Reasons for the strengthening of Novgorod. Novgorod land was located between lakes Ilmen and Chudskoye, along the banks of the river. Volkhov, Lovat. Cities: Pskov, Ladoga, Rusa (now Staraya Russa), Torzhok, Velikiye Luki, etc. As a result of colonization, Finno-Ugric tribes - Karelians, Zavolochskaya Chud - became part of the Novgorod land. As Academician V. Yanin believes, Novgorod arose as an association-federation of three tribal settlements: Slavic and two Finno-Ugric - Meryan and Chud. Novgorod was one of the largest and richest cities in Europe. Stone fortifications were built here already in 1044. The city had a high level of improvement: wooden pavements appeared here earlier than in Paris, a drainage system drained groundwater. Novgorod was located on trade routes connecting the Baltic Sea with the Black and Caspian Seas. The city traded with Scandinavia and North German cities, which concluded agreements in the 14th century. trade and political union Gá nza. Archaeologists have found the remains of a German trading court in Novgorod. Novgorod exports included furs, honey, wax, salt, leather, fish, and walrus ivory. Novgorod's weak point: unfavorable conditions for agriculture, the need to import grain. Novgorod's main opponent, the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, often cut off its grain supplies.

Features of the Novgorod Republic . There was no monarchical princely system of power in Novgorod. Established here boyar feudal republic. The Novgorod boyars, unlike the Vladimir-Suzdal boyars, were not princely warriors by origin, but descendants of the local tribal nobility. They formed a closed group of genera. In Novgorod one could not become a boyar, one could only be born one. Boyar land ownership developed here early. Princes were sent here as governors. In addition to Novgorod, in 1348–1510. There was a Pskov Republic.

Control system. Novgorod was the first to separate from Kyiv. During the uprising 1136 the prince was expelled Vsevolod Mstislavich for “neglect” of city interests. Novgorod was considered a “stronghold of freedom.” The highest authority was veche – meeting of the male population of the city, body of state administration and self-government. The first mention in the chronicles of the veche dates back to 997. The veche consisted of 300–500 people, resolved issues of war and peace, summoned and expelled princes, adopted laws, and concluded treaties with other lands. It gathered on Yaroslav's Court - a square paved with cow jaws, or on Sophia Square. The veche was public - they voted by shouting, sometimes the decision was made through a fight: the winning side was recognized by the majority.

They were elected at the meeting mayor, thousand, bishop.

-Posadnik carried out city management, diplomatic negotiations, administered court, and controlled the activities of the prince.

-Tysyatsky- the head of the people's militia, he also held court in trade matters and resolved financial issues. They obeyed him Withó tskie who collected taxes (taxes).

-Bishop(from 1165 - archbishop), “lord”, was elected for life at the assembly and then confirmed by the metropolitan. He headed the church and the church court, managed the treasury and the “lord’s” regiment, and sealed international agreements with his personal seal.

-Prince of Novgorod- military commander, head of the squad, performed military and police functions, and maintained order in the city in peacetime. Since the time of the “calling of the Varangians,” Novgorod has been characterized by an invitation from the prince (remember Rurik). There was an agreement with the prince row"(agreement), which prohibited the prince from interfering in the affairs of city government, changing officials, attending the meeting, acquiring land and real estate, and settling in the city. The prince and his retinue lived in a country residence - on the Rurik Settlement, three kilometers from Novgorod. The veche had the right to expel the prince if he violated the “order” with the words: “prince, you are yours, and we are yours.” The expulsion of princes (as well as posadniks) was common. For the XII–XIII centuries. Princes in Novgorod changed 68 times. The famous Alexander Nevsky. In 1097–1117 was the prince of Novgorod Mstislav the Great, son of Vladimir Monomakh. When in 1102 the Prince of Kiev Svyatopolk Izyaslavich wanted to replace him with his son, the Novgorodians replied: “We don’t want Svyatopolk or his son... If your son has two heads, then send him to us!”

The territory of the republic was divided into regions - Pyatina. City of Novgorod r. Volkhov was divided into two sides: Sofia (Kremlin) and Trade, as well as ends(districts) and streets With Konchansky And street veche. The ordinary population participated in the Konchansky and Ulichansky veche, electing the elders of the ends and streets.

The veche system of Novgorod did not ensure true democracy. In fact, the republic was ruled by the Novgorod gentlemen(power elite) represented by the boyars and wealthy merchants. The positions of mayors and thousanders were held only by rich boyars (“ Council of gentlemen", or " 300 gold belts"). Novgorod can be considered aristocratic, oligarchic republic. Therefore, uprisings of the common people often broke out here (1136, 1207, 1229, etc.).

