The most ancient cities of Russia: a list. What is the oldest city in Russia? Ten oldest cities in Russia

The question of which city in Russia can be called the oldest is still open. There are various hypotheses various studies, but there are no comprehensive data.

According to some sources, I managed to compile a list of the ten oldest cities in Russia:

0. Derbent - A medium-sized city that is part of the Republic of Dagestan. Date of foundation - the end of the 4th millennium BC. e.
1. Veliky Novgorod - Small in population regional center. The date of foundation is 859.
2/3/4. - Medium size city. Included in Vladimir region. Year of foundation - 862
2/3/4. Rostov the Great is the same age as the city of Murom, a small city included in Yaroslavl region. In 1995, the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve was included in the collection of especially valuable objects. cultural heritage peoples of Russia.
2/3/4. Belozersk (first name - Beloozero). The same age as Rostov the Great. Small town. Year of foundation - 862
5. Smolensk - Big City, the regional center of the Smolensk region. The date of foundation is 863.
6. Pskov - Small in number of the regional center. The year of foundation is 859.
7/13 Uglich - First mentioned in the annals in 1148, however, some local sources provide other information: 937, 947, 952 and other years.
7/8. Trubchevsk is a small town in terms of population. The year of foundation is 975.
8/9. Bryansk is a regional center. The city was founded in 985.
9/10/11/12 - Regional center. The date of foundation (one of the versions) is 990.
10/11/12 - A small town, which is part of the Vladimir region. Date of foundation - 999, or 1024.
10/11/12 Kazan - Regional center, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The date of foundation is 1005.
11/12/13 Yaroslavl is a large regional center. The date of foundation is 1010.

It is believed that the most ancient city in Russia is Derbent. It existed before there was Ancient Russia, and its approximate age is 5000 years. However, in the composition Russian state this city began to enter only in 1813. Now Derbent belongs to the Republic of Dagestan as part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

However, the oldest native Russian can rightly be considered a city of Russia Velikiy Novgorod . This city was founded in 859 and is the progenitor of Christian faith. On the left bank of the Volkhov River in Novgorod is one of the most beautiful kremlins Russia.

The ten oldest cities in Russia include two cities that are part of the Vladimir region. According to some sources, Suzdal was founded in 999 and also claims to be among the ten most ancient Russian cities.

Murom It is considered the third oldest city in Russia, along with Rostov the Great and Belozersk. The first written mention of him gives "The Tale of Bygone Years". From the chronicle, it becomes clear that Murom got its name from the ancient Finno-Ugric tribe "Muroma", which once lived in the Oka basin. The first prince of Murom was Gleb. Back in 988, he received Murom as an inheritance from the hands of his father, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. Murom Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery is one of the oldest in Russia.

Vladimir - one of the most beautiful cities in Russia, which stands on the banks of the Klyazma River. According to recent studies by local historians, according to information from a number of chronicle sources, Vladimir-on-Klyazma was founded by Vladimir Svyatoslavich Monomakh in 990. The most ancient inhabitants of this region were the Finno-Ugric tribes (VI-VII centuries), some of which were subsequently assimilated by the Slavs.

Another ancient city Suzdal it is first mentioned in the chronicle when it speaks of the uprising of the Magi in 1024. According to other studies, Suzdal was first mentioned in written sources under the year 999. It is believed that the city arose on the site of the most ancient agricultural and trade and craft settlements, which, there is every reason to believe so, appeared here no later than the 9th century. Now Suzdal is a city-reserve, which is included in gold ring Russia. by abundance architectural monuments and the integrity of his appearance, he knows no equal.

If we talk not only about cities, then we can recall another ancient locality- this is the village of Staraya Ladoga, which until 1703 was a city. In 2003, the 1250th anniversary of Staraya Ladoga was celebrated, during which the village was positioned as the "ancient capital of Northern Russia."

What is the oldest city in Russia? This question is very common among scientists, since they still cannot come to a single answer. Moreover, even archaeologists with all the possibilities and prospects also cannot come to a specific solution. There are 3 most common versions that tell about which one is the most ancient in Russia.

