Veliky Novgorod is a large and beautiful city located in the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation with a population of 222,594. For the courage, heroism and steadfastness of the inhabitants, Veliky Novgorod received the honorary title of “City of Military Glory.”
This article will focus on the history of the founding of the city of Veliky Novgorod. The year of formation, legends and other information related to this event will be considered. However, first, let's briefly get acquainted with the city itself and its main characteristics and attractions.
Geographical and climatic conditions
Before you know what year Veliky Novgorod was founded, you should find out exactly where it is.
The city is located on the large river Volkhov, the length of which reaches 224 kilometers. Not far from Novgorod (only six kilometers) is the picturesque lake Ilmen, whose area, depending on the water level, can reach two thousand kilometers.
How far is Veliky Novgorod from major cities of Russia (year of foundation, interesting facts and history ofwill be given below)? Novgorod is 552 kilometers from Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, and only 145 kilometers from St. Petersburg.
Due to its geographical location, the city is located in the temperate continental climate zone, characterized by frosty snowy winters and dry cool summers. The average winter temperature is about 10 degrees below zero, and the average summer temperature is about 18 degrees plus.
Industry and infrastructure
Regarding the economy of Veliky Novgorod (the year of foundation, who founded it and other historical reports will be given below), it should be noted that the main processing industry of the city is chemical production, as well as food, pulp and paper and printing.
Among the architectural sights of Novgorod, it is necessary to mention numerous ancient cathedrals, churches and monasteries, as well as the building of the Main Post Office and the ruins of a brewery.
What can be said about the date (year) of the founding of Veliky Novgorod?
Backstory
In short, the official year of foundation of Veliky Novgorod is 859 AD. However, there is a lot of controversy and discussion on this issue among competent world and national scholarly historians. Why?
The fact is that Veliky Novgorod (the year the city was founded was indicated above) is geographically divided by the Volkhov River into two parts - Sofia and Torgovaya. Such a territorial division had a hugeinfluence on the historical and economic development of the settlement. There are many historical reports about the confrontation between the inhabitants of the Sofia and Trade sides, expressed not only in rivalry, but also in open hostilities in the middle of the bridge of the common river.
Can it be considered the year of foundation of Veliky Novgorod (photos of the city are given in this article) the time when the very first settlements appeared on its modern territory? Most probably not. Although these ancient colonies date back to the 4th-5th millennium BC, they cannot be called unchanged and uninterrupted, since they have a fractional and chaotic character.
First permanent settlements
In the 8th century AD, Ladoga, a small village built by immigrants from Northern Europe, appeared on the territory of the modern city. According to archaeological excavations, the bulky log houses were inhabited by Scandinavians, supposedly Dutch.
At first it was an agricultural settlement of artisans. Later, the inhabitants of Ladoga began to engage in trade. According to historians, around this period of time, the village was captured by the Vikings.
In the 9th century AD, another settlement arose near Ladoga - Rurik's Settlement, based on the permanent site of the Ilmen Slovenes.
Gorodishche went down in history as the official residence of the Novgorod princes. According to the finds, Rurik and his squad could live both in Ladoga and in Gorodishche, ashow both of these villages were part of the Varangian (or Eastern) trade route.
Start of settlement
When did Veliky Novgorod appear? The year of foundation of the city (generally recognized) is 859 AD. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the first settlements on its territory arose at the end of the 9th or the middle of the 10th century.
Almost immediately after its foundation, the city became the second most important city in Kievan Rus. This state of affairs continued until 1478, when the Kievan state became subordinate to the Moscow principality.
As the modern toponymy of the Novgorod region shows, Novgorod was inhabited by Slavic, Finno-Ugric and B altic tribes.
How is the year of foundation of Veliky Novgorod reflected in official sources?
Discussions on a generally accepted date
Although the year 859 is considered to be the official year of the founding of Veliky Novgorod, this date is still not reliably correct and infallible. Why can you say that?
For example, according to the "Nikon Chronicle" (the largest monument of Russian chronicle writing of the 16th century AD), the year 859 is named the date of death of Gostomysl, the legendary Novgorod elder from the Ilmen Slovenes. It turns out that Veliky Novgorod already existed before this memorable event, that is, before 859.
According to The Tale of Bygone Years, written by the chronicler Nestor in the first half of the 12th century, Veliky Novgorod already existed by the time Rurik came to power in 862. According to the same source, the city was built by the Ilmen Slovenes immediately after theirglobal migration from the Danube. As you can see, from history, the year of the foundation of Veliky Novgorod should be considered an earlier date than 859.
Early references to the ancient settlement
Do other official historical sources mention the year of foundation of Veliky Novgorod (the description of the city itself was given at the beginning of the article)? Such records have not yet been found, but it is known for certain that by the 10th century AD, Novgorod occupied an important place in the life of Kievan Rus. Why can you say that?
In an Arabic source dating back to the 10th century, Veliky Novgorod is mentioned as the settlement of Ai-Slaviya, one of the three main cities of the Old Russian state.
In the historical and geographical treatise of Constantine Porphyrogenitus (Byzantine emperor) “On the management of the empire”, written in 949, Novgorod (or Nemogard) is also mentioned as one of the neighbors of the Byzantine Empire.
