A Ryazan fort on the Oka, built in 1153 by Prince Rostislav Yaroslavich of Ryazan and named after himself, the one clear case of a princely town foundation that Ilovaisky finds in the chronicles.
It guards the Oka between Kolomna and Old Ryazan. The site is now an abandoned hillfort near modern Ozyory; its position here is approximate.
Who holds it
- Title
- Ryazan fort
- Confidence
- low
Ilovaisky 1858 p. 61 (founding 1153); position approximate (the hillfort by Ozyory on the Oka)
Lord in 1200
A Ryazan prince or governor, not pinned.
How things stand that morning
Ryazan's.
Charter
None: Rus' towns had no charters; the prince's rights and the townsmen's customs governed.
Council
None recorded.
Communities
Not recorded.
Fairs and markets
None recorded.
Militia
None recorded.
Walls and castle
Earth-and-timber hillfort.
Trade and crafts
Oka river station.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Founding notice of 1153 (Ilovaisky); the exact site is from general knowledge and approximate.
Primary sources for Ryazan
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Laurentian Chronicle (the Suzdal continuation kept in the late 12th and 13th centuries; manuscript 1377). The court record of Vsevolod III of Vladimir. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.