Novgorod, as we have said, had alone escaped from these degradations.
Her Prince Alexander was son of Yaroslaf, the Grand Prince who perished
in the desert on his way home. At the time of the invasion Alexander
was leading an army against the Swedes and the Livonian Knights in
defense of his Baltic provinces. It was Latin Christianity _versus_
Greek, and by a great victory upon the banks of the Neva he earned
undying fame and the surname of _Nevski_. Alexander Nevski is
remembered as the hero of the Neva and of the North; yet even he was
finally compelled to grovel at the feet of the barbarians. Novgorod
alone had stood erect, had paid no tribute and offered no homage to the
Khan. At last, when its destruction was at hand, thirty-six years
after the invasion, Nevski had the heroism to submit to the inevitable.
He advised a surrender. It needed a soul of iron to brave the
indignation of the republic. "He offers us servitude!" they cried.
The _Posadnik_ who conveyed the counsel to the _Vetché_ was murdered on
the spot. But Alexander persisted, and he prevailed. His own son
refused to share his father's disgrace, and left the state. Again and
again the people withdrew the consent they had given. Better might
Novgorod perish! But finally, when Alexander Nevski declared that he
would go, that he would leave them to their fate, they yielded, and the
Mongols came into a silent city, passing from house to house making
lists of the inhabitants who must pay tribute.

Then the unhappy Prince went to prostrate himself before the Khan at
Saraï. But his heart had broken with his spirit. He had saved his
state, but the task had been too heavy for him. He died from
exhaustion on his journey home (1260).

On account of internal convulsions in the Great Tatar Empire, now