 It is known that in 1425 Nikolsk and surrounding territories paid tribute to Novgorod.In the end of the 15th century, the Grand Duchy of Moscow took over the Novgorod's territories and Nikolsk became one of the key points on the way from Moscow to the White Sea, which until 1703 was the main route for the foreign trade in Russia.The harbor of Nikolsk in particular was used to transport cargo.