Principality of Novgorod land geographical location. Great Novgorod Principality

25.09.2019

The Novgorod principality is one of the three largest principalities, along with Galicia-Volyn and Vladimir-Suzdal, that existed during the Ancient Rus'. Its mention in the chronicles is almost minimal, but its participation in history is incommensurable.

The capital of the principality is Veliky Novgorod, famous for its artisans and traders. Being one of the main centers of education and the largest trading center in Europe, for many centuries it maintained the status of a stronghold of the northern and southern borders.

The main cities of the Novgorod principality: Vologda, Torzhok, Staraya Ladoga, Polotsk, Beloozero, Rostov, Izborsk.

Geographical location

The natural and geographical conditions of the Novgorod principality were determined by its territorial location. Stretching for many kilometers, it occupied vast areas of the northern part of European Russia. The bulk of the land was located between Lake Ilmen and Lake Peipsi.

Most of it was covered by dense taiga forests, but along with them there was endless tundra. The territory where the principality was located was replete with an abundance of forests, lakes and swamps, which, coupled with harsh climatic conditions, made the soil poor and infertile. However, this was compensated by large reserves of wood and building stone, and the swamp soil was a real storehouse of iron ores and salts.

The Novgorod principality had access to many large river routes and seas, and lay nearby. All this provided excellent soil for the development of trade.

Political structure of the principality

The Novgorod principality differed from and in its unique political system. The republican form of government originated in the principality in the very beginning of XII century and persisted for several centuries, making it one of the most developed principalities. The absence of a ruling princely dynasty made it possible to maintain unity and avoid fragmentation. This historical period is called Republican.

But democracy in the Novgorod principality was elitist. Power was concentrated in the hands of several influential boyar families.

Big role in public role Veliky Novgorod was played by the people's assembly - the veche, formed after the expulsion of Prince Vsevolod. It had very broad powers: it declared war, made peace, and resolved completely different issues.

PRINCIPALITY OF NOVGOROD

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The territory of the Novgorod principality increased gradually. The Novgorod principality began with the ancient region of Slavic settlement. It was located in the basin of Lake Ilmen, as well as the rivers Volkhov, Lovat, Msta and Mologa. From the north, the Novgorod land was covered by the fortress-city of Ladoga, located at the mouth of the Volkhov. Over time, the territory of the Novgorod principality increased. The principality even had its own colonies.

Novgorod Principality in the XII – XIII centuries in the north it owned lands along Lake Onega, the Lake Ladoga basin and the northern shores of the Gulf of Finland. The outpost of the Novgorod principality in the west was the city of Yuryev (Tartu), which was founded by Yaroslav the Wise. This was Peipus land. The Novgorod principality expanded very quickly to the north and east (northeast). So, the lands that extended to the Urals and even beyond the Urals went to the Novgorod principality.

Novgorod itself occupied a territory that had five ends (districts). The entire territory of the Novgorod principality was divided into five regions in accordance with the five districts of the city. These areas were also called Pyatina. Thus, to the north-west of Novgorod was the Vodskaya Pyatina. It spread towards the Gulf of Finland and covered the lands of the Finnish Vod tribe. The Shelon Pyatina spread to the southwest on both sides of the Shelon River. Derevskaya Pyatina was located between the Msta and Lovat rivers, southeast of Novgorod. On both sides of Lake Onega to the northeast towards the White Sea was the Obonezhskaya Pyatina. Behind the Derevskaya and Obonezhskaya Pyatina, to the southeast was the Bezhetskaya Pyatina.

In addition to the indicated five pyatinas, the Novgorod principality included Novgorod volosts. One of them was the Dvina land (Zavolochye), which was located in the Northern Dvina region. Another volost of the Novgorod principality was the Perm land, which was located along the course of the Vychegda, as well as along its tributaries. The Principality of Novgorod included the land on both sides of Pechora. This was the Pechora region. East of Northern Urals Ugra was located. Within the Onega and Ladoga lakes there was the land of Korela, which was also part of the Novgorod principality. The Kola Peninsula (Tersky Coast) was also part of the Novgorod Principality.

The basis of the Novgorod economy was agriculture. The land and the peasants working on it provided the main income to landowners. These were the boyars and, of course, the Orthodox clergy. Among the large landowners there were also merchants.

On the lands of the Novgorod Pyatins, the arable system prevailed. In the extreme northern regions, cutting was maintained. The lands at these latitudes cannot be called fertile. For this reason, part of the grain was imported from other Russian lands, most often from the Ryazan principality and the Rostov-Suzdal land. The problem of providing bread was especially pressing in lean years, which were not uncommon here.

It was not only the land that fed us. The population was engaged in hunting for fur and sea animals, fishing, bee farming, salt development in Staraya Russa and Vychegda, iron ore mining in Vodskaya Pyatina. Trade and crafts were widely developed in Novgorod. Carpenters, potters, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, shoemakers, tanners, felt makers, bridge workers and other craftsmen worked there. Novgorod carpenters were even sent to Kyiv, where they carried out very important orders.

