The ancient Russian city of Rostov the Great has an eventful
history. People have long settled in these places, rich in forests
and rivers. In the impenetrable thickets there were many animals,
and the rivers and lakes amazed with the abundance of fish. At the
same time, these lands were relatively inaccessible to enemies. The
Chud tribes (from the seventh century), and then the Slavs (from the
ninth century) chose this region because of its beauty and natural
wealth.
For the first time, Rostov the Great is mentioned in
The Tale of Bygone Years. Already then, in 862, it was a large
settlement on the banks of the Pizherma River, which flows into Lake
Nero with unique fertile silt.
The first inhabitants of the
Rostov land were the Meryans, representatives of the Finno-Ugric
tribe Merya. First, Novgorodians appeared on these lands, followed
by the Krivichi and Vyatichi. But the resettlement of the Slavic
tribes proceeded peacefully. Thanks to the synthesis of Finno-Ugric
and Slavic tribes with different levels of development, a Russian
people with a high degree of culture arose. The inhabitants of
Rostov the Great of those centuries were skilled, well-versed in the
art of farming, fishing and hunting. Rostov also attracted trade
people, as it was located at the crossroads of many roads and was
the center of the north-east of the Russian land.
At the
beginning of the tenth century, the Rostov squad participated in two
campaigns led by Prince Oleg against Tsargrad. Warriors from Rostov
receive as a result of these victories a tribute for themselves
(one-time) and for the city (annual), they seek benefits in trade.
In 991, a small part of the population of Rostov the Great was
baptized in Lake Nero by Prince Vladimir, the Metropolitan, four
bishops and the governor of Dobrynia. But the majority of the city's
population refused to be baptized and were hostile to Christian
priests. The first bishops Hilarion, Fedor and Leonty preached here.
The latter was martyred in 1071 at the hands of pagans during the
uprising of the Magi.
Subsequently, Bishop and Saint Leonty
was canonized and he became the first saint of the north-east of
Rus'. The lean years of 1024 and 1071 led to the fact that uprisings
of smerds broke out on Rostov land, led by the Magi. They sought to
restore their greatness and the communal-tribal system. These
uprisings were ruthlessly suppressed and led to the strengthening of
the power of the prince.
In the second half of the 16th
century, many noble families of Rostov had to leave the city at the
behest of Ivan the Terrible, who took away their property for his
guardsmen. But the same king built several new churches in Rostov. A
large highway was laid through the city, linking Moscow and
Arkhangelsk.
"Time of Troubles" left its mark on the Rostov
land. At the beginning of the 17th century, Rostov the Great was
attacked by Polish-Lithuanian invaders who plundered the city.
Fortunately, this was the last destruction by foreign invaders in
the history of this ancient city.
In the 17th century, thanks
to the efforts of Metropolitan Jonah, a single ensemble of the
Rostov Kremlin was created. A number of buildings were erected in
the urban settlement and on the monastic lands. The second half of
the 17th century was truly the "golden age" of stone construction in
Rostov the Great.
The reformer tsar Peter the Great also
visited Rostov the Great. He came here with the aim of building a
funny fleet. But the waters of Lake Nero did not suit him, and he
builds his amusing fleet on Lake Pleshcheyevo. In January 1702,
Peter I appointed Demetrius Metropolitan of Rostov and Yaroslavl,
who opened a "grammar" school in the city, where two hundred
children of clergymen studied. By order of Peter the Great, several
churches were built in Rostov.
In the 18th century, Rostov
the Great became a center of pilgrimage to the relics of St.
Demetrius of Rostov, which have healing powers.
In the 19th
century, the city was built up, many enterprises appeared. Thanks to
the merchant Titov, the Rostov Kremlin is preserved, and a museum of
church antiquities is being created on its basis.
Another
resident of the city, having built a ten-kilometer water pipe for
his enterprise, donated all his savings to the construction of the
city water pipe, the opening of a gymnasium and a university.
Traders and buyers from all over the Russian state came to the
annual (since the second half of the 18th century) Rostov fair.
After all, it was the third in the Russian Empire (after the
Makariev Fair and Nizhny Novgorod) in terms of turnover.
In
the 19th century, Rostov the Great became famous for the skill of
its craftsmen in painting with enamel.
Rostov the Great in the
20th century.
The 17th year, with its two revolutions, passed
rather calmly in Rostov. But in the 30s the city suffered greatly
from militant atheists. Many historical and religious monuments were
destroyed and demolished, which were given special attention by
local residents in the 19th century. During the Great Patriotic War,
about 20 Rostovites became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Rostov
the Great is part of the "Golden Ring of Russia". This city is an
unsolved mystery of the Russian people.