Novgorod the Great — a Birthplace of the Russian State and Democracy

The Novgorodian land used to refer to the vast areas of North-West and Northern Russia. In the 10th to 15th centuries, they were united under Novgorod the Great to form an undivided administrative and state entity. Today, the ancient Novgorodian lands would encompass the areas of Leningrad, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Novgorod oblasts, the Republics of Karelia and Komi, Nenetsia and a part of Vologda and Kirov oblasts, a part of Perm krai and Estonia.

The development of Novgorod as the future center of a great state began in Priilmenye in the mid-9th century, driven by the resumption of active trade relations between Europe and Asia. The key to the city prosperity was its economically favorable location. Situated in the central part of the trade route from the Baltics to Volga and connecting the countries of Northern Europe and the Arabic East, the city exchanged fir from Northern countries for fine Arabic silver. This trade became the foundation of centuries-long relations between the Baltics, Novgorod and Volga. As supposed by scholars, through the 8th to the 10th centuries, over 80,000 tons of silver, crucial to the economic growth of European countries, were transported to Europe over the lands of Russia. In view of the above-stated, you can say that the ancient history of the city was an early image of the future of Russia which would gradually occupy a central position in the Euarasian continent.

First mentioned in 859, Novgorod is referred to a group of European cities which uprose at that time in the north of the continent thanks to Vikings, Scandinavian warriors and merchants. The nearest counterparts of Novgorod on the Baltic Coast are Sweden, Danish, Polish and North German cities of the Viking age, like Birka, Hedebu, Volin, Truso. In addition to being one of the most important centers on Trans-European routes of the early Middle ages, Novgorod is also regarded a city of great historic significance due to its role in the Slavic expansion across Eastern Europe. By the 12th century, Ilmen and Novgorodian Slavs had already settled in great numbers in the Ilmen basin and continued the migration across the vast areas of North-Western and Northern Russia. This is how the foundations were laid for the territorial development of a colossal state stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains and from Murmansk to Torzhok.

In the mid-9th century, the Novgorodians invited the Varangian Prince Rurik to fulfill military, judicial and law-enforcement functions in the area. Rurik, which came with his own kin and personal guards or druzhina, became the first Novgorodian Prince and founded the Rurik dynasty which ruled all Russian lands for more than 700 years. This event, dated to 862, was seen as a starting point of the Russian history even by the scholarship before the Russian revolution.

In September, 1862, it was Novgorod which hosted the grandiose celebration of Rurik’s invitation and the Millenium of the Russian state. And, it was Novgorod which became a seat for erection of the magnificent monument dedicated to the pivotal events of the Novgorodian and All-Russian history.

The raid of Prince Oleg, Rurik’s voivode, in 882 became the second step towards the creation of the Russian state. Passing over from Novgorod to the south and reaching the capital of the Byzantium Empire, Constantinople, Oleg laid a new trade route known as the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. On this way Oleg managed to form a backbone of the state of Russia, going from Novgorod through Smolensk and to Kiev. From that time, Russia was divided into two poles: the northern pole centered in Novgorod and the southern pole with the center in Kiev. As the southern part of the new state required constant presence of guards and princes, princes of Novgorod moved from Priilmenye closer to the Byzantium frontiers.

Gaining unlimited control over new territories, Princes of Kiev still remained in service to Novgorod. Novgorod helped the illegitimate son of Prince of Kiev Svyatoslav, Vladimir enter the politics of Russia. With the Novgorodians’ support Vladimir was able to overcome the first political crisis, to capture Polotsk, Smolensk and Kiev and to become Grand Prince of Kiev in 980. In 988, Vladimir accomplished the ideological integration of the Russian lands into an integral state by cristianizing Russia.

Novgorod is also closely connected with another outstanding statesman of the Russian Middle ages – Yaroslav the Wise. Twice, in 1015 and 1019, with the help of the Novgorodians and their military forces, Yaroslav ascended the Kievan Grand Princely throne. In return for help, upon request of the Novgorodians, Prince Yaroslav promulgated the first code of laws Russkaya Pravda, which provided different social groups of Novgorod with protection tools against the arbitrary power of princes.

Besides, Yaroslav conducted administrative reforms and changed the boundaries of principalities and lands in Russia. In 1034, he deprived Pskov principality of its independent princely status and ceded the lands to the Prince and Bishop of Novgorod.

Located in the marshlands with wet climate conditions, Novgorod has always required special care of its citizens. In the early days of its existence, maintenance of city streets and drainage systems was an integral part of the city’s everyday life. The Novgorodians had been rapidly developing different self-government techniques until finally there was a complex but flexible and well-balanced system, known as Veche republic.

In 1136, the Veche consisting of the Novgorodians, the Pskovians and Ladozhanians, which were “inhabitants of the environs”, dismissed Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich and announced their right of “liberty in princes”.

From the second half of the 12th century, the administration of the city and its vast lands was gradually acquiring republican forms, and Novgorod was becoming one of the most economically developed and influential city-states of Europe. In the 13th century, the Novgorodian boyars started to elect posadniks, then tysyatskies who gradually enhanced the scope of their participation in the state politics. In 1193, the office of the Archbishop became elective. The plural Veche composed of party groups often decided, whether the prince deserved the throne. Now and again it dismissed and invited a prince several times a year. In the Yaroslavovo Dvorische, in the city districts (kontsy), in squares and streets the Novgorodians used to hold public assemblies taking decisions of citywide significance.

In the 15th century, two principalities began to struggle against each other for the reunification of the disintegrated Russia. These were a small Moscow principality and an immense Russian-Lithuanian state stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. In order to win the struggle, the states had to gain control over Novgorod. Although the Novgorodian boyarstvo, rich in lands and trade capital, was inclined to join Lithuania, the city folk voted for Prince of Moscow Ivan III. Finally, the oligarchy of boyars was defeated and in 1478, Novgorod was annexed to Moscow. This integration established the basis for the united Russian state and is considered the official date on which Moscow Russia came into existence.