Novgorod

Novgorod ('new-town'), a famous city of Russia, capital of a government, is situated on the Volkhof, near where it issues from Lake Ilmen, 110 miles SSE. of St Petersburg by rail. It is the cradle of Russian history. In 864, according to tradition, Rurik (a Varangian, apparently a Scandinavian) was invited hither by the neighbouring tribes, and from him begins the history of the country and the line of its sovereigns. As early as the 12th century it had important connection with the Hanse cities, and it became the market of north-east Europe. During the time of its prosperity the town was called Novgorod the Great, and had 400,000 inhabitants, and extended its sway to the White Sea and the river Petchora. Its government was a sort of republic. The greatness of Novgorod provoked the jealousy of the princes of Moscow, and in 1471 the czar Ivan III. nearly destroyed the town, bereft it of its liberties, and exiled the most influential citizens; and when Archangel was opened for English trading-vessels, but especially after the foundation of St Petersburg, its trade fell away, and the town rapidly declined, till now it is but the shadow of its former self. Of the existing ancient buildings the most remarkable are the church of St Sophia, founded in the 11th century, and built on the model of St Sophia at Constantinople, possessing some remarkable paintings and tombs; several others of more than thirty churches; and wall surrounding the Kremlin. There is a little trade, but hardly any manufactures. Pop. (1885) 20,000.—The government, which lies immediately east of that of St Petersburg, has an area of 47,236 sq. m. and a pop. (1885) of 1,213,058. It has some 3000 lakes and many marshes. Three-fifths of this area is covered with forest.