RZHEV

also spelled Rzev city, Tver oblast (province), northwestern Russia. It lies along the upper Volga River at the crossing of the Moscow-Riga and St. PetersburgBryansk trunk railways. First mentioned in 1216 as an independent princedom, Rzhev has always been a route centre on the western approaches to Moscow. The city has had a stormy history. It was held at various times by the princes of Tver and Smolensk and was taken by Lithuania in 1356 for two years. It passed to Moscow in 1390. In 1610, during the Time of Troubles, it was captured by the Poles. The modern city has light engineering and industries engaged in the processing of agricultural products. Pop. (1991 est.) 70,900.