Shulgina D.P., Shulgina O.V. Reflection of the War of 1812 in the toponymy of Russia: historical-geographic research

Abstract: the article describes the historical factors and features of naming the streets and towns in honor of the heroes and events of the War of 1812 throughout Russia. The article establishes that the first such place name appeared in the southern Urals, where Cossacks Nagaibaks returning from a victorious European campaign established their military colonies . Waves of renaming city streets across Russia were timed to the 100th and 150th anniversaries of the war. The article identifies regions with the most widespread urban street toponyms related to the war in 1812: Moscow region, Moscow city, Kaliningrad region, Smolensk region, Kaluga region. The particular attention is given to the Moscow toponymy and historical implications of sharing names associated with the war. The author gives a list and defines a kind of “rating” of the characters and events of the war referencing in the Russian toponymy, shows their spread throughout Russia. The article reveals regional patterns of spreading the urban place names included in tables, charts and maps.

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