Derbent - the oldest city in Russia

The most common version on the topic of the most ancient cities of Russia is reduced to Derbent, which first became known thanks to the annals of the 8th century BC. Of course, there is no exact date, but there is one “but” in this version. At the time of the emergence of this city, there was no Kievan Rus, not Russian Empire.

The settlement about which in question, until recently it could not be called a city, and it was not part of Russia until the conquest of the Caucasus. Based on these statements, there are many doubts about whether Derbent is really the most ancient city of Russia. It is worth noting that in our time there are not so few supporters of such an assertion.

If speak about ancient name of this city, it sounds like the Caspian Gates. This city was first mentioned by Hecateus of Miletus (geographer Ancient Greece). During its development, the city was repeatedly destroyed, stormed, and declined. But, despite this, in its history there are still periods of real prosperity. Nowadays, you can see a large number of museums here. This city is a popular tourist destination.

The oldest Russian city - Veliky Novgorod

The next version is more ambitious, and it comes down to the city of Veliky Novgorod. Almost every native inhabitant of this city is sure of this statement.
The date of foundation of Veliky Novgorod is 859. This city, which is washed by the Volkhov River, is the ancestor of Christianity in Russia. A large number of architectural monuments, as well as the Kremlin itself, remember the old rulers of the state. Supporters of this version insist that the city of Novgorod was a city of Russia at all stages of its development. Also important factor is the question of calculating the specific age of this city.

Old Ladoga is a contender for the title of the most ancient city in Russia

Most of the historians who study the most ancient cities of Russia are inclined to the third version: the oldest city is Stary Ladoga. Nowadays, Ladoga has the status of a city, and the first mention of it can be attributed to the middle of the 8th century. It is worth noting that on the territory of the city you can even see the preserved tombstones, the date of foundation of which is 921.

Already in the 9th-11th centuries, Ladoga was a port city where various ethnic cultures (Slavs, Finns and Scandinavians) came into contact. On site modern city Merchant caravans gathered and there was an active trade. In the annals, for the first time, Ladoga is mentioned among the ten most ancient cities of Russia under the year 862.

It is worth noting that the President of Russia plans to nominate this city for the title of UNESCO monument (world heritage). To this end, the President decided to conduct additional historical research environs of Ladoga. On the territory of the city, the oldest church has been preserved, where, according to scientists, the descendants of Rurik, famous in the history of Russia, were baptized.

In other words, today the list of ancient cities of Russia is Veliky Novgorod, Stary Ladoga, Derbent. There will be much more debate around this issue until scientists find solid evidence in favor of one or another option.

Video: Derbent. The most ancient city of Russia

Read also:

• 

  Many scientists have long been interested in the question of the emergence of the ancient Russian state. So, when exactly Ancient Russia appeared, it is still impossible to say for sure. Most scientists boil down to the fact that the formation and development of the ancient Russian state is a process of gradual political

• 

  Life is part of the physical, as well as social life human, which includes the satisfaction of material and various spiritual needs. In this article we will try to reveal the topic "unusual life of the peoples of the north."

• 

  It is worth noting that social order The ancient Russian state can be called quite complex, but already here the features of feudal relations were visible. At this time, feudal ownership of land began to form, which led to the division of society into classes - feudal lords and,

• 

  Australopithecus is the name of the higher great primates who moved with two legs. Most often, Australopithecus is considered to be one of the subfamilies of the family called hominids. The skull of a 4-year-old cub, found in the South

• 

  It is no secret that the inhabitants of the North were mainly engaged in fishing, hunting forest animal etc. Local hunters shot bears, martens, hazel grouse, squirrels and other animals. In fact, the northerners went hunting for several months. Before the trip, they loaded their boats with various edible

• 

  Indigenous peoples are peoples who lived on their lands before the period of time when state borders began to appear. In this article, we will consider which indigenous peoples of Russia are known to scientists. It is worth noting that the following peoples lived on the territory of the Irkutsk region:

What is the most ancient city of Russia and what is the most ancient city of Russia? This question is very common among most scientists, as they still cannot come up with a single answer.

On the this moment, even archaeologists find it difficult to answer this question with all their capabilities. In total, three most common versions are now distinguished, which tell about the most ancient city in Russia.

