Horatio Nelson’s legacy is the growth of the British
navy and his own mark as its “father.” He is remem-
bered for his tactical innovations, brilliant leadership,
and ensuring that his captains knew exactly what was
expected of them in a battle. This resulted in a series of
remarkable naval victories and led to Britain becoming
the dominant maritime power in the 19th century.
References: Southey, Robert, Life of Nelson (London:
Everyman’s Library, 1906); Lloyd, Frederick, An Accurate
and Impartial Life of the Late Lord Viscount Nelson, Duke
of Bronte in Sicily. Comprehending Authentic and Circum-
stantial details of his Glorious Achievements: together with
private anecdotes (London: J. Fowler, 1806); Pocock, Tom,
The Terror Before Trafalgar: Nelson, Nap, and the Secret
War (New York: W. W. Norton, 2003); “How Nelson’s
Memorandum Was Carried Out at Trafalgar,” The Nine-
teenth Century and After, 416 (October 1911): 679–704;
Beatty, William, The Death of Lord Nelson (Birmingham,
U.K.: The War Library, 1894); “Funeral of Lord Nelson,”
The Times (London), 10 January 1806, 1; Savill, Richard,
“Nelson’s Favourite Ship Found at Last,” The Daily Tele-
graph (London), 27 March 2004, 8.
Neville, Richard See WarWick, richard
neVille, earl of.
Nevsky, Alexander, Saint (Aleksandr
Yaroslavich) (ca. 1220–1263) Russian prince
Alexander Nevsky was born about 1220 as Aleksandr
Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich, the
grand prince of the Grand Principality of Vladimir.
When he was approximately 16, Alexander was elected
as a prince of the city of Novgorod, in northern Rus-
sia. His first test came in 1240, when the Swedish in-
vaded Russia to prevent them from gaining a sea port.
Commanding the armies of Novgorod, he took on the
Swedes at the confluence of the Izhore and Neva rivers,
and defeated them. A biography written by Soviet his-
torians during the Second World War relates, “On July
15, 1240, a battle took place between the Novgorodites
and the Swedes, which is known in history as the Battle
of the Neva. The Russians launched a vigorous attack,
driving into the very heart of the Swedish camp. The
Swedes resisted, but they were pressed towards the river.
Alexander pushed forward to engage [Swedish com-
mander Jarl] Birger in mortal combat and cut him down
with a sword. The Swedes were unable to withstand the
onslaught and began to retreat to the river pursued by
the Russians to prevent them from embarking on their
ships.... The remnants of the defeated Swedish forces
managed to embark and sail back to their country.”
For his services in defense of his homeland, Alexander
was given the name of Nevsky, or “Prince of the Neva.”
However, when he began to interfere in the city’s affairs,
a role he felt was due to him, the city fathers expelled
him in 1241.
In 1242, Pope Gregory IX urged followers of the
Catholic faith to invade northern Russia to “Christian-
ize” the peoples of that region, and the Teutonic Knights
of Prussia (north Germany) took up his call. Novgorod,
fearing another invasion, invited Nevsky to return to de-
fend them. A series of clashes led to a major battle in
April 1242 on a slender body of frozen water between
Lakes Chud and Pskov. Alexander lured the Knights onto
the icebed and then slaughtered them en masse—“the
massacre on the ice.” Nevsky also fought a series of battles
against the Swedes and the Lithuanians, defeating both.
Another threat to Russia rose from the east: the
Mongol hordes of Khan Batu, who were overrunning
Russia. Alexander’s father was named as an official envoy
to go to Khan Batu to negotiate a peace. However, after
he returned in September 1246, he was poisoned by un-
known persons, leaving his sons Alexander and Andrew
in charge of the peace mission. Both men traveled to
see Khan Batu, who accepted their overtures since he
wanted tribute and allies. He named Alexander as prince
of Kiev and Andrew as grand prince of Vladimir, his
father’s title. Andrew nonetheless planned to fight Khan
Batu, but Alexander, knowing armed resistance could
lead to catastrophe for Russia, informed the Mongol
leader, who overthrew Andrew and installed Alexander
as grand prince of Vladimir in 1251.
As the leader of Russia—though only by Mongol
permission—Alexander went on a campaign of reform,
strengthening and encouraging the church and insti-
tuting new laws. He had his son Vasily installed as the
prince of Novgorod; when the people of Novgorod ex-nevSky, AlexAnDeR, SAint