Pskov

Pskov, city and administrative centre of Pskov oblast (region), northwestern Russia. The city lies along the Velikaya (Great) River at its confluence with the small Pskova River, at a point 9 miles (14 km) above the Velikaya’s outfall into Lake Pskov. Pskov is one of the oldest Russian towns, being first mentioned in a chronicle of the year 903 as Pleskov. The town became important in the Middle Ages as a centre for trade between the interior of Russia and the Hanseatic seaports of the Baltic. A kremlin (citadel) called the Krom was established on a promontory in the town beside the Velikaya. Pskov was under the protection of the city of Novgorod in the 11th and 12th centuries. In the latter century monasteries were established on the left bank of the Velikaya, in the suburb known as Zavelichye. In 1240 the Teutonic Knights captured Pskov, but, after their defeat in 1242 on the ice of Lake Peipus by Alexander Nevsky, the 13th century saw Pskov attain a population of 60,000. In 1348 Pskov achieved full independence as a republic, but in 1510 it was annexed by Moscow and in 1571 was sacked by Ivan IV (the Terrible). The city survived sieges by Stephen Báthory of Poland in 1581 and by Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden in 1615. The 18th century saw the beginning of a long period of decline of the city that was only reversed in the 20th century. In World War II Pskov suffered much damage, but many historic buildings survived. Notable is the 17th-century Cathedral of the Trinity in the kremlin. Modern Pskov is an important railway junction and has large machine-building and flax-processing industries. Pop. (2010 prelim.) 203,281.