CHRONICLE OF NOVGOROD AS A MEDIEVAL RESOURCE: HISTORICAL VALUE AND ITS CONTENT

Abstract

Following the conversion of the Russians to Christianity, Russian chronicles or Russian annals emerged as a result of the influence of the Byzantine annal writing tradition. Starting in the XIth century, this tradition, spread to all parts of Russia during the XIVth century in particular. The Russian Annals are the main source of information we have on today’s Turkish-Slavic/Russian relations. The annal transcripts written in Novgorod are among the oldest and most important ones. Although they were written in churches and monasteries, the oldest copies of these annals were unfortunately lost in time and could not reach the present day. In the 14th century, many annals were written in large monasteries throughout various parts of the Russian mainland, and over time, the indigenous annal tradition, including copies written in Novgorod, was formed. The Chronicle of Novgorod is the most important, as well as the best known, of the basic written sources of early Russian history. Chronicle writing at Novgorod began very early, for the chronicle of Nestor, called Povest Vremennıh Let (Annals of Contemporary Years), considered to be the first Russian annal, contains a number of items from the Novgorod Chronicle. Indeed, it is evidently the clerics who are keeping the Chronicle, for not only do some of scribes refer to themselves as priest, but the entire work is imbued with a persistend religious slant. As a natural consequence of this situation, the Novgorod Chronicle, a work of ecclesiastics, abounds in references to church matters. These ecclesiastical notes constantly throw light upon political and social conditions. The earliest extant copy of the chronicle is the so-called Synod Scroll, dated to the second half of the XIIIth century. First printed in 1841, it is currently preserved in the State Historical Museum. The Chronicle of Novgorod, one of the main sources of Medieval history, has been put into paper by different people and has survived to the present day. The Chronicle of Novgorod deals with the events between 1016-1471. The Chronicle of Novgorod is one of several local chronicles that continue the history of Rus’ after the point at which the Nestor’s Chronicle (Primary Chronicle) breaks off. As is typical Russian chronicle in general, it tends to be a monotonous catalogue of political revolutions. The Chronicle of the Novgorod gives information abaout the knaizes (princes), members of the Rurikids dynasty, the governors of the city and the archbishops of the city. The annal which has high material value in this particular area and specific topics contains detailed information related to Cumans, Germans, Mongols, Lithuanians and the Hanse Merchant Union. The raids these nations had conveyed and the wars they had initiated in Novgorod vicinity and its environs are sometimes described in detail and sometimes like insignificant events. The Battle of Kalka, the Battle of Tannenberg, the Battle of Kulikova, the Battle of Neva are important battles described in the Novgorod Chronicle. The Chronicle of Novgorod, in those years around the begining of the thirteenth century, while giving detailed account of the fall of the Constantinople to the Latin crusaders; was paying little attention to developments much closer to home; the advent of other Latin crusaders, Germans, who were buildings colonies in the eastern Baltic. Despite providing incomplete and chronologically incorrect information, the annal contains satisfactory information regarding Slavic geography and the history of the other nations who were in touch with these peoples.