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

During the time of human civilization, many settlements arose, which became cities. But time, wars, natural disasters have turned many of them into ruins. Some of them have survived to this day. What are the oldest cities in Russia still standing today? This question interests many.

Some problems

It can be very difficult to determine the countries: the date of the foundation of the settlement is not always known. Based on the data of chroniclers or historians, the date can only be determined approximately. Reading the annals, historians pay attention to where this or that city is mentioned, with what historical events its mention is connected. The ancient cities of Russia could have had other names in those ancient times. Therefore, the exact date when they were erected is sometimes not known. But this applies to ancient cities. There are also official statements about the date of foundation, then there is no problem of determining the age of a historical place.

To study the issue, historians turn to which was compiled back in the 16th century. Information from Arabic sources, which date back to the 10th century, is being studied. The well-known historical work, The Tale of Bygone Years, also helps in this. The work of archaeologists, who are excavating and helping to identify the most ancient cities of Russia, does not stop. Their list is changing, there are objects, masonry walls, pavements, which give more and more information to historians. Today it is Veliky Ladoga, Smolensk, Murom, Pskov, Derbent, Kerch.

Velikiy Novgorod

The history of its origin is still unknown. Nobody knows the exact date of its foundation. Everything is approx. But the fact that it is included in the most ancient cities of Russia is a fact. The date of the emergence of Novgorod is fixed - 859. From it the chronology of the age of the great city is conducted. Today he is 1155 years old. But this is not accurate either. After all, the date mentioned in the Nikon Chronicle was considered the year of its foundation: at that time, the Novgorod elder Gostomysl died. This means that the city was founded much earlier.

The chronicler Nestor in The Tale of Bygone Years wrote about the most ancient cities of Russia. The list, which was called Lavrentievsky, indicated that before the arrival of Rurik (in 862), Novgorod had already existed for a long time. It was founded, according to the Ilmen Slovenes, who settled near the lake. They called him by his own name - Ilmer. They founded the city and named it Novgorod.

During its history, Veliky Novgorod experienced many events: it was the capital of a free state, and was captured by the Moscow, Swedish and Levonian rulers. Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod, repulsed the Swedes in 1240 and the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1242 on Lake Peipus.

Ancient cities of Russia

Among the enumerated places, which are considered the most ancient, Staraya Ladoga is on a par with everyone else. Historians attribute this settlement to the 8th century. It is believed that this city was founded in 753. Historians suggest that it was from Ladoga that Rurik was called to rule and became the first prince in Russia. Neighbors attacked the city from the north, and the fortress suffered destruction and fires. But in the ninth century it was surrounded not by wooden walls, but by stone walls made of limestone, and Ladoga became a reliable northern fortress - the first in Russia.

What ancient cities of Russia can be put on a par with Ladoga and Novgorod? This is Smolensk. He is also mentioned in chronicles in 862. Through it, as well as through Ladoga, the well-known route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" passed. Smolensk became the defense of Moscow and withstood many wars and battles. Until now, fragments of the walls of the fortress, which was built in the 16th century and was considered a miracle of fortification technology of those times, have been preserved.

Murom is an equally ancient city that arose almost simultaneously with Smolensk. This city began to be called so from the Muroma tribe, of Finno-Ugric origin. His gaze is directed to the east: from there there was a constant threat of attack. Either the Volga-Kama Bulgars, or the Tatar-Mongols. Such ancient cities of Russia as Murom suffered a terrible ruin, and for decades no one dealt with them. Only in the fourteenth century it was restored, and at the very beginning of the XV century, Murom was already subordinate to Moscow.

Ancient cities can be listed endlessly, how deep is the history of the country, so many historical places in it: Rostov the Great, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Vladimir. But there is one city that is over 5,000 years old and still exists today.

"Darband" - narrow gate

No matter how much people argue about which city in Russia is the most ancient, it is Derbent. This is the territory of the Dagestan Republic, but it is part of Russia. So Derbent is the most ancient city in Russia. It was located near the Caspian Sea: this is a bottleneck that remained between the coast and the mountains of the Caucasus. It is worth noting that when the settlement of Derbend appeared, neither Kievan Rus nor the Russian Empire existed. Derbent was mentioned in chronicles as early as the 6th century BC. e., but settlements arose even earlier.

