Ontsifor Lukinich
Encyclopedia
Ontsifor Lukinich was a posadnik
of Novgorod the Great in 1350–1354. He came from a Novgorodian boyar
family that gave a number of posadniks to the city. He is most famous for reforming the office in 1359, increasing the number of posadniks and creating a ruling collective in the city.
). Upon hearing this, the "common people" (chernye liudi, literally "the black people") in Novgorod (perhaps a faction loyal to Luka and Ontsifor) rose up against two men, Ondreshko and Posadnik Fedor Danilov, accusing them of masterminding Luka's murder. Ondreshko and Danilov subsequently fled to Koporye
where they remained the winter.
Ontsifor then appealed to the Archbishop of Novgorod
(at that time it would have been Vasilii Kalika - r. 1330-1352), who in concert with the boyars sent an archimandrite and boyars to Koporye to bring Ondreshko and Danilov back to Novgorod. Back in Novgorod, the two men denied masterminding the killing, and Ontsifor convened a "Vladychnoe veche
" ("a bishop's veche") in front of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom while Ondreshko and Fedor convened another veche at Yaroslav's Court
yard on the Marketplace across the Volkhov
from the cathedral.
In the morning, Ontsifor sent Vasilii across the river to negotiate with Ondreshko and Fedor but did not wait for his return before he and the veche in front of the cathedral took up arms and crossed the bridge to attack the veche on the Market Side, seizing two men (but not Ondreshko and Fedor) and confining them in a church (the chronicle does not say which one - it could have been the cathedral or one of the churches on the market) before Ontsifor broke down and fled the city. Vasilii and his vicar (namestnik), Boris, managed to bring calm to the city later that afternoon.
Ontsifor appears to have not stayed away from the city long and reappears in the chronicle again in 1348 leading Novgorodian troops (he was one of several commanders mentioned) against Swedish King Magnus Eriksson
, who was at that time crusading against the Finnic Izhera people
living along the Neva River
and threatening the fortress of Orekhov
. Ontsifor and the other companions managed to retake the region and kill 500 of the enemy, losing only 3 themselves before returning to Novgorod. (Magnus, however, took the fortress later that same year).
Ontsifor was first elected posadnik in 1350, when the Novgorod First Chronicle
notes that they took the posadnikship away from Fedor Danilovich, whom Ontsifor had accused of murdering his father nine years earlier, and gave it to Ontsifor. Valentin Yanin argues that he was not posadnik of All Novgorod, but was posadnik only of the Nerev End (Konets) north of the Detinets. He and was reelected every year until 1354. The chronicle mentions that in 1354, he voluntarily gave up the office of posadnik. He died in 1367.
At least two Ontsiforovichi ("sons of Ontsifor") are mentioned in the chronicles carrying out political duties in the 1370s into the early 15th century: Maksim and Yuri (his death is mentioned in 1417). These are probably Ontsifor's son, although the chronicler never conclusively says so and it is possible that they are the sons of a different man of the same name. That the chronicler mentions them without explaining who they are seems to suggest however, that they are the sons of this, rather famous Ontsifor.
Ontsifor's residence in the Nerev End (borough) was discovered during archaeological digs in the city and was excavated between 1951 and 1962. Several birch bark document
s have been found that are from or are addressed to him, including one he sent to his mother.
Posadnik
Posadnik was the mayor in some East Slavic cities or towns. Most notably, the posadnik was the mayor of Novgorod and Pskov...
of Novgorod the Great in 1350–1354. He came from a Novgorodian boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
family that gave a number of posadniks to the city. He is most famous for reforming the office in 1359, increasing the number of posadniks and creating a ruling collective in the city.
Life
Ontsifor was active polticially from 1342, when he first appears in the sources. That year, he led a war party out to the Volga River at the same time his father, Luka Varfolomeyev led troops into the Dvina Land, where Luka was killed (in the "Land Beyond the Portages," the unorganized part of the Novgorod RepublicNovgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
). Upon hearing this, the "common people" (chernye liudi, literally "the black people") in Novgorod (perhaps a faction loyal to Luka and Ontsifor) rose up against two men, Ondreshko and Posadnik Fedor Danilov, accusing them of masterminding Luka's murder. Ondreshko and Danilov subsequently fled to Koporye
Koporye
Koporye is a historic village in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located about 100 km to the west of St. Petersburg and 12 km south of the Koporye Bay of the Baltic Sea...
where they remained the winter.
