Totma
Encyclopedia
Totma is a town and the administrative center of Totemsky District
of Vologda Oblast
, Russia
,, located on the left bank of the Sukhona River
at the confluence with the Pesya Denga River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemskoe Urban Settlement in Totemsky Municipal District. Population:
, who used the Sukhona as the main waterway leading to the north and eventually to the White Sea
. Originally, the town (Pogost Todma) was located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) downstream of the current place, close to the mouth of Staraya Totma River. In 13th century, the salt production started around Totma, and the town was relocated. In 1539-1541 Totma was plundered by Kazan Tatars
, after which a fortress was built. In 16th century, Totma was one of the most properous towns of the Russian North, due to the trade and to the salt production. In 1554, monk Feodosy Sumorin founded the Transfiguration Monastery. In 17th and 18th centuries, Totma was three times visited by Peter the Great, which was rather exceptional given the remote location of the town. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, Totma was explicitly mentioned as one of the towns included to Archangelgorod Governorate
. In 18th century Totma was one of the main centers of the exploration of and the trade with Alaska
. In particular, Ivan Kuskov
, the first administrator of Fort Ross, a Russian fortress in California, was a native of Totma. In 1780, Totma became the center of Totemsky Uyezd of Vologda Viceroyalty
, since 1796 it belonged to Vologda Governorate
.
In 19th century, Totma quickly lost its significance, since the foreign trade was rerouted from Arkhangelsk
to Saint Petersburg
, and the river transportation was gradually replaced by railroads and highways. The railroad from Vologda to Arkhangelsk was constructed along the shortest way via Konosha and bypassed Totma, and the old highway
from Moscow to Arkhangelsk never run via Totma. Until late 1990s the only road through Totma connected Vologda with Veliky Ustyug
via Nikolsk
. In the second half of 19th century, Totma was frequently used as a destination for political exile.
On July 15, 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai
, and the uyezds were abolished. Totma became the center of Totemsky District, which included parts of the former area of Totemsky Uyezd.
via Kadnikov
(southwest), Veliky Ustyug
via Nyuksenitsa
(northeast), and Nikolsk
via Imeni Babushkina
(east). Before the road between Totma and Veliky Ustyug along the Sukhona was completed in 2000s, the only connection between the towns was via Nikolsk.
The Sukhona is navigable in Totma, however, there is no passenger navigation.
. This style is sometimes referred to as Totma barocco.
Totma contains twelve objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law and additionally seventy-four objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. The town of Totma is classified as a historical town by the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation, which implies certain restrictions on construction in the historical center.
The monuments classified as cultural heritage by the federal law are the following:
Totma hosts five state museums:,
Totemsky District
Totemsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemsky Municipal District...
of Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
,, located on the left bank of the Sukhona River
Sukhona River
The Sukhona is a river in the European pert of Russia, a tributary of the Northern Dvina River. The course of the Sukhona lies in Ust-Kubinsky, Sokolsky, Mezhdurechensky, Totemsky, Tarnogsky, Nyuksensky, and Velikoustyugsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is long, and the area of its...
at the confluence with the Pesya Denga River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemskoe Urban Settlement in Totemsky Municipal District. Population:
History
Totma was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1137. It was founded by NovgorodiansNovgorod 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...
, who used the Sukhona as the main waterway leading to the north and eventually to the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
. Originally, the town (Pogost Todma) was located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) downstream of the current place, close to the mouth of Staraya Totma River. In 13th century, the salt production started around Totma, and the town was relocated. In 1539-1541 Totma was plundered by Kazan Tatars
Khanate of Kazan
The Khanate of Kazan was a medieval Tatar state which occupied the territory of former Volga Bulgaria between 1438 and 1552. Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. The khanate covered contemporary Tatarstan, Mari El,...
, after which a fortress was built. In 16th century, Totma was one of the most properous towns of the Russian North, due to the trade and to the salt production. In 1554, monk Feodosy Sumorin founded the Transfiguration Monastery. In 17th and 18th centuries, Totma was three times visited by Peter the Great, which was rather exceptional given the remote location of the town. In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, Totma was explicitly mentioned as one of the towns included to Archangelgorod Governorate
Archangelgorod Governorate
Archangelgorod Governorate , or the Government of Archangelgorod, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1708 until 1780. Its seat was in Archangel...
. In 18th century Totma was one of the main centers of the exploration of and the trade with Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. In particular, Ivan Kuskov
Ivan Kuskov
Ivan Aleksandrovich Kuskov was the senior assistant to Aleksandr Baranov, the Chief Administrator of the Russian-American Company A native of Totma, Russia, he served in the RAC for 31 years, attaining the rank of Commerce Counselor and being awarded the gold medal "for zealous service" from...