The city of interest to us was also mentioned in the Scandinavian sagas. It was described as Holmgard (island town) on the eastern bank of the Volkhov River.
Also, Veliky Novgorod is often mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle, as well as later epic works dating back to the 17th century, such as the epic about Novgorod Sadko and “Tales of Slovene and Rus and the city of Slovensk.”
Historic Center
As you know, Veliky Novgorod was formed from several settlements adjacent to each other, these are:
- Nerevsky end. Residential area located in the northern part of the Sofia side, on the left bank of the riverVolkhov. It was inhabited by the ancient Narova tribes or Finno-Ugric lay people. The first mention of the settlement is found in 1067 (“The Novgorod Fourth Chronicle”) and in 1172 (“The Novgorod First Chronicle”).
- Slavensky end. The district of the ancient city, which got its name from the ancient village of Slavna. Mentioned in chronicles since 1231, while information about Slavna can be found in written sources starting from 1105.
- The end of people (or Goncharsky). The area was located southwest of Detinets (the powerful fortress of Veliky Novgorod). Early references to this village date back to the 1120s (birch bark documents) and 1194 (numerous Novgorod chronicles).
“The Tale of Bygone Years”
What happened in the early stages of the foundation of Veliky Novgorod, according to this reliable and respected source?
First of all, the city is mentioned in connection with the election of three brothers to the principality over the Russians. The chronicle says that Rurik began to rule in Novgorod, and his brothers - Sineus and Truvor - got into possession of two other cities (Beloozero and Izborsk, respectively). It is noteworthy that the narrative explains the origin of the Novgorodians: “…from the Varangian family, and before that there were Slovenes.”
The message further says that Sineus and Truvor died, after which Rurik, who received all power over Ancient Russia, began to distribute princely allotments to his relatives and boyars.
The next mention of Novgorod refers to 1067, when the city was captured by the Polotsk prince Vseslav Bryachislavich and half burned or destroyed. Most of the inhabitants were taken into slavery.
After 50 years, the Novgorod land expanded its borders to small areas of the modern B altic States, Karelia, Finland, Obonezhye, up to the Ural Mountains.
The next mention of Veliky Novgorod was a message about a severe famine that prevailed in the village, because of which the locals had to eat linden leaves, birch bark, moss and horse meat. This information dates back to 1121.
History of the Novgorod Republic
Another name for the territory we are considering is Lord Veliky Novgorod. This medieval state existed for about 350 years, starting in 1136. At its best, Novgorod land included vast territories between the B altic Sea and the Ural Mountains, between the White Sea and the Western Dvina River.
How was this state formed? Ever since the beginning of the 11th century, Novgorod wanted to gain independence from Kievan Rus, since the boyars, having enlisted the support of the common people, refused to pay taxes to Kyiv and were eager to create their own army. Popular unrest ended with the expulsion of the local prince Vsevolod Mstislavovich, after which a republican form of government was established in the city. And although, starting from 1259, the Novgorod land fell into tax dependence on the Tatar-Mongol Horde, local princes sat on its throne, less often - Moscow and Lithuanian.
Political system
What is characteristic of the political system of the Novgorod state? Power in the republic was exercised by the prince, who was elected at the veche from the neighboring principalities. Such a ruler was responsible for the judicial system in his lands, as well as for defense and military power. He largely depended on the veche - the popular assembly of prominent city men.
Veche was endowed with great powers. It elected the prince and judged his actions, elected the head of the city and military commanders, created laws and regulations, established taxes and their sizes.
In addition to city posts and the people's assembly, the republic had a supreme chamber, or council of gentlemen, consisting of an archbishop, a posadnik, a thousandth and several elders.
The population was divided into: townspeople (who had the right to buy city lands), boyars (representatives of the upper class), living people (small landowners), merchants, black people (artisans, workers, small merchants), villagers (all kinds of peasants).
Economic relations
The main economic factor in the Novgorod principality was not land, but capital. And although most of the inhabitants of the state were engaged in agriculture, fishing and hunting, most of the relations were based on trade (both external and internal). Novgorod stood on the trade route from Scandinavia to Byzantium and was an important part of the “Varangian route”.
Besides this, the city was famous for its crafts. For example, about 215 houses were equipped here, whereiron was smelted by 503 domniks. The metal was processed by blacksmiths, the total number of which reached 130 people.
Also in the Novgorod principality they were engaged in s alt production, pearl mining, jewelry, locks. The city was famous for its woodworking, leather and shoe, iron ore craftsmen, as well as weavers, potters and other artisans.
Fall of the Principality
In 1478, the state was forcibly annexed to the Moscow principality. Many local boyars were executed, others were deported to Moscow lands and deprived of any privileges. Veche in Novgorod, as well as its administrative and political institution, was abolished.
As a conclusion
From all of the above it follows that Veliky Novgorod is an economically and politically important state structure in the history of the formation of the Russian state. The city has its own unique and inimitable history, significant dates and events, outstanding and famous personalities.
Throughout history, Novgorod, Kyiv and Moscow (as the capitals of three influential principalities) were united by complex political, economic and nationwide relations.
As for the dates of the emergence of these cities, the year of foundation of Veliky Novgorod and Kyiv is considered to be 859 and 482 years respectively (according to official and generally accepted data). The first mention of Moscow dates back to 1147 AD.
