For the first Rostov was mentioned in the chronicles in 862. However the lond near the Nero lake was settled in prehistoric times. In the tenth century Rostov became one of the beggest settlements on the north-east of the prehistoric state.

Yuri Dolgoruky became the first independent prince of Rostov. During that time the principality grew up, and Rostov receurd the name-Rostov the great. During the ruling of Yury Dolgoruky the burnt down oak Cathedral was replaced by the new stone cathedral (1161-1162). In 1237 the Baty-khan and his army attacked Rus. People of Rostov took part in the battle with Baty-khan. In 1238 on the Syt’ river Russian armed forces (concluding Rostov’s) had a battle with the invaders. But being circled by the great number of enemies, they heroically died.

Later Rostov’s armed forces courageously fought in the battle on the Kulikov field in the rows of Dmitry Donskoy’s army. They won the battle and destroyed the Golden Horde.
In the 14-th century the unification of the Russian lands was a round Moscow. Moscow princes (From Ivan Calita) joined Rostov land to their possession. Rostov lost its political meaning, but for a long time Rostov was still one of the religious centers of Russian.

In the end of the 16-th century Rostov bishops received the titles of metropolitans. In Rostov the construction of the church and civil buildings began in that time. Through Rostov the trade roads ran, which connected Moscow with the north cities and the White Sea, that promoted the development of the trade.

In 1608 during the Polish Intervention the city was destroyed. The Assumption Cathedral was seized and plundered. In 1631-1633 it was enclosed by the earthen walls: Phrolov’s (Yaroslavl’s road), Borisoglebsk (to Borisoglebsk) and Peter’s (to Moskow). Soon the fortress buildings went to run, and as they had lost its meaning they were not reconstructed.
In the second half of 17-th century big buildings were constructed in Rostov.

Stone churches, monasteries and civil buildings were constructed at the time. Rostov metropolitan Ioan Sysoyevich using the labour of thousands serfs and the means of mitropolia expanded the great building of a complex of metropolitan court with a fortress walls and towers which later received the name – Rostov Kreml. The Construction, which began in 70^-th of the 17-th century continued for 30 years.

In 1787 metropolia was transferred to Yaroslavl and the religious meaning of Rostov descresed, but the trade meaning was kept.

In the middle of the 18-th century the first industrial manufactories appeared in Rostov. In 1878 the railroad connected Rostov and Moscow, which increased the status of a town.
Today – Rostov is the big industrial and cultural center of Russia.

[Vocabulary] [Search] [Back]
[Sergiev-Posad] [Pereslavl-Zalesskiy] [Uglich] [Rybinsk]
[Yaroslavl] [Kostroma] [Suzdal] [Vladimir] [Yuriev-Polskoy]