Trade routes from Novgorod passed through Northern Europe to the Black Sea basin, as well as from Western countries to countries Eastern Europe. In the 10th century, Novgorod merchants sailed on their ships along the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” At the same time, they reached the shores of Byzantium. The Novgorod state had very close trade and economic ties with European states. Among them was a large shopping mall Northwestern Europe Gotland. In Novgorod there was a whole trading colony - the Gothic court.
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It was surrounded by a high wall, behind which there were barns and houses with foreign merchants living in them.

In the second half of the 12th century, trade ties between Novgorod and the union of North German cities (Hansa) strengthened. All measures were taken to ensure that foreign merchants felt completely safe. Another merchant colony and a new German trading court were built.
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The life of trading colonies was regulated by a special charter (ʼʼSkraʼʼ).

Novgorodians supplied linen, hemp, flax, lard, wax, and the like to the market. Metals, cloth, weapons and other goods came to Novgorod from abroad. Goods passed through Novgorod from Western countries to Eastern countries and in the opposite direction. Novgorod acted as an intermediary in such trade. Goods from the East were delivered to Novgorod along the Volga, from where they were sent to Western countries.

Trade within the vast Novgorod Republic developed successfully. Novgorodians also traded with the principalities of North-Eastern Rus', where Novgorod purchased primarily grain. Novgorod merchants were united into societies (like guilds). The most powerful was the trading company “Ivanovo Sto”. Members of society had great privileges. From among its members, the trading society again chose elders according to the number of districts of the city. Each elder, together with the thousand, was in charge of all trade affairs, as well as the commercial court in Novgorod. The trade leader established weight measures, length measures, etc., and monitored compliance with accepted and legalized rules of trade. The ruling class in the Novgorod Republic were large landowners - boyars, clergy, merchants. Some of them owned lands that stretched for hundreds of miles. For example, the boyar family Boretsky owned lands that extended over vast territories along the Northern Dvina and the White Sea. Merchants who owned significant lands were called “living people”. Landowners received their main income in the form of quitrents. The landowner's own farm was not very large. Slaves worked on it.

In the city, large landowners shared power with the merchant elite. Together they formed the city patriciate and managed the economic and political life Novgorod.

Established in Novgorod political system was unique. Initially, Kyiv sent governor-princes to Novgorod, who were subordinate to the Grand Duke of Kyiv and acted in accordance with instructions from Kyiv. The prince-governor appointed mayors and mayors. At the same time, over time, the boyars and large landowners increasingly evaded subordination to the prince. So, in 1136 this resulted in a rebellion against Prince Vsevolod. The chronicle says that “Prince Vsevolod rode into the bishop’s courtyard with his wife and children, his mother-in-law, and the guard, guarding the guard day and night 30, the husband a day with weapons.” It ended with Prince Vsevolod being exiled to Pskov. And in Novgorod a people's assembly was formed - the veche.

The mayor or tysyatsky announced the gathering of the people's assembly on the trading side of the Yaroslavl courtyard. Everyone was summoned by the ringing of the veche bell. In addition, Birgochs and Podveiskys were sent to different parts of the city, who invited (clicked) the people to the veche gathering. Only men participated in decision making. Any free man(man) could take part in the work of the veche.

The powers of the veche were broad and significant. The veche elected a mayor, a thousand (previously they were appointed by the prince), a bishop, declared war, made peace, discussed and approved legislative acts, tried mayors, thousand, and sots for crimes, and concluded treaties with foreign powers. The veche invited the prince to the board. It also “showed him the way” when he did not live up to his hopes.

The Veche was the legislative power in the Novgorod Republic. The decisions made at the meeting had to be implemented. This was the responsibility of the executive branch. The heads of the executive power were the mayor and the thousand. The mayor was elected at the assembly. His term of office was not determined in advance. But the veche could recall him at any time. The posadnik was the highest official in the republic. He controlled the activities of the prince, ensuring that the activities of the Novgorod authorities corresponded to the decisions of the veche. The supreme court of the republic was in the hands of the posad. He had the right to remove and appoint officials. The prince headed the armed forces. The mayor went on a campaign as an assistant to the prince. In fact, the mayor headed not only the executive branch, but also the veche. He received foreign ambassadors. If the prince was absent, the armed forces were subordinate to the mayor. As for Tysyatsky, he was an assistant mayor. He commanded separate units during the war. IN peacetime Tysyatsky was responsible for the state of trade affairs and the commercial court.

The clergy in Novgorod was headed by a bishop. Since 1165, the archbishop became the head of the Novgorod clergy. He was the largest of the Novgorod landowners. The ecclesiastical court was under the jurisdiction of the archbishop. The archbishop was a kind of minister of foreign affairs - he was in charge of relations between Novgorod and other countries.

