Historians have disproved the existence of a Bulgarian city in the Dyatlovo Mountains.

      August 12, 2026 11:22 Science Historians have not found evidence that a Bulgarian city existed in the Dyatlovo Mountains before the founding of Nizhny Novgorod in 1221. This was reported by Fedor Seleznev, Doctor of Historical Sciences and head of the Local History Research Center at N.N. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University, and historian Vladimir Kuchkin to IA "Vremya N". According to Seleznev, the version of a Bulgarian settlement at the site of future Nizhny Novgorod emerged thanks to the work of Vasily Tatishchev "Russian History". However, the Laurentian Chronicle of 1377, which researchers consider one of the most reliable sources for this period, does not mention such a city. Seleznev noted that there are other pieces of information in Tatishchev's writings that are not confirmed by other sources. Vladimir Kuchkin holds the same position. After studying different editions of "Russian History," he concluded that the mention of an ancient Bulgarian city at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers was most likely Tatishchev's own historical reconstruction. There is no evidence that he relied on any lost chronicle. At the same time, the Laurentian Chronicle does indeed mention a Bulgarian city that was captured by Prince Mstislav Andreyevich in the winter of 1171-1172. However, this source does not provide direct indications that it refers specifically to a city located in the Dyatlovo Mountains. It was previously reported that the white tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, which was bricked up about 200 years ago, has been opened for study. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+