Ancient Russia, the capital of which was a very beautiful city, had high authority in the world. The beginning of the first state of the eastern Slavs is considered to be Kievan Rus, and therefore the glorious city of Kiev is called the first capital. However, the capital city of Prince Kiy was not the only one who wore this title. There were much more of them, we will talk about them and the reasons for their existence in our article.
A little bit about the state
Before talking about the capitals of the Slavic medieval state, we will give it a little time and space on the page. Ancient Russia is a state formation of eastern tribes with centralized princely power, which existed from 862 to 1240 (Mongol invasion). It was distinguished by the high development of culture, largely borrowed from Byzantium. Architects, bookwriters, translators, theologians, glassmakers arrived from Constantinople and its lands. But many crafts were also familiar to the Slavs (jewelry, forging, pottery, art, woodworking and so on), they improved their skills, adopting the experience of the world, but retained their originality. In Russia, annals were written, monasteries were laid, which became the spiritual centers of the state, coins were minted, and there was its own code of laws. Grand dukes also practiced dynastic marriages that helped strengthen the reputation of Russia and favored foreign policy relations with other highly developed countries.
Why several capitals?
If you follow the official version of history, then the first capital of Ancient Russia is, of course, Kiev. The mother of Russian cities became the main one in 882, when the Prophetic Oleg and Igor landed on the banks of the Dnieper and, having killed Askold and Dir, seized power. It was he who, according to the annals, predicted a great future for the city. Why did the powerful state need another capital? Ancient Russia, as you know, having experienced prosperity under Vladimir the Baptist and Yaroslav the Wise, fell into decay. First of all, because of strife and strife. Numerous sons and grandchildren, brothers and uncles of the great princes received their inheritance - a city with neighboring villages, in which each of them ruled. Soon there were more rulers than lands, and some of them were dissatisfied with what fate was assigned to him. Between them, the struggle began for a better place under the sun, for the Kiev throne, which gave more profit and influence. But some principalities (destinies) were stronger, others weaker, the princes made deals between themselves and often went to war against each other.
The gulf between the principalities grew, Kiev gradually lost its significance as the capital. But other settlements, which were the main cities of the strong Old Russian principalities, entered the arena. This is Veliky Novgorod, and Chernigov, and Vladimir, and Suzdal, and Galich, and later Moscow. Therefore, in the state of the Eastern Slavs there was more than one capital: Ancient Russia had a lot of them, it was not for nothing that it was called "Gardarika", that is, the Country of cities.
The first capital city
So which city did Ancient Rus consider to be the main one? The number one capital is Kiev, a magnificent city on the Dnieper, the residence of the metropolitan since the tenth century. Founded by the legendary prince Kiy (or only reinforced by him), he became the main city of the Prophet Oleg, his successor Igor and his descendants until Vladimir Monomakh. After that, he was considered the main only formally and was transferred by the Grand Duke only to secondary relatives. And after the invasion, the Mongol-Tatars turned into a province, which was then conquered first by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and then the Commonwealth, the Kingdom of Moscow.
Ancient Russia, the capital of which, as you know, Kiev, took care of the development of cities. Stone temples were erected in the main city (after the adoption of Christianity), fortified walls were strengthened, new gates were erected, schools and book depositories were operating. Many attractions of the golden era of the state and today can be seen in the Ukrainian capital. This is primarily the Golden Gate, St. Sophia Cathedral, Assumption and Golden-Domed St. Michael's Cathedral, Trinity Church, Vydubychi Monastery.
Ladoga Staraya
There is another city that deserves the attention of historians - Staraya Ladoga. The ancient capital of Russia number two arose in the middle of the eighth century, and in 862 - 864 was the residence of Rurik. According to the chronicles, after this the legendary prince left for Novgorod, the city, which in the future received the title “Great”. Today you can see the Assumption Cathedral and St. George Church, erected in the second half of the twelfth century.
Staraya Ladoga today is a small village, whose age is about twelve centuries. Recent archaeological research makes it possible to assume that the settlement was founded by people from northern European countries. It was a parking lot where ships were being repaired and new ships were being built,
Rurikovo settlement in Novgorod
The capital of Ancient Russia, Ladoga, has lost its title as Rurik moved to a new city, located about two kilometers from the central part of the modern city. Now it attracts with unique architectural monuments of princely times, because it was not touched by the Mongol horde, and, therefore, was not plundered and destroyed. These are the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky, St. Sophia, St. George's Cathedrals, the St. Anthony Monastery, the Church of the Savior, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Annunciation, Peter and Paul, Paraskeva-Friday.
The heyday of the city came during the period of the Novgorod Republic, when all important decisions about the life of the state were not adopted. It existed from 1136 to 1478, and its territory stretched for hundreds of kilometers - from the Ural Mountains to the Baltic (or Varyazhsky) Sea. Crafts developed in it, lively trade was conducted, stone buildings were built, chronicles and books were written.
Today Novgorod (the capital of Ancient Russia and the Novgorod Republic) can be safely called the tourist Mecca of Russia, since it has retained its face through the millennium.
Vladimir-on-Klyazma
Another capital of the ancient Russian state is Vladimir, which was the main one in the period 1243 - 1389. The city was founded by Vladimir Monomakh in 1108, and after half a century Andrei Bogolyubsky moved his residence to it. The heyday of the settlement fell on the reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest, to which all lands, except Polotsk and Chernigov, obeyed. The Golden Gate, Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals remind of that glorious era in Vladimir.
Conclusion
Under the blows of the Nukers of Khan Batu, unfortunately, Ancient Russia ceased to exist. Its capital lost its influence and for many years ended up in ruins, forgotten crafts that were unclaimed in the Golden Horde. But the country was gradually recovering from a heavy blow, new generations of people grew up who first obeyed the Mongol yoke, and then dropped it. Thus, Russia was reborn again and entered a new time with a new face.