Novgorod Oblast

Novgorod Oblast (Russian: Новгоро́дская о́бласть, Novgorodskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod. Some of the oldest Russian cities, including Veliky Novgorod and Staraya Russa, are located in the oblast. The historic monuments of Veliky Novgorod and its surroundings have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wikipedia -> The word "Novgorodians" was first heard in the chronicles under the year 859. The exact date of the emergence of Novgorod and the location of the "old" city is still the subject of scientific disputes. Recently, the prevailing point of view is that the role of the old city is given to Gorodishche, located on the right bank of the Volkhov, 2 kilometers from the modern city. It was there that, probably, was the residence of Prince Rurik, who was summoned in the 9th century. to reign in Novgorod and which laid the foundation for the Rurik dynasty. In the X century. the city was moved to a new location and named Novgorod. After the conquest of Kiev by Prince Oleg at the head of the Novgorod squad and the formation of a unified state of Kievan Rus, Novgorod became the second most important center of the new state. At one time, Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko and his son Yaroslav the Wise reigned here.