Among the many state awards of Russia throughout its history, the Order of Alexander Nevsky occupies a special and in many ways unique place. Its history is unusual. The order appeared in the eighteenth century, in 1917 it was abolished, then reintroduced during the Great Patriotic War. In 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, but the feats of the heroes of the new Russia are celebrated with a high award that survived the Russian Empire and the USSR. This succession is deeply symbolic. Cavaliers of the Order of Alexander Nevsky are people who serve the country, the people, and not political regimes. On such stood, stands and will stand unshakably Holy Russia.
Who was Alexander Nevsky
Born in 1420, the prince already at the age of 22 became famous for his brilliant victory over the Teutonic knights. The defeat of the dog-knights was no accidental stroke of luck. From a young age, Alexander was distinguished by righteousness and devotion to his native land. In addition to military talents, the prince possessed no less important personal qualities, among which one can single out high intelligence, courage and an undoubted gift.diplomat. He also managed to repel attacks on Russia after the Battle of the Ice, but he skillfully combined feats of arms, strategic ideas and tactical decisions with the conclusion of foreign policy treaties and alliances that were beneficial for the country, increasing the weight of Novgorod on the political map of Eurasia.
Worship and veneration of Alexander began almost immediately after his righteous death in 1263. Immediately before his death, he managed to take the monastic rank and gave his soul to the Lord, bearing the monastic name Alexy.
There is nothing surprising in the fact that this holy man became a symbol of the valor of the sons of Russia during the time of Catherine the Great and remained so until 1917. About what metamorphoses occurred to him during the time of the theomachism, the story will go below. No less interesting is the fate of the award today.
How and by whom the Order was conceived
The idea to establish the Order of Alexander Nevsky appeared even with the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great, but the monarch did not manage to realize it. Nevertheless, during the years of his reign, a lot was done to ensure that the heroic image of the savior of the fatherland was established in the public mind. And after his death, the prince continued to inspire the Russian army with his feat. Before the start of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380), the imperishable relics of Alexander were presented to the defenders of their native land. In 1721, Tsar Peter decided to move them from the city of Vladimir to the new capital. This process was somewhat delayed, and this happened due to the highest degree of reverence for the remains of the liberator prince. relicswe visited Klin, Tver, Vyshny Volochek, and then, having made our way along Lake Ilmen, we stopped for a long time in Novgorod. There were many pilgrims, but, according to the decree of the emperor, the silver shrine was transported to Shlisselburg, where it remained until 1724. Finally, Archbishop Theodosius received an order from Peter I to organize the delivery of the relics to St. Petersburg before the end of August of the same year, which was done. The emperor died without having time to establish the Order of Alexander Nevsky. Russia remembered its hero.
Order under Catherine I
Catherine I, the widow of the emperor-reformer, carefully treated many of his ideas and undertakings. She did not disregard the idea of a new award. They became the newly established Order of Alexander Nevsky. The list of awardees was opened by eighteen people - both military and civilian, in this matter the empress somewhat distorted the general idea of her late husband, who believed that only those who crowned themselves with military glory should be cavaliers. The ceremony was timed to coincide with the wedding of Peter's daughter Anna and Duke Karl-Friedrich (the wedding took place in 1725), and this was the occasion to present the Order of Alexander Nevsky to four Holstein foreigners, which, obviously, was done for diplomatic reasons. At the same time, a statute was formed, according to which representatives of the highest military command, starting with the major general, were honored. The same applied to the authorities of the state table of ranks. In the same 1725, Catherine I considered it possible to award herself with this order. In general, atempresses for this reason were. During her reign, the total number of gentlemen reached 64 people (including herself).
From Catherine to Catherine
Before the beginning of the "golden age" of Catherine II, about three hundred honored figures of the empire received the Order of Alexander Nevsky. Among them are the grandfather of A. S. Pushkin, General-in-Chief Gannibal (known as the Petrovsky Arap), V. I. Suvorov, the father of the Generalissimo, Academician K. G. Razumovsky, the first curator of Moscow University, and many other prominent people. Foreign monarchs (including the King of Prussia Frederick II, the King of Poland and the Elector of Saxony August III, the Georgian King of Kartli and the princes George and Balkar) considered it a great honor to wear this order. The Ukrainian hetman was also awarded it.