However, after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod was expelled, the Novgorodians elected a prince for themselves at a veche. Most often he was invited to reign. But this reign was greatly limited. The prince did not even have the right to buy this or that plot of land with his own money. The mayor and his people watched all his actions. The duties and rights of the invited prince were stipulated in the agreement concluded between the veche and the prince. This agreement was called “nearby”. According to the agreement, the prince had no administrative power. In essence, he was supposed to act as commander-in-chief. However, he personally could not declare war or make peace.
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For his service, the prince was allocated funds for his “feeding”. In practice, it looked like this: the prince was allocated an area (volost) where he collected tribute, which was used for these purposes. Most often, the Novgorodians invited the Vladimir-Suzdal princes, who were considered the most powerful among the Russian princes, to reign. When the princes tried to break the established order, they received a worthy rebuff.
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The danger to the liberties of the Novgorod Republic from the Suzdal princes passed after in 1216 the Suzdal troops suffered a complete defeat from the Novgorod troops on the Lipitsa River. We can assume that from that time the Novgorod land turned into a feudal boyar republic.

In the 14th century, Pskov split off from Novgorod. But in both cities the veche order lasted until they were annexed to the Moscow Principality. There is no need to think that an idyll was realized in Novgorod, when power belongs to the people. There should be no democracy (power of the people) in principle. Now there is not a single country in the world that could say that power in it belongs to the people. Yes, people take part in elections. And this is where the power of the people ends. So it was then, in Novgorod. Real power was in the hands of the Novgorod elite. The cream of society created a council of gentlemen. It included former administrators (mayors and tysyatsky stars of the Novgorod districts-ends), as well as the current mayor and tysyatsky. The council of gentlemen was headed by the Novgorod archbishop. The council met in his chambers when matters needed to be resolved. At the meeting, ready-made decisions were made, which were developed by the council of gentlemen. Of course, there were cases when the veche did not agree with the decisions proposed by the council of gentlemen. But there were not many such cases.

PRINCIPALITY OF NOVGOROD - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "NOVGOROD PRINCIPALITY" 2017, 2018.

PRINCIPALITY OF NOVGOROD

The territory of the Novgorod principality increased gradually. The Novgorod principality began with an ancient area of Slavic settlement. It was located in the basin of Lake Ilmen, as well as the rivers Volkhov, Lovat, Msta and Mologa. From the north, the Novgorod land was covered by the fortress-city of Ladoga, located at the mouth of the Volkhov. Over time, the territory of the Novgorod principality increased. The principality even had its own colonies.

In the 12th – 13th centuries, the Novgorod principality in the north owned lands along Lake Onega, the Lake Ladoga basin and the northern shores of the Gulf of Finland. The outpost of the Novgorod principality in the west was the city of Yuryev (Tartu), which was founded by Yaroslav the Wise. This was Peipus land. The Novgorod principality expanded very quickly to the north and east (northeast). So, the lands that extended to the Urals and even beyond the Urals went to the Novgorod principality.

In addition to the indicated five pyatinas, the Novgorod principality included Novgorod volosts. One of them was the Dvina land (Zavolochye), which was located in the Northern Dvina region. Another volost of the Novgorod principality was the Perm land, which was located along the course of the Vychegda, as well as along its tributaries. The Principality of Novgorod included the land on both sides of Pechora. This was the Pechora region. Yugra was located east of the Northern Urals. Within the Onega and Ladoga lakes there was the land of Korela, which was also part of the Novgorod principality. The Kola Peninsula (Tersky Coast) was also part of the Novgorod Principality.

On the lands of the Novgorod Pyatins, the arable system prevailed. In the extreme northern regions, cutting was maintained. The lands at these latitudes cannot be called fertile. Therefore, part of the grain was imported from other Russian lands, most often from the Ryazan principality and the Rostov-Suzdal land. The problem of providing bread was especially pressing in lean years, which were not uncommon here.

It was not only the land that fed us. The population was engaged in hunting for fur and sea animals, fishing, beekeeping, salt development in Staraya Russa and Vychegda, and iron ore mining in Vodskaya Pyatina. Trade and crafts were widely developed in Novgorod. Carpenters, potters, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, shoemakers, tanners, felt makers, bridge workers and other craftsmen worked there. Novgorod carpenters were even sent to Kyiv, where they carried out very important orders.

Trade routes from Northern Europe to the Black Sea basin, as well as from Western countries to Eastern European countries, passed through Novgorod. In the 10th century, Novgorod merchants sailed on their ships along the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” At the same time, they reached the shores of Byzantium. The Novgorod state had very close trade and economic ties with European states. Among them was the large trading center of Northwestern Europe, Gotland. In Novgorod there was a whole trading colony - the Gothic court. It was surrounded by a high wall, behind which there were barns and houses with foreign merchants living in them.

In the second half of the 12th century, trade ties between Novgorod and the union of North German cities (Hansa) strengthened. All measures were taken to ensure that foreign merchants felt completely safe. Another merchant colony and a new German trading court were built. The life of trade colonies was regulated by a special charter (“Skra”).

