Lovat River
The Lovat River was a part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, one of the oldest trading routes passing through Rus'. The area was populated since the Middle Ages and Velikiye Luki was first mentioned in the chronicles under 1166. It was a part of the Novgorod Republic and had a strategic importance, defending Novgorod and Pskov from the south. In the end of the 15th century, Velikiye Luki was included into the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, it was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate was split off, and in 1772, Pskov Governorate (which between 1777 and 1796 existed as Pskov Viceroyalty) was established. The area was a part of Velikoluksky and Toropetsky Uyezds of Pskov Governorate.