"Vladimir" a Vladimir Travel Page by bugulma

I visited Vladimir three times so far, in April 2005, in September 2005 and in June 2007
Many of historical places are situated in the center of the city and very close to each other. So you are able to see everything in 1 day.

The first settlements were here in IX century. Historians say the city was founded in 990 or 992 by Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, the person who christened Russian fields, although the Soviet history said the official date was 1108 when Vladimir Monimakh built fortifications around the city. XII century was a time when Russian Dukes had fights between each other. As a result in 1157 Andrey Bogolyubsky, Vladimir's Duke, won battle against Kiev troops and took russian capital under control. He didn't want to stay in the south and capital was moved to Vladimir. It was a golden age of the city with cultural development, religion activity and architectoral works.
In 1238 as many other Russian cities Vladimir was destroyed and burnt down. In 1252 Alexander Nevsky became the Vladimir's Duke and he more or less successfully kept piece in the region.
Since the middle of XIV AD the Moscow kingdom became the more powerful in the russian territories. In 1358 Moscow Duke Dmitry Ivanovich became a tsar of Vladimir territories.Besides in 1395 the main religious icon of Vladimir, the wonder-working icon of Vladimir's Mother of God, was moved to Moscow

In 1411 and 1521 Vladimir was attacked by Tatar troops. In 1609 and 1614 Vladimir was attacked by Polish troops but twice defense was stronger than attacking power. In the beginning of XVIII century Vladimir became a part of Moscow Gubernia (oblast'). In 1711 the strong fire destroyed the city. In 1778 Ekaterina II the Great founded Vladimirskaya Gubernia (Oblast') and Vladimir became a center of the region again.