Derbent is the most ancient city in Russia

For the first time, this city became known thanks to the old chronicles of the 8th century BC. Most scientists call Derbent is the most ancient city of Russia and this is the most common version. There is no exact date of origin of the city, but there is amazing facts the fact that at the time of the creation of this city, neither the Russian Empire nor Kievan Rus yet existed.

Until recently, no one could call this settlement a city, and it was not part of Russia until the Caucasus was conquered. Therefore, at the moment there are many doubts about the statement whether Derbent is really oldest city Russia.

For the first time, the geographer of Ancient Greece, Miletus Hecateus, recalls this city. Behind long time of its existence, the city was repeatedly subjected to decline, assault and destruction. But despite all this, in history there are many periods of the real heyday of the city. Today Derbent is very popular and famous tourist center, here you can see a huge number of museums.

Veliky Novgorod - the oldest Russian city

This version is more ambitious, it says that The oldest city in Russia is Veliky Novgorod. Almost every resident of this city is sure of this version. 859 is the date of foundation of Veliky Novgorod. This city is the ancestor of Christianity in Russia, it is washed by the Volkhov River. Many who support this version insist that this city at all stages of its development was a city of Russia.

Old Ladoga is one of the contenders for the title of the oldest city in Russia

Many scientists who have been studying the most ancient cities of Russia for a long time claim that the oldest city in Russia is Old Ladoga. The city was first mentioned in the 8th century. In the 9th-11th centuries, this city was a port city. On the site of the modern city, trade was actively developing, various merchant caravans gathered. It is also worth noting that in the chronicles Ladoga is one of the ten most ancient cities in Russia in 862.

For centuries, as historians note, “the main type of settlements has been transformed: from unprotected settlements located in low places to settlements in high, naturally protected places.” However, experts admit that some of these settlements did not have a permanent population and were in the nature of shelters.

Early urban formations of the 9th-10th centuries, basically, fit within the limits of small fortresses - detintsy. The appearance of urban settlements - settlements of artisans and merchants - is found not earlier than the end of the 10th century. A number of ancient Russian cities were the main settlements of one or another East Slavic tribe, the so-called breeding centers. The almost complete absence of written sources for the 7th-8th centuries. and chronicle evidence for the IX-X centuries. do not allow us to establish at least an approximate number of ancient Russian cities of that era. So, according to the mentions in the annals, a little more than two dozen cities can be identified, but their list is certainly not complete.

It is difficult to establish the dates of the founding of the early ancient Russian cities, and the first mention in the annals is usually given. However, it should be borne in mind that at the time of the annalistic mention, the city was an established settlement, and more exact date its foundation is determined by indirect data, for example, based on archaeological cultural layers excavated on the site of the city. In some cases, archaeological data contradict chronicles. For example, for Novgorod, Smolensk, which are mentioned in the chronicles under the 9th century, archaeologists have not found cultural layers older than the 11th century. However, priority in dating is given to written annalistic sources.

At the end of the X - the first half of the XI century. many of the largest trade and craft centers disappear or fall into decay. However, some continue to exist, but undergo changes, both torographic - settlements are transferred over short distances - and functional. If a before the city were monofunctional, now they are beginning to combine the functions of trade and craft and princely administrative centers and centers of the local (in the past - tribal) district.

From the 11th century begins a rapid growth in the number of urban population and the number of ancient Russian cities around the existing city centers. It is noteworthy that the emergence and growth of cities in the XI-XIII centuries. also occurs to the west - in the territories of modern, and. There are many theories about the reasons for the massive emergence of cities. One of the theories belongs to a Russian historian and connects the emergence of ancient Russian cities with the development of trade along the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This theory has its opponents, who point to the emergence and growth of cities not only along this trade route.

economy

Archaeological excavations in Russian cities of the 9th-12th centuries. confirm the constant connection of citizens with agriculture. Vegetable gardens and orchards were an indispensable part of the economy of the townspeople. Great importance the farm had animal husbandry - archaeologists found bones of many domestic animals in the cities, including horses, cows, pigs, sheep, etc.

Handicraft production was well developed in the ancient Russian cities. In his capital studies, based on a deep study of material monuments, he singles out up to 64 craft specialties and groups them into 11 groups. Tikhomirov, however, prefers a slightly different classification and questions the existence or sufficient prevalence of some of them.

