| Kostroma
Kostroma is located to the north of Moscow. Its inland location
made it perfect location for retreat from the enemies who besieged
Mosow. Grad dukes of Moscow used it for this purpose in 1382, 1408,
and 1433. In the 16th century, Kostroma had shown a spectacular
economic growth which may be attributed to newly-established trade
connections with English and Dutch merchants through the northern
port of Archangel. Kostroma has witnessed some of the most dramatic
events during the "Times of Troubles." The city was twice ravaged
by the Poles. It took a 6-month siefe to overtake the resistance
which fortified in the Ipatievsky Monastery.
Kostroma was a home to Ivan Susanin who became a symbol
of the city's resistance to foreign invaders. Ivan, who was just a
local peasant, approached the Poles and suggested on showing them a
hidden path that would enable them to attack the Russians from
behind. Ivan led a large group of Poles deep into the woods from
where they had never found their way out (and neither did Ivan)
The first tsar in the Romanov family lived in the Ipatievsky
monastery and it was here that and emissary from Moscow offered him
the Russian crown in 1612.
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