Awarded under Catherine the Great
Two and a half hundred awarded during the reign of Catherine the Great. Time itself, turbulent events that led to the growth of the power of Russia and the growth of its territory, and victorious wars contributed to this. A. V. Suvorov, M. I. Kutuzov, F. F. Ushakov - these names speak a lot to every Russian heart. The tradition founded by Catherine I was continued, according to which scientists, historians and writers were also worthy of such an award as the Order of Alexander Nevsky. Russia has always been rich in talented people, and in a sense, their merits contributed to the glory of the country no less than the deeds of naval commanders and generals. Among the awarded, one can also mention the Privy Councilor A. I. Musin-Pushkin,who opened to his contemporaries and descendants "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". Alas, among the knights was the notorious Moscow police chief Arkharov, under whom the arbitrariness of the executive branch flourished. Well, everyone makes mistakes.
Order of Paul
Paul I undertook to change and unify the award system by introducing a single order that differs in "classes", but the innovation did not take root. It so happened that the order of St. Andrew the First-Called became the highest order of the Russian Empire, followed by St. Catherine, in third place - St. Alexander Nevsky. The symbol of the award was a ribbon worn over the shoulder. Color - red, with double-headed eagles, the state emblem. The order was a silver star with a princely crown and the name of Alexander in the form of a monogram, as well as a circular motto "For Labor and Fatherland". Cavaliers were supposed to wear a special costume worn on special occasions during visits to the court. Under Paul, only eight dozen were awarded, which indicates the high status of the order.
Special Conditions of the Order
Interestingly, the very process of obtaining an order in the Russian Empire was accompanied by monetary relations between the court and gentlemen. The award was made subject to a contribution (200, and then 600 rubles), but it also gave the right to an annual income or pension in excess of this amount. This order was maintained until 1917, and the proceeds went to the maintenance of homes for the disabled and charity events. The control of the fairness of spending was carried out by the gentlemen themselves through a special council, to which the most deserving were elected.
Orderhad only one degree, but differences were still possible. Swords, diamond signs, and even diamond swords worn with the main star were considered an additional award. Special status lines specified what kind of uniform or costume it was appropriate to wear the Order of Alexander Nevsky, with what other awards it was combined, and with which it was not.
After the October Revolution, all royal awards were abolished.
Stalin's "Alexander Nevsky"
1942. The situation at the front is difficult, and at some moments simply critical. A significant part of the European territory of the USSR has been captured by the enemy. It's time to remind the people of the glorious past and the military prowess of their ancestors. Orders and medals of the Second World War, approved in the first war years, symbolize patriotism and historical memory. Mentions of internationalism and the worldwide brotherhood of workers are temporarily suspended in the press, in newsreels, and in works of art. The German proletarians, under Nazi banners, are trampling our land. They need to be defeated and driven out, and only then, perhaps, talk about the world revolution.
I. V. Stalin gives the order to develop sketches of orders named after the great commanders - Kutuzov, Suvorov and Alexander Nevsky. The Technical Committee of the Logistics Service is embarking on an important government task. The artistic side of the matter was entrusted to I. S. Telyatnikov, a twenty-six-year-old artist (an architect by training).
Film actor on the order
The task assigned to Telyatnikov wasdifficult, stylistically, all three orders had to be kept in a similar manner, which assumed the image in the central part of the character, after whom the award is named. Artists had portraits of Suvorov and Kutuzov. And whose face will bear the Order of Alexander Nevsky? The USSR was a great cinematic power. In 1938, Sergei Eisenstein made a film about the Battle of the Ice. Igor Sergeevich Telyatnikov considered it possible to use the image of the prince, created by the actor Nikolai Cherkasov, in heraldry. The audience is accustomed to the fact that Alexander Nevsky looks exactly like this, although the appearance of the national hero remains unknown to this day due to the lack of lifetime images.
Quality and Quantity
The order turned out beautiful. To the proposal of the representatives of the Mint to simplify the manufacturing technology (it was easier to make it one-piece stamped), Igor Sergeevich Telyatnikov stubbornly replied that the award should be made from several parts assembled together. JV Stalin, after listening to both sides, accepted the position of the author. However, soon, due to the manifestation of mass heroism by the soldiers of the Red Army, they still had to go for some simplification of the technology. The main manufacturing materials are silver (925th test) and enamel. In total, more than forty-two thousand of these awards were issued during the war years. Many orders and medals of the Second World War were produced in smaller editions, but sometimes more of them have been preserved. The thing is that only desperate people were honored to wear the image of the defender of the Russian land on their chestsdaredevils who valued the future Victory above their own lives. Heroes died, their rewards were not always saved…
Who were the Knights of the Order of Alexander Nevsky? The list was opened in November 1942 by the brave commanders of the Red Army, Captain S. P. Tsybulin and Lieutenant I. N. Ruban. It should be noted that initially it was assumed that the order would become a truly national award, and junior military leaders, including regimental commanders, would receive it, but later the circle of deserving ones was expanded to include commanders and brigade commanders. The main requirement was that their decisions should show skill, courage and determination, qualities inherent in Prince Alexander. The balance of forces at the time of a successful offensive also mattered. If the enemy outnumbered our unit, which rushed to the attack, and was defeated or fled, then this was the reason to present the hero for a reward. Then, according to the standard army procedure, followed the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council. There were not frequent cases when those who were awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky were awarded this award again (a little more than a hundred), and cases were completely unique if three of them were flaunted on their chests (only three such brave warriors are known).