The following is a list of specialties that are the least controversial and are recognized by most professionals.

• blacksmiths, including nailsmiths, locksmiths, boilermakers, silversmiths, coppersmiths;
• gunsmiths, although the existence of this specialty is sometimes questioned, but the term can be used here to generalize the various artisans associated with the manufacture of weapons;
• jewelers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, enamellers;
• "woodworkers", which included architecture, architecture and carpentry proper;
• "gardeners" - builders of city fortifications - gorodnikov;
• "ships" - builders of ships and boats;
• masons-builders, with whom bonded labor and servitude were associated;
• "builders", "stone-builders" - architects associated with stone construction;
• bridgemen
• weavers, tailors (Shevtsy);
• tanners;
• potters and glass-workers;
• icons;
• book scribes

Sometimes artisans were engaged in the production of one specific item, designed for constant demand. Such were saddlers, archers, tulniki, shieldmen. We can assume the existence of butchers and bakers, as, for example, in cities Western Europe, but written sources, unfortunately, do not confirm this.

An obligatory accessory of the ancient Russian cities was the city market. However, retail in our sense of the word in the ancient Russian market was very poorly developed.

Population

The population of other cities rarely exceeded 1,000 people, as evidenced by the small areas occupied by their kremlins, or citadels.

Craftsmen (both free and), fishermen and day laborers made up the main population of ancient Russian cities. The princes played a significant role in the composition of the population, and, connected both with the city and with land holdings. Pretty early in special social group merchants stood out, who constituted the most revered group, which was under direct princely protection.

ancient cities

According to the annals, it is possible to establish the existence in the IX-X centuries. more than two dozen Russian cities.

The most famous cities of the pre-Mongol era

Most full list ancient Russian cities is contained in.

The following is short list broken down by lands indicating the date of the first mention, or the date of foundation.

Kyiv and Pereyaslav lands

• - the marked cities never grew beyond the fortified castles, although they are often mentioned in the annals. For the Kyiv land was characterized by the existence of cities, the prosperity of which did not last long, and which were replaced by new cities that arose in the neighborhood.

Volyn land

Galician land

Chernihiv land

Among the Chernihiv cities is the distant one on the Taman Peninsula.

Smolensk land

Polotsk land

urban population in ancient Russia constituted the main basis of state life and decisively prevailed over the rural population. Chronicles mention in the pre-Tatar era up to three hundred cities. But, without a doubt, this number is far from corresponding to their actual number, if by city we mean what was understood in antiquity, that is, any fortified or fenced settlement.

Before the unification of Russia under one princely family and in general in the pagan era, when each tribe lived separately and was divided into many communities and principalities, not only external enemies, but also frequent mutual quarrels forced the population to fence themselves off from enemy attacks. Cities inevitably and gradually multiplied along with the transition of the Slavic-Russian tribes from a nomadic and wandering life to a settled one. As early as the 6th century, according to Iornand, forests and swamps replaced cities for the Slavs, i.e. served them instead of fortifications against enemies. But this message cannot be taken literally. Already in those days, in all likelihood, there were fortified settlements and even significant trading cities. With the great development of settlement and agriculture, their number greatly increased in subsequent centuries. About three centuries after Iornand, another Latin writer (unknown, by the name of the Bavarian geographer) enumerates the Slavic and non-Slavic tribes that inhabited Eastern Europe, and counts their cities in tens and hundreds, so that the complexity is several thousand cities. Even if his news were exaggerated, it nevertheless points to a huge number of cities in ancient Russia. But from such a number it is still impossible to conclude about the density and large number of the country's population itself. These cities were actually towns or small settlements, dug in with a rampart and a moat with the addition of a tyn, or palisade, and only partly had walls made of wicker and log cabins filled with earth and stones with towers and gates. In peacetime, their population was engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding, fish and animal trade in the surrounding fields, forests and waters. These rural occupations of the townspeople are directly indicated by the chronicle, putting into the mouth of Olga following words, addressed to the besieged inhabitants of Korosten: "What do you want to sit out; all your cities have already been transferred to me and have pledged to pay tribute and cultivate their fields and their land; and you want to starve yourself better than pay tribute." But at the first military alarm, the population took refuge in their towns, ready to withstand the siege and repulse the enemy. In accordance with the needs of protection, the very place for the city was usually chosen somewhere on the coastal elevation of a river or lake; on at least one side it adjoined the wilds and swamps, which not only prevented an enemy attack from this side, but also served as a shelter in case the town was taken. Of course, the more open the country was, the more it was subjected to enemy attacks, the greater the need for settlements dug in with ramparts, as was the case in the southern strip of Ancient Russia. In places wooded, swampy and generally protected by nature itself, fortified in this way, there were, of course, fewer villages.

