Ryazan located on the right bank of the River Oka is not a big city, its population is about 419 thousand people, but despite its size, the city is known for its history. Initially the name of Ryazan was given to the centre of the principality of Ryazan, situated 50 kilometres to the south-east from Modern Ryazan. Today that place is called Ryazan Staraya (old Ryazan). In 1237 that town was destroyed by Tatars, when, after desperate fighting, the horde led by Khan Batyi wiped out the city, leaving not a single stone building. Archeologists are still discovering interesting artifacts there. Thus, the centre of the principality was transferred to Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky (first mentioned in 1095).

Over the next 300 years, Ryazan was several times destroyed and burned down by internecine wars and Tatar invasions. In 1521 it was joined to the Moscow state. Finally, when things had calmed down by the mid-17th century, the city lost its importance as a frontier outpost.

In 1778 the city of Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky was renamed to Ryazan. By the 19th century, Ryazan had become a typical central Russian provincial town. However, in the 20th century it developed into a major industrial and cultural center.