Trade between Russia and Norway dates far back, and Norwegian historians say there are indications that the trade may be traced back to the 15th or 16th century.

It is an established fact, however, that at the beginning of the 18th century close trading connections developed in the North between Norway, Lappland and the North-Western part of Russia.

The commerce between Norwegians living along the coastline and Russians from the coastal regions by the White Sea is known as the so-called Pomor trade, and lasted for about 200 years, until the beginning of the Russian revolution.

The Russian Pomor capital, Archangel, founded in 1534, was originally the center for trade with North-Eastern Russia, controlled by the Dutch, Scots and English, but in the 18th century it became the center for 200 years of extensive trade with Northern Norway.

The Pomors - Pomor means ”by the sea” and is an expression for a northern seafarer - transported grain and flour to Norway, and brought various kinds of fish back to Russia. The Russians also had an interest in fur products, and this became important for the Sami people. In times of war and crop failure the bartering between the two countries was especially important.

However, before late 1700 the Pomor trade was deemed illegal by the united monarchy Denmark-Norway. During this period only rural barons and town merchants were allowed to trade. Wealthy merchants punished those who traded with the Russians, and denied them their winter provisions. From 1796 and onwards the exchange of commodities between common people and the Pomors was legalized.

Through the Pomor trade supplies from Denmark to Northern Norway were replaced by Russian commodities. Also the Russian coin kopek became very important. At the end of the 18th century certain taxes in Northern Norway, were collected in kopek. As a result of the extensive trade, several cities were established in Northern Norway. The Norwegian Pomor capital became Vardoe, which was the most important trading city during this period.

During the 200 years of Pomor trade a distinct trade language developed between the Russians and the Norwegians, and about 2000 people sailed on the merchant ships in order to exchange products. The Russian trade reached its peak during the 19th century, and more than 300 ships visited Northern Norway annually.

When common people in 1796 were allowed to trade with the Pomors, this was an important break with the mercantile system which existed at the time. This break, which encouraged a more liberalistic ideology and free trade legislation in Denmark-Norway, came 50 years later in Southern Norway, thus Northern Norway became an attractive place to move to.

For many Norwegians and Sami people living on the northern Norwegian coastline, the Pomor trade was the main source of income. It was therefore a catastrophy for many, when the trade stopped in 1916, as a result of the Russian Revolution. The break-down of the Pomor trade removed the coastal Sami people’s economic independence in relation to Danish, Norwegian and Western European trade systems. With almost no adjustment period they suddenly became dependent on internal commerce.

(c) The Norway Post, 2000.
Original at http://www.norwaypost.no/content.asp?cluster_id=13695&folder_id=71