History of Astrakhan

The region of modern Astrakhan trade roads of Persian and Arabs crossed. For many centuries many cities of Mongols and Tatars, Hazards, Polovtsians appeared. First written chronicles dated to the XIII century in which among tatar settlements the village Ashtarkhan was mentioned on the right bank of the Volga, 12 km from modern Astrakhan. Some scientists believe that a capital Itil of Hazard khanate was situated near modern Astrakhan ruined by the prince Svetoslav in 965.

Arabian traveller Ibn-Batutta mentioned in 1333 the settlement Khadzhy-Tarhan as a settlement "free from duties".

In 1395 the settlement was burnt by forces of Tamerlan. In 1459-1556 Astrakhan was the main city of the Astrakhan khanate. It joined Russia in 1557.

Russian name to the city was given due to latest forms of the words (tatar Achtarhan, Astarkan, Chuvash - Astarhan). In Russian chronicles the name had different spelling and phonetician forms; modern name Astrakhan was mentioned only in the XVII century.

Modern Astrakhan was founded in 1558 as a wooden fortress on the Hare's hill washed by the Volga and its tributaries. In 1582 stone walls were constructed with 8 big and small towers.

Astrakhan grew very quickly: need in labor forces attracted many Russian people, new cities and settlements were formed. Near the city tartars settled down.

In 1605-1606 Astrakhan was occupied and ruined by Cossack.

In the middle of the XVII Astrakhan was one of the fortresses of Russia which protected the territory of the Volga. In 1670 the fortress was occupied by the forces of S.T. Razin. In 1670-71 it was headed by atamans V.Usov and F.Sheludyak. In 1709 it suffered from fire.

In 1717 it became the center of the Astrakhan region, since 1785 Caucasus region ruled by governor-general. Since 1802 it became a center of the Astrakhan region.

In the first quarter of the XVIII century a strong military fleet, a port and a shipyard were created in Astrakhan.

At the end of the XIX century there were 2087 stone buildings, 7367 wooden houses in Astrakhan. There were 30 orthodox temples, 6 Armenian-Gregorian churches, Rome-Catholic, raskolnic chapel, a mosque, a synagogue. In Astrakhan there were 204 streets, majority of which were paved. In Astrakhan there were educational establishments, hospitals. There were 2 scientific societies. In 1885 in Astrakhan there were 62 factories and enterprises. Fishing, gardening were developed.

In 1860s Astrakhan port became one of the biggest ports in the country due to the development of oil industry.

During the civil war Astrakhan played the key role.

Before 1934 Astrakhan was in the Volga region, since 1934 Stalingrad region. Since 1943 Astrakhan became a center of the Astrakhan region.