So, the commander of the rifle company Ivan Mikhailovich Sedoy, together with the unit entrusted to him, in June 1944 boldly attacked the superior forces of the enemy, fearlessly approached his positions and destroyed fifty German Nazis with fire. On the captured defensive structures, a hundred Soviet soldiers entrenched themselves, they repulsed six counterattacks. The next day the companycrossed the river and went to the rear of the enemy, which made it possible for the main forces of the advancing Soviet troops to pass. So the commander of Sedoy became a holder of the Order of Alexander Nevsky. But the hero didn't stop there. The regiment advanced, and already in July, the company of I. M. Sedogo, showing heroism, opposed the battalion of the Nazis, and then turned the enemy into a stampede. The second order was a worthy reward.
During the war years, there were situations when foremen and sergeants commanded units. The Order of Alexander Nevsky is an officer's award, but in these situations, the rank and file employees turned out to be worthy of it. The exploits of several women who fought on the fronts are also highly appreciated. Officers of the squadron "Normandie-Niemen" the French Leon Cafo, Pierre Pouyade and Joseph Rissot received an order for heroism shown in the sky.
After the Victory, no one was awarded the orders of Alexander Nevsky for more than ten years. During the Hungarian uprising, a few Soviet officers, acting decisively and courageously, were able to succeed in leading a small force. They were honored with a high award.
Until 2005, the awarding of orders to those who could not receive them during the war continued. Sometimes the heroes didn't even know about their rewards.
New Old Order
After the collapse of the USSR, Soviet military and civilian insignia were no longer awarded. They were replaced by new medals and orders of the Russian Federation, in their appearance expressing the continuity of the Russian State. Other than the Golden Star of the Hero, few awards have retained their title. Appearance of insigniawas also significantly changed, the symbols of the Soviet state gave way to a new (or old) coat of arms, the double-headed eagle. In 2010, the Order of Alexander Nevsky of the Russian Federation was established, which retained the high meaning of its predecessors.
According to the statute, civil servants and other citizens who, through their work or valor, contributed to the prosperity of the motherland and increased its authority are worthy of the award. It does not matter whether the efforts were made in the field of military affairs, science, culture, he alth, education or other activities. The Order of Alexander Nevsky of the Russian Federation can only be awarded to holders of other highest awards of the fatherland. It can also be awarded to foreign citizens or nationals if they contributed to fruitful interstate cooperation. In addition to the main sign, rosettes and miniature copies are issued, which can be worn on uniforms or civilian clothes on the left side of the chest. The old glorious motto "For Labor and the Fatherland" was also remembered, which is now written on the reverse. If a previously awarded person was awarded the Order of St. Catherine, then the ribbon symbolizing the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky should be worn lower.
New Knights of the Russian Order
The revived order of the Russian Empire is externally stylized as a cross, there is no image of the actor Cherkasov on it, but in the round medallion, the central part of the composition, there is an equestrian figure, reminiscent of the warrior prince who became a saint.
Somewhat changed and the order,according to which the Order of Alexander Nevsky is awarded. Photos of gentlemen provided by the press are not always accompanied by the publication of relevant decrees, although the very fact of awarding is no secret, any of them is known from publicly available sources. Over the past four years, more than seventy have passed. Among the highly honored are actors (V. S. Lanovoy and V. A. Etush), and Orthodox priests, including the primates of the Russian and Ukrainian Churches, Father Kirill and Father Vladimir, and government officials, and representatives of the business world (for example, O V. Deripaska). The Belarusian President Lukashenko also has the Russian Order of Alexander Nevsky. Those who strengthened the sporting honor of our country with their labors are not forgotten, among them Tatyana Pokrovskaya, the coach of the synchronized swimming team. State Duma deputies Chaika and Zyuganov also deserved the high honor of wearing the image of St. Alexander on their chests.
At the same time, awards do not happen often. This order must be earned by hard work for the good of Russia for many years, and sometimes even decades.