Today, the Naryn-Kala fortress, which is more than 2500 years old, and the ancient Juma Mosque, built in the eighth century, have been preserved. Derbent controlled the Dagestan corridor through which the Great Silk Road passed. Many nations tried to take possession of the city, stormed it, destroyed it. During its long history, Derbent experienced both prosperity and decline many times. The protective wall - a fortification structure 40 km long - has survived to this day. The UNESCO organization considers Derbent the most ancient Russian city.

Before naming the most ancient cities of Russia, it is necessary to clarify what is meant, a primordially Russian city that originally arose on the lands of Russia, or a settlement located on the territory of modern Russia. In the second case, the answer will be unequivocal - this is Derbent. It has been known about him since the 6th century BC, when there was no Russia at all.

Inhabited since time immemorial territory

Of course, the ancient settlements were, as excavations show, everywhere and on the territory of Moscow too. And in the Crimea, on the White Rock, a skeleton of a mother with a child, who is 150,000 years old, was found.

Later, during the Copper Age (Eneolithic), the settlements were already protected in every possible way, a prototype of fortresses appeared - the settlement was erected on a high place, a fence was built near the river. Archaeologists still have a lot of work to do - already now on the territory of our country there are hundreds of excavated settlements belonging to various temporary cultures. Herodotus mentions the wooden city of Gelon, which, according to some scientists, could be located on the territory of present-day Saratov. Much is known about the existence, especially in the Crimea, of ancient cities such as Tiras and Olbia, Tanais and Phanagoria. These cities and many others shaped medieval Russia. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that Rurik did not come from scratch.

One of many

There are many lists of ancient Russian cities, and they all differ. In some, some settlements are indicated, in some others, the dates of formation do not always coincide. Scientists argue, and new data appear. Below is one of the lists.

		Founding dates
	Velikiy Novgorod
	Rostov the Great
	Belozersk
	Great Izborsk
	Smolensk
	Vladimir
	Yaroslavl

Several Yet

The most ancient cities of Russia are those whose names sound more familiar, and their appearance is dated closer to us - the 9th century. Researchers do not have full agreement on which city of Russia should be considered the most ancient, all lists differ - somewhere the first line is occupied by Veliky Novgorod, somewhere by Staraya Ladoga (in another version it occupies the fifth line), somewhere by Murom. Izborsk, which under Princess Olga (X century) was a suburb of Pskov, is rarely found in articles, and in some list it occupies the second line. The founding year is 862. Polotsk and Rostov, Mur and Ladoga, Beloozero, Smolensk and Lyubich are considered to be of the same age. The list of "The most ancient cities of Russia" continues with Pskov, whose date of birth is 903, followed by Uglich, Trubchevsk, Bryansk, Vladimir, Rostov. Suzdal was founded in 999. Kazan in 1005, Yaroslavl in 1010.

Novgorod is the oldest

Most often, the list is headed by Veliky Novgorod, first mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicle of 859. The mention is connected with Rurik, who came to Russia from Ladoga (based on this information, in some lists this settlement is indicated under the first number). By the middle of the 9th century, the advantageous location makes Novgorod the center of the northwestern lands and the first capital of Ancient Russia. The city is a major cultural, political and commercial center, leading the exchange of goods with many foreign countries.

But in 882, Prince Oleg conquers Kyiv and makes it his capital and leaves Novgorod. The city continued to develop quite successfully, becoming the first "window to Europe" for Russia. It can be noted that the first bishop arrived in Veliky Novgorod in 989.

Construction boom year

The second number in some list of "The most ancient cities of Russia" is Belozersk, founded in 862. I wonder whose efforts so many cities were founded this year? Beloozero (the second name of the city) was transferred several times - either it would flood it, or a pestilence would destroy half of the population. Trade routes along the Sheksna and Mologa rivers to the Volga and beyond passed through it. Both Novgorod and Belozersk are cities with a rich history, they still exist, but in this article they are interesting precisely as the ancient cities of Russia.

