Yuri Dolgorukiy
The first population of this area was a Finnic tribe called the Meshchyora, later assimilated by Russians and Tatars. The town was founded in 1152 by the Vladimir-Suzdal ruler Yuri Dolgorukiy as Grodets, then Gorodets Meschyorsky (). It was included in the Mishar Yurt division of the Golden Horde, but then was sold to Muscovy.