Bryansk is one of the most ancient cities of Russia.

According to archaeological findings, a pre-historic settlement already existed here in the 5th century. Starting from the 10th century there was an ancient Slavic town that later was renamed to “Dbryansk”, which finally merged into Bryansk. Though the earliest record of Bryansk in the Chronicles refers only to 1146, it was supposedly founded in 985.

Old Bryansk was part of the Chernigov Princedom. In the 13th century, when many Russian towns were destroyed in the course of the Tartar invasion, Bryansk remained intact for a long time due to the thick, almost impassable woods surrounding it. After Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky and other towns of the princedom were destroyed in 1239, a separate Bryansk Princedom was established in 1246. Roman Mikhailovich became the first Prince of Bryansk, followed by his son, the most Orthodox St. Prince Oleg. However, upon the latter’s taking of monastic tonsure the thrones of Bryansk and Chernigov turned vacant and Bryansk became subordinate to Smolensk Princes. In 1356 Bryansk was seized by the Lithuanian Prince Olgerd and annexed to the Great Princedom of Lithuania. In 1500 it was however won over by the troops of Ivan III and joined the Moscow State. In the early 16th century there broke up a war with Poland, in the course of which Bryansk served as the stronghold of the Russian forces. In the heat of the war Crimean Khan Mehmed I Girey tried to urge the Russian Tsar Vasili III to yield Bryansk to the Polish, yet Vasili III rejected it. For many years Bryansk was the apple of discord between Russia and Poland. The name of the town was pointed out in almost every peace treaty.

In 1607 Bryansk was twice attacked by the False Dmitry II. During the first attack the town was burnt down in order not to go to the “thief”. By the end of the year, however, the town was almost completely rebuilt.

In spite of the constant danger of war, the town was growing and its population was increasing. I

From the 17th century Bryansk found itself on the crossroads of the most significant trade routs that connected Ukraine with Moscow and was involved into rapid development of trade. Under the reign of Peter the Great the town was refortified. In the shipyard founded on the Desna River ships were built for the campaign against Turkey. In 1783 an artillery armoury was founded in there.

In 1709 the town joined Kiev Province and in1778 it became the chief town of Orlov Province. In the 19th century Bryansk tuned the centre of Bryansk industrial region.

The people of Bryansk fought heroically on the front lines during the Great Patriotic war. The occupation lasted 708 days. It was the time of terror for the population. There were more than 60000 guerrillas fighting against the enemy in the forests surrounding Bryansk.

Hundreds of derailed trains and blown-up bridges, thousands of killed enemy soldiers - that was their contribution to the Victory.

Bryansk Region was founded July 5, 1944. In 1956 Bezhitsa satellite town joined the city of Bryansk. Contemporary Bryansk is a large industrial and cultural center, one of the most beautiful cities in Russia with the population of almost half a million.