| Grand Duchy of Novgorod Великая Герцогство Новгородаа Velikaya Gertsogstvo Novgoroda -  Grand Duchy in Russia - |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||
| Motto: "Старая Великая Гавань" "Staraya Velikaya Gavan" ("Old Great Haven") |
|||||
| Capital | Novgorod | ||||
| Official languages | Russian | ||||
| Ethnic groups | Russians (95%) | ||||
| Government | Local constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy | ||||
| - | Crown Duke | Dmitry I Fyodorovich | |||
| - | Head Minister | Miloslav Velikayev | |||
| - | Governor-General | Russlan Lvov | |||
| Population | |||||
| - | estimate | 1,000,300 | |||
The Grand Duchy of Novgorod (Russian: Великая Герцогство Новгорода, Velikaya Gertsogstvo Novgoroda) or Novgorod is a grand duchy of the Russian Empire. Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod.
Part of the culturally native "Rurikid" or "Ruthenian Belt", Novgorod is one of the most important Duchies in the Russian Empire. and is on of the cradles of Russian civilization. Some of the oldest Russian cities, including Veliky Novgorod and Staraya Russa, are located in the oblast. The historic monuments of Veliky Novgorod and surroundings have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition, the independent Grand Duchy of Novgorod (medieval Rus' state) is credited for having implemented one of the first and only democratic institutions in the pre-modern Russian world, before falling to the Grand Duchy of Moscow inder Ivan IV.
Novgorod linked the river routes of Baltic, Byzantium, Central Asian regions, and all parts of European Russia and flourished as one of the most important trading centres of eastern and northern Europe. It was part of the Hanseatic League which connected it to Central and Northern Europe. Novgorod was one of the few areas of Rus not affected by the Mongol invasions. It was also an important cultural center, and the majority of monuments preserved in Russia from the 11th through the 14th century are those standing in Veliky Novgorod.
During the Interwar Period, after decades of deglect, Emperor Cyril I embarked on a mission to preserve and modernize Novgorod to emphasize its importance in Russian history. People were encouraged to migrate to Novogord, and foreigners were encouraged to make investments in Novgorod. This continued well after World War II, where it recieved visitors, scholars, tourists and etc., from not only Eastern Europe and the Orthodox world, but even the Western nations touted Novgorod not only as a cradle of democracy, but a cradle of Russian history. The number of railways connecting it to other Russian cities also improved, and today, the Trans-Vostok Rail Lines operate in Novgorod.
History[]
Middle Ages[]
Novgorod is indicated in the chronicles as the site where Rurik settled and founded the Rurik Dynasty in 862. Subsequently, Rurik's successor, Oleg, moved the capital to Kiev, but Novgorod continued to play an important role until the 15th century. In 1136, Novgorod evicted the prince and became the center of the Novgorod Republic, which included the major part of what is currently northwestern Russia. It was an example of a medieval republic, in which decisions were taken by veche—a meeting of the city population—and the prince was elected. (The only other Russian city with a similar organization was Pskov.) Novgorod linked the river routes of Baltic, Byzantium, Central Asian regions, and all parts of European Russia and flourished as one of the most important trading centres of eastern and northern Europe. It was part of the Hanseatic League which connected it to Central and Northern Europe. Novgorod was one of the few areas of Rus not affected by the Mongol invasions. It was also an important cultural center, and the majority of monuments preserved in Russia from the 11th through the 14th century are those standing in Veliky Novgorod.
Novgorod Republic[]
Grand Duchy of Moscow & Tsardom of Russia[]
Towards the end of the 15th century Novgorod was defeated by the army of Ivan III, the prince of Moscow, and was included into the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In 1560, Ivan the Terrible, fearing treason, sent his army to sack the city. This event, known as the Massacre of Novgorod, had catastrophic consequences for the city, which lost the majority of its population and never recovered. Additionally, in the beginning of the 17th century, during the Time of Troubles, Novgorod was plundered by the Swedish army.
Modern Era[]
December 29 [O.S. December 18], 1708 Tsar Peter the Great issued an edict which established seven governorates. The present area of Novgorod oblast was a part of Ingermanland Governorate, which was renamed Saint Petersburg Governorate in 1710. In 1727, a separate Novgorod Governorate was established. It was subdivided into five provinces, and the current area of Novgorod Oblast was split between two of them—Novgorod and Velikiye Luki Provinces. In 1772, Velikiye Luki Province was transferred to newly established Pskov Governorate. In 1775, Novgorod Governorate was transformed to Novgorod Viceroyalty, and in 1777, Pskov Governorate was transformed to Pskov Viceroyalty. In 1796, both governorates were re-established. By the 1920s, most of the area of current Novgorod Oblast belonged to Novgorod Governorate.
