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Koporye Копорье | |
|---|---|
 Entrance to Koporye Fortress | |
Location of Koporye  | |
  Koporye Location of Koporye | |
| Coordinates:59°42′N29°03′E / 59.700°N 29.050°E /59.700; 29.050 | |
| Country | Russia |
| Founded | 1237 (Julian) |
Koporye (Russian:Копорье; Finnish:Kaprio;Swedish:Koporje) is a historicvillage (selo) inLeningrad Oblast,Russia, located about 100 km (62 mi) west ofSt. Petersburg and 12 km (7.5 mi) south of theKoporye Bay of theBaltic Sea. Its population in 2017 was 1,603.
The first woodenfortress on the coast of theKoporye Bay was built by theTeutonic Knights in the winter of 1240, only to be destroyed byAlexander Nevsky the next year.[2] The second fortress was built in stone by Alexander's sonDmitry Alexandrovich in 1280.[3] Enraged by the prince's independence, theNovgorodians razed the fortress two years later.[4][5]
TheSwedes took advantage of the lack of a fortress and occupied the banks of theNarva River. TheNovgorodians had to restore the stone fort in 1297. Koporye was the strongest stronghold in the region and survived numerous attacks during theSwedish–Novgorodian Wars. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the town was given several times to mercenary princes invited by Novgorodians to protect the northern territories of the republic. While the town had an important fortress, the residences of a prince and several lesser landowners, and was the centre of an important iron-working district, it remained very small, with only 18 households by the end of 15th century.[6]
After Novgorod's incorporation intoMuscovy, the fortress was strengthened and rebuilt to withstandcannon fire. Most extant structures belong to that period. Russian forces surrendered Koporye during theLivonian War but regained it under theTreaty of Tyavzino.
During theTime of Troubles, Koporye was attacked by some 2,000 Swedes. The Russian garrison had to surrender. In 1656, Russia unsuccessfully tried to retake the village. Koporye remained Swedish until 1703, known as Koporje or Caporie/Capurien, constituting an important part ofSwedish Ingria.[7][8]
As theGulf of Finland grew shallow and receded to the north, the site began to lose its maritime importance. In 1703, during theGreat Northern War, a major Russian army underBoris Sheremetev regained Koporye, which was defended by 80 Swedish soldiers under the commandant, Captain Wasili Apolloff. Huge gaps in the walls from the disastrous fire of the Russian artillery may still be seen.
Despite some repairs undertaken in the 19th century, the fortress survives in a ruined state. Today, it is a museum.[9][10]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)59°42′34.26″N29°1′57.87″E / 59.7095167°N 29.0327417°E /59.7095167; 29.0327417