page_title: History of Nizhny Novgorod
section_title: Russian Empire
hierarchical_section_title: History of Nizhny Novgorod / Russian Empire
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Главный ярмарочный дом во время Всероссийской выставки в Нижнем Новгороде
context_page_description: Nizhny Novgorod was founded by Prince Yuri II of Vladimir in 4 February 1221. Citizens organized an army to liberate Moscow from the Poles in 1611, led by Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. During the Russian Empire, in 1817 Nizhny Novgorod became the country's main trading city. In 1896, the city hosted the largest All-Russia exhibition. In the Soviet era, Nizhny Novgorod was renamed Gorky, in honor of the writer Maxim Gorky. Then it was the industrial center of the Soviet Union. During the World War II, the city sent to the front a huge amount of military equipment and ammunition. Therefore, the German air force bombed the city for 3 years. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the city was renamed back to Nizhny Novgorod. In Russia, the city became a political center and the capital of the Volga Federal District. Now the city is the center of information technology and develops tourism.
context_section_description: In 1695, during his Azov campaign, Peter the Great came to Nizhny Novgorod. After the regional reform, Nizhny Novgorod has become a gubernatorial city since 1719. In 1721, the episcopal chair was appointed archimandrite Pitirim, who founded Hellenic-Greek and Slavic-Russian church schools. In 1722 the city again visited Peter the Great, celebrating here the day of its 50th anniversary. Then he went to the Persian campaign.
  In 1767 the city was visited by the Empress Catherine the Great. She did not like the city very much. She put it this way:
  This city is a beautiful location, but the buildings is ugly ... everything either lies on its side, or it will soon fall.
  During her stay in the city she was introduced to the local inventor-mechanic Ivan Kulibin. Subsequently, he was invited to the capital's palace. 
  After the visit of Empress Catherine II, a new regular city plan was drawn up, providing for a quarterly system. From 1770 to 1913 the Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street was altered. It was built up by stone houses. In 1798 the first city theater was created. Later it became known as the Nicholas Theater in honor of Emperor Nicholas I. It is now called the Drama Theater.
  In 1812, there was a war between Russia and France. After the French army attacked Moscow, Moscow landlords arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. There are rumors that after the fire in Moscow the capital will be Nizhny Novgorod. Among the arriving landlords are Nikolay Karamzin, Vasily Pushkin, Konstantin Batyushkov and Sergey Glinka, who organize their literary club here.
  
  In 1817 in the village of Kunavino was moved Makaryev Fair. Previously, it was organized near the walls of the Makaryev Monastery. But, after the fire, it was decided to move it closer to Nizhny Novgorod. The fair gave rise to the rapid economic development of the city and the surrounding villages. The village of Kunavino became a large merchant settlement, later industrial enterprises were built on its territory.
  In 1834 the city was visited by Nicholas I, who initiated the external reconstruction of the city. In 1847 a water pipeline appeared in the city and the first fountain was built. In the Kremlin, private buildings were destroyed and administrative buildings were built instead. Also, many new buildings, streets, boulevards and gardens were built.
  In 1849, near Nizhny Novgorod, in the village of Sormovo was founded a large industrial enterprise Sormovsky plant. Since 1850, it has produced river steamships, railway cars, locomotives, motor ships, trams. Thanks to the plant, Sormovo turned into a large working village.
  From 1862 the construction of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod railway was completed. In 1895 it was extended to Sormovo. In 1904 the line of the Moscow-Kazan railway was built up to the Romodanovsky railway station.
caption: The Main Fair building. All-Russia Exhibition. 1896
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