The New Student's Reference Work/Novgorod

Nov′gorod (“new town”), a famous Russian city, capital of a government, is situated near Lake Ilmen on the Volkhoff River. In 864, a Norseman, was invited here to rule, and with him begins the history of the country. In the 12th century the city, which then had 400,000 inhabitants, was the market of northeastern Europe, and its almost republican government ruled from the to River Petchora. In 1471 on account of the jealousy of the princes, Czar  III destroyed Novgorod, deprived it of its liberties, and exiled its best citizens. Afterwards the port of was opened and the city began to decline. The oldest building is the Church of St. Sophia, founded in the 11th century, besides 30 other churches and the wall surrounding the Kremlin. Here is annually held the Nizhnii Novgorod fair, which transacts a large volume of business. Population 26,972.