Novgorod Republic: Map & History
The Novgorod Republic, formally known as Lord Novgorod the Great, was a city-state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries in northwestern Russia, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east.
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The Novgorod Republic, formally known as Lord Novgorod the Great, was a city-state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries in northwestern Russia, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east. Its capital was the city of Novgorod. The republic prospered as the easternmost trading post of the Hanseatic League, and its people were much influenced by the culture of the Byzantines, with the Novgorod school of icon painting producing many fine works. For much of its history, Novgorod was the center of Russian art and culture.
Modern Countries Once Part of Novgorod Republic
At its mapped extent, Novgorod Republic covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Novgorod Republic's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Novgorod Republic in Depth
History
The area of Novgorod was populated by various East Slavic tribes that were constantly at war with one another for supremacy. According to the 12th-century Primary Chronicle, in 859, the Varangians began to levy tribute on these tribes, who chased out the Varangians three years later. Due to their inability to govern and maintain peace, the tribes requested the return of the Varangians. In 862, the Varangian brothers Rurik, Sineus and Truvor were each "invited" to reign in Novgorod, Beloozero, and Izborsk, respectively, in what is now northwestern Russia. As a result, Novgorod is traditionally viewed as the birthplace of the Russian monarchy in Russian historiography.
Government
The city-state of Novgorod had developed procedures of governance that held a large measure of democratic participation far in advance of the rest of Europe. The city concluded a contract with the prince, who promised to uphold the city's ancient traditions, and the practice of inviting and dismissing princes from other principalities became firmly embedded by the 13th century. From this point on, medieval Russia was a loose conglomerate of principalities—ruled by princes from the same dynasty—alongside two republics: Novgorod and Pskov.
Military
Like other Russian states, the military of Novgorod consisted of a levy and the prince's retinue (druzhina). While potentially all free Novgorodians could be mobilised, in reality the number of recruits depended on the level of danger faced by Novgorod. The professional formations included the retinues of the archbishop and prominent boyars, as well as the garrisons of fortresses. Firearms were first mentioned in 1394, and in the 15th century, fortress artillery was used, and cannons were installed on ships.
Economy
The economy of the Novgorod Republic included farming and animal husbandry (e.g., the archbishops of Novgorod and others raised horses for the Novgorodian army), while hunting, beekeeping, and fishing were also widespread. In most of the regions of the republic, these different "industries" were combined with farming. Iron was mined on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Staraya Russa and other localities were known for their saltworks. Flax and hop cultivation were also of significant importance. Countryside products, such as furs, beeswax, honey, fish, lard, flax, and hops, were sold on the market and exported to other Russian cities or abroad.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Novgorod Republic (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Novgorod Republic Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Novgorod Republic appears, with the other states of the time.
Novgorod Republic Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,599,366 km² in 1471 CE.
Novgorod Republic: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Novgorod Republic exist?
The Novgorod Republic is dated to 1056 CE – 1481 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Novgorod Republic?
The capital of the Novgorod Republic was Novgorod.
How large was the Novgorod Republic at its peak?
At its peak in 1471 AD the Novgorod Republic covered about 1,599,366 km².
How did the map of the Novgorod Republic change over time?
The Novgorod Republic appears on 4 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1400 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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