- ARCHIVE - Lord Novgorod the Great

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Lord Novgorod the Great

Новгородская феодальная республика
'Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika'​

Realm: Novgorod
Head of State: Veche
Religion: Orthodox
Culture: Russian, Ugric
Stats: 3/1/7(8)/10(9)/3 --> [3/1/8/9/3]
Provinces: 10
Ports: 1
Owned: Novgorod(5), Adoma(2), Arkhangelsk(1), Ingria(2), Kola(0), Ladoga(2), Olonets(1), Onega(0), Pomoria(0), Vologda(1).
+1 Technology, -1 Morale Non-feudal State
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Anatoly Tverdislavich, Kniaz - He was invited in 1380 to become the Kniaz, or Duke, of Novgorod by a veche meeting. He was born in Vladimir and was a minor nobleman from that state. Tverdislavich is seen as an unremarkable choice and safe for the ambitions of those in the city.

*1355 Aleksandrov

Viktor Novikov, Posadnik - There are six posadniks in the state but Novikov is the most powerful as Posadnik or mayor of the city itself. Tverdislavich is useful to his ambitions but he despises the Kniaz as a dullard.

*1332 Staraya Russa, m. 1358 (Leona Menlikov)


Yuri Massalitinov, Tysyatsky - He is a conservative military commander and does not support military adventure. He fears Moscow, Lithuania, Sweden, and the Knights of the Baltic. He opposes the Posadnik.

*1344 Novgorod, m. 1370 (Iriana Danilov)


Gregori Orlov, Archbishop - The Archbishop is troubled by the state of the Orthodox church. He is worried about the weakening of the Empire in Constantinople and he fears the ambitions of Moscow.

*1330 Torzhok

 

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Government
The veche (council) was the highest authority in the Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika, which could comprise urban population, as well as free rural population. This governmental body had the power to elect posadniks, tysyatskys (military commanders), and even archbishops (starting from 1156) from among the boyars. Archbishop was the head of the executive branch of the government and the richest feudal lord of Novgorod, who possessed most of the lands and sources of income, transferred to him from the Kievan prince. The Archbishop was in charge of the republican treasury and foreign relations and even had the right to prosecute. Regular tradespeople and craftsmen also participated in the political affairs of Novgorod the Great. They had their own "unions" and were divided into konchans (кончане, or those living at the edge of the city), ulichans (уличанe, or those living on the city streets), and sotnyas (сотни, or hundreds) Starting from the 12th century, the heads of these unions began to exercise their right to ratify the most important republican documents. A ruler of Novgorod was invited by the veche from other principalities, which would then sign a contract with him, called ryad. This contract protected the interests of the Novgorodian boyars. The duties of the ruler of the Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika were limited. First and foremost, he was a military leader. He couldn’t exercise the right to prosecute. The city life was governed by electable posadnik, who was the mediator between the public and the Novgorodian kniaz. The latter's residence was moved from the city center (called Детинец, or Detinets) to the outskirts of Novgorod (Городище, or Gorodische). Starting with Alexander Nevsky, the rulers of Novgorod had been chosen from among the princes of Vladimir since the mid-13th century.

 

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Economy
The economy of the Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika was mainly based on farming and cattle breeding. Hunting, beekeeping, and fishing were also widely spread. In most of the regions of the republic, these different "industries" were combined with farming. They used to mine iron on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Staraya Russa and other localities of the Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika were known for their saltworks. Flax and hop cultivation were also of significant importance. Countryside products, such as furs, beeswax, honey, fish, lard, flax, and hop, were sold on the market and exported to other Russian cities or abroad. The Novgorodian merchants traded with Sweden and German and Danish cities.

More than a half of all Novgorodian privately owned lands had been concentrated in the hands of some 30-40 noble boyar families by the 14th-15th century. These vast estates served as material resources, which secured political supremacy of the boyars. The House of St. Sophia of Novgorod – the main ecclesiastic establishment of Novgorod - was their chief rival in terms of landownership. Its votchinas were located in the most economically developed regions of the Novgorodskaya feodal'naya respublika. Yuriev Monastery, Arkazhsky Monastery, Antoniev Monastery and some other privileged monasteries are known to have been big landowners. There were also the so-called zhityi lyudi, who owned less land than the boyars, and unprivileged small votchina owners called svoyezemtsy (своеземцы, or private landowners). The most common form of labor exploitation – the system of metayage – was typical for the afore-mentioned categories of landowners. Their household economies were mostly serviced by the kholops, whose number had been constantly decreasing. Along with the metayage, monetary payments began to gain a significant appearance.

Novgorodian merchants traded with the Hanseatic League as delineated in the Treaty of 1270. Twice each year, in the summer and winter, merchants came to Novgorod by both land and sea. If merchants arrived by sea, Novgorodian guides were sent to meet them and direct them through riverways to the city. Safety was guaranteed to Hansa merchants once they reached Novgorod’s territories. All foreign trade within Novgorod took place in Peterhof (established in the late 12th century) which was located on the merchant side of the Volkhov River. As many as 200 foreign merchants resided in this district each season. While residing in Peterhof, merchants were subject to their own rules and regulations and appointed their own officials. In exchange for squirrel pelts, Hansa merchants traded Flemish cloth, salt, wine, beer, herring, metal products, fruit, and most significantly, silver.

