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{{Short description|Town in Tver Oblast, Russia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox Russian inhabited locality
|en_name=Toropets
|ru_name=Торопец
|image_skyline=Toropets, Russia, 2010.jpg
|image_caption=View of Toropets
| pushpin_map         = Russia Tver Oblast#European Russia#Russia#Europe
|coordinates = {{coord|56|30|N|31|39|E|display=inline,title}}
|map_label_position=right
|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Toropets (Tver oblast).png
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|federal_subject=[[Tver Oblast]]
|federal_subject_ref=<ref name="TverO_admlaw">Law #34-ZO</ref>
|adm_district_jur=[[Toropetsky District]]
|adm_district_jur_ref=<ref name="Incorp" />
|adm_selsoviet_jur=Toropets
|adm_selsoviet_type=[[Town of district significance|Urban settlement]]
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|mun_district_jur=Toropetsky Municipal District
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|urban_settlement_jur=Toropets Urban Settlement
|urban_settlement_jur_ref=<ref name="TverOToropetskyD_mun" />
|mun_admctr_of1=Toropetsky Municipal District
|mun_admctr_of1_ref=<ref name="TverO_mun0">Law #4-ZO</ref>
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'''Toropets''' ({{langx|ru|Торо́пец}}) is a [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|town]] and the [[administrative center]] of [[Toropetsky District]] in [[Tver Oblast]], [[Russia]], located where the [[Toropa River]] enters [[Lake Solomennoye]]. Population: {{ru-census|p2010=13,015|p2002=14,600|p1989=17,510}}

==History==
{{Quote box |width=21em |align=left |bgcolor=GhostWhite
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=90% |quote=[[Principality of Smolensk]] 1074–1167<br/>
[[Principality of Toropets]] 1167–ca. 1362<br/>
{{flagicon image|Alex K Grundwald flags 1410-03.svg}} [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] ca. 1362–1503<br/>
{{flagicon image|Lob flag moskovskiy.svg}} [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] 1503–1547<br/>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Oryol (variant).svg}} [[Tsardom of Russia]] 1547–1721<br/>
{{flag|Russian Empire}} 1721–1917<br/>
{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russian Republic]] 1917<br/>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Russian SFSR (1918-1937).svg}} [[Soviet Russia]] 1917–1922<br/>
{{flag|Soviet Union}} 1922–1991<br/>
{{flag|Russian Federation}} 1991–present
}}
In 1074, when the town was first mentioned in [[chronicle]]s, Toropets belonged to the Princes of [[Smolensk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://litmap.tvercult.ru/toropecky/raion.htm|script-title=ru:Торопецкий район|publisher=Литературная карта Тверского края|language=ru|access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> By 1167, it was large enough to have its [[Principality of Toropets|own princes]]. The most famous of its rulers was [[Mstislav Mstislavich|Mstislav the Bold]], whose grandson [[Alexander Nevsky]] wed Alexandra of [[Polotsk]] in Toropets in 1239.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toropecadm.ru/kratkaya-istoricheskaya-spravka.html|script-title=ru:Краткая историческая справка|publisher=Toropetsky District Administration|language=ru|access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="yanin">{{cite web|url=http://www.golubinski.ru/russia/rzhev/janin.htm|title=Новгород и Литва: Пограничные ситуации XIII-XV веков|last=Янин|first=В.Л.|year=1998|publisher=[[Moscow State University]]|language=ru|access-date=9 February 2016|location=Moscow}}</ref>