Trade within the vast Novgorod Republic developed successfully. Novgorodians also traded with the principalities of North-Eastern Rus', where Novgorod purchased primarily grain. Novgorod merchants were united into societies (like guilds). The most powerful was the Ivanovo Sto trading company. Members of society had great privileges. From among its members, the trading society again chose elders according to the number of districts of the city. Each elder, together with the thousand, was in charge of all trade affairs, as well as the commercial court in Novgorod. The trade leader established weight measures, length measures, etc., and monitored compliance with accepted and legalized rules of trade. The ruling class in the Novgorod Republic were large landowners - boyars, clergy, merchants. Some of them owned lands that stretched for hundreds of miles. For example, the boyar family Boretsky owned lands that extended over vast territories along the Northern Dvina and the White Sea. Merchants who owned significant lands were called “living people.” Landowners received their main income in the form of quitrents. The landowner's own farm was not very large. Slaves worked on it.

In the city, large landowners shared power with the merchant elite. Together they formed the city patriciate and controlled the economic and political life of Novgorod.

The political system that emerged in Novgorod was distinctive. Initially, Kyiv sent governor-princes to Novgorod, who were subordinate to the Grand Duke of Kyiv and acted in accordance with instructions from Kyiv. The prince-governor appointed mayors and mayors. However, over time, the boyars and large landowners increasingly shied away from subordination to the prince. So, in 1136 this resulted in a rebellion against Prince Vsevolod. The chronicle says that “Prince Vsevolod rode into the bishop’s courtyard with his wife and children, his mother-in-law, and a guard, guarding the guard day and night 30 men a day with weapons.” It ended with Prince Vsevolod being exiled to Pskov. And in Novgorod a people's assembly was formed - the veche.

The Veche was the legislative power in the Novgorod Republic. The decisions made at the meeting had to be implemented. This was the responsibility of the executive branch. The heads of the executive power were the mayor and the thousand. The mayor was elected at the assembly. His term of office was not determined in advance. But the veche could recall him at any time. The posadnik was the highest official in the republic. He controlled the activities of the prince, ensuring that the activities of the Novgorod authorities corresponded to the decisions of the veche. The supreme court of the republic was in the hands of the posad. He had the right to remove and appoint officials. The prince headed the armed forces. The mayor went on a campaign as an assistant to the prince. In fact, the mayor headed not only the executive branch, but also the veche. He received foreign ambassadors. If the prince was absent, then the armed forces were subordinate to the mayor. As for Tysyatsky, he was an assistant mayor. He commanded separate units during the war. In peacetime, the thousand was responsible for the state of trade affairs and the merchant court.

Thus, after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod was expelled, the Novgorodians elected a prince for themselves at the veche. Most often he was invited to reign. But this reign was greatly limited. The prince did not even have the right to buy this or that plot of land with his own money. The mayor and his people watched all his actions. The duties and rights of the invited prince were stipulated in the agreement concluded between the veche and the prince. This agreement was called "next". According to the agreement, the prince had no administrative power. In essence, he was supposed to act as commander-in-chief. However, he personally could not declare war or make peace. For his service, the prince was allocated funds to “feed” him. In practice, it looked like this: the prince was allocated an area (volost) where he collected tribute, which was used for these purposes. Most often, the Novgorodians invited the Vladimir-Suzdal princes, who were considered the most powerful among the Russian princes, to reign. When the princes tried to break the established order, they received a worthy rebuff. The danger to the liberties of the Novgorod Republic from the Suzdal princes passed after in 1216 the Suzdal troops suffered a complete defeat from the Novgorod troops on the Lipitsa River. We can assume that from that time the Novgorod land turned into a feudal boyar republic.

In the 14th century, Pskov split off from Novgorod. But in both cities the veche order lasted until they were annexed to the Moscow principality. One should not think that an idyll was realized in Novgorod, when power belongs to the people. There can be no democracy (power of the people) in principle. Now there is not a single country in the world that could say that power in it belongs to the people. Yes, people take part in elections. And this is where the power of the people ends. So it was then, in Novgorod. Real power was in the hands of the Novgorod elite. The cream of society created a council of gentlemen. It included former administrators (mayors and tysyatsky stars of the Novgorod districts-ends), as well as the current mayor and tysyatsky. The council of gentlemen was headed by the Novgorod archbishop. The council met in his chambers when matters had to be decided. At the meeting, ready-made decisions were made, which were developed by the council of gentlemen. Of course, there were cases when the veche did not agree with the decisions proposed by the council of gentlemen. But there were not many such cases.

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Despite the fact that after 882 the center of the Russian land moved to Kyiv, the Novgorod land managed to maintain its independence.

In 980, the Novgorod prince deprived of power Prince of Kyiv with the help of the Varangian squad;

In the second half of the 12th century, Vladimir Monomakh took various measures to strengthen positions central government in Novgorod land. In 1117, despite the discontent of the Novgorod boyars, Vsevolod Mstislavovich ascended the throne in Novgorod.

Novgorod and, located in the north-west, in the 12th century were part of Kyiv land. In 1348, Pskov, part of the Novgorod land, became a large trade and craft center and separated from Novgorod, becoming an independent republic.

