History of Yaroslavl

Origins... In 1010 Yaroslav the Wise, prince of Rostov, decides to safeguard the borders of his domain and founds a small fort bearing his name. Grand Duke sailed by shares of the Volga river and saw the tribe robing merchant ships. Yaroslav went ashore but inhabitants incited Holy Bear to him. Duke killed the bear and founded the city at place near confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers (this place is called Strelka now) To do so Yaroslavl had to conquer a pagan dwelling by slaying a bear, the pagans' sacred beast. This story faded into a legend, but the city's emblem still contains a silver shield with a bear holding a golden pole-axe on it. In 1238 - The city had just begun to grow and prosper when the bloodlusting hordes of the Mongol Empire swept through the country, leaving behind them only ruins and stench of death. Yaroslavl was not an exception. She was devastated and showed no signs of revival during the long years of the Tatar yoke. Not until 1380, when Yaroslavl's militia fought against the Mongols as a part of the all-Russian host led by Dmitri Donskoy. In that battle the Russians were victorious. The Mongol domination was near its end. 1463- Yaroslavl is a part of Moscovy. The city and the surrounding lands are considered the Grand Duke's patrimonial estate and are inherited by the direct heir of the throne. The 17th century was the golden age of Yaroslavl's culture. In the center of the ancient Posad (a place, where once powerful merchant families used to build their residences) there are quite a few exemples of Yaroslavl's stone-masonry: Elias the Prophet's Church and John the Precursor's Church, a monument of universal importance. In the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th century the city receives its present shape. Because of a suprisingly well-balanced mixture of different styles the city earned the name « Florence of the Russian North ». Map of YAROSLAVL dated of 2nd February 1809 - click to enlarge

YAROSLAV THE WISE                   prince of Rostov Piece of money                 dated of XI century