In the mid-14th century the town passed to the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], which had to surrender it to [[Ivan III of Russia|Ivan&nbsp;III]] following the [[Battle of Vedrosha]] in 1503. In the early 17th century, Toropets was ransacked by the [[Poland|Polish]] army. In the course of the [[administrative divisions of Russia in 1708–1710|administrative reform]] carried out in 1708 by [[Peter the Great]], Toropets was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as [[Saint Petersburg Governorate]]). In 1727, separate [[Novgorod Governorate]] was split off. Toropets was included into [[Velikiye Luki Province]].<ref name="novobl1">{{cite book|last1= Снытко|first1=О.В.|editor=С.Д. Трифонов |editor2=Т.Б. Чуйкова |editor3=Л.В. Федина |editor4=А.Э. Дубоносова|script-title=ru:Административно-территориальное деление Новгородской губернии и области 1727–1995 гг. Справочник|url=http://novarchiv.org/images/novarchiv/nsa/adm_delenie_novg_obl.pdf|page=16|access-date=4 February 2012|year=2009|language=ru|location=Saint Petersburg|display-authors=etal}}</ref> In 1772, as a result of the [[First Partition of Poland]], [[Inflanty Voivodeship]] and eastern [[Belarus]] were transferred to Russia. In order to accommodate these areas, [[Pskov Governorate]] was created, and Toropets was transferred to Pskov Governorate. The town of [[Opochka]] was made the administrative center of the governorate. Pskov Governorate has proven to be too big to be administered properly, and in 1776, the decree of the empress, [[Catherine the Great]], was issued. It divided the governorate into Pskov and [[Polotsk Governorate]]s. Pskov was made the administrative center of Pskov Governorate, and Toropets remained in Pskov Governorate. In 1777, Pskov Governorate was transformed into [[Pskov Viceroyalty]], which was administered from Novgorod by [[Jacob Sievers]]. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and on 31 December 1796 the emperor [[Paul I of Russia|Paul I]] issued a decree restoring Pskov Governorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.runivers.ru/doc/territory/366380/|script-title=ru:Псковская губерния|publisher=Руниверс|language=ru|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> Toropets was the center of [[Toropetsky Uyezd]] of Pskov Governorate.

The Soviet authority in Toropets was established on October&nbsp;30 (November&nbsp;12), 1917. On August 1, 1927, Pskov Governorate was abolished, and [[Leningrad Oblast]] was established. Toropetsky Uyezd was abolished as well, and Toropetsky District, with the administrative center in Toropets, was established. It belonged to [[Velikiye Luki Okrug]] of Leningrad Oblast. On June 17, 1929, the district was transferred to [[Western Oblast]]. On August 1, 1930, the okrugs were abolished, and the districts were subordinated directly to the oblast. On January 29, 1935 [[Tver Oblast|Kalinin Oblast]] was established, and Toropetsky District was transferred to Kalinin Oblast.<ref name="adm_smol">{{cite book|last=Воробьёв |first=М. В.|editor=Г. В. Туфанова|script-title=ru:Административно-территориальное деление Смоленской области|year=1993|publisher=Государственный архив Смоленской области|language=ru|pages=118–133}}</ref><ref name="arx">{{cite web|url=http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=225&sid=767186|script-title=ru:Справка об изменениях в административно-территориальном делении Тверской губернии - Калининской области|publisher=Архивы России|language=ru|access-date=5 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419140741/http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=225&sid=767186|archive-date=April 19, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The town was occupied by the [[Wehrmacht]] during WWII, from August&nbsp;29, 1941 until January&nbsp;21, 1942, when it was retaken during the [[Toropets–Kholm Offensive]]. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established [[Velikiye Luki Oblast]]. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished, and Toropetssky District was transferred back to Kalinin Oblast. In 1990, Kalinin Oblast was renamed Tver Oblast.<ref name="arx"/>