State and political system of the Novgorod feudal republic

The main political feature of the Novgorod land in the 12th century was the republican form of government, unlike other Russian princely lands.

Supreme government agency Novgorod Republic was considered (parliament-meeting).

The Veche elected (expelled) princes, decided issues related to war and peace, drew up legislative acts and carried out trials over the leaders of the highest executive bodies state power.

The prince (usually from) was called upon to rule the veche. The prince was a symbol of the state. Together with the mayor, the prince performed judicial functions, appointed judges and bailiffs.

The archbishop is the head of the church, had some privileges, including in court, he was also the chairman of the Boyar Council, called “Ospoda” in Novgorod, and “Lord” in Pskov.

Posadnik was elected by the veche for a certain period of time, had certain judicial powers, and decided issues related to the life of the Novgorod Republic.

Economy of Novgorod land

Most of the population in Novgorod was engaged in agriculture. Until the 13th century, agriculture in the Novgorod land developed extremely slowly. This was facilitated by external factors: low yields, epidemics, death of livestock, robber raids. In the 13th century, clearing (a farming system based on cutting and burning forests) was replaced by a new three-field system, which was more efficient. The most produced grain here was rye. Other grains were also grown. Some types of vegetables were also grown. In the Novgorod waters there was fish, which was successfully sold. Beekeeping (honey farming) was developed. Thanks to the abundance in the Novgorod forests different types animals, Novgorod was considered a huge exporter of furs to Europe.

Culture of Novgorod land

Novgorodians used birch bark letters to transmit written information. Novgorod styles of architecture and painting are also widely known. The main religion here was Orthodoxy. The Novgorod language differed from the language of other Russian principalities, called the “Novgorod dialect”.

Fall of the Novgorod Republic

Since the 14th century, the Moscow and Tver principalities tried to subjugate Novgorod to themselves. The Novgorod supreme power was against the collection of tribute by Moscow and asked for support from Lithuania.

The Moscow prince, alarmed by the brewing Novgorod-Lithuanian alliance, accused Novgorod of treason and after the Battle of Shelon (1471), as well as his subsequent campaign against Novgorod in 1478, contributed to the annexation of the Novgorod Republic to. Thanks to this, Moscow inherited the previous relations of the Novgorod Republic with its neighbors. The territory of Novgorod land during the era of the Muscovite kingdom (16th - 17th centuries) was divided into 5 pyatyns: Vodskaya, Shelonskaya, Obonezhskaya, Derevskaya and Bezhetskaya. With the help of graveyards (a unit of administrative division), the geographical location of villages was determined, and the population and their property for taxes were counted.

On March 21, 1499, the son of Ivan 3 became the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. In April 1502, Vasily became co-ruler of Ivan 3, and after his death in 1505 - sole monarch.

Novgorod land(or Novgorod Land) - one of the largest territorial-state formations within the Old Russian state, and then the Moscow state, which existed until 1708 with its center in the city of Novgorod.

During greatest development reached White Sea and in the east it spread beyond the Ural Mountains. Covered almost the entire modern north-west of Russia.

Administrative division

Administratively, by the end of the Middle Ages, it was divided into pyatins, which in turn were divided into halves (pyatins), volosts, districts (courts), churchyards and camps, and according to the chronicles, this division was started in the 10th century by Princess Olga, who divided the Novgorod land into churchyards and installed lessons. The Tale of Bygone Years defines it as “a great and abundant land.”

Judging from the “Tale of Bygone Years” and archaeological data, by the time of Rurik’s arrival in 862, major settlements were already Novgorod (probably as a chain of settlements from the sources of the Volkhov and Rurik Settlement up to the Kholopye town, opposite Krechevitsy), Ladoga, Izborsk and possibly Beloozero. The Scandinavians probably called this particular territory Gardariki.

The Pyatin system was finally formed by the 15th century. In each Pyatina there were several courts (districts), in each court (district) there were several graveyards and volosts.

Pyatina: Vodskaya, near Lake Nevo ( Lake Ladoga); Obonezhskaya, to the White Sea; Bezhetskaya, to Msta; Derevskaya, to Lovat; Shelonskaya, from Lovat to Luga)

and Novgorod volosts: Zavolochye, along the Northern Dvina from Onega to Mezen, Perm - along Vychegda and up. Kama, Pechora - along the Pechora River to the Ural Range and Ugra - beyond the Ural Range.

Some territories of the region of late Novgorod colonization were not included in the pyatin division and formed a number of volosts that were in a special position, and the five cities with suburbs did not belong to any pyatin. The peculiarity of the position of these cities was that at first they were jointly owned by Novgorod: Volok-Lamsky, Bezhichi (then Gorodetsk), Torzhok with the Grand Dukes of Vladimir and then Moscow, and Rzhev, Velikiye Luki with the princes of Smolensk and then Lithuanian, when Smolensk was captured by Lithuania. Behind the Obonezhskaya and Bezhetskaya Pyatina to the northeast there was the volost of Zavolochye, or Dvinskaya land. It was called Zavolochye because it was located behind the portage - the watershed separating the Onega and Northern Dvina basins from the Volga basin. The flow of the Vychegda River and its tributaries determined the position of the Perm land. Beyond the Dvina land and Perm further to the northeast were the volost of Pechora on both sides of the river of this name, and on the eastern side of the northern Ural ridge there was the volost of Yugra. On the northern shore of the White Sea there was the volost of Tre, or Tersky coast.