, the first administrator of Fort Ross, a Russian fortress in California, was a native of Totma. In 1780, Totma became the center of Totemsky Uyezd of Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty
Vologda Viceroyalty was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1780–1796.The viceroyalty was established by a decree of Catherine II on , 1780...
, since 1796 it belonged to Vologda Governorate
Vologda Governorate
The Vologda Governorate or Government of Vologda was a guberniya in the historical northern region of the European part of Russian Empire.In its size it was second right after the neighboring Archangelgorod Governorate...
.
In 19th century, Totma quickly lost its significance, since the foreign trade was rerouted from Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, and the river transportation was gradually replaced by railroads and highways. The railroad from Vologda to Arkhangelsk was constructed along the shortest way via Konosha and bypassed Totma, and the old highway
M8 highway (Russia)
The Russian route M8, also known as the Kholmogory Highway or Yaroslavl highway, is a major trunk road that links Moscow to the Russian North in general and the sea harbour of Arkhangelsk in particular...
from Moscow to Arkhangelsk never run via Totma. Until late 1990s the only road through Totma connected Vologda with Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
via Nikolsk
Nikolsk, Vologda Oblast
Nikolsk is a town and the administrative center of Nikolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the right bank of the Yug River close to the point where it flows into the White Sea. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolskoye Urban Settlement in Nikolsky Municipal District...
. In the second half of 19th century, Totma was frequently used as a destination for political exile.
On July 15, 1929, several governorates, including Vologda Governorate, were merged into Northern Krai
Northern Krai
Northern Krai was a krai of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1929 to 1936. Its seat was in the city of Arkhangelsk...
, and the uyezds were abolished. Totma became the center of Totemsky District, which included parts of the former area of Totemsky Uyezd.
Transport
Paved roads connect Totma with VologdaVologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
via Kadnikov
Kadnikov
Kadnikov is a town in Sokolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the bank of the Sodima River, southeast of Vologda. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kadnikovskoe Urban Settlement in Sokolsky Municipal District. Population: -History:...
(southwest), Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug is a town in the northeast of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Velikoustyugsky District, by which it is completely...
via Nyuksenitsa
Nyuksenitsa
Nyuksenitsa is a rural locality and the administrative center of Nyuksensky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Sukhona River. It also serves as the administrative center of Beryozovsky and Nyuksensky Selsoviets, two of the eleven selsoviets into which the district...
(northeast), and Nikolsk
Nikolsk, Vologda Oblast
Nikolsk is a town and the administrative center of Nikolsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia,, located on the right bank of the Yug River close to the point where it flows into the White Sea. Municipally, it is incorporated as Nikolskoye Urban Settlement in Nikolsky Municipal District...
via Imeni Babushkina
Imeni Babushkina
Imeni Babushkina , formerly Ledengskoye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Babushkinsky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the banks of the Ledenga River. It also serves as the administrative center of Babushkinsky Selsoviet, one of the fifteen selsoviets into which...
(east). Before the road between Totma and Veliky Ustyug along the Sukhona was completed in 2000s, the only connection between the towns was via Nikolsk.
The Sukhona is navigable in Totma, however, there is no passenger navigation.
Culture and recreation
Totma is a historical town which preserved, along with other heritage, several churches which have all similar structure not related to any other region of Russia. A Totma church is a building on which the church proper is based on one side and the bell-tower on the other side, so that the construction reminds a shipShip
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
. This style is sometimes referred to as Totma barocco.
Totma contains twelve objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law and additionally seventy-four objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. The town of Totma is classified as a historical town by the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation, which implies certain restrictions on construction in the historical center.
The monuments classified as cultural heritage by the federal law are the following:
- The complex of the Resurrection Church and the Assumption Church (1744-1755) in Totma;
- The Nativity Church (1746-1748) in Totma;
- The Trinity Church in Zelenskaya Rybatskaya Sloboda (1768-1772) in Totma;
- The complex of the Church of the Entry into Jerusalem and the Church of St. John the Baptist (1738-1740) in Totma;
- The Kholodilov House (middle of 19th century) in Totma;
- The ensemble of Spaso-Sumorin Monastery (1685-1689) in Totma;
- The city hall of Totma;
- The house where Anatoly Lunacharsky lived in 1903-1904.
Totma hosts five state museums:,
- The Totma Regional Museum, founded in 1915. Feodosy Vakhrushov, a landscape painter, was the founder of the museum, and the museum presents a display of his paintings;
- The museum of Church Antiquities;
- The House of Ivan Kuskov;
- The museum of Sea Explorers (in the building of the Church of the Entry into Jerusalem);
- The museum of artifacts in Spaso-Sumorin Monastery.
External links
- Уильям Крафт Брамфилд. Памятники церковной архитектуры Тотемского района