1240 Izborsk and Pskov campaign
The campaign resulted in the brief overthrow of the pro-Suzdalian faction that supported prince Aleksandr "Nevsky" Yaroslavich, and saw the installation of a new complex set of alliances.
The situation ended after two years, when Nevsky led Novgorodian troops to retake Pskov under his family's control in spring 1242, and defeated the Livonian–Vladimirovich coalition at Lake Peipus.
In September 1236, a coalition of Sword Brothers, Pskovians, Livonians and Latgallians were utterly defeated in the Battle of Saule against the pagan Samogitians and Semigallians.
[citation needed] On 7 June 1238, the Treaty of Stensby was signed between king Valdemar II of Denmark and the joint Masters of the Order: they agreed to divide Estonia and share future territorial conquests.
[clarification needed] After northern Estonia was thus restored to the Danish king, the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle (LRC) narrates that bishop Hermann of Dorpat was attacked by the Rus', who reportedly "had done him much harm".
[2] The Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL) reports that, after the Battle of the Neva (dated to July 1240), "the Nemtsy ("Germans") with the men of Medvezhya [Golova] (Odenpäh / Otepää), of Yurev (Dorpat / Tartu), and of Velyad (Fellin / Viljandi) with Knyaz Yaroslav Volodimirich took Izborsk.
"[6][7] It is unknown who exactly led the Izborsk campaign; although the LRC associates the operation with Hermann Balk, he had already fled to Germany in 1238 and died in March 1239/1240.
[9][10][page needed] The campaign intended to secure Pskov for Yaroslav and the Catholic Church and their first target was the Pskovian fortress of Izborsk.
man hôrte rûfen und clagen: in deme lande uber al erhûb sich ein michel schal.
They took the castle by storm and let none of the Rus' escape [der Rûʒen kan keinen lieʒ], killing or capturing all those who resisted [welcher sich zû were bôt].
von den wart nicht gespart, sie hûben sich ûf die vart und jageten grimmelîchen dar mit mancher brunjen lichtvar; ir helme lûchten als ein glas.
[2] Yaroslav Vladimirovich, who may well have been Gêrpolt mentioned in the LRC,[17] as well as Prince Ghereslawus in a 1248 charter,[18] finally seems to have assumed the throne of Pskov of his late father, although his real authority likely remained dependent on mayor Tverdilo Ivankovich, as well as the Bishopric of Dorpat and the Order.
[18] They would jointly control Pskov for the next two years until a force of Novgorodians commanded by Aleksandr Yaroslavich recaptured the city in spring 1242.
[4][19] This suggests a complex division of powers and interests after the allies thus captured Izborsk and Pskov from the forces aligned with the Suzdalian dynasty, and when they lost it again two years later.
After, the Teutonic knights constructed the fortress of Koporye, where they kept all their supplies, and according to the NPL also took the Novgorodian town of Tesov, pillaging its merchants and ravaging the surrounding area.
[20] Aleksandr returned to Novgorod and commanded a coalition of Novgorodians, Ladogans, Karelians and Ingrians to capture the fortress Koporye in spring 1241.
[citation needed] In later centuries, Alexander "Nevsky" Yaroslavich had become venerated as a saint (canonised by Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow in 1547), and the idea emerged that there was a coordinated attempt by crusaders to subjugate and convert all Rus'.