In 1348, Pskov was granted autonomy by Novgorod in terms of choosing mayors, while Pskov recognizes the Moscow prince as its head and agrees to elect persons pleasing to the Grand Duke for the Pskov reign. Since 1399, these princes have been called Moscow governors. Vasily II is seeking the right to appoint Pskov governors at his own discretion, and they take an oath not only to Pskov, but also to the Grand Duke. Under Ivan III, the Pskovites renounced the right to remove the princes appointed to them. Since 1510, Pskov has been the patrimony of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III.

Check-in

The settlement of the territory of the Novgorod land began in the area of the Valdai Upland from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic times, along the border of the Valdai (Ostashkovo) glaciation, and in the north-west of the Ilmen region, in the area of the future territorial center - from Neolithic times.

In the time of Herodotus, about 25 centuries ago, the lands from approximately the Baltic to the Urals were completely or partially mastered by androphages, neuros, melanchlens (Smolyans, Budins, Fyssagetae, Irki, northern Scythians in the Volga-Kama region, which are often localized depending on the Issedons.

Under Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. e. these lands were controlled by the Wends, Stavans, Aors, Alans, Boruski, royal Sarmatians and more than a dozen other large and small nations. Possibly, the continuation of the Roxolans, Rosomons (guard of the ruler of Scythia and Germany), Thiuds (Chud, Vasi-in-Abronki, Merens, Mordens and other peoples along the Balto-Volga route in the 4th century AD were part of the power of Germanaric. The descendants of these peoples were partly included in the ethnic groups noted by medieval Russian sources.

In the initial part of the “Tale of Bygone Years” in the Laurentian Chronicle of 1377, there is an opinion of a medieval chronicler about the more ancient settlement of peoples:

Also here the main actions of the epic “The Tale of Sloven and Rus and the City of Slovensk” and the epic about Sadko take place.

Archaeologically and through the study of toponymy, the presence of migratory so-called Nostratic communities is assumed here, from which Indo-Europeans stood out several thousand years ago in the area south of the Ilmen region ( Indo-European languages in particular - the future Slavs and Balts) and Finno-Ugric peoples. This multiethnicity is confirmed by ethnogenetics and genogeography.

It is traditionally believed that in the 6th century the Krivichi tribes came here, and in the 8th century, during the Slavic settlement of the East European Plain, the Ilmen Slovenian tribe came. Finno-Ugric tribes lived on the same territory, leaving a memory of themselves in the names of numerous rivers and lakes, although the interpretation of Finno-Ugric toponyms exclusively as pre-Slavic is probably erroneous and is questioned by many researchers.

The time of Slavic settlement is dated, as a rule, by the type of mound groups and individual mounds located on this territory. Pskov long mounds are traditionally associated with the Krivichi, and hill-shaped mounds with the Slovenes. There is also the so-called Kurgan hypothesis, based on which various assumptions are possible about the ways of settling this territory.

Archaeological research in Staraya Ladoga and Rurik Settlement shows the presence among the inhabitants of these first large settlements, including Scandinavians, traditionally called in ancient Russian (medieval) literary sources Varangians.

Demography

Archaeologically and through the study of toponymy, the presence here of migratory hypothetical so-called Nostratic communities is assumed, of which several thousand years ago, in the area south of the Ilmen region, Indo-Europeans (Indo-European languages in particular - the future Slavs and Balts) and Finno-Ugrians stood out. This multiethnicity is confirmed by ethnogenetics and genogeography.

In addition to the Slavic population, a noticeable part of the Novgorod land was inhabited by various Finno-Ugric tribes, who were at different levels of culture and stood in different relationships to Novgorod. Vodskaya Pyatina, along with the Slavs, was inhabited by Vodya and Izhora, who have long been in close connection with Novgorod. Em, who lived in southern Finland, was usually at enmity with the Novgorodians and was more inclined to side with the Swedes, while the neighboring Karelians usually stuck to Novgorod. Since ancient times, Novgorod has come into conflict with the miracles that inhabited Livonia and Estland; The Novgorodians have a constant struggle with this miracle, which later turns into a struggle between the Novgorodians and the Livonian knights. Zavolochye was inhabited by Finno-Ugric tribes, often called the Zavolotsk Chud; Later, Novgorod colonists rushed to this region. The Terek coast was inhabited by Lapps. Further in the northeast lived the Permyaks and Zyryans.

The center of Slavic settlements was the area around Lake Ilmen and the Volkhov River, where the Ilmen Slovenes lived.

