Named for Novgorod prince Aleksandr Yaroslavich (1220–1263), astute politician and skilled military leader of Russian troops who defended northwestern Russia from annexation by Swedish and German feudal lords. He was named Nevskij for his victory over Swedish troops at the Neva River in 1240, and he is also famous for his defeat of Teutonic knights at Chudskoe Lake in 1242. (M 30097) _ _.