Nizhny Novgorod: history of the city (summary), photo, sights

Russia has the first capital, the cultural capital and the "pocket of the country" - this is what Nizhny Novgorod calls. The history of the emergence of the city raises controversy among historians. Rather, the stumbling block is not so much the date of the city's laying, but rather the question of what was on the site of Nizhny Novgorod before the chronicles and why the name "Novgorod" is attached to the definition of "Nizhny".

Strengthening of Russia

The year of foundation of the city is considered to be the 1221st. The following year, after a successful campaign on the Volga Bulgars, Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich ordered to put the city at the mouth of the Oka: "I decided to strengthen an important place for Russia." In the annals it is said that he ordered the founding of the "new city", where the name came from. But there are other versions of the appearance of the name. According to one of them, the new city began to be built on the site of the Mordovian settlement, and on the other Nizhny Novgorod got its full name in connection with its position: it was built along the Volga stream below the Old Town.

There is a version that a lot of new cities were laid along the riverbed, and to distinguish them, they gave a double name. Anyway, the new settlement has received the name of Nizhny Novgorod, the history of the city's name is hidden in the centuries, perhaps there is a chronicle of ancient years that sheds light on this question.

Initially, there were built earthworks and a wooden kremlin, at that time it was enough to gather a squad and give it a haven. Also from this strategic location it was convenient to reflect the attacks of militant tribes and to go with aggressive campaigns. A few years later, white stone temples were already inside the fortifications, from this place began Nizhny Novgorod.

History of the city, a short tour

Since the construction of the Kremlin, the city began to grow and be used for that purpose, for which it was prepared. In 1226, several Erzya settlements were conquered by the forces of Svyatoslav and Ivan, who were brothers to the Grand Duke. Two years later, another attempt was made to conquer the Zyryansky villages, in this campaign the nephew of the Grand Duke and his governor appeared. The enterprise did not have success, but this fact was not stopped by very few people. In 1229, in winter, the Grand Duke invaded the possessions of the Erzyan king Purgas, where they were defeated. Purgas did not remain in debt and in April of the same year made an unsuccessful attack on Nizhny Novgorod.

The history of the city (a brief summary of it and a full study of the chronicle folios confirm this) is full of military campaigns. This shows the important purpose of the city. Geographical position was very beneficial from the point of view of military strategy. On the one hand, the Kremlin was built on Mount Sentry, where two water arteries were viewed. On the other hand, the city had a natural protection in the form of steep banks of the Volga, threatening to constantly fall apart when a large number of people approached them. The Grand Duke wanted accomplishments, relying on the Russian outpost, but the Tatar-Mongol horde forced all the plans to reconsider.

Feudalism in Russian

Since Nizhny Novgorod was located on the border of Russia and poorly fortified, it is assumed that the Mongol-Tatars burned the city during the invasion, it is impossible to confirm or deny this assumption, there are no written sources. Have rebuilt it quickly, considerably having strengthened earthy shafts. For its long century the city repeatedly passed from hand to hand between Russian princes. Some time later, at the end of the 13th century, the Gorodets Principality appeared, where the son of Alexander Nevsky ruled , Nizhny Novgorod entered it.

The history of the city, a summary of which can be found on ancient pages, tells that in the beginning of the 14th century the Gorodets Principality was completely subordinated to the Vladimir prince. The struggle for a strategic place did not stop: in 1311 Moscow Prince Yuri captured Nizhny Novgorod and planted in it the reign of his brother Boris.

Vicegerency lasted until the death of the prince. In 1320 the city again passed into the possession of the Vladimir principality. Then in the history of Rus came dark times of conquest, where the Russian princes, together with the Mongol-Tatar conquerors, divided the lands, established new boundaries of possessions with the help of military campaigns. This continued until the 15th century, only at that time a relatively stable, almost peaceful time was established. The Moscow Prince Vasily I finally annexed the city to his principality. Destructive wars on this did not end, but in the 16th century the construction of a stone Kremlin began in place of a wooden one. It is now the main attraction for residents and visitors to Nizhny Novgorod. Photo of the city, attractions are abundant, but the main thing is the fortress. By the time of construction, the stone Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was the same age as the Moscow Kremlin .

