In the Time of Troubles, Nizhny Novgorod, along with the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, continues to support Moscow. Then, almost the whole country and Moscow were in the Polish occupation. In 1611, there were no Poles in Nizhny Novgorod. Citizens elected the zemstvo elder (mayor) Kuzma Minin. He began calls for a liberation struggle among the people of the townspeople. Then he was supported by the city council of Nizhny Novgorod, voivodes, clergy and servicemen. By decision of the city council, a general meeting of Nizhny Novgorod citizens was appointed. They gathered in the Kremlin. Minin appealed to the people with an appeal to stand on the liberation of the Russia from foreign enemies. After that, the people began to make voluntary donations to create the army. In addition, the decree was issued to hand over a part of personal property. Minin was instructed to lead the collection of funds and their distribution among the warriors of the future army.
