an boyards had
preceded Iaroslaf hoping to secure favors from the khan, and that they
accused the grand duke, but Oktai refused to listen to them. After
some delay Iaroslaf was confirmed as grand duke, and permitted to
return, but he died from exhaustion in the desert, in 1246. His
remains were brought to Vladimir.

Iaroslaf left two sons, Andrew, who succeeded him in Souzdal, and
Alexander who was duke at Novgorod. This younger son was an able as
well as a brave man. On one occasion, when the Scandinavians had
invaded Novgorod's territory aided by the Catholic Orders, Alexander
had gained a great victory on the Neva, from which he is known in
history as Alexander Nevski (1240). Upon his return to Novgorod he had
a dispute with the vetche, and he left the city. After his departure
the territory of the Republic was invaded by the German Sword-bearers
who erected a fort on the Neva, captured Pskof, Novgorod's ally, and
plundered merchants within a short distance of the walls. The people
sent to Alexander Nevski, begging him to come to their rescue, and
after several refusals he consented. Alexander collected an army,
drove the Germans out of Pskof and their new fort, and at last (p. 070)
defeated them on the ice of Lake Peipus in 1242. This is known as the
Battle on the Ice. Alexander then returned to Novgorod where he was
received with honor and joy.

Andrew, the Grand Duke of Souzdal, Alexander's brother, refused to
recognize Bati's authority, whereupon a Tartar army ravaged his
territory for the second time. Novgorod, as we have seen, had escaped
the Tartar invasion, but when Alexander Nevski received a letter from
Bati, in which the khan said, "God has subjected many peoples to me,
will you alone refuse to recognize my power? If you wish to keep your
land, come to me; you will see the splendor and the glory of my
government." The duke thought it prudent to comply. He and his brother
Andrew went to Sarai, where honors were showered upon the hero of the
Neva. The two brothers were directed to visit the great khan, as their
father Iaroslaf had done. They did so; and the Mongol emperor
confirmed Andrew as Duke of Souzdal, but to Alexander's dukedom, he
added Kief and South Russia. They returned from the Far East in 1257.

VIII--RUSSIA UNDER THE MONGOL YOKE. (p. 071)

The Tartars did not interfere with the people, their institutions, or
religion, but they demanded tribute in t