:''For other cities named
Novgorod see
Novgorod (disambiguation).''
Novgorod (''Но́вгород'') is a city in North-Western
Russia. Since 1998 the official name of the city has been
Velikiy Novgorod (''Great Novgorod''). It is the capital of
Novgorod Oblast. The city lies along the
Volkhov River just below its outflow from
Lake Ilmen. Population:
ca. 290,000.
It is not to be confused with
Nizhny Novgorod, on the
Volga River.
History
The exact year in which the city was founded is not clear; the written record is ambiguous. One source mentions it as an existing city as of 854, another as of 859.
The
Varangian name of the city
Holmgard (Holmgård, Holmegaard) is mentioned in
Norse Sagas as existing substantially earlier, but it is impossible to separate the historical facts from the surrounding myth. Later in history, Holmgard referred only to the stronghold inside the city (Riurikovo Gorodische, named after
Rurik). Archeological data suggests that the Gorodische, the residence of the
Knyaz (Prince), dates from the middle of
9th century, but the town itself dates from end of the 9th century. By the middle of
10th century, Novgorod had become a fully developed medieval city.
Cathedral of St. Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of God in Novgorod was built up in 1045
During the
Middle Ages, Novgorod was one of the largest cities of
Ruthenia. During the
Kievan Rus period, it was the second most important center in the nation and the center of the lucrative fur trade. The sacking of
Kiev and many of the other Russian cities by the
Mongols greatly elevated Novgorod's position, and it became a powerful independent
city state. It gained control of a vast swath of territory in northern Russia and was a center of trade. The city was far less autocratic than the southern Ruthenian cities; the Prince was elected by a council of nobles, also known as
Novgorod Veche. The term "veche" is being revived in modern Novgorod. The most important figure in Novgorod, besides the Prince, was the
Posadnik, an official elected by the Veche from the city's
aristocracy. For example, the Novgorod court was formally presided over by the Prince, but his verdicts had to be confirmed by the Posadnik to become binding.
The city's downfall was a result of its inability to feed its large population, making it dependent on the
Vladimir-Suzdal region for grain. The main cities in this area,
Moscow and
Tver, used this dependence to gain control over Novgorod. Eventually
Ivan III annexed the city to
Muscovy in 1478. Novgorod remained a powerful city, however, until
Ivan the Terrible sacked the city and slaughtered thousands of its inhabitants in 1570.
Sister Cities
See also
External links
Category:Cities and towns in Russia
Category:Kievan Rus
Category:Russian history
Category:Viking Age
Category:World Heritage Sites in Russia
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