Velikiy Novgorod

Lord Novgorod the Great was a northern Rus' city-state governed by a veche, with boyar families holding real power. In 1337 Ivan Kalita of Moscow was its prince, and it paid tribute to the Mongol khans.

Pskov won independence from it at Bolotovo in 1348. The Treaty of Yazhelbitsy in 1456 began its decline. After a pro-Lithuanian faction invited Prince Mikhailo Olelkovich, Ivan III won at the Shelon in 1471, and in 1478 he abolished the veche and took over most of its land. Ivan IV sacked the city in 1570.