On the night of 17–18 September 2024, during the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], [[Ukraine]] launched [[Toropets depot explosions|a drone attack]] on the [[Main Missile and Artillery Directorate]] (GRAU) ammunition depot in Toropets, causing a series of massive explosions and fires and shattering of many windows on a large radius and Toropets itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lukiv |first=Jaroslav |title=Russia Tver region orders evacuation after Ukrainian drone attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c30lp1qq6pzo |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Drone Attack On Arms Depot Forces Evacuations In Russia's Tver Region |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-evacuation-tver/33124415.html |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=Radio Free Europe |language=en}}</ref> [[Igor Rudenya]], the [[governor of Tver Oblast]], announced a partial evacuation of the town.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools in one municipality of Russia’s Tver region withdraw services after drone attack |url=https://tass.com/politics/1844533 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=TASS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=The town of Toropets in the Tver region was attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The evacuation of residents has been announced |url=https://www.oreanda-news.com/en/gosudarstvo/the-town-of-toropets-in-the-tver-region-was-attacked-by-the-armed-forces-of-/article1529138/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Oreanda News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets |url=https://tass.com/politics/1844703 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=TASS}}</ref>

==Administrative and municipal status==
Within the [[subdivisions of Russia#Administrative divisions|framework of administrative divisions]], Toropets serves as the [[administrative center]] of [[Toropetsky District]].<ref name="OKATO">{{OKATO reference|28 255}}</ref> As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Toropetsky District as '''Toropets [[Town of district significance|Urban Settlement]]'''.<ref name="Incorp">Law #34-ZO stipulates that the borders of the settlements (administrative-territorial divisions) are identical to the borders of the urban and rural settlements (municipal divisions), and that the borders of the administrative districts are identical to the borders of the municipal districts. Law #50-ZO, which describes the borders and the composition of the municipal formations in Toropetsky Municipal District, lists the town of Toropets as a part and the administrative center of Toropets Urban Settlement of that district.</ref> As a [[subdivisions of Russia#Municipal divisions|municipal division]], this administrative unit also has urban settlement status and is a part of Toropetsky Municipal District.<ref name="TverOToropetskyD_mun">Law #50-ZO</ref>

==Economy==

===Industry===
There are enterprises of chemical, metallurgical, textile, and food industries in Toropets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toropecadm.ru/promyshlennost-rayona.html|script-title=ru:Промышленность Торопецкого района|publisher=Toropetsky District Administration|language=ru|access-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

===Transportation===
[[File:Old Toropets.jpg|right|thumb|Toropets in 1909]]
The railway connecting [[Bologoye]] with [[Velikiye Luki]] passes through Toropets. There is infrequent passenger traffic.

The [[M9 highway (Russia)|M9 highway]] connecting Moscow with Riga also crosses the southern part of Toropetsky District. Toropets has access to it via a paved road. The same road continues to the north to [[Kholm, Kholmsky District, Novgorod Oblast|Kholm]] and further to [[Staraya Russa]].

==Culture and recreation==
[[File:Korsunsko-Bogoroditsky cathedral in Toropets, Russia.jpg|thumb|Church of the Theotokos of Korsun, built between 1795 and 1804]]
Toropets contains 66 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally 30 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federal monuments include plenty of buildings in the historical center of Toropets.{{RKN_base}} The oldest brick churches in the town are dedicated to St.&nbsp;Nicholas (1666–1669), to [[Our Lady of Kazan]] (1698–1765), and to John the Baptist (1704).

There are a number of museums in Toropets, which include the Toropets District Museum, the Museum of the History of Photography, the house-museum of Patriarch Tikhon ([[Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]], in the future the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, lived here as a child for ten years).

==Notable people==
* [[Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow]] (1865–1925), primate of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]
* [[Pyotr Ivanovich Ricord]] (1776–1855), admiral

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|tve|adm|law}}
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|tve|mun|list|toropetsky}}
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|tve|mun|list0}}

==Further reading==
*{{in lang|ru}} [http://new.runivers.ru/lib/book4485/53790/ Toropets. Materials for the history of cities 17th and 18th centuries (1888)] ("Торопец. Материалы для истории городов XVII и XVIII столетий") at [[Runivers.ru]] in [[DjVu]] and [[PDF]] formats

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121209123231/http://www.toropets.net/ Unofficial website of Toropets]}} {{in lang|ru}}

{{Tver Oblast}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Tver Oblast]]