Semiboyshchina

In 1605, Tsar Boris Godunov died, and with his death came the Time of Troubles. Poisoning the envious commander Skopin-Shuisky in 1610 spurred the internecine princely wars, the situation did not fail to take advantage of the Polish noblemen. In Moscow, the so-called Semiboyarschina reigned: by collusion, the noble boyars admitted the Polish king Sigismund to the capital.

At the same time Nizhny Novgorod traitors conspired with the Swedish commander Gustav Adolf and let him in with the army into the city limits. Thus, Nizhny Novgorod was plundered, the son of Polish king Sigismund Vladislav became governor in Moscow. Most of the Russian people murmured against foreign rule, Nizhny Novgorod became the liberator.

History of the city, a summary of the liberation movement

Moscow, as the capital and heart of the country, was in a deplorable state. Vladislav ravaged the country, created lawlessness, trampled on the Orthodox faith. Moscow boyars asked Sigismund to become the ruler of Russia, but this was opposed by the patriarch Hermogenes. He wrote appeals and sent them to monasteries. There they became accessible to many people - the proclamations were read in the squares, they sounded a call to the liberation movement. Hermogenes was captured by the nobility and died in prison from hunger. This fact served as an occasion for a long-ripened riot against foreign domination.

At the head of the movement were Nizhny Novgorod: the merchant Kozma Minin and the military man with the prince's title Dmitry Pozharsky. In February 1612, the army went to liberate Moscow, on the way they liberated Yaroslavl and stood there until August. By the end of the summer the army moved to Moscow, but it was almost gone, the Poles burned the city. The remnants of the Polish army locked themselves in the Kremlin and held defense in China Town. Dmitry Pozharsky's militia burst into China-City and knocked out an enemy from there. The remnants of the Polish invaders disappeared behind the walls of the Kremlin. The siege of the Kremlin walls was short-lived, the Poles understood the hopelessness of their situation and capitulated. So Minin and Pozharsky rescued Moscow and Russia from the invaders, with the full support of the whole people.

Historical justice

The feat of Minin and Pozharsky, as well as of the entire popular movement glorified Nizhny Novgorod. Photo or Moscow monument Minin and Pozharsky known to every resident of Russia. The citizens of Nizhny Novgorod collected money from the whole world for a monument to national heroes in order to establish it in Nizhny Novgorod. But he was installed on Red Square in Moscow, and Nizhny Novgorod got only an obelisk, on which people's money was spent.

The desire of the townspeople was successful only in 2005, when Zurab Tsereteli cast a copy of the Moscow monument, and it was installed on the main square of a city like Nizhny Novgorod. The photo of this monument can now be found everywhere, the inhabitants perceived this fact as historical justice and are rightfully proud of their heroes.

The flowering of the city

After a troubled time in the country comes stability, and in Nizhny Novgorod flourishing begins. Trade, construction, agriculture, and fisheries actively developed. Shipyards were built, crafts received a new breath and a push to universal prosperity. This was facilitated by the neighborhood of the city with Makarevskaya Fair. Peter I, in 1722, celebrating his half-century anniversary, decided to hold a reform in the city. From now on, Nizhny Novgorod becomes the capital of the Nizhny Novgorod governorate. In the second half of the 18th century pharmacies, hospitals, printing houses, a public school and the first theater in Russia were opened in the city. But it was time to defend the country from the Napoleonic army.

The war with Napoleon, the burning of Moscow made the city a place of settlement for many eminent citizens of the country. At that time it was rumored that the capital would be transferred to Nizhny Novgorod. During this period a literary circle opens in the city, the backbone of which is Karamzin NM, Batyushkov KN and many other famous artists of the word. The Nizhny Novgorod militia did not disgrace the memory of Minin and Pozharsky and with honor fought the invaders.

The golden age in the development and flowering of Nizhny Novgorod was the fact of the transfer of the Makarevskaya Fair to the city. That's when they began to call him "the pocket of Russia." During the trading months for each native resident, nine visitors arrived. Bidding at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair formed the world prices for gold, furs, silver and much more. In the same period, several railway branches were brought to the trading platform, which strengthened the city's position, and trade gained new scope already at the world level. Shopping arcades now adorn Nizhny Novgorod. Photo of the ancient building shows the beauty and scope of the building. The fairgrounds are a landmark of the city.

