Pages: 479-494

Historical documents of 14-15 cc. contain numerous references on the Illice or Lerice castle in the mouth of the Dnieper, which played a significant role in the complex relations of the Horde’s people, Italians and Moldavians of the time. This locality marked as Elexe, Erexe etc. on medieval sea charts seems to have been genetically tied with town Oleshye on the Black Sea mentioned in the Ancient Russian chronicles. Its location, however, has so far been unknown. The authors identify the castle with the settlement Dneprovskoe-2 found not far from the ancient Olbia. The archaeological evidence and specific numismatic finds (especially Moldavian coins – it is the first time there are so numerous finds of them outside the emitting state) enable a convincing identification of this site with the remains of the mysterious castle Illice.