Ontsifor then appealed to the Archbishop of Novgorod
Archbishop of Novgorod
The Archbishop of Novgorod is the head of the eparchy of Novgorod the Great and is one of the oldest offices in the Russian Orthodox Church. The archbishops have, in fact, been among the most important figures in medieval Russian history and culture and their successors continued to play...
(at that time it would have been Vasilii Kalika - r. 1330-1352), who in concert with the boyars sent an archimandrite and boyars to Koporye to bring Ondreshko and Danilov back to Novgorod. Back in Novgorod, the two men denied masterminding the killing, and Ontsifor convened a "Vladychnoe veche
Veche
Veche was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries.In Novgorod, where the veche acquired the greatest prominence, the veche was broadly similar to the Norse thing or the Swiss Landsgemeinde.-Etymology:...
" ("a bishop's veche") in front of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom while Ondreshko and Fedor convened another veche at Yaroslav's Court
Yaroslav's Court
Yaroslav's Court was the princely compound in the city of Novgorod the Great. Today it is roughly the area around the Trade Mart, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Procopius, and the Church of the Myrrh-bearing Women. The Trade Mart renovated and heavily modified in the sixteenth and...
yard on the Marketplace across the Volkhov
Volkhov
Volkhov is an industrial town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated east of St. Petersburg, on the Volkhov River. Population: -History:...
from the cathedral.
In the morning, Ontsifor sent Vasilii across the river to negotiate with Ondreshko and Fedor but did not wait for his return before he and the veche in front of the cathedral took up arms and crossed the bridge to attack the veche on the Market Side, seizing two men (but not Ondreshko and Fedor) and confining them in a church (the chronicle does not say which one - it could have been the cathedral or one of the churches on the market) before Ontsifor broke down and fled the city. Vasilii and his vicar (namestnik), Boris, managed to bring calm to the city later that afternoon.
Ontsifor appears to have not stayed away from the city long and reappears in the chronicle again in 1348 leading Novgorodian troops (he was one of several commanders mentioned) against Swedish King Magnus Eriksson
Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
, who was at that time crusading against the Finnic Izhera people
Izhorians
The Izhorians , along with the Votes are an indigenous people of Ingria. Small numbers can still be found in the Western part of Ingria, between the Narva and Neva rivers in northwestern Russia.- History :The history of the Izhorians is bound to the history of Ingria...
living along the Neva River
Neva River
The Neva is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length , it is the third largest river in Europe in terms of average discharge .The Neva is the only river flowing from Lake...
and threatening the fortress of Orekhov
Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga, east of St. Petersburg. From 1944 to 1992, it was known as Petrokrepost...
. Ontsifor and the other companions managed to retake the region and kill 500 of the enemy, losing only 3 themselves before returning to Novgorod. (Magnus, however, took the fortress later that same year).
Ontsifor was first elected posadnik in 1350, when the Novgorod First Chronicle
Novgorod First Chronicle
The Novgorod First Chronicle or The Chronicle of Novgorod, 1016-1471 is the most ancient extant chronicle of the Novgorod Republic. It reflects a tradition different from the Kievan Primary Chronicle...
notes that they took the posadnikship away from Fedor Danilovich, whom Ontsifor had accused of murdering his father nine years earlier, and gave it to Ontsifor. Valentin Yanin argues that he was not posadnik of All Novgorod, but was posadnik only of the Nerev End (Konets) north of the Detinets. He and was reelected every year until 1354. The chronicle mentions that in 1354, he voluntarily gave up the office of posadnik. He died in 1367.
Legacy
Ontsifor is most famous for implementing a series of reforms in the posadnichestvo (the office of posadnik) in 1359, greatly expanding the number of posadniks (essentially the retired posadniks maintained influence while the current, sitting posadnik, became staryi or senior posadnik). Valentin Yanin called it a "collective posadnichestvo" after the reforms.At least two Ontsiforovichi ("sons of Ontsifor") are mentioned in the chronicles carrying out political duties in the 1370s into the early 15th century: Maksim and Yuri (his death is mentioned in 1417). These are probably Ontsifor's son, although the chronicler never conclusively says so and it is possible that they are the sons of a different man of the same name. That the chronicler mentions them without explaining who they are seems to suggest however, that they are the sons of this, rather famous Ontsifor.
Ontsifor's residence in the Nerev End (borough) was discovered during archaeological digs in the city and was excavated between 1951 and 1962. Several birch bark document
Birch bark document
A birch bark document is a document written on pieces of birch bark. Such documents existed in several cultures. For instance, some Gandharan Buddhist texts have been found written on birch bark and preserved in clay jars....
s have been found that are from or are addressed to him, including one he sent to his mother.