Pskov

Lore & Background

Pskov's earliest mention comes from 903, recording the marriage of Igor of Kiev to Olga, later Saint Olga. The first prince was Sudislav, youngest son of Vladimir the Great. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the town adhered to the Novgorod Republic. In 1241, it was taken by the Teutonic Knights but recaptured by Alexander Nevsky. In 1266, the Pskovians elected Daumantas, a Lithuanian prince who converted to Orthodox faith, as their military leader; he fortified the town and routed the Teutonic Knights at Rakvere.

Reader's Guide

Pskov's significance lies in its role as a medieval republic and a key Hanseatic trading post, with its independence formally recognized by Novgorod in 1348. The city's veche promulgated the Pskov Charter, a law code that influenced the all-Russian code of 1497. Its strategic importance made it the target of numerous sieges—the Kremlin withstood twenty-six in the 15th century alone. Annexed by the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1510, it remained a major city, with a population over 30,000. During the Livonian War, it withstood a prolonged siege by a 50,000-strong Polish-Lithuanian army. Peter the Great's conquests in the early 18th century ended its role as a border fortress, leading to decline. In World War I, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in Pskov. Under Soviet rule, many ancient buildings were demolished. During World War II, the city suffered German occupation from 1941 to 1944 and substantial damage. Pskov preserves much of its medieval walls and the Trinity Cathedral, and its architectural school influenced Russian building traditions.

Did You Know?

• Pskov's name may be loosely translated as '[the town] of purling waters'.
• The Pskov Krom withstood twenty-six sieges in the 15th century alone.
• Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in Pskov on 15 March 1917.
• The city was occupied by the Estonian army from 25 May to 28 August 1919.