Story

Earliest period (before 882)

Novgorod land was one of the centers of formation of the Russian state. It was in the Novgorod land that the Rurik dynasty began to reign, and a state formation arose, the so-called Novgorod Rus, from which it is customary to begin the history of Russian statehood.

As part of Kievan Rus (882-1136)

After 882, the center of the Russian land gradually shifted to Kyiv, but the Novgorod land retained its autonomy. In the 10th century, Ladoga was attacked by the Norwegian Jarl Eric. In 980, the Novgorod prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (the Baptist), at the head of the Varangian squad, overthrew the Kyiv prince Yaropolk; in 1015-1019, the Novgorod prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise overthrew the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk the Accursed.

In 1020 and 1067, the Novgorod land was attacked by the Polotsk Izyaslavichs. At this time, the governor - the son of the Kyiv prince - had even greater powers. In 1088, Vsevolod Yaroslavich sent his young grandson Mstislav (son of Vladimir Monomakh) to reign in Novgorod. At this time, the institution of posadniks appeared - co-rulers of the prince, who were elected by the Novgorod community.

In the second decade of the 12th century, Vladimir Monomakh took a number of measures to strengthen the position of the central government in the Novgorod land. In 1117, without taking into account the opinion of the Novgorod community, Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was placed on the Novgorod throne. Some boyars opposed this decision of the prince, and therefore they were summoned to Kyiv and thrown into prison.

After the death of Mstislav the Great in 1132 and the deepening tendencies of fragmentation, the Novgorod prince lost the support of the central government. In 1134 Vsevolod was expelled from the city. Returning to Novgorod, he was forced to conclude a “row” with the Novgorodians, limiting his powers. On May 28, 1136, due to the dissatisfaction of the Novgorodians with the actions of Prince Vsevolod, he was taken into custody and subsequently expelled from Novgorod.

Republican period (1136-1478)

In 1136, after the expulsion of Vsevolod Mstislavich, republican rule was established on the Novgorod land.

During times Mongol invasion Novgorod lands were not conquered by Rus'. In 1236-1240 and 1241-1252 Alexander Nevsky reigned in Novgorod in 1328-1337. - Ivan Kalita. Until 1478, the Novgorod princely table was occupied mainly by Suzdal and Vladimir princes, then by Moscow Grand Dukes, and rarely by Lithuanian princes, see Novgorod princes.

The Novgorod Republic was captured and its lands annexed by Moscow Tsar Ivan III after the Battle of Shelon (1471) and the subsequent campaign against Novgorod in 1478.

As part of the centralized Russian state (since 1478)

Having conquered Novgorod in 1478, Moscow inherited its previous political relations with its neighbors. The legacy of the period of independence was the preservation of diplomatic practice, in which Novgorod's northwestern neighbors - Sweden and Livonia - maintained diplomatic relations with Moscow through the Novgorod governors of the Grand Duke.

In territorial terms, the Novgorod land during the era of the Muscovite kingdom (XVI-XVII centuries) was divided into 5 pyatitins: Vodskaya, Shelonskaya, Obonezhskaya, Derevskaya and Bezhetskaya. The smallest units of administrative division at that time were churchyards, by which the geographical location of villages was determined, the population and their taxable property were counted.

Reign of Vasily III

On March 21, 1499, the son of Tsar Ivan III Vasily was declared Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. In April 1502, he became the Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir and All Rus' autocrat, that is, he became co-ruler of Ivan III, and after the death of Ivan III on October 27, 1505, he became the sole monarch.

Reign of Ivan the Terrible

Russo-Swedish War 1590-1595
Oprichnina, Novgorod pogrom
Ingria

Troubled times. Swedish occupation.

In 1609, in Vyborg, the government of Vasily Shuisky concluded the Vyborg Treaty with Sweden, according to which the Korelsky district was transferred to the Swedish crown in exchange for military assistance.

In 1610, Ivan Odoevsky was appointed governor of Novgorod.

In 1610, Tsar Vasily Shuisky was overthrown and Moscow swore allegiance to Prince Vladislav. A new government was formed in Moscow, which began to swear in other cities of the Moscow state to the prince. He was sent to Novgorod to take the oath of office and to protect him from the Swedes, who appeared at that time in the north, and from the gangs of thieves I. M. Saltykov. Novgorodians and, probably, led by Odoevsky, who was constantly in good relations with the Novgorod Metropolitan Isidore, who had great influence on the Novgorodians, and, apparently, himself enjoyed respect and love among the Novgorodians, they agreed not earlier to let Saltykov in and swear allegiance to the prince than to receive from Moscow a list of the approved letter of the cross; but having received the letter, they swore allegiance only after they took a promise from Saltykov that he would not bring Poles with him into the city.

Soon a strong movement against the Poles arose in Moscow and throughout Russia; At the head of the militia, which set itself the task of expelling the Poles from Russia, was Prokopiy Lyapunov, who, together with some other persons, formed a provisional government, which, having taken over the administration of the country, began to send out governors to the cities.

