Posadnik

посадники, posadniki) was a representative of the prince in some towns during the times of Kievan Rus', and later the highest-ranking official (mayor) in Novgorod (from 1136) and Pskov (from 1308).

It also showed the land-owning boyarstvo to be more powerful than the merchant and artisan classes, which until that time were thought to play a significant role in the political life of the city.

[6] The dilution of boyar power may, however, have weakened Novgorod in the 15th century, thus explaining the series of defeats it suffered at Moscow's hands and the eventual end of its independence.

The posadnikdom (mayoralty) was abolished along with the veche when Ivan III, the grand prince of Moscow, took full control of the city in 1478.

[9] The posadnichestvo was abolished in Pskov in 1510 when Grand Prince Vasili III took direct control of the city.