 

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History
One of the oldest Russian cities, Novgorod is a commercial and cultural center of medieval Europe. Rurik, who is said to have founded the dynasty that ruled Kievan Rus in 862, was invited by the inhabitants of Novgorod to rule them, according to unreliable early accounts. Culturally, the city was the equal of Kiev; the bulk of ancient manuscripts originated in Novgorod. The capital was transferred to Kiev by Oleg in 886, but Novgorod remained the chief center of foreign trade. It obtained self-government in 997 and achieved independence from Kiev in 1136, when it became the capital of an independent republic, Sovereign Great Novgorod, that embraced the whole of northern Russia to the Urals. Novgorod was governed by a popular assembly or veche that elected—and often exiled—the dukes. Although they held supreme military and judicial powers, the dukes had no legislative or administrative functions; these powers were vested in elected magistrates. However, the popular assemblies were disorderly, and power was gradually amassed by the aristocracy.

The strength of the republic rested on its economic prosperity. Situated on the great trade route to the Volga valley, it became, with London, Bruges, and Bergen, one of the four chief trade centers of the Hanseatic League. German merchants had a colony in Novgorod. Furs, hides, wax, honey, flax, and tar were the chief exports. Cloth and metals were imported from Europe and corn from central Russia. Transit trade with Central Asia reached a great volume. The enterprising merchants of Novgorod extended the power of the republic over the entire north of Russia, levied tribute even beyond the Urals, and founded many colonies. The citizens of Novgorod repulsed the attacks of the Teutonic Knights and Livonian Knights and of the Swedes and escaped the Mongol invasion. At its height, in the 14th cent., its population rose to c.400,000. Its splendor during that period, its hundreds of churches, its great shops and arsenals, its huge fairs, have all furnished rich themes for later Russian art and folklore.

 

[Sterkarm]

The woods were thick and the ground frozen under the hooves of the mighty steed. Atop the horse sat Andrius Vagnorius, on a mission to Novgorod to see Viktor Novikov, one of the most powerful Posadniks who sat on the Veche. Accompanying him was a bodyguard of no less than 20 Lithuanian horsemen, straight from Wilno. Grand Duke Jogaila was unaware of this mission, as Andrius took it upon himself to conduct diplomacy with the most powerful Russian nation.

Andrius spurred his horse onward once more, over the rolling hills of the Novgorodian countryside. Nearing a hilltop, they could see the outer walls of the city just barely. Vargonius led his entourage to the nearest road and headed swiftly for the gates. However, they attracted the suspicion of a few guards and were stopped on the way. Andrius attempted to explain himself and his wishes to see Novikov and fortunately one of his bodyguards spoke Russian. (I'll let you decide what happens here considering it's your country)

 

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The guard were interested at the arrival of this envoy from Lithuania. He had asked to see the Posadnik (Mayor) and the guards were unsure of his motives. The Kniaz (Duke) held titular power in Novgorod but real power was known to be in Novikov’s hands. The guards wondered if there was something behind this request or if it was unfamiliarity with the city-state. They waved Andrius into the city and assigned a guard to escort him to the Posadnik’s residence.

Novikov was secretly pleased at being asked to receive an envoy. He knew Tverdislavich should formally handle this but he despised the man as weak. He would talk to this Andrius and then perhaps send him on to the Kniaz. ”Welcome to Novgorod, good sir. It is a rarity that an envoy from Lithuania arrives here but I am pleased. Can I help you somehow?”

 

[Sterkarm]

"Well, Lord Novikov, I come to you with a proposal of an alliance. An alliance against both the Tatars and the Muscovites. Both of them are treacherous and have designs on Lithuanian land. In fact, a Tatar camp has even been set up just a couple miles east of Kiev. Though we do not yet know the purpose, we are certain that it is a threat to the city." Breathing deeply, Andrius continued on. "Should our two nations be joined in alliance, we would be able to share our resources. Lithuania could provide the people of Novgorod with mighty military support while Novgorod could provide the Lithuanian army with much wealth with which they could defeat the Muscovites and Tatars. We also have one more enemy: the Livonian Order. They are naturally allied with the Teutons, and both of these nations threaten us. Should we annihilate the Livonians, the Teutons would surely fall next. Do you like the proposal so far?"

 

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Novikov was quiet as he listened to the Lithuanian proposal. ”That is a quite an ambitious proposal. An alliance against the Tatars and Muscovy. There is merit in such an idea of course. I think I bring the others around to my point of view. Novgorod is threatened by Muscovy simply by its existence. We should stand together. The Tatars and then the Order too.”

He signaled for a drink to be brought for Andrius. He squinted at the man. ”Do you have any more proposals? I have heard the most interesting rumors from your country. How is the Duke faring? He is experienced family troubles, yes? One must be firm in situations like this. I am sure you understand?”