Aleksandr of Tver
A Russian prince whose brutal execution by the Mongols turned him into a martyr and symbol of resistance against foreign domination.
1301–1339 (age 38)·Prince of Tver (r. 1326–1327; 1338–1339)·Birthday: October 7
Biography
Aleksandr Mikhailovich ruled as Prince of Tver from 1326 to 1327 and again from 1338 to 1339. In 1327, a violent uprising against Mongol tax collectors erupted in Tver. Aleksandr likely did not instigate the rebellion but could not control it. The Golden Horde responded with a punitive army, joined by his rival Ivan Kalita of Moscow, that ravaged the principality. The Mongols blamed Aleksandr for the revolt. He was summoned to the Horde and executed in 1339. His death fueled Tver's long-standing defiance against Mongol authority. Aleksandr became a symbol of principled resistance, contrasting with the more compliant Muscovite princes who cooperated with the Horde's heavy yoke over the Russian principalities.
#1 When Aleksandr Was Born
The biggest hits of 1301
Aleksandr's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1301Born
1306Started school
1314Became a teenager
1317Could drive
1319Could vote
1322Turned 21
1331Turned 30
1339Died at 38
Key Achievements
- Served as Grand Prince of Vladimir, the preeminent title in medieval Russia, from 1326 to 1327.
- Ruled as Prince of Tver during a pivotal uprising against the Mongol Golden Horde in 1327.
- His martyrdom at the hands of the Mongols solidified his symbolic status as a figure of Russian resistance.
Did You Know?
His execution in the Mongol capital Sarai was ordered by Khan Uzbek and carried out by being torn limb from limb.
He was canonized as a faithful passion-bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The uprising during his rule led to the decline of Tver and the rise of Moscow as the leading Russian principality.
“The Horde's tribute collector is in my courtyard, and my people have sharpened their axes.”
