Blagoveshchensk is the capital of the Amur Region

The first Russians to appear on these lands were Cossacks from the detachment of the pioneer Vasily Poyarkov, who came here in 1644. In the middle of the 17th century, on the left bank of the Amur the first prison was founded, but due to the restless relations of the Russians with the Chinese state, this prison was abandoned at the end of the century. The future capital of the Amur region, as it is believed today, was laid in 1856, when the Ust-Zeysky military post was founded here. The fact is that by this time the need to declare imperial rights to own the left bank of the Amur was finally ripe. Blagoveshchensk began as a frontier fortress, laid out during the expansion of state territories - a story common to many Russian cities and towns.

Cross-border outpost

Throughout the second half of the XIX century, Blagoveshchensk was increasingly strengthened as a bulwark of Russian civilization and statehood in the Far East. In the early years of its existence, the future capital of the Amur Region intensively expanded its territory through the arrival of new Cossack regiments, which remained with their families for permanent residence. In 1858 the first Orthodox church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos was laid here . By the way, it was after the name of the church that the village subsequently acquired its own name. In the same year, as a result of the Treaty of Aigun between Russia and China, the entire left bank of the Amur was recognized for the Russian side, and the village received official recognition from the Ch'ing dynasty. In December 1858, a map of the Amur Region appeared on state maps of the fatherland, and Blagoveshchensk became its administrative center. The creation of the region took place through the highest imperial decree of Alexander II.

Amur Region: the capital

In the second half of the century the city is developing more and more intensively. In the sixties, gold deposits are discovered here, which gives a powerful impetus to the growth of prosperity and the status of the city. River location is increasingly turning Blagoveshchensk into a significant shipping center. The agriculture of the region is developing rapidly. All this, of course, positively affects the development of urban infrastructure and the growth of the local population. The capital of the Amur region acquires great importance in the heavy industry of the country. So, in 1888 the first iron foundry appeared here, and at the beginning of the 20th century a railway was built through the city. Of course, in the population of Blagoveshchensk there were always a lot of Chinese. The turbulent beginning of the new century in Russia and the Celestial Empire brought to the city a number of national clashes. So in 1900 the so-called Boxer uprising led to military clashes between Russians and Chinese in the Far East. As a result of these events, the latter were partially destroyed and, in large part, expelled from the city.

The Soviet period

During the civil war, the capital of the Amur Region was occupied for some time by Japanese troops, who tried to gain their own benefit and appropriated a part of the territories of the former empire. However, they were expelled by local guerrillas in the summer of 1920. Since 1922 Blagoveshchensk with the surrounding territories has become part of the Soviet state. In the 1920-30s, heavy and light industry was again actively developing here. The specificity of the border city imposed its imprint on local trade - the city became one of the main points of contraband. During the Great Patriotic War, the Far Eastern is one of the important components of domestic industry, working for the needs of the front. And in the postwar period, Blagoveshchensk remained closed for a long time to enter the city, since strategically important enterprises were located here. The new era came only with perestroika in the mid-1980s.