The list continues with the well-known, thanks to the great inmate Ilya, Moore. The history of this outpost originates from the settlement of the Oka by the Finnish Muroma tribe. The city was the capital of the Muromo-Ryazan principality. Due to the fact that he was in the border zone, the city was constantly subjected to raids. In 862, at the mouth of the Polota River, at its confluence with the Western Dvina, Polotsk (Polotesk) was founded. Polotsk became part of the Old Russian state in 907, there is documentary evidence of this. At the same time, the city of Rostov, which later became part of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality, was being built on the shores of Lake Nero.

Next on the list

Smolensk was founded a year later in 863. It is mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years. The favorable position on the Dnieper contributed to the rapid formation of the capital of the Krivichi. Smolensk is part of Kievan Rus as a strong principality. Pskov and Uglich, Bryansk and Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Kursk and Ryazan, Vladimir, Kostroma and Tver are also ancient cities of Russia. The list is supplemented by Moscow. But these are younger formations. So, Tver was founded in 1208. Initially, the city was part of the Novgorod principality, and then was annexed to the Vladimir-Suzdal lands. All these cities are the historical heritage of our country.

The history of the famous route

About 40 years ago, the newspaper "Soviet Russia" published a number of articles about ancient Russian cities, concentrated on the territory of several nearby regions. The golden-domed churches of these cities, located along a closed ring, gave the name to the new tourist route. The "Golden Ring of Russia" was born from newspaper essays, the term was coined by the writer Yuri Bychkov. Initially, this route included only eight of the most ancient Russian cities - Moscow and Sergiev Posad, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Rostov the Great, Uglich and Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Ples, Suzdal and Vladimir, between them there is one more point - Bogolyubovo. These cities were selected according to a certain principle. For example, they represent all types of ancient Russian architecture, the development of which can be traced in stages.

unofficial center

The route gained popularity, it became a cult, but many ancient settlements were not covered. And now, the "Golden Ring of Russia" already includes 20 cities, special routes are being created in order to visit something else famous points.

There are cruises on the Volga under this name. The unofficial, but generally recognized capital of the entire "Golden Ring" is Vladimir - a city located 193 km from Moscow, where the route begins and ends. The Pearl of the Ring was founded in 1108. Vladimir Monomakh, who was actively engaged in urban planning, laid and surrounded the wooden fortress with an earthen rampart. His grandson Andrei Bogolyubsky, the city owes its flourishing. The famous Vladimir icon was brought to the city by him, and he also built for it the amazing church of the Assumption of the Mother of God. In 1157, Vladimir became the capital of the Old Russian state. The city continues to develop further. Since that time, many monuments have been preserved, and this center of ancient architecture impresses with its beauty preserved in its original form. The main attractions of the city are the Golden Gate, built in 1164, the Assumption Cathedral, painted by Andrei Rublev in the 12th century, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral, famous for its white stone carvings. These are far from all the historical and architectural monuments that Vladimir is rich in.

Glorified by warriors

All cities of the Golden Ring amaze and fascinate with primordially Russian beauty. Some occupy special niches. So, the city of Murom, instead of which Ivanovo sometimes appears in the list of 8 cities, is the oldest city in Russia. He, mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, remained pagan for a very long time. After the murder of the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise Mikhail in Murom, his father, the namesake of his grandfather, Prince Yaroslav laid siege to the city, and, having taken it, baptized the inhabitants by force in 1097. Murom was destroyed by Batu, later ruined by the Tatars three times, it was plundered in the Time of Troubles, but his soldiers were always in the forefront of the defenders of the Motherland. City of Murom

gave Russia the most famous hero Ilya Muromets.

Handsome Suzdal

Even a page is not enough to list the monasteries, churches and bell towers of Suzdal, the open-air museum. Ancient monastery walls, belfries and gate churches - dozens of the most beautiful objects represent Russian architecture from the 12th to the 19th century. The city of Suzdal has a special attraction. White-stone churches and ancient monuments, of which there are up to 200 units in the city-museum, are under the protection of UNESCO. For the first time this beautiful city is mentioned in chronicles from 1024. Now everything is being done to attract more tourists. Street vendors of souvenirs and mead, buffoons and horse teams created an atmosphere of an endless holiday in the city.

