Ryazan-Рязань

Ryazan (Russian: Ряза́нь Russian pronunciation:  is a city in the Central Federal District of Russia and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast. It is on the Oka River 196 kilometres (122 mi) south-east of Moscow. Its population is 521,560 (2002 Census); 514,638 (1989 Census). The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport.

History

It is argued that the Ryazan kremlin was founded in 800, by Slavic settlers, as a part of their drive into territory previously populated by Finnic peoples. Initially it was built of wood, gradually replaced by masonry. The oldest preserved part of the kremlin dates back to the 12th century.
However, the first written mention of the city, under the name of Pereslavl, dates to 1095. At that time the city was part of the independent Ryazan Principality, which had existed since 1078 and which was centered on the old city of Ryazan. The first ruler of Ryazan was supposedly Yaroslav Sviatoslavich, Prince of Ryazan and Murom (cities of Kievan Rus').

Ryazan on the Oka southeast of Moscow

The lands of Ryazan, situated on the border of forest and steppe, suffered numerous invasions from the south as well as from the north, carried out by a variety of military forces including Cumans, but particularly the Principality was in a conflict with Vladimir-Suzdal. By the end of XII the capital of Duchy was burnt couple of times by the armies of Suzdal. Ryazan was the first Russian city to be sacked by the Mongol horde of Batu Khan. On December 21, 1237 it was thoroughly devastated and never fully recovered. As result of the sack, the seat of the principality was moved about 55 km to the town of Pereslavl-Ryazanskii, which subsequently took the name of the destroyed capital. The site of the old capital now carries the name of Staraya Ryazan (Old Ryazan), close to Spassk-Ryazanskiy.
In the 1380 during the Battle of Kulikovo the Grand Prince of Ryazan Oleg and his men came under a coalition of Mamai, a strongman of the Tartar Golden Horde, and the Grand Duke of Lithuania, against the armies under the command of the Grand Prince of Vladimir, Dmitri Ivanovich of Moscow.
Late in the 13th century the Princes of Ryazan moved their capital to Pereslavl, which is known as Ryazan from the 16th century (officially renamed in 1778). The principality was finally incorporated into that of Moscow in 1521.
In May 1990 it hosted a group of hot air balloonists from the United Kingdom organised by Paul Lavelle of Global Concern and a Russian Explorer, D Mikhail (Misha) Malakov. The 24 balloons were transported by road from Swindon, whilst the crews flew from London to Moscow, then travelling by coach to Ryazan. Each crew of three was allocated an interpreter who advised them on local customs. The crews spent about a week in Ryazan and made several flights over the city and surrounding countryside from one of the football grounds. This was the first hot air balloon meeting held in the Soviet Union. The first balloon to fly in marginal weather conditions was piloted by Crispin Williams to re-enact the possible (but un-verified) flight of Kria Kutnoi, sometimes described as a monk elsewhere as an Army Cadet, from the roof of his monastery several hundred years before. The Soviet Red Army generously provided the retrieve vehicles for the balloon teams in the form of large 6 wheeled drive all terrain lorries. Two balloon teams shared each lorry manned by between 4 and 6 soldiers. Participating balloons were both private and sponsored. The sponsored ballons including those from British Airways and British Telecom. The event was organised by Paul Lavelle and Mette Larsen of Global Concern. Misha is an Honoured Citizen in his hometown of Ryazan, near Moscow where he lives with his wife Olga and their two sons.
In September 1999, Ryazan was one of the cities involved in the Russian apartment bombings episode, though did not actually experience a successful bomb attack.