[History] History of the People of Novgorod

[the Black Prince]

Author: the Black Prince
Original Thread: Not Available

History of the People of Novgorod

Early Russian history is very hard to determine. Very few clear records survive of the time, and those that do often paint confusing and sometimes contradicting pictures of the period before tsarist Russia. Before the time of Ivan III also known as Ivan the great, Russia was not in fact one kingdom as seen in the game. Ivan ruled just after the game ends in 1453 and marries the niece of the last Byzantine emperor.

Before the rule of Ivan there appears to have been several kingdoms in what is now eastern European countries. Novgorod was possibly the most advanced and superior of these grand principalities, which appear to have formed a loose confederation. Lithuania, Khazar and Muscovy, Vladimir (Vladimir seems to appear as Livonia in the game, south of Lithuania) and Kiev are the other major players. Some of the other provinces in the game (Chernigov and Ryazan also were minor factions) Ivan III appears to be of Novgorotion descent, but became grand prince of Muscovy and annexed Novgorod and surrounding duchies before declaring himself leader of Russia.

The early princes sometimes co operated and at other times were at war, mostly at war. Another key fact is the use of the Russian word varangian which means Viking. Much of the early Russian and Finnish nobility are listed as being of varangian descent, and the names such as Oleg and Helski seem to bear this out. The name varangian is not to be confused with the varangian guard of Byzantium who though Viking/Russian in makeup where not varangians in the Russian meaning of the word. The Russians also seem to have had much contact with the poles or the Polovetsians. As well as this the Russians of course had extensive contacts with the Mongols of the golden horde.



Also note that much is known of the term Kremlin thanks to cold war James Bond style novels which paint images of the Kremlin as the centre of soviet power. In ancient times the word Kremlin simply means fortress or more accurately citadel.



The history of Russia therefore begins with varangian expansion from Scandinavia through Finland and into Novgorod. This period is known as the time of the Kievan Rus (Rus of Kiev) and began in 859ad till about 1240. Due to the proximity of Byzantium, Kievan Rus were more advanced than the northerners and subjugated Khazar. The first recorded dynasty is of the Rurikov dynasty of Novgorod. This is a varangian (Viking) dynasty and the dynasty founded the city of Novgorod.

Midway through 950s Kiev appears to have subdued Khazar and added it to the “empire” as it was; this was still under Viking leadership.

980-1015 is the life of St Vladimir and he converts Novgorod to Christianity. In 1016 a joint force of Novgorod and Byzantine forces capture khazar. Principality of Vladimir is founded around this time, named after the saint.

From this period onwards records become more complete starting with the rule of Yaroslav the wise 1019 – 1054, who founded the first school in Novgorod. During his reign the first real laws are passed and there is a schism between eastern and western Catholicism leading to Roman catholic and orthodox churches.

The first grand prince of Novgorod was Vladimir Monomakh, who died in 1125, and is believed to be born in 1092, elected in 1095?!?

1125 – 1157 sees the reign of Yuri Dolgoruki, who founds the city and Kremlin of Moscow as well as revising the law.

1185 -1204 this is the time of war between Russian forces led by varangians against Poland, also during this time the Russians signed treaties with the Germans.

1212-1237 is a turning point in Russian history. This is the reign of Yuri II and in 1223 the Mongols invaded. The Mongols crossed the Volga River, laying siege to various cities as they came across, them, Ryazan, Moscow, Chernigov Khazar, Lithuania and Vladimir all fell before the horde. Novgorod was the one principality that was never conquered by force of arms. They were forced to pay tribute to the golden horde. Finally the horde turned to Kiev, attempted to capture it intact, as it was the mother of all Russian cities. However the city was sacked and the Mongols had completed the only successful winter invasion of Russia. The hordes were now poised to move on into Hungary and Poland.





1240 onwards – the Appanage Period.

Alexander Nevski is here! Grand prince of Novgorod and son of the last Kievan (king leader prince whatever)

Nevski led Russian forces to victory against the Teutonic knights and Swedes in the west and defined Russia’s borders. He also reduced the size and domination of the Mongol tartar occupation. Despite this Alexander had to repeatedly prostrate himself before the khan, to keep his people safe, but was neither liked at home be3cause he agreed to the Mongol taxes. He died on returning from the khanate to Novgorod, after supplicating himself (again) before the khan.

After the Mongols had dominated Russia and turned their attention to the southern and western countries, Russia was pretty much left alone. The Grand Princes, were for the most part able to keep their titles and their, jobs. However very little actually happened during the occupation. There was no money for building projects or military expansion. It was during this time that Muscovy or Moscow began to grow in importance, so much so that the patriarch of the orthodox church moved here, making it the spiritual capital of Russia.

The yoke of the Mongols was not shaken off until midway/late into the 1300s while Muscovy was growing in power, Lithuania subjugated Kiev. There were now 3 main centres of Russia, Muscovy, Novgorod and Lithuania. Dmitri Donskoi became grand prince of Muscovy and began fortifying the city. He then led his forces against the Mongols, deeming himself strong enough to defeat them, he was right. Though the city was of Moscow was sacked by the Mongols in reprisal. By 1430, the disintegration of the horde had begun, and the grand principalities began to assert their independence of Mongol rule. Ivan III (the Great) came to the muscovite throne in 1471; he assimilated Novgorod into Muscovy, defeated the Horde, and ended Muscovite dependence on the horde. His descendants complete the assimilation of the other Russian principalities in preparation for the time if imperial Russia. The first imperial tsar was Peter the Great, a Romanov, but here are account ends.

Much of this is confusing I know. At times I refer to Novgorod princes, others to Lithuanian, Kievan, and muscovite. The reason is I don’t actually know who was who. The names of “rulers unless specified could be from anywhere, but were the dominant prince of the time! Until Ivan the Great Russia was not unified, and therefore a history of Russia should really be separate histories of the various Russian principalities. However this information is not available to me, or wasn’t at the time of writing. Much of the information is only available in Russian, a language I can only speak a little, and read not at all, I cannot read the script! You may know more about this history than I do, and can help fill the gaps, if there are any glaring mistakes then please don’t hesitate to correct me, and I’ll make the necessary changes and resubmit this!

the Black Prince, various sources, special thanks to Garion Ivanov aka Gorgon.