Veliky Novgorod, due to its remoteness, is not included in the Golden Ring of Russia.

The question of which city in Russia can be called the oldest is still open. There are various hypotheses, various studies are being conducted, but there is no exhaustive 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 - A regional center with a small population. The date of foundation is 859.
2/3/4. - Medium size city. It is part of the 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 the Yaroslavl region. In 1995, the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve was included in the collection of especially valuable objects of the cultural heritage of the 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 - Large city, 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 city 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 when there was no Ancient Russia, and its approximate age is 5000 years. However, this city became part of the Russian state 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 the Christian faith. On the left bank of the Volkhov River in Novgorod is one of the most beautiful Kremlins in 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. The 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 part of the Golden Ring of Russia. By the abundance of architectural monuments and the integrity of its appearance, he knows no equal.

If we talk not only about cities, then we can recall another ancient settlement - 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."

1. By what principle are the rows formed? a) 882, 912, 945, 964, 980; b) 860, 907, 941, 944 2. Which pairs of these were contemporaries? a) Prince

Oleg and Askold; b) Prince Igor and Yaroslav the Wise; c) Prince Yaropolk and Rogneda; d) Svyatopolk the Accursed and Vladimir Monomakh; e) Genghis Khan and Yuri Dolgoruky; f) Alexander Nevsky and Batu. 3. In connection with the death of which Grand Duke, the inscription “our king” was made on the wall of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv? a) Igor the Old; b) Saint Vladimir; c) Yaroslav the Wise; d) Vladimir Monomakh. 4. Arrange the following events in chronological order: a) the adoption of Christianity in Kievan Rus; b) the congress of princes in Lyubech; c) the introduction of "lessons and graveyards"; d) the creation of Yaroslav's "Pravda"; e) the creation of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" . 5. The Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus around 948 wrote: “When the month of November comes, their princes immediately go out with all the Rus and set off on a circular detour precisely to the Slavic lands. Feeding there for the whole winter, in April, when the ice on the Dnieper melts, they return to Kyiv again. Then they take their ships ... equip and go to Byzantium. Who are these princes and what phenomenon did the Byzantine emperor describe? 6. Determine who it is. His youth was spent in military campaigns that his father made against the Polovtsians. Thanks to him, the intensive development of the northeastern lands of Russia began. The mention of "the heart of the Russian lands" is associated with his name. Twice he was the great prince of Kyiv. Thanks to him, such cities as Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Dubny, Yuryev-Polsky arose. Contemporaries noted his passion for capturing foreign lands and awarded him the appropriate nickname. He constantly clashed with his own son and did not want him to inherit his throne. He died in the midst of preparations for a military campaign, which was supposed to stop the princely strife at least for a while. 7. With what royal families of Europe was Yaroslav the Wise associated? 8. On one of the old books there is a formidable warning: "If a priest or a deacon reads this book, and does not fasten it, he will be damned!" Why did the book have to be fastened? 9. Why does the early period of the formation of the Old Russian state cause so much controversy and disagreement among historians? 10. Famous historian L.N. Gumilyov expressed the opinion that the power of the Mongols over Russia did not represent a cruel yoke, but until the end of the 13th century. was a kind of mutually beneficial alliance. Is it possible, on the basis of the facts known to you, to assess the validity of this assumption?

A1. Which of the above decrees was signed by the emperor in 1803?

1) "On obligated peasants"

2) "About free cultivators"

3) “On the establishment of the III branch of the Own H.I.V. Offices»

4) "On the introduction of universal military service"

A2. What estate was the most privileged in Russia in the 19th century?

1) boyars 3) merchants

2) nobility 4) clergy (clergy)

A3. What state authority was given the functions of the highest judicial instance and the body of supervision over the administration according to the reform of 1802?

1) Holy Synod 3) Senate

2) Supreme Privy Council 4) Council of State

A4. As in the XIX century. called peasants who had money and engaged in entrepreneurial activities?

