Velikiy Novgorod » History
History
Novgorod - one of the most ancient cities of Russia located in its North-West, near the site where the Volkhov river takes its waters from Lake Ilmen, emerged as a political center of Slavic and Fino-Ugric tribes in the mid-9th century, while as a town it was formed in the middle of the 10th century.
The history of Novgorod is closely linked with all major stages in the life of Russian state. In the times, when the statehood of Rus was just in the making, the Novgorodians invited Scandinavian prince Rurik to keep law and order, thus giving birth to the prince Rurik dynasty that ruled over all Russian lands throughout more than 750 years.
The history of Novgorod is full of events. Here are the major ones, in chronological order:
859 - Novgorod is first mentioned in the chronicles in relation to the famous trading route "from the Varangians to the Greeks".
862 — Varangian Prince Rurik is invited to rule in Novgorod.
1019 — Prince Yaroslav the Wise grants Novgorod independence from Kiev and rights of a "free city".
1044 — Prince Vladimir starts building stone walls of the Kremlin.
1045 — the first stone cathedral of St. Sophia is founded.
1136 — Novgorod becomes "free in princes" and is now a republic ruled by veche.
1242 — Novgorodians, led by Prince Alexander Nevsky, win the Battle in Ice on the Chudskoye Lake against the Livonian knights.
1471 — Novgorodians loose to the Muskovites the battle on the Shelon' river; annexation of Novgorod to the Moscow kingdom begins.
1478 — the end of the Novgorod Republic.
1570 — Novgorod is defeated and pillaged by Ivan the Terrible.
1611-1617 — Novgorod is occupied by the Swedes.
1706 — the Likhoud brothers found the first Greek and Latin school in Novgorod.
1727 — Novgorod becomes a regional centre.
1862 — the Monument to the Millennium of Russia is opened.
1865 — Museum of the Society of the Antiquity Lovers is opened in Novgorod as the first provincial museum in the Russian Empire.
1941 — 1945 — Novgorod is occupied by the Nazis.
1951 — the first birch-bark scroll is found during the archaeological excavations.
1997 — Novgorod is awarded a Banner of Honor of the European Council for its achievements in economic and social development.
1999 — the historical name of Veliky Novgorod (Novgorod the Great) is returned to the city.