also fought for power over the Finno-Ugric peoples. As a result of the Battle of the Neva, Russian troops won a victory over the Swedes, thereby stopping their march to Novgorod and Ladoga.
The battle of the Neva began on July 15, 1240. Enemy troops, consisting of the Swedish militia, Finnish and Norwegian tribes, landed on the Izhora River in the place where it flows into the Neva. The goal of the enemy army was to capture the city of Ladoga. Their plan was to firmly gain a foothold on the shores of Lake Ladoga and the Neva, after which the enemies expected to conquer Novgorod.
Novgorod was well guarded by guard detachments along the shores of the Gulf of Finland and in the Neva region. The Izhorians were the first to notice the offensive of the enemies, their headman reported the impending disaster to the prince of the city - Alexander Yaroslavovich. The ruler decided to give a quick rebuff to the enemy and gathered his own squad. The inhabitants of the nearest villages joined the Novgorod army.
The enemy army did not expect such active and quick action from the Russian army, so the enemy was taken by surprise. The surprise was one of the factors that ensured the victory for the Novgorodians. Alexander's army attacked the Swedes early in the morning, and the battle ended after dark. The enemy army retreated and loaded their dead on ships.
This battle was the first battle of the young prince, but the victory was very important for all of Russia. The main goal of the enemy was to cut off the state from access to the Baltic Sea, thereby undermining trade. The Battle of the Neva was the first in a series of battles to keep the landlocked. The victory ensured the relative security of Novgorod.
Little is known about the Battle of the Neva itself; the records of the chroniclers are scarce and do not give a complete picture of the events taking place. Historians and scientists had to think out a lot, build theories and assumptions.
It is not entirely clear who exactly led the Swedish army. According to one version, the army was ruled by the king. The Life of Alexander Nevsky says that the leader was Jarl Birger II. But he received his title only in 1248, so he could not lead the army. Before Birger II, Ulf Fasi was the jarl, some argue that it was he who commanded the Swedish army.