1) sessional 3) temporarily obligated

2) capitalist 4) black-hundreds

A5. Read an extract from the historian's work and indicate the place of the meeting of the two emperors in question.

“On June 25, 1807, at the second hour of the day, the first meeting of both emperors took place. In the very middle of the river, a raft with two magnificent pavilions was approved. The whole guard was lined up on the French shore, on the Russian - a small retinue of the emperor ... The boats set sail from the banks, and in the middle of the river, the emperor and the tsar simultaneously entered the tent of peace. The guardsmen, who were shooting at each other 10 days ago, shout: "Hurrah!" Yesterday's enemies hugged ... "

1) Waterloo 3) Austerlitz

2) Tilsit 4) St. Petersburg

A6. During the years of what war did the Russian army carry out the brilliant Tarutinsky march-maneuver?

1) Smolensk 3) Livonian

2) Northern 4) Patriotic

A7. In the XIX century. wealthy townspeople could participate in city management issues through

1) city dumas 3) labial elders

2) peace mediators 4) zemstvo committees

A8. Read an excerpt from the notes of a contemporary and indicate the name of the war, the events of which are being discussed.

“The Uglitsky and Kazan regiments, and the fifth squad of the Bulgarian militia, with amazingly beautiful harmony, moved forward under heavy enemy fire. After brilliant attacks, Skobelev lined up in front of<Шипкой-Шейново>Vladimir regiment... - Well, brothers, follow me now. Your comrades have honestly done their job, and we will finish as it should. - Let's try ... - Look ... Walk harmoniously ... The Turks are almost already defeated ... blessing, with God!

1) Russian-Turkish war of 1806–1812 3) Crimean War 1853–1856

2) Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. 4) Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

A9. According to the reform of 1861, the peasants received the right

1) transition to other estates

2) elect and be elected to the State Duma

3) leave the community and settle in farms

4) to all the lands of the landowner

A10. Read an excerpt from the memoirs of N. Figner and indicate the name of the emperor, the preparation of the assassination attempt on which is discussed in the document.

“Simultaneously with the preparations for explosions near Moscow, Alexandrovsk and Odessa, the Committee had in mind another appointment in St. Petersburg itself ... The Committee in St. persons chosen by the members of the Committee from among themselves for matters of the greatest importance. At that time these three were: Al. Mikhailov. Tikhomirov and Al. Kwiatkowski, from whom I once heard a mysterious phrase: "While all these preparations are going on, here the personal courage of one can end everything." This was an allusion to Khalturin, who later told me that in the Winter Palace he once happened to be alone with the sovereign, and a hammer blow could destroy him on the spot.

1) Pavel Petrovich 3) Nikolai Pavlovich

2) Alexander Pavlovich 4) Alexander Nikolaevich

A11. Which of the following happened in the 19th century?

1) the abolition of the patriarchate 3) the proclamation of Russia as an empire

2) the establishment of collegiums 4) the abolition of serfdom

A12. "We were the children of 1812" - so they said about themselves

2) Marxists 4) Narodnaya Volya

A13. What was the name of the legislative body of state power established in 1810?

1) Council of State 3) Supreme Senate

2) State Duma 4) Holy Synod

A14. Started in Russia in the 30s. 19th century the industrial revolution helped

1) the emergence of the first manufactories

2) the emergence of the first all-Russian fairs

3) decrease in the number of urban population

4) the formation of factory centers

A15. Representatives of Russian public thought from the late 1830s - 1850s, who believed that Russia should develop in an original way, and not follow the patterns of leading European countries, were called

1) Westerners 3) Slavophiles

A16. Indicate the changes, transformations that were carried out during the Great Reforms of the 1860-1870s.

A) cancellation of recruitment for the army

B) restriction of corvée to three days a week

B) the creation of provincial and district zemstvos

D) prohibition to sell peasants without land

E) the introduction of the institution of jurors

Specify the correct answer

ABG 2) AVD 3) BVG 4) IOP please help

If anyone knows which city's coat of arms is depicted in this illustration,

let him sit silently with a bored look, or read the post further. Suddenly, too, from a well-forgotten old, he will discover something new.
And if a descendant of proud ukrov pays attention to this post, then this,
all the more necessary to sit and delve into what is written below ..