In the summer of 1611, the Swedish general Jacob Delagardie and his army approached Novgorod. He entered into negotiations with the Novgorod authorities. He asked the governor whether they were enemies or friends of the Swedes and whether they wanted to comply with the Treaty of Vyborg, concluded with Sweden under Tsar Vasily Shuisky. The governors could only answer that it depended on the future king and that they had no right to answer this question.

The Lyapunov government sent voivode Vasily Buturlin to Novgorod. Buturlin, having arrived in Novgorod, began to behave differently: he immediately began negotiations with Delagardie, offering the Russian crown to one of the sons of King Charles IX. Negotiations began, which dragged on, and meanwhile Buturlin and Odoevsky had disagreements: Buturlin did not allow the cautious Odoevsky to take measures to protect the city, allowed Delagardi, under the pretext of negotiations, to cross the Volkhov and approach the very suburban Kolmovsky monastery, and even allowed Novgorod trading people to supply the Swedes with various supplies.

The Swedes realized that they seemed very opportunity capture Novgorod, and on July 8 they launched an attack, which was repelled only due to the fact that the Novgorodians managed to burn the settlements surrounding Novgorod in time. However, the Novgorodians did not last long under the siege: on the night of July 16, the Swedes managed to break into Novgorod. Their resistance was weak, since all the military men were under the command of Buturlin, who, after a short battle, withdrew from the city, having robbed the Novgorod merchants; Odoevsky and Metropolitan Isidore locked themselves in the Kremlin, but, having neither military supplies nor military men at their disposal, they had to enter into negotiations with Delagardie. An agreement was concluded under which the Novgorodians recognized the Swedish king as their patron, and Delagardie was allowed into the Kremlin.

By mid-1612, the Swedes occupied the entire Novgorod land, except for Pskov and Gdov. Failed attempt take Pskov. The Swedes stopped hostilities.

Prince Pozharsky did not have enough troops to fight both the Poles and the Swedes, so he began negotiations with the latter. In May 1612, Stepan Tatishchev, the ambassador of the Zemstvo government, was sent from Yaroslavl to Novgorod with letters to the Novgorod Metropolitan Isidore, the boyar Prince Ivan Odoevsky and the commander of the Swedish troops, Jacob Delagardie. The government asked Metropolitan Isidore and Boyar Odoevsky how they were doing with the Swedes? The government wrote to Delagardie that if the king of Sweden gives his brother to the state and baptizes him into the Orthodox Christian faith, then they are glad to be with the Novgorodians in the same council. Odoevsky and Delagardie replied that they would soon send their ambassadors to Yaroslavl. Returning to Yaroslavl, Tatishchev announced that there was nothing good to expect from the Swedes. Negotiations with the Swedes about Karl Philip's candidate for Moscow Tsar became the reason for Pozharsky and Minin to convene the Zemsky Sobor. In July, the promised ambassadors arrived in Yaroslavl: abbot of the Vyazhitsky monastery Gennady, Prince Fyodor Obolensky and from all Pyatina, from the nobles and from the townspeople - one person at a time. On July 26, the Novgorodians appeared before Pozharsky and declared that “the prince is now on the road and will soon be in Novgorod.” The ambassadors’ speech ended with the proposal “to be with us in love and unity under the hand of one sovereign.”

Then a new embassy of Perfilius Sekerin was sent from Yaroslavl to Novgorod. He was instructed, with the assistance of the Novgorod Metropolitan Isidore, to conclude an agreement with the Swedes “so that the peasantry would have peace and quiet.” It is possible that in connection with this, the question of electing a Swedish prince recognized by Novgorod as king was raised in Yaroslavl. However, the royal election did not take place in Yaroslavl.

In October 1612, Moscow was liberated and the need arose to choose a new sovereign. Letters were sent from Moscow to many cities of Rus', including Novgorod, on behalf of the liberators of Moscow - Pozharsky and Trubetskoy. At the beginning of 1613, a Zemsky Council was held in Moscow, at which a new tsar, Mikhail Romanov, was elected.

The Swedes left Novgorod only in 1617; only a few hundred inhabitants remained in the completely devastated city. During the events of the Time of Troubles, the borders of the Novgorod land were significantly reduced due to the loss of lands bordering Sweden in the Treaty of Stolbovo in 1617.

As part of the Russian Empire

Novgorod province

In 1708, the territory became part of the Ingermanland (since 1710 St. Petersburg province) and Arkhangelsk provinces, and since 1726 the Novgorod province was allocated, in which there were 5 provinces: Novgorod, Pskov, Tver, Belozersk and Velikolutsk.

Notes

The concept of “Novgorod land” is sometimes not always true (depending on historical period), include the areas of Novgorod colonization on the Northern Dvina, Karelia and the Arctic.

Period political history The Novgorod land, starting from the coup of 1136 and the sharp limitation of the role of the prince, until the victory of the Moscow prince Ivan III over the Novgorodians in 1478, is usually called by most Soviet and modern historians - "Novgorod Feudal Republic".