Mari people
It was first mentioned as the Mari village of Malmyzh in the 15th century. Malmyzh was the capital of Mari Malmyzh principality subordinated to Kazan. Mari prince Boltush (Poltysh) offered resistance to Russian offensive and was killed by a cannonball on April 26, 1556. Russian fortress was built here in 1584 to suppress recalcitrant Mari people. It was granted town status in 1780.