Last weekend the birthdays of the cities of Moscow and Tula were celebrated. I drew attention to the fact that my native Tula turns out to be a year older than Moscow. In this regard, I wanted to know how the oldest cities in our country. I must say that Tula and Moscow were not among the ten oldest.

10. Ryazan. Population: 532,772


Ryazan opens our Top of the most ancient cities in the country. The name of the city comes from the territory of the principality, which at the beginning of the 11th century was located on the right bank of the Oka. Tourism in Ryazan is widely developed, because the land on which it is built is the most ancient territory of Russia. There is something to see here: St. John the Theologian Monastery, Trinity Monastery, Ryazan Historical Museum-Reserve and much more.

9. Yaroslavl. Population: 603,961


One of the oldest cities in Russia dates back to 1010. In the past, Yaroslavl proudly bore the title of "the city of a hundred churches." Now there are only thirty left. You can see all the churches in one day. Many old cathedrals and architectural monuments have been preserved in Yaroslavl, which is not surprising, because it is part of the Golden Ring of Russia. The main attraction in the historical center of the city is the Transfiguration Cathedral (not to be confused with the monastery of the same name), built in 1516.

8. Kazan. Population: 1,205,651


Kazan was founded in 1005 as an outpost on the border of the Volga Bulgaria. One of the most ancient cities in Russia has a centuries-old rich history and a unique cultural and historical heritage. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the main attractions in the city is the Kazan Kremlin, built of white brick. And the Kul Sharif mosque is considered the main symbol of the Republic of Tatarstan.

7. Vladimir. Population: 362,581


The city-museum was founded in 990. It is one of the most ancient in the country, it is included in the Golden Ring of Russia. They say about Vladimir: "even the city's hospitals, shops and pharmacies are architectural monuments built by our ancestors." And there is no exaggeration in this description. Many houses in the city are over 300 years old. And the world-famous Golden Gate, Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals are included in the UNESCO list.

6. Murom. Population: 110,746 people


The first mention of Murom slips in The Tale of Bygone Years. It was from this ancient source that it was possible to establish the origin of the name of the city. In ancient times, one of the tribes of Finno-Ugric origin, called Muroms, lived on this territory. Prince Vladimir in 988 gave the city to his son Gleb. It was he who became the first ruler of Murom. It will be interesting for tourists to look at the Transfiguration Monastery, which is the oldest in the country.

5. Suzdal. Population: 9978 people


There are several references to this city in ancient sources. One dates back to 1024. It describes the uprising of the Magi. The second, in the year 999, which says that Suzdal was founded as a result of the merger of several settlements. Currently, one of the oldest cities is part of the Golden Ring of Russia. On its territory there is a huge number of monuments, which have no equal anywhere in the country.

4. Smolensk. Population: 330,049 people


The hero city was first mentioned in 946 in the Tale of Bygone Years as a settlement of the Krivichi tribe. And twenty years later, Prince Oleg captured Smolensk and annexed it to Ancient Russia. He made his son Igor the prince of the city, but he, due to his infancy, could not perform managerial functions, so Smolensk was controlled from Kyiv. Of the main attractions of the ancient city of Russia, it is worth noting the Borisoglebsky Monastery, the Church of St. John the Evangelist, and the Assumption Cathedral.

3. Veliky Novgorod. Population: 221,954
This ancient city was built in 859. It can rightfully be called unique, because such architectural monuments cannot be found in any other city in the world. And the atmosphere of Novgorod, which received bronze in the rating of the oldest cities in the country, cannot be confused with anything. This is due to the fact that the city was built on the site where many important events of Russia took place. Tourists should look at the main attraction of Veliky Novgorod - St. Sophia Cathedral. It is often called the religious center of the country. And the Novgorod Kremlin is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country.

