On the vyatichian towns of the Upper Oka basin

It is widely known that emergence of urban centres is one of basic indicationsof state structures formation. The earliest cities are mentioned in Russian chronicles underthe year 862: Beloozero, Izborsk, Ladoga, Murom, Novgorod, Kiev, Polotsk, Rostov; bythe early 11 th c. the number of urban centres increased up to 23. The article discussesthe problem of so-called «tribal towns», in particular Vyatichian ones mentioned in Ipatyevskaya chronicle. The author presents a review of the urban centres in the UpperOka basin and suggests a reconstruction of the spread of prince's power over the territoriesoccupied by communes of free people, descendants of the Vyatichian tribe. Their oppositionto that process had resulted in construction of small fortified towns known on the UpperOka River.