Revolution and the Great Patriotic War

The revolution was not easy for anyone, for Nizhny Novgorod new times came immediately - in the autumn of 1917. The ruler of the thoughts of the revolutionary masses of Nizhny Novgorod was Maxim Gorky (Peshkov), a local native. Later, on November 7, 1932, the city was renamed Gorky. The period after the revolution and before the Great Patriotic War was marked by the industrialization of the region.

In May 1930, the construction of an automobile plant began, and it was completed in two years. Initially, the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) produced trucks, after a few months the production of cars was set up. In 1933 a bridge was built across the Oka, which fully connected two parts of the city, a little later, in the same year, a bridge across the Volga was put into operation.

Since 1941, the whole industry of the region has been working on the approach of Victory. Volunteers go to the front. At the auto factory, new models of equipment were built and put into production - armored cars. During the war in the Gorky region tanks, weapons, armored vehicles were produced, military personnel were trained. It was at the Gorky Automobile Plant that the legendary passenger car "Victory" was put into production in the post-war years.

After the war, life in the city was improving, industry developed, the basis of which was the defense industry. For this reason, in 1959 the city became closed to foreign citizens and unreliable persons. This status was removed in the 90s of the 20th century, then the city was returned to its historical name - Nizhny Novgorod. Photos of the city, the sights of ancient times were replenished with the achievements and victories of our grandfathers.

Modernity

Nizhny Novgorod is divided into eight districts, spread on both banks of the Oka. The old part of the city is a business and cultural center, here are concentrated banks, offices, theaters. In the new part, called Zarechye, industrial enterprises and residential areas are concentrated. The city is home to over a million people. Communications between the parts of the city are provided by five bridges, one of which passes through the Volga, and one is a metro bridge. Tourists always have an occasion to visit Nizhny Novgorod.

The history of the city and its attractions are concentrated in the old part of the city. Visitors are pleased to show the central square named after Minin and Pozharsky, they are invited for a walk to the old central Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street, now it is a pedestrian street. The city is developing, increasing industrial potential, new houses and residential areas are being built. New directions of activity are developing, tourism is actively supported.

sights

Every tourist wants to see as much as possible, to touch the historical places. In Russia for a foreigner and his tourist there are always many reasons to be surprised, marvel. And a real find for curious - Nizhny Novgorod. Photos of the city and attractions that you can see, for usually a short travel period, carefully stored and help remember the words of a guide or acquaintances about the history of the city.

The pearl of Nizhny Novgorod is the ancient Kremlin. In the history of its existence, none of the invaders succeeded in subduing it. You can get to the Kremlin through the Dmitrovsky Gate, which is located on the Square of Minin and Pozharsky. Be sure to go on the Chkalov ladder. This is the longest ladder on the Volga, it has 560 steps.

The ancient temples of the city will surprise the traveler with ancient architecture, most of them operating. In Nizhny Novgorod there are 3 monasteries: Pechersky and Blagoveshchensky - male monasteries, and Krestvozdvizhensky monastery - female. The highest temple of the Volga region, 80 meters, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, is also located within the city limits.

No less interesting are the modern achievements: the longest cable car is thrown across the Volga in Nizhny Novgorod. The total length is 3661 meters, put into operation in 2012. An interesting place for adults and children is the open-air museum of steam locomotives . Admission is free, all vehicles can be visited from the inside to see what and how arranged. A lot of interesting and unexpected was prepared by Nizhny Novgorod.

The history of the city for children will open in the museum of local lore, the recently renovated Rukavishnikovs' estate. Also interesting are: the Art Museum, the Museum of Folk Crafts, the Museum of Russian Photography and many other historical and cultural sites.

Outstanding people of the city

Nizhny Novgorod was created by people. At different times, great artisans, writers, and inventors were born here. It was here that Kulibin, the famous mechanic and inventor, was born and lived. Minin and Pozharsky made up the military glory of Russia. In this beautiful city were born Lobachevsky, Sakharov, Ilinsky.

Glory to the city brought Nizhny Novgorod: writer Gorky, pilot Chkalov, actor Yevgeny Evstigneev. Many heroes of the Great Patriotic War gave the country Nizhny Novgorod. The history of the city and photos of historical and modern places and landscapes will preserve warm memories for the traveler and will excite the desire to come again.