Ingria

Ingria is an old land in Russia.

It sits by the sea. It is near a big lake. It is also near a river.

Many kinds of people live there. Some groups have their own ways to talk. These groups are very old.

In the past, many lands ruled this place. Some leaders were from Sweden. Other leaders were from Russia.

Today, the city of Saint Petersburg is in this area. It is a place with a long story. Do you want to see more maps?

Ingria is a historic land in northwestern Russia.

It sits along the shore of the Gulf of Finland. To the north, it meets Lake Ladoga. To the west, the Narva River marks the border with Estonia. Today, the city of Saint Petersburg is at its center.

Many different groups of people live here. The first people were Finnic groups called Izhorians and Votians. They practiced Eastern Orthodoxy. Later, Ingrian Finns moved to the area. They were part of the Swedish Empire for a long time. In the 1700s, Russia took control of the land.

Life in Ingria has changed many times. In 1919, a small state called North Ingria was independent for two years. Later, many people were forced to leave their homes. Some groups, like the Votians, are now very small. Their languages are also at risk.

Even though things changed, many people still care for their Ingrian roots. They work to keep their old stories and ways alive.

Ingria is a historic region located in northwestern European Russia.

It sits along the southeastern shore of the Gulf of Finland. To the north, the land meets Lake Ladoga on the Karelian Isthmus. To the west, the Narva River forms a border with Estonia. The area includes the city of Saint Petersburg, which acts as a central hub. Today, Ingria is often called Russia's "window" on the Baltic Sea.

Many different groups of people have called this land home. The earliest known inhabitants were Finnic groups like the Izhorians and Votians. Over many centuries, these groups became Eastern Orthodox. Later, Ingrian Finns arrived as immigrants from Finland during the 1600s. These newcomers were mostly Lutheran. This created a mix of cultures and religions in the region. The people of Ingria belong to several different ethnic groups.

History shows that many strong lands have fought for control of Ingria. In the 1200s, Sweden built the Landskrona fortress near the Neva River. Later, the area became part of the Swedish Empire. Sweden used the land as a buffer zone to protect against attacks. In 1617, the Treaty of Stolbovo made Ingria a Swedish province. However, Russia later took control during the Great Northern War. In 1721, the Treaty of Nystad officially gave the land to Russia.

Life in the region changed a lot during the 1900s. For a short time from 1919 to 1920, North Ingria was an independent state. Later, the Soviet Union took control of the area. During the 1920s and 1930s, many people faced very hard times. Some families were forced to leave their homes and move far away. This included many Ingrian Finns and independent farmers called kulaks. These changes made it difficult for local cultures to stay strong.

Even with these changes, the heritage of Ingria is still important. Some indigenous groups, like the Votians and Izhorians, are now very small. Their unique languages are also at risk of disappearing. Despite this, many people still work to preserve their Ingrian roots. They try to keep their old traditions and stories alive for the future. It is a place where many different histories meet.

Ingria is a historical region located in northwestern European Russia.

It sits along the southeastern shore of the Gulf of Finland. To the north, the land meets Lake Ladoga on the Karelian Isthmus. To the west, the Narva River forms a border with Estonia. The region includes the city of Saint Petersburg. It also covers several modern districts like Gatchinsky and Kingiseppsky. Today, Ingria serves as a vital anchor for Russia. It is often called Russia's "window" on the Baltic Sea.

The region's name has several possible origins. One theory links it to the River Inger. This is a southern tributary of the Neva River. Another story comes from the Norwegian Eymund's saga. It tells of Princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter. She married Yaroslav the Wise in 1019. Yaroslav gave her Ladoga and the surrounding lands as a gift. The land became known as Ingegerd's land, or Ingermanland.

Indigenous Finnic groups were the earliest modern inhabitants. These groups included the Izhorians and the Votians. Over many centuries, they converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. Later, the population changed through migration and war. In the 17th century, Lutheran Finnish immigrants arrived. These people became known as the Ingrian Finns. They eventually became the majority in the area. By 1695, they made up 73.8% of the population. This group lived alongside Russians, Izhorians, and Votians.

Control of Ingria shifted frequently between Sweden and Russia. In the 1200s, Sweden built the Landskrona fortress. This was located where the Ohta and Neva rivers meet. The Novgorod Republic later re-conquered this site. In 1617, the Treaty of Stolbovo ended the Ingrian War. This treaty made Ingria a province of the Swedish Empire. Sweden used the land as a strategic buffer zone. It protected the Karelian Isthmus from Russian attacks.

Russia regained control during the Great Northern War. In 1710, Russia conquered the region. The Treaty of Nystad in 1721 formally ceded Ingria to Russia. Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg in 1703. This new capital sat near the Neva River estuary. He even raised Ingria to the status of a duchy. Prince Menshikov served as its first and last duke. By 1897, the Ingrian Finn population reached 130,413 people. The region also saw growing numbers of Estonians.

The 20th century brought massive social and political changes. In 1919, the Republic of North Ingria declared independence. It ruled for just under two years. It aimed to join Finland but was re-integrated into Russia. In the 1920s, the Soviet Union controlled the region. Collectivization began in 1928. Between 1929 and 1931, 18,000 people were deported. These were independent peasants called kulaks. They were sent to places like Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

In the 1930s, the Soviet government created a Forbidden Border Zone. This zone was meant to remove "unreliable" peoples. It was 7.5 km deep at first. Near the Estonian border, it reached 90 km. This made life very difficult for Finnic groups. Today, the indigenous Votians and Izhorians face extinction. Their unique languages are also disappearing. However, many people still work to preserve their Ingrian heritage. They keep the history of this complex land alive.