Bryansk dates back to at least 1146, when it was first mentioned under the name of Debryansk, which is thought to mean ‘dense woodland’. The city passed through the hands of various Rus prince and even became part of Lithuania in the 14th and 16th centuries. The city later became famous for its annual fair held outside the local Svensky Monastery. During the Second World War the city was occupied by the Nazis, although around 60,000 Soviet partisans continued to operate from the forests surrounding the city. For this the city has been named a City of Military Glory and many of its sights celebrate its military history.