- Founding of Odessa
- Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
- The twentieth century
Cozyly located on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea, multifaceted and multinational Odessa is rightfully considered one of the most colorful and interesting cities in Ukraine. This is a city with its own special and unique atmosphere, where every breath of fresh air gives a feeling of heady freedom and independence …
Founding of Odessa
Archaeological research proves that the first people lived on the lands of modern Odessa and in its environs even in the Paleolithic era. One millennium succeeded another, settlements appeared and disappeared, others came to replace one people. From about the 6th century BC. In the era of the Great Greek colonization, the ancient Greeks began to settle here, who founded a number of settlements, including the so-called "Istrian Harbor" (the remains of this ancient settlement were found at a depth of about 1.5 m under Primorsky Boulevard and adjacent streets).
At the end of the 4th century A. D. During the Great Migration, the Huns lived in the region, in the 8th-10th centuries the ancient Slavic tribes of Tivertsy and Uliches dominated, and by the 14th century the Golden Horde already dominated, and there was also a Genoese trading post “Ginestra” trading with nomads. In the 1320s, the lands were conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which, in fact, founded on the coast of the predecessor of modern Odessa - the port of Kotsyubeyev. After the region came under the control of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 15th century, Kotsyubeev was renamed "Khadzhibey".
Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
In 1765, the Turks restored the old Lithuanian fortress and named it "Eni-Dunya" (the fortress was located between the Potemkin Stairs and the Vorontsov Palace on Primorsky Boulevard). In September 1789, during the Russian-Turkish war (1787-1792), the fortress was taken by the vanguard of General Gudovich's corps. The detachment was commanded by the Spanish nobleman Jose de Ribas, who went down in history as Deribas Joseph Mikhailovich (in his honor, Deribasovskaya Street later received its name). The land was officially ceded to the Russian Empire after the signing of the Yassy Peace Treaty in January 1792, which ended the Russo-Turkish War.
In May 1794, Empress Catherine II signed a rescript on the founding of a new city on the site of Khadzhibey, which, due to its strategic position, was to become an important military and trade port of the Russian Empire. Construction under the leadership of Jose de Ribas (who later became the first mayor of Odessa) began on September 2, 1794, and it is this day that is officially considered the founding day of Odessa (the name “Odessa” first appears in documents in January 1795).
The city grew and developed rapidly and soon turned into a fairly large trade, industrial and scientific center, and also became the main supplier of grain from the Russian Empire to Europe and Western Asia. A huge contribution to the development and economic growth of Odessa was made by its legendary mayor, the French aristocrat Duc de Richelieu, who paid close attention to all aspects of the city's life. However, Odessa was very lucky, and among its next leaders there were also many very talented managers and business executives (Lanzheron, Vorontsov, Kotsebu, Novoselsky, Marazli, etc.). By the end of the 19th century, Odessa was already one of the largest cultural and commercial centers of the empire, and ranked fourth in terms of population after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Warsaw. It was the 19th century that largely became decisive in the harmonious formation of the multinational essence and special character of Odessa.
The twentieth century
The XX century brought Odessa the uprising of the sailors of the battleship "Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky" (June 1905) and the ensuing riots, Jewish pogroms and the attack of the Turkish fleet in 1914. The real chaos and kaleidoscope of the change of government began by the end of 1917 - the Bolshevik uprising and the proclamation of the Odessa Soviet Republic, the invasion of the Austrian-German troops, the French intervention and the Volunteer Army (White Army), the army of the UPR Directory and much more. In February 1920, Soviet power was established in Odessa.
The Great Patriotic War did not bypass Odessa as well. Since the beginning of the confrontation between Germany and the USSR, the city has been in close proximity to the front line. The defense of the city, accompanied by constant enemy bombing, lasted more than two months (August 5 - October 16, 1941), after which Odessa was occupied by Romanian troops. The city was liberated only in April 1944. For the heroic defense of Odessa, one of the first was awarded the title "Hero City".
In the post-war period, almost all industry was restored in Odessa in record time, and over time, a new modern port was built. Particular attention was paid to the construction of new microdistricts, while the reconstruction of the historical center of the city was practically not financed for a long time, which, of course, had the most negative impact on many architectural monuments of Odessa. The city gradually lost its former significance and unofficially received the status of a "provincial town". The massive outflow of the intelligentsia did not contribute to the scientific and cultural development.
And yet, time has put everything in its place and today Odessa is a powerful financial, industrial, scientific, as well as tourist and cultural center of Ukraine. The unique color and atmosphere, museums and theaters, parks and beaches attract hundreds of thousands of guests to Odessa. Among the abundance of various cultural events, a special place, of course, is occupied by the festival of humor and laughter - the famous Odessa "Humorina", which is held annually on April 1.
