The city was prominent in the 10th to 12th centuries. It ceased to exist after the
Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' and the
destruction of Kiev in 1240. Currently the large village of
Bilohorodka is located near the defunct city.
Kievan Rus' The city is first mentioned in chronicles in 980. It was the first mention of veche in Kievan chronicles. Later, the
veche became the main form of government in the
Novgorod Republic and other states in northern Rus'. In the 11th century, the city became a
bishop seat. The bishop of Belgorod was first mentioned in the
Primary Chronicle in 1088. The area of Horodyshche is 110 hectares. According to historian A. Chlenov, the place is particularly important as it is the only Drevlian fortress surviving almost intact, the only fortress of 10th century Rus' of such preservation, and the largest surviving fortress of that epoch. == Gallery ==