Before the 19th century, the areas around Novgorod were considerably better developed than the areas which are currently located in the center and the east of the oblast. In 1851, Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway, the first long-distance railway in Russia, opened. It bypassed Novgorod as it was built on a straight line between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The railway construction lead to the development of the adjacent areas and eventually to creation of new towns such as Malaya Vishera, Okulovka, and Chudovo. Later on, the railroads between Sonkovo and Saint Petersburg, as well as between Bologoye and Pskov, and a number of connecting lines, were constructed.
Novgorod was the site of democratic factions of the White Army, and upon sensing a monarchist victory, many ended up joining the broader monarchist White Movement. The Battle of Novgorod ended up with a White victory.
However, the White Russian culture Novgorod was evidently very different - namely that it truly catered to native Slavic cultures, whereas the others were German-influenced, thanks to the large presence of Russo-Germans and Baltic Germans. Novgorod's "White" forces espoused pre-Christian Slavic influence to emphasize their Slavic heritage, and many didn't even use term "White".
Cyril the Reformer supported the restoration of native Slavic influence, criticizing Peter the Great's over-westernization policies. One of the biggest aspects within Novgorod was the re-establishment of "Perun cults", pagan and pre-Christian religious groups. Under Cyril, the Senate allowed for the formation of Novgorod as an independent Grand Duchy, basing the territorial re-structuring of post-civil war Russia to that of the Ancient Rus' days. Cyril even suggested the idea of making Novgorod the capital city of the Tsarist state.
Many linguists and artists from Novgorod became highly critical of Russian as it was, claiming it was too Latin and German-influenced, favoring the restoration of a uniquely Slavic Russian and replacing Germanic-influenced words with native Slavic words.
During the Interwar Era, liberals in Novgorod made due efforts to modernize the Grand Duchy, improving the railway system. Due to Novgorod's birthplace of democracy in Russia, progressives also made efforts to make Novgorod the culture capital city of the country. The public authorities supported the building of more schools, universities, and urban centers. By 1935, it became a popular location among scholars and historians for studies on Eastern European and Slavic history.
The Intewar Period saw a growth in the population of Novgorod, and its transformation into a modern city. The Grand Opera and Theater of Novgorod, built with the help of Weimar people, was opened in 1936.
World War II[]
During World War II, Novgorod was the site of bloody fight between Germany and Russia. In 1940-1941, the Polish and Russians were pushed out of Poland, as well as Belarus, and continually engaged in a Fighting Retreat. The retreating forces were ordered to stand their ground in Novgorod, as well as Smolensk and Petrograd and other key Russian cities of historical influence.
The 1st, 5th and 8th Army of Novogorod would link up with the retreating remnants of the other forces of the Western Front. General Boris Rezhukin was confident that the combined forces in and around Novgorod had sufficient supplies and manpower to stop the German invasion. In spite of inflicting large causalities in the invading Germans, this combined forces in and around Novgorod, once again, ended up on the losing side. The loss of the First Battle of Novogorod, as well as as Smolensk led the Senate to depose of Boris Rezhukin, and replace him with ????.
The Germans held Novgorod for less than a month, before reinforcements by the new Generalissmo were sent, to finish off the remaining German forces. From then on, the German offensives into Russia never recovered.
Cold War[]
During the Cold War, leaders continued to develop Novgorod into a major modern city. The Russians used prison labor to help build the city, as a means of cheap and affordable labor, and the city experienced significant population growth. Lake Ilmen became a significant tourist population in Novgorod, and one of the most visited among the Eastern European and Christian Orthodox bloc, receiving tons of visitors and tourists from Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and even Albania.
The population increased of Novgorod also affected that of other cities along Lake Ilkmen, namely Staraya Russa and Shimsk.
Tumultuous 1990s - present[]
During the Tumultuous 1990s, Novgorod remained fairly silent, and the majority of its people sided with the conservatives and Tsarists, opposing the leadership of Franko Korkunov, Pavel Grachev and Wolfgang Rasskazov. The United Royal Novgorod Guard (Объединенная Королевская Новгородская Гвардия) to route out liberal forces. The Army of Perun (Армия Перуна), was a native Slavic and Pagan-influenced paramilitary, aligned with the United Royal Novgorod Guard and other pro-monarchist and pro-government forces against the Democratic Forces.
Like in the first civil war, the native Slavic peoples of Novgorod formed distinct anti-democratic forces from the mainliner White monarchist forces.
Economy[]
Industry[]
As of 2014, industry, tourism and education was responsible for about 40% of the GNP of the oblast. The main industrial enterprises in the oblast are four chemical plants, all located in Veliky Novgorod and specializing mostly in production of fertilizers, a metallurgical plant, also in Veliky Novgorod, producing copper, and a plant in Borovichi producing refractory materials.
