 Novgorod between the 9th and the 15th centuries was one of the most significant cities of medieval Rus.It lay on the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks and was the center of the Novgorod Republic, which included the major part of what is currently northwestern Russia.From the 12th century, it was an example of a medieval republic, in which decisions were taken by veche – a meeting of the city population – and the prince was elected.