When the Russian tribe, through its own squads, extended its dominance in Eastern Europe and when these squads united the Eastern Slavs under the rule of one princely family, naturally, both the danger from neighbors and mutual fights between the Slavic tribes should have decreased. Russia, on the one hand, curbed external enemies who were often smashed in their own land; and on the other hand, the princely power forbade fights in their possessions that arose because of the possession of a field, forest, pasture, fishing or because of kidnapped women, as well as attacks for the purpose of robbery, extraction of slaves, etc. Imposing tribute on the native population, the princes in return, in addition to external protection, gave them court and punishment, i.e. pledged to more or less protect the weak from the insults of the strongest, in other words, laid the foundation for state system. Therefore, the inhabitants of many towns, due to greater security than before, could gradually settle in the surrounding areas in unfortified farms and towns in order to more conveniently engage in agriculture; the towns themselves often acquired a more peaceful character, gradually turning into open villages. From here, the rural population, devoted to agriculture and other economic activities, more and more multiplied. This was predominantly the case in the interior; but along the outskirts and where there was more danger, as well as in the lands of conquered foreigners, the princes themselves took care of maintaining and building well-fortified cities in which they placed their warriors. In general, in this Russian-princely era, a distinction was gradually developed between the urban and rural populations.

If the number of fortified settlements was not as numerous as before, then the cities themselves became more significant and began to accommodate a population more diverse in their division into classes and estates. They are gradually becoming the focus for the surrounding area, both in military and governmental terms, and in industrial and commercial terms; at least this must be said of the most significant cities. Such cities usually consisted of two main parts: "detinets" and "fort". Detinets, otherwise the Kremlin, was considered inside, although it rarely fell inside, and usually one or two sides was located above the very coastal slope. It housed the cathedral church and the courtyard of the prince or his mayor, as well as the courtyards of some boyars and clergy. There was also a part of the younger squad, or children's, who made up the city defense (from them the name "detinets"). Ostrog was the name of the outer, or roundabout, city adjacent to the citadel. It was also surrounded by a shaft, walls and towers, and from the outside - by a moat filled with water; such a moat was usually called rowing. The walls and towers in Ancient Russia were wooden; only in a few cities there were stone ones. It is clear that with an abundance of forests and a lack of mountains and stone, fortifications in Eastern Europe were of a different nature than in Western Europe, where castles and cities were fortified even after the model of Roman colonies. Subsequently, the roundabout city became better known under the name "posada"; It was predominantly inhabited by merchants and different kind artisans. Its necessary affiliation was a “torzhok” or “torzhok”, where on certain days people from the surrounding villages came to exchange their works. AT big cities with the multiplication of the population around the prison, new settlements appeared, bearing the names "suburbs", "zasteny", and later - "settlements", the inhabitants of which were engaged in either agriculture, or gardening, fishing and other crafts. These suburbs, in turn, were surrounded by a rampart. In addition, ramparts were piled up near large cities at a more or less significant distance from them so that in the event of an enemy invasion, the surrounding villagers could hide behind them not only with their families and with grain supplies, but also with their herds. Especially in Southern Russia, where there was a constant danger from nomads, and until now you can see the remains of numerous ramparts in the neighborhood of the most important ancient cities.

