Karachev

a city and center of Karachev Raion, Briansk Oblast, RSFSR; situated on the Snezhet’ River (a tributary of the Desna). It has a railroad station on the Briansk-Orel line, 44 km southeast of Briansk. Population, 16, 000 (1970).

The first mention of Karachev in sources dates to the middle of the 12th century. In 1246, after the Tatar invasion, it became the main city of a special appanage founded by Mstislav, the son of Prince Mikhail of Chernigov. At the end of the 15th century, Karachev was granted by Grand Prince Alexander of Lithuania to Prince Simeon Ioannovich of Mozhaisk, who later swore allegiance to Ivan III, grand prince of Moscow; the city served as a Russian outpost against invasions from the Crimea. During the period of Polish-Lithuanian intervention at the beginning of the 17th century, Karachev was destroyed by the Poles. In 1708 it became part of Kiev Province, and in 1732 it was part of Sevsk provintsiia in Belgorod Province. From 1778 it was the center of a district in the viceroyalty of Orel, and from 1796 it was the center of a district in Orel Province. Industry in Karachev includes an experimental mechanical plant, an auto spare parts plant, a garment factory, hemp-processing factories, and food industry.