Tver

Tver ({{lang-ru|?????}}) is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Tver Oblast. Formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and the model provinical town of Imperial Russia, it has a population of 453,000 (as of 2003). Tver is located at {{coor dm|56|52|N|35|55|E|region:RU_type:city(453,000)}}, at the confluence of Volga and Tvertsa rivers. The city was known as Kalinin (???????) from 1931 to 1990.

Medieval origins

The first written record of Tver is dated 1164. Originally a minor settlement of Novgorodian traders, it passed to the Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1209. In 1246, Alexander Nevsky granted it to his younger brother Yaroslav Yaroslavich (d. 1271), from whom a dynasty of local princes descends. Four of them were killed in the Golden Horde and were proclaimed saints by the Russian Orthodox church.

Related Topics:
1164 - Novgorod - Vladimir - 1209 - 1246 - Alexander Nevsky - Yaroslav Yaroslavich - 1271 - Golden Horde - Russian Orthodox church

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Formerly a land of woods and bogs, the Tver principality was quickly transformed into one of the richest and most populous Russian states. As the area was hardly accessible for Tatar raids, there was a great influx of population from the recently devastated South. By the end of the century, it was ready to vie with Moscow for supremacy in Russia. Both Tver and Moscow were the young cities, so the outcome of their rivalry was far from being certain.

Related Topics:
Principality - Tatar - Moscow

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