Stonework of the ancient city defense rampart

Photos

  • Каменная кладка старинного вала обороны города. Photo 1
  • Каменная кладка старинного вала обороны города. Photo 2

Description

The defensive structures of medieval Novgorod were a multi-level fortification system, which included several lines of defense. In the 16th century there were four main lines of defensive structures:

  1. Okolny City (Ostrog): The largest and most extensive was the Okolny City, also known as Ostrog. This city was surrounded by ramparts and walls consisting of log walls. It covered the entire territory of Novgorod along both banks of the Volkhov: Sofia and Trade sides.
  2. Small Earthen City: This city was built in 1582-1583 by order of Ivan the Terrible not far from Detinets. It consisted of wooden walls and eight towers located along an earthen rampart.
  3. Detinets (Kremlin): Detinets was a fortress complex that served as the seat of power in Novgorod. It had stone walls and towers that protected the main control center and religious buildings.
  4. Vladychny Court: This was the residence of the archbishop, the head of the Novgorod feudal republic. It was located inside the child.

Each of these lines of defense had its own characteristics and served to protect different parts of the city. Over time, Novgorod's defense system gradually evolved, undergoing changes and improvements. However, at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the fortifications began to lose their importance and were gradually destroyed, especially after the decree of Peter I on the dismantling of all wooden walls and towers in 1701. Currently, only isolated remains of Peter's bastions in Novgorod have survived, such as the Nikolsky Bastion and the Spassky Bastion.

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