2. Staraya Ladoga. Population: 2012 people


Staraya Ladoga, which took second place in the ranking of the oldest cities in Russia, was founded in 753. But historical evidence shows that even before the founding of the city, people lived here. It is interesting that the first prince of Ancient Russia - Rurik, was a native of Staraya Ladoga. Since the city was close to the territories of hostile states, it was the first outpost on the way of foreigners. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The wooden fortress of Staraya Ladoga was replaced with a stone one in the 9th century, which allowed it to become the first fortress in the country made of this material.

1. Derbent. Population: 121,251


Derbent is rightfully considered the oldest city in Russia. After all, its history goes back as much as 5,000 years! It was founded when Ancient Russia did not yet exist in the project. The earliest references to the city date back to sources from the 6th century BC. But then it was called the Caspian Gates. Derbent became part of the Russian Empire only in 1813, after an armistice agreement was signed with Persia. With such a long history, it would be surprising if the city did not have ancient monuments. Of the most famous: the Juma mosque built in the 8th century, and the Naryn-Kala fortress, 2500 years old.

Well, I think those who did not know already guessed that the illustration for this post depicts the coat of arms of the city...

I don’t know from what buoys the descendants of the Jupiterian dolphins, which in our centuries settled Kyiv and its environs, decided to appropriate the image of the capital of ancient Russia - Ladoga.
And why Kyiv is considered the mother of Russian cities. Indeed, in fact, it became the capital only the third in a row.

Now about the capitals of Russia

It has been noticed that, unfortunately, there is a lot of speculation on the topic “the capital of Russia”. For example, in Ukraine, the theory is supported that the main, historical and almost the only legitimate capital of Russia (meaning both the borders of the ancient Russian state and its modern “heirs”: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus) is exclusively Kyiv. There are various arguments for this, the main of which can be called, probably, two:

• Kyiv is the original and original capital of Russia.


• Kyiv has been the capital for a very long time.


• Well...

1. Ladoga (862 - 864)— it's 2 years old.

Ladoga, which arose in the middle of the 8th century, is named the residence of Rurik in the Ipatiev list of The Tale of Bygone Years. According to this version, Rurik sat in Ladoga until 864, and only after that he founded Veliky Novgorod.

Ladoga is not only one of the most ancient cities in Russia, it is also one of the most ancient Slavic outposts, which was constantly attacked by its northern neighbors. The fortress was burned, destroyed, but again and again rose from the ashes, putting up a barrier to the invaders. In the 9th century, the wooden walls of the Ladoga fortress were replaced with stone ones made of local limestone, and Ladoga became the first stone fortress in Russia.

2. Novgorod (862 - 882) is 20 years old.

According to other chronicles, Veliky Novgorod became the first capital of the Old Russian state.

Veliky Novgorod - one of the most ancient and famous Russian cities, was first mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicle under 859 in connection with the name of the legendary Prince Rurik, who began advancing to Russia from Ladoga.

Already in the first centuries of its existence, Novgorod played an important role in the events that took place on Russian soil, in fact, becoming the first capital of Russia. The location of Novgorod was so advantageous geographically (the city stood at the crossroads of waterways running from the Baltic from the north and west to the south and east) that by the middle of the 9th century it had become a major commercial, political and cultural center of the northwestern lands.

Novgorod did not remain the capital for long. In 882, Prince Oleg made a trip to Kyiv and moved the capital there. But even after the transfer of the princely residence to Kyiv, Novgorod did not lose its significance. Being in the zone of lively trade contacts with foreign countries, Novgorod was a kind of "window to Europe".

3. Kyiv (882 - 1243)— this is 361 years.

In 882, Rurik's successor, Prince Oleg the Prophet of Novgorod, captured Kyiv, which from that time became the capital of Russia. With the adoption of Christianity by Russia at the end of the 10th century, Kyiv became the residence of the Russian metropolitan.

The coincidence of the political and ecclesiastical center, combined with a long period of autocracy of the Kyiv princes, led to the formation of a stable institution of the capital in Russia, which was not typical for most European countries of that time.