Galicia-Volyn land.

The Galician-Volyn principality is the southwestern outskirts of Rus'. Favorable climate, fertile soils, trade routes to Poland and Hungary contributed to its strengthening. Initially, Galicia and Volyn were separate principalities. After the death of Yaroslav the Wise, his grandson began to rule in Volyn Davyd Igorevich, and in Galicia – great-grandchildren Vasilko And Volodar. But the princely congress expelled Davyd for blinding Vasilko Terebovlsky after the Lyubech Congress. The Monomashich dynasty, the descendants of Vladimir Monomakh, strengthened in Volyn. The Galician principality achieved power under the grandson of Volodar Yaroslav Osmomysl(1119–1187; 1153–1157 gg.), married to the daughter of Yuri Dolgoruky Olga.

In 1199 he united the Galician and Volyn principalities Roman Mstislavovich Volynsky(1150–1205; 1199 – 1205 gg.). Roman sought to subjugate the rebellious Galician boyars. He said about the boyars: “If you don’t kill the bees, you can’t eat honey.” In 1203, Roman occupied Kyiv and took the title of Grand Duke. The Pope offered Roman the royal crown, but he rejected it. In 1205 Roman died in Poland in a battle with the Prince of Krakow Leshkom Bely. Strife began.

Roman's four-year-old son - Daniil (Danilo) Romanovich(1201 or 1204–1264; 1238 – 1264 yy.) was expelled with his mother from Galich, but, having matured, by 1238 he managed to regain Vladimir Volynsky, Galich, annexed the Kiev and Turovo-Pinsk principalities, founded the cities of Lvov and Kholm. In 1240, Daniil's possessions were destroyed by Batu. In 1254 he received the title of king from the Pope.

Thus, fragmentation, on the one hand, was a progressive phenomenon for economic development, but, on the other hand, it undermined the defense capability of Russia and led to the Mongol yoke.

Names | Rulers | Chronology Portal "Russia"

During greatest development reached north to the 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 Pyatina, which, in turn, from the second half XVI centuries were divided into halves (fives). The five division was superimposed on the earlier one - into volosts, counties (courts), graveyards and camps, and, according to chronicles, the foundations of this administrative division were laid in the 10th century by Princess Olga, who established graveyards and lessons in the Novgorod land. The Tale of Bygone Years defines it as “a great and abundant land.”

After the entry of the Novgorod land into the Russian state, the territorial division was preserved, and the territories from the end of the 15th century were called Pyatina, before Novgorod land was divided into lands, and in the 12th century into rows - which bore the same name as Pyatina - Votskaya land, Obonezhsky and Bezhetsky rows, Shelon, Dereva. In each Pyatina there were several courts (counties), in each court (county) there were several graveyards and volosts.

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The settlement of the territory of the Novgorod land began in the area of ​​the Valdai Upland since 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 - since the Neolithic.

It is traditionally believed that in the 6th century the Krivichi tribes came here, and in the 8th century, in the process of the Slavic settlement of the East European Plain, the Ilmen Slovenian tribe came. Finno-Ugric tribes lived on the same territory, leaving their memory in the names of numerous rivers and lakes. The interpretation of pre-Slavic toponymy as exclusively Finno-Ugric 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 of Scandinavians among the inhabitants of these first large settlements, traditionally called Varangians in ancient Russian (medieval) literary sources.

Demography

Story

Earliest period (before 882)

Novgorod land was one of the centers of education Old Russian state. It was in the Novgorod land that the Rurik dynasty began to reign, and arose public education, which received the name in historiography Novgorod Rus', Upper Rus', Volkhov Rus', from which it is customary to begin the history of Russian statehood [ ] .

As part of Kievan Rus (-)

At the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century (according to the chronicle dating in 882), the center of the Rurikovich state moved from Novgorod to Kyiv. In the 10th century, Ladoga was attacked by the Norwegian Jarl Eric. In 980, the Novgorod prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (Baptist), at the head of the Varangian squad, overthrew Prince of Kyiv Yaropolk. In the 990s, Novgorod refused to accept Christianity, and stood up for its faith with the sorcerer supreme over the Slavs, Bogumil Nightingale and Ugonyaem tysyatsky. Novgorod was forcibly baptized with inhuman cruelty “with fire and sword”: many Novgorodians were killed, and the entire city burned down. In -1019, the Novgorod prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise overthrew the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk the Accursed.

