Bryansk
Bryansk (Template:Lang-ru) is a city in Russia, located 379 km south-west from Moscow. It is the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast. Geographical location 53°16′N 34°25′E / 53.267°N 34.417°E. Population: 431,526 (2002 Census).
History
The city was founded in 985 as a military settlement on the right bank of Desna River. It was first mentioned in written records in 1146 as Dobryansk (Добряньск).
It was a possession of elder line of Chernigov branch of the Rurikovich dynasty, but in the late 13th century Bryansk passed to princes of Smolensk. In the mid 14th century princes of Chernigov ruled again in Bryansk. In 1310 the city was conquered by Tatars. During the reign of prince Algirdas in 1356 it joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and was given to Demetrius I Starshiy. After his death it was ruled by Jogaila, Vytautas and Švitrigaila. In the second half of the 15th century Muscovy began attempts to re-take Bryansk and accomplished this in 1503. In the early 17th century during the Time of Troubles Bryansk fortress saw many battles between Russians and Polish invaders. In 1708 Bryansk became part of Kiev gubernia, however in 1779 the city was transferred to Oryol gubernia. Since 1783 artillery guns and shells were made there for the Imperial Russian Army. Around the same time they were also depicted on the city's coat of arms.
In the 19th century Bryansk became an important metallurgy and textile producing city and by 1917 the city had over 30 000 people.
In 1918 the city briefly became part of the Belarusian People's Republic until it was taken by the Bolshevik forces in 1919. During the Great Patriotic War Bryansk was occupied by the Germans between October 6, 1941 and September 17, 1943 and the city was heavily damaged by fighting. About 60 000 Soviet partisans were active in and around Bryansk inflicting heavy losses on the German army. In 1944 Bryansk became administrative center of Bryansk Oblast.
Ruling Princes
- To Chernigov until 1245
- A principality under the Golden Horde - 1245 - 1357
- RURIKOVICH
- Roman I (in Chernigov from 1263) - 1245 - 1285
- Oleg (then in Chernigov) - 1285 - 1286
- Roman II - 1286 - 1308
- Basil I - 1308 - 1309 d. 1314
- Svyatoslav (in Mozhaysk 1299 - 1303) - 1309 - 1310
- Basil I (restored) - 1310 - 1314
- Demetrius - 1314 - 1333
- Gleb - 1333 - 1340
- Roman III (in Chernigov to 1370s) - 1340 - 1355 d. 1401
- Basil II - 1355 - 1356
- Anarchic conditions - 1356 - 1357
- A principality under The Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- GIEDYMINOWICZE
- Demetrius II - 1357 - 1379 d. 1399
- To Lithuania directly - 1379 - 1393
- Theodore (in Volhynia 1382 - 1393) - 1393 d. 1431
- To Lithuania directly - 1393 - 1446
- RURIKOVICH
- Basil III of Serpukhov - 1446 d. aft. 1456
- Simon of Obolensk - 1446 - 1447
- To Lithuania - 1447 - 1449
- GIEDYMINOWICZE
- Michael Boleslaw - 1449
- To Lithuania directly - 1449 - 1454
- RURIKOVICH
- John (in Mozhaysk 1432 - 1454) - 1454 - 14??
- To Lithuania - 14?? - 1503
- To Muscovy - 1503 - 1605
- To Rzeczpospolita - 1605 - 1632
- To Russia thereafter...
Modern city
Today Bryansk is an important steel and machinery industry center with many large factories. Wagons and locomotives for the Russian railway trains are made there. Bryansk also has two universities, three theatres and a technical academy. The city and the region was mildly affected by Chernobyl accident.
Russian cosmonaut Viktor M. Afanasyev, shot put athlete Svetlana Krivelyova, and composer Matvei Blanter were born in Bryansk.