An old Severian town, Trubchevsk is first mentioned as Trubetsk in East Slavic manuscripts describing the events of 1164 and 1183, although the local authorities regard 975 as the year of its foundation. At that early period, it has been variously spelled as Трубечь (Trubech'), Трубецк (Trubetsk), Трубческ (Trubchesk), or Трубежск (Trubezhsk).

Originally a minor centre of Severia, Trubchevsk had its own princes sporadically throughout the Middle Ages, in 1164–1196, 1202–1211, 1212–1240, 1378–1399, and finally in 1462–1503. The last dynasty eventually settled in Moscow, where they became known as Princes Troubetzkoy. Between 1609 and 1644 the town belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its name was spelled as Trubczewsk.

The town is referred to in the great Old Russian poem, The Tale of Igor's Campaign. This poem calls for the princes of the various Slavic lands to join forces in resisting the invasions of the nomadic Polovtsy. The poem also glorified the courage of the army of Vsevolod Svyatoslavich, the ruler of Kursk and Trubchevsk.

There are very few notable buildings in the town. The main landmark is the 19th-century century Trinity Cathedral, which incorporates some parts from its 16th-century predecessor.

External links

• Trubchevsk
• Photographs of Trubchevsk (page 1)
• Photographs of Trubchevsk (page 2)