The greatest threat to Novgorod independence was posed by the Vladimir princes (who achieved strengthening of personal power in their principality after the defeat of the old Rostov-Suzdal boyars in 1174-1175), since they had in their hands an effective lever of influence on Novgorod. They captured Torzhok several times and blocked the supply of food from their “lower” lands.

The Novgorodians also undertook campaigns in North-Eastern Rus', in particular, even under the leadership of Vsevolod Mstislavich, on January 26, 1135 they fought at Zhdanaya Mountain, and in 1149, together with Svyatopolk Mstislavich, they ravaged the outskirts of Yaroslavl and left due to the spring flood, also as part of the struggle against Yuri Dolgoruky.

In 1392, the Peace of Niebuhr was officially signed in Novgorod by a delegation of Vendian cities.

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 Russian 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.

On May 25, 1613, an uprising begins against the Swedish garrison in Tikhvin. The rebellious townspeople recaptured the fortifications of the Tikhvin Monastery from the Swedes and maintained a siege there until mid-September, forcing Delagardie's troops to retreat. With the successful Tikhvin uprising, the struggle for the liberation of North-Western Rus' and Novgorod begins, ending with the signing of the Stolbovo Peace Treaty in 1617.

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 shopping center Europe, for many centuries it retained 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 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 Principality of Novgorod differed from and had its own unique political system. The republican form of government arose in the principality at the very beginning of the 12th 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 named 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 played national assembly- a veche formed after the expulsion of Prince Vsevolod. It had very broad powers: it declared war, made peace, and resolved completely different issues.

During the period of state fragmentation of Rus', completely the city of Novgorod has passed a special path. While on the main territory of the former country at this time the foundations were being laid state power, tendencies towards democracy were spreading in Novgorod. The different political culture that has developed there, as well as other value orientations residents were very different from the collective values ​​and traditions of the central government of Muscovite Rus'.

Novgorod, located in the north-west, was relatively protected from attacks by the Tatar-Mongols in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This, according to researchers, allowed the city to form a special version of the development of Russian civilization.

Territory of the Novgorod Principality

Novgorod land in its scale (13-15 centuries) was a huge state that could compete in territory with any European kingdoms. In addition to Novgorod itself, the Novgorod principality included the Pskov lands, Ladoga, Yuryev, Torzhok and many other territories. Through Novgorod, access was provided along the Neva to the Baltic Sea and along the Northern Dvina to the White Sea. In the south, the lands extended to Torzhok, Velikiye Luki and Volokolamsk. In the northeast, the Principality of Novgorod included the Urals. In these territories, cities such as Vyatka, Vologda, Pskov, etc. arose. What distinguished Novgorod from other principalities (central and southern) was that it faced Europe, protecting Russian borders from the aggression of Swedish and German feudal lords.

In the thirteenth century, the city of Novgorod already had its own rich legal and political culture. At the beginning of the ninth century, Yaroslav the Wise, refusing to pay tribute to Kyiv, laid the foundation for the independence and isolation of Novgorod.

In 1136, Novgorod experienced a popular uprising, the purpose of which was to remove the prince with a restriction of his rights, as well as to secure power for the mayor, who was to be elected at the veche. In addition, the Novgorod people demanded the right to remove and install princes at their own request. A special agreement prohibited the prince from distributing volosts, judging the people of Novgorod, trading with European countries (besides the Novgorodians themselves), distributing immunities (special privileges), and even hunting outside a certain urban area. The income of the princes was also limited. And finally, as had happened before in Europe, the entire princely court was evicted from the city to the “Rurik settlement”. This was done in order to limit the possibility of seizing city power by military means. The independence of the Novgorod principality came to an end in 1478, when it finally became part of the Moscow state.

Novgorod's possessions were located in the north-west of Russian lands (from the Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipsi in the west to the foothills of the Urals in the east; from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the source of the Volga in the south).

The Novgorod land was characterized by unfavorable climatic conditions, infertile soils, swamps, and huge forests.

Specifics geographical location largely determined the features of the Novgorod economy. The most important trade routes were located here Eastern Europe: the path “from the Varangians to the Greeks”; another way is through the river network to Volga Bulgaria, Khazaria and other countries of the East. All this contributed to the active development of foreign trade.

