NOVGOROD, or Novconon-VELIKI, (Great Novgorod). One of the oldest and most celebrated cities of Russia, capital of the govern ment of the same name. situated on both banks of the Volkhov, about two miles from Lake llmen and 120 miles south of Saint Petersburg (Map: Russia. D 3). It is divided by the Volk hov into two parts, of which that on the left hank, with the Kremlin, is known as Saint Sophia, while that or the opposite bank is called the commercial side. There is very little in the insignificant and somnolent town to remind one of the ancient Great Novgorod, with its vast wealth, great foreign trade, and highly developed republican institutions. The Kremlin is sur rounded by a stone wall dating from the four teenth century and occupies a considerable area. Within the walls are situated the eleventh-cen tury Cathedral of Saint Sophia. with a treasury of valuable relics, the twelfth-century Church of Saint Nicholas, and the Yaroslav Tower.
The churches of Novgorod are of the usual Rus sian style of architecture (see Aloscow), having numerous round cupolas and dark and profusely embellished interiors. In 1892 a fine, massive monument was erected at Novgorod to commem orate the one thousandth anniversary of the foundation of the Russian monarchy. There are two gymnasia. a theologieal seminary, a Rea/. schadc, and two museums of antiquities. Econom ically, Novgorod is insignificant. There is some manufacturing of paper, flour, glass. trimmed lumber, etc.. and agricultural products are ex ported to Saint Petersburg. A railway line. 45 miles long, connects with rchudovo on the Mos cow-Saint Petersburg line. Population, in 1897, 26,093.
llisTonv. The origin of Novgorod is usually connected with the story of the first appearance of the Varangians in Russia, and the town is sup posed to have been the residence of Rurik (862) (q.v.) and his successor Oleg. With the rise of Kiev (q.v.), .Novgorod became to some extent its dependency, and these relations continued until the end of the tenth century. In the eleventh century Novgorod was completely independent, electing its own princes. In the zenith of its prosperity the dominions of Novgorod the Great comprised the northern part of the present Russia above latitude 57° N., excluding Finland and the Baltic region. in its political institu tions Novgorod then presented a striking contrast to the other principalities of Russia. Without
an hereditary line of princes, and geographically isolated from the rest of the country, it was guided in the selection of its rulers chiefly by its economic interests. The supreme authority was the vyetche, or popular assembly, which was participated in by all freemen. This assembly elected the prince and the posadnik (mayor), as well as the commander of the army. At the height of its prosperity the city contained prob ably not fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, some au thorities placing the number as high as 400,000. The Church of Novgorod was essentially a native church. The archbishop was elected by the vyetche, and there was the closest intimacy be tween the State and the Church. Commerce was the chief occupation and was carried on by cor porations so as to embrace a very large part of the population. The advantageous location of the city rendered it well adapted for the trade with the Scandinavian and Ilanseatie cities. :Cow gorod joined the Hanseatic League about the middle of the fourteenth century. It contained many foreign merchants, or 'guests.' to whom were accorded special privileges. Hungarian and English coins circulated treel?.
In the middle of the thirteenth century Nov gorod was under the rule of the national hero Alexander Nevski (q.v.). It held out the long est. of Russian States against the tide of Mongol conquest, but was finally compelled to submit at the end of the thirteenth century. After the weakening of the Mongol power. Novgorod, al though politically independent, was often com pelled, for economic reasons, to take its princes from the House of Simla] (Vladimir). With the rise of the principalities of Moscow and Lithu ania, Novgorod became too weak to struggle against their encroachments, and was soon re duced to the necessity of paying tribute in order to retain its independence and republican institu tions. In 1478 it succumbed to the arms of the Muscovite ruler, Ivan III., and was deprived of its liberties. Many of the prominent families were transferred to MOSCOW' and replaced by families from the eapital. The inhabitants hav ing excited the wrath of Czar Ivan the Terrible. that monarch in 1570 wreaked a fiendish ven geance upon the city, putting thousands to the sword. This completed the downfall of Nov gorod.