In those days when there was no strict division according to classes and occupations, when there was such a strong need to protect themselves, their families, their property and homes, the entire free population had to have the habit of weapons in order to join the ranks of the army if necessary. . The townspeople, for the most part, retained their warlike character; in the defense of cities, as well as in large campaigns, princely combatants constituted only the core military force; but, of course, they were better armed, and more accustomed to military affairs, more skillful in the use of weapons. The zemstvo army, apparently, had its own special chiefs in the person of "thousand" and "sotsky". These names are reminiscent of those times when the entire free population was divided into thousands and hundreds, and with such a division went to war. And then the sotskys and tenths turned into zemstvo officials who ran some current affairs, a special layout and collection of tributes and duties.

Benefits for public relations and institutions of Ancient Russia serve Ploshinsky "Urban state of the Russian people in its historical development." SPb. 1852. Pogodin "Research and lectures". T. VII. Solovyov "History of relations between the princes of Rurik's house". M. 1847. V. Passeka "Princely and pre-princely Russia" (Thurs. Common I. and Others 1870, book 3). Sergeevich "Veche and the Prince". M. 1867. (For a detailed review of Gradovsky on this work, see J. M. N. Pr. 1868. October.) Belyaeva "Lectures on the history of Russian legislation." M. 1879. Limbert "Objects of the department of the veche in the princely period." Warsaw. 1877. Samokvasova "Notes on the history of Russian state structure and management "(J. M. N. Pr. 1869. November and December). His own "Ancient cities of Russia". St. Petersburg. 1870. His own "Beginnings of the political life of the Old Russian Slavs". Issue I. Warsaw. 1878. In In the last two works of Professor Samokvasov, he proves the inconsistency of the previously prevailing opinion about the small number of cities in ancient Russia - an opinion based on several fortune-telling phrases of the chronicler about the life of the Russian Slavs before the so-called vocation of the Varangians (Some writers, due to lack of criticism, had previously relied on these phrases that the very construction of cities in Russia was considered the work of the called-up Varangians.) The best review on the theory of cities by Prof. Samokvasov belongs to Prof. Leontovich (Collection of State Knowledge. Vol. II. St. Petersburg, 1875).

In the last work of Mr. Samokvasov ("The Beginning of Political Life"), an overview of various theories of the political life of the Russian Slavs in the era of vocation is presented; such are the theories: tribal, communal, out-of-community and mixed. Representatives of the patriarchal and tribal way of life are Solovyov and Kavelin, the communal way of life is Belyaev, Aksakov and Leshkov, the out-of-community way of life is Leontovich (see his article in Zh. ("On the influence of the struggle between cities and estates on the formation of the system of the Russian state in the pre-Mongol period." Reading Ob. I. and Others 1874). Criticism of Prof. Sergeevich in Zh. M. N. Pr. 1876. No. 1. Prof. Nikitsky ("Theory of tribal life in ancient Russia." "Bulletin of Europe". 1870. August) develops the theory of a fictitious or political kind. The aforementioned prof. Samokvasov "The most important moments in state development ancient Russia ". Warsaw. 1886. (Adjacent to the tribal theory of inter-princely relations.) Prof. Khlebnikov " Russian state and the development of the Russian personality (Kyiv. University. Izvestia. 1879. No. 4). We do not enter into an analysis of all these theories; since they more or less take as their starting point the imaginary calling of the Varangian princes, considering it historical fact and considering it the beginning of Russian state life. Even Mr. Zatyrkevich, recognizing more ancient origin Russian state life, at the same time somehow intertwines it with the vocation of the Varangians and considers Russia to come from Scandinavia. For our part, we are building the beginning of our state life with native Russian princes at the head to a time much earlier than the era of the alleged calling of the Varangians. In internal relations, we see in Ancient Russia the existence of a community and a veche next to the retinue-princely beginning, but with obvious subordination to this latter. (For a few of my thoughts on the origin of state life in general, see Izvestia of the Moscow General Natural Science, Anthropology and Ethnography for 1879: "On Some Ethnographic Observations".) As for the local Slavic princes who existed before their subordination to the Kievan Russian princely house, then the chronicle has preserved several names for us. These are: in the X century, the Drevlyansky Mal and the Polotsk Rogvolod, and later we meet Khodota among the Vyatichi, a contemporary of Vladimir Monomakh. Vyatichi later than other tribal princes submitted to the Kyiv princely family. This clan, in place of the defeated princes, planted its members, or its posadniks.