In the 17th century, the Siberian city of Mangazeya played an important role in trade with European countries. However, the glory century of this city, which was called "golden-boiling Mangazeya", turned out to be very short.
The city itself was founded during the reign of Boris Godunov as a stronghold. Detachments gathered here for further campaigns, and the tribute received from local tribes was brought here.
Mangazeya developed rapidly. Within a few years, the city located in the north of Western Siberia acquired fortress walls, churches and residential buildings were erected here.
But a much greater contribution to the development of Mangazeya was made not by the collection of tribute, but by the fact that merchants began to come to this city - Russians, British and Dutch. They were primarily interested in - and also second, third and others - in furs. It was with her that the local tribes mainly paid tribute.
Although the journey to Mangazeya was long and dangerous, the profits were truly enormous. And at some point, the government in Moscow realized that such a number of merchants who made their way to the "Siberian Troy" bypassing customs posts deprived the treasury of additional sources of income. And after the Troubles, money was very much needed. And at any other time too.
In 1620, the government of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, under pain of death, banned the sea route to Mangazeya. Later, historians suggested that Moscow feared an increase in the influence of the British and Dutch in the region. These states had strong fleets. And in principle, hardly anything would have prevented them from establishing control over Mangazeya and the adjacent lands. At sea, the Russian state could not oppose them with anything.
Is it true or not? Generally speaking, in the English archives in the last century, documents were found that confirmed plans to establish control over the Russian North during the Time of Troubles. But how prepared were the British to carry out these plans? At least there were no active attempts.
But the Tsar's decree dealt a fatal blow to Mangazeya. The city, having lost its merchants, quickly began to decline. After one of the fires, the city was not rebuilt. The last inhabitants left it in 1677. Mangazeya has become a legend. That is why it is sometimes called "Siberian Troy" - for a long time the exact location of the city was unknown, but references to it have survived in folklore. Mangazeya was discovered only two hundred years after its disappearance. Thus, it was confirmed that such a Siberian city actually existed.
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