Tomsk is a
city and the
administrative center of
Tomsk Oblast,
Russia, located on the
Tom River. One of the oldest towns in
Siberia, Tomsk celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2004. Population:
History
Tomsk originated with a decree from
Tsar Boris Godunov in 1604 after , the Tatar duke of , asked for the Tsar's protection against
Kirghiz bandits. The Tsar sent 200
Cossacks under the command of and Gavriil Ivanovich Pisemsky to construct a fortress on the bank of the
Tom River, overlooking what would become the city of Tomsk. Toian ceded the land for the fortress to the Tsar.