The special position of Novgorod within Kievan Rus was determined by the fact that it was from here that the Rurik dynasty came. From the 9th century a tradition has developed according to which Grand Duke Kiev, as the Novgorod governor, planted his eldest son in Novgorod, which ensured Kyiv’s control over the functioning of the most important trade artery.

During the time of Vladimir the Saint? from the tribute that came annually from the Novgorod territories went to Kyiv. Yaroslav Vladimirovich was the first to refuse to comply with this demand. From then on, the tribute collected from the subject territories began to remain in Novgorod and was used to support the prince and his administration.

In the 11th century The children of Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavich alternately visited the Novgorod table. But none of them created their own dynasty here. Longest at the turn of the 11th–12th centuries. Representatives of the princely house of Vsevolod Yaroslavich were in Novgorod. Thus, from 1097 to 1117 Mstislav the Great ruled in Novgorod.

After twenty years of his stay in the north-west, Mstislav Vladimirovich left for Southern Rus' in 1117, leaving his eldest son in Novgorod Vsevolod Mstislavich(1117–1136).

However, the princely dynasty in the Novgorod land never developed. This was facilitated events of the late XI - first half of the XII centuries.

After the death of his father in 1132, Vsevolod Mstislavich, at the request of his uncle, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaropolk Vladimirovich, went to the Pereyaslavl table. Pereyaslavl was then considered as the last step in the ascension to the Grand Duke's table. That's why younger brothers Mstislav Vladimirovich Yuri (Dolgoruky) and Andrey became worried, thinking that the childless Prince Yaropolk Vladimirovich intended his eldest nephew Vsevolod Mstislavich to take his place. A conflict occurred, as a result of which their father’s brothers, Yuri and Andrey, expelled Vsevolod Mstislavich, who had to return to the abandoned Novgorod table.

After the prince left, a veche was convened in Novgorod. The Novgorodians decided to expel the prince from the city for breaking his oath, but then nevertheless returned him to the Novgorod table. After this conflict, Vsevolod Mstislavich spent about 4 years in Novgorod. And in 1136 the situation repeated itself. Again, the Novgorodians, Pskovians and Ladoga residents gathered at a meeting in Novgorod and decided to expel the prince from the city. He was reminded of his past guilt, and also added new claims: he did not care about the population subject to tribute; was not distinguished by courage and bravery during two military campaigns against Suzdal (1134-1135).

In Novgorod, the principle of “liberty in the princes” won, acting according to which the Novgorodians invited candidates to the princely throne at their own discretion. Thus, conditions have arisen for the development of a unique political structure Novgorod land, which in scientific literature received the name “Novgorod republic”.
A major role in shaping the characteristics of the Novgorod land was played by the local boyars, who were financially independent.

The highest authority in Novgorod became veche, at which representatives were elected executive branch, the candidacy of the prince was considered, the most important issues of internal and foreign policy. Until now, there is no consensus among researchers about the composition of its participants: whether they were all free male residents of the city or only the owners of estates. Some believe that the veche was nominally a meeting of the owners of these urban boyar estates (no more than 500 people), who ruled the city and the entire land. Other researchers believe that Novgorod was a territorial community with the features of a pre-feudal democracy. At that time, all free members of this community were participants in veche meetings, regardless of their social affiliation.

The main official in the Novgorod administration was mayor;since the 80s XI century The position of Novgorod mayor was separated from the princely power and began to exist parallel to it. At first, posadniks were representatives of the Kyiv boyar aristocracy, appointed by the Kyiv Grand Duke. And from the second quarter of the 12th century. Novgorod boyars began to be elected to this position at the assembly. The mayor stood at the head of the Novgorod government, presided over the assembly, and was in charge of the citywide court and administration. In fact, representatives of several boyar families were elected mayors.

The second important person in city government was thousand. He headed the city militia, was in charge of tax collection and the commercial court. Since 1156, the post of Novgorod governor also belonged to the elective institutions bishop(since 1165 - archbishop). The Novgorod ruler managed the treasury, controlled foreign policy relations and the disposal of the land fund, and was the keeper of the standards of measures and weights.

Chosen at the meeting and invited to the city prince led the Novgorod army. His squad maintained public order in the city. He performed representative functions in other principalities and was a symbol of the unity of the Novgorod lands. But the situation Prince of Novgorod was unstable, since his fate very often depended on the decision of the veche meeting. From 1095 to 1304 On the Novgorod table, the princes changed at least 58 times.

Thus, in the Novgorod form of government one can notice three main elements: monarchical, republican and aristocratic. At the same time, it was the latter that prevailed.