The main telecommunictions companies active in Novgorod are Suz-Com, Andropov Network. Anokih Tele-Industries and Star-Kom.
Transportation[]
Novgorod appeared as a site on one of the most important Middle-Age trade routes. The importance of waterways has considerably diminished since those days, but Lake Ilmen, the Volkhov River, and lower courses of main tributaries of lake Ilmen—the Lovat, the Msta, the Polist, and the Shelon, as well as Lake Seliger, remain navigable.
The Saint Petersburg – Moscow Railway crosses the oblast from southeast to northwest. The major train stations are Okulovka, Malaya Vishera, and Chudovo. In Chudovo, one railroad branches off south to Veliky Novgorod, and another one north to Volkhovstroy and eventually to Murmansk. Another railway line, connecting Sonkovo and Mga, runs parallel to the first one north of it. A line between Okulovka and Nebolchi makes a connection between the two. Additionally, Veliky Novgorod is connected by railway to Saint Petersburg and Luga. A railway crosses the south of the oblast as well, connecting Bologoye and Pskov via Parfino and Staraya Russa.
The Kushaverskoye peat narrow gauge railway for hauling peat operates in the Khvoyninsky District, and Tyosovo peat narrow gauge railway for hauling peat operates in the Novgorodsky District.
The road network is well developed within the oblast, though only a small number of roads cross borders with Tver Oblast west of Valday and Leningrad Oblast east of Lyubytino. One highway of federal significance, M10, which connects Moscow and Saint Petersburg, crosses the oblast, running through Valday, Kresttsy, and Veliky Novgorod (there is a bypass of Veliky Novgorod). Highways connect Veliky Novgorod with Pskov and with Velikiye Luki, among other destinations.
Novgorod International Airport and Krechevitsy Airport are both located around Veliky Novgorod, The former is an international airport, and the former is a domestic flight service.
Tourism & historical significance[]
Tourism and hospitality is one of Novgorod's most important economic revenue, as it is one of the most historical regions in Russia and origins of Russian civilization. The Grand Novgorod Hotel is one of Novgorod's most prestigious hostels, built in Russian neoclassical style architecture. The Wooden Hotel, is a more traditional Slavic-style hotel, and is known for ornate pre-Christian Slavic ambience.
Demographics[]
The great majority of Novgorod is of the Russian ethnicity, who form 95% of Novgorod. The others are Ukrainians, Belarusians, Germans and Mongols. As Novgorod is considered part of the "native Slavic belt", Novgorodians are very culturally aware, and while no law in Russia forebids migration of non-Slavs into Novgorod, it is heavily discouraged to migrate to Novogorod.
Princes from German royal houses marrying Novgorodian royal women must become Russian Orthodox and raise their children Russian, and inherit the house belonging to the Russian side.
Politics & nobility[]
Much like the others, the Grand Duchy's local ultimate Head of State is a Grand Duke, who by law, is a Rurikid. Below the Grand Dukes are the Duchal, Princely houses.
Novgorod is one of the places where the Boyar class is used, and title is indigenous to this region of Russia, although it has spread into other region with the migrations of people. Below the Boyars are the Counts, Barons and Pomenchiks.
Militarily, the Chairman-General is the head of military affairs, while the Head Minister is the head of civilian affairs.
Education[]
- Royal Novgorod University (Russian: Королевский Новгородский Университет, Korolevskiy Novgorodskiy Universitet) - multi-faceted university, specializing in agriculture
- Slavic Legion University (Russian: Университет Славянского Легиона, Universitet Slavyanskogo Legiona) - Liberal arts university geared towards native Slavic and Russian culture, one of the world's largest universities based on Slavic culture and history
- Old Great Russian Music School (Russian: Стараыа Великорусскаыа Музыкальнаыа Щколa, Staraya Velikorusskaya Muzykalʹnaya Shkola) - school of music specializing in native Russian and Slavic music
- Slavic School of Esotericism (Russian: Славянская Щкола Эзотерики, Slavyanskaya Shkola Ezoteriki) - unrecognized by the Imperial Bureau of Education, a school of occultism based on Perun Cults
- Combat School of Novgorod (Russian: Боыеваыа Школа Новгорода, Boyevaya Shkola Novgoroda) - university associated with the Imperial Russian Forces, geared towards mostly military students
Sports[]
Football, basketball, sport-shooting and tennis are the most popular sports in Novgorod. Royal Club Novgorod has two sports factions: a football and a basketball team that competes in the Russian Empire's various national sports organizations. The former competes in the National Football Federation, and the latter competes in the Royal National Basketball Federation.
| |||||||||||