In ancient Russian literature, the concept of the capital corresponded to the expressions “the oldest table” and the “capital city” and the epithet “first throne” that have retained their meaning to this day. Kyiv received the name "Mothers of Russian cities", which was a tracing-paper from the Greek word "metropolis" and likened the city to Constantinople.

Kyiv did not have its own princely dynasty, control over it was the subject of constant struggle, which, on the one hand, led to a steady decline in its real role, and on the other, made it an object around which the interests of all Russian lands intertwined.

Since 1169, when Andrei Bogolyubsky, having a recognized seniority, for the first time refused to take the Kyiv throne, the connection between the possession of Kyiv and the status of the most powerful prince became optional. In the subsequent time, the senior princes of Suzdal and Volyn preferred to transfer Kyiv to their minor relatives, while the Chernigov and Smolensk princes more often ruled personally. Nevertheless, the title of princes of "all Russia" continued to be attached to the princes who had ever visited Kyiv during their lives. Both in ancient Russian sources and in the eyes of foreigners, the city continued to be perceived as a capital.

In 1240, Kyiv was destroyed by the Mongols and fell into decay for a long time. The fight for him is over. The Grand Dukes of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (1243) and Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1249) were recognized as the oldest in Russia, and Kyiv was transferred to them. However, they preferred to leave Vladimir as their residence.
After the Mongol (and then Lithuanian) invasion, there was a mass migration of the Russian population from Kyiv and nearby lands to the undeveloped and infertile lands of Zalesye (a section of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus), where the Tatars rarely reached. In fact, the Russians (not all, of course, but those who had the will and strength to do so) left the captured Kyiv and created a new state from scratch, and Moscow turned from a princely hunting lodge into its capital in a hundred years. Therefore, by the way, according to relatively recent studies, the current Great Russians and Turkic peoples do not have common genes.
In the next era, until the conquest of Kyiv by Lithuania (1362), it was ruled by provincial princes who did not claim all-Russian supremacy.

4. Vladimir (1243 - 1389) is 146 years old.

Vladimir-on-Klyazma, founded in 1108 by Vladimir Monomakh, became the capital of North-Eastern Russia in 1157, when Prince Andrei Yurievich Bogolyubsky moved his residence here from Suzdal.

The recognition of seniority in the princely family, indeed, turned out to be divorced from the Kyiv table, but it was attached to the personality of the prince, and not to his city, and by no means always belonged to the Vladimir princes.

The time of maximum influence of the principality was the reign of Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest. His supremacy was recognized by the princes of all Russian lands, except for Chernigov and Polotsk, and henceforth the Vladimir princes began to be called "great".

Panorama of Vladimir - Golden Gate and Trinity Church Photo: bestmaps.ru

After the Mongol invasion (1237-1240), all Russian lands came under the supreme authority of the Mongol Empire, subordinate to its western wing - the Ulus of Jochi or the Golden Horde. And it was the Grand Dukes of Vladimir who were nominally recognized in the Horde as the oldest in all of Russia. In 1299, the metropolitan moved his residence to Vladimir. From the beginning In the 14th century, the princes of Vladimir began to bear the title of "great princes of all Russia."

5. Moscow (1389 - 1712) + (1918— n. c.) = 421

Moscow was first mentioned in chronicles in 1147. In 1263, the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniil Alexandrovich, received Moscow as inheritance. Without claiming the great reign of Vladimir, he was able to significantly expand the territory of his principality at the expense of neighboring Smolensk and Ryazan volosts. This allowed Daniil to attract a large number of service people to his service, who formed the basis of a powerful Moscow boyars. In modern historiography, this factor is considered as the most important in the process of the successful rise of Moscow.

In 1325, the metropolitan moved to Moscow from Vladimir.

In 1547, Ivan IV assumed the royal title, and until 1712 Moscow became the capital of the kingdom - the Russian State.

6. St. Petersburg / Petrograd (1712 - 1918) is 206 years old.

In 1712, by the will of Peter I, the capital of Russia was moved to St. Petersburg, specially founded as a capital city.

Thus, Kyiv does not have the right to be called the “only correct” capital of Russia, neither by its originality nor by its duration, just like any other capital in the entire history of Russia.