The history of Chernihiv is lost in the centuries. However, archaeological research shows that the first Slavic settlements appeared in the city in the VII century A.D. Already at the beginning of the X century Chernihiv became the second largest city in the size and importance after Kyiv for this reason it was mentioned in the Rus-Byzanine Treaty of 907.

The city's prosperity began after 1024, when it became the center of the huge Chernihiv principality during the reign of Mstislav the Brave. At this time, his fortress was strengthened and the construction of the Savior Cathedral was established, this cathedral is the oldest in Eastern Europe that has survived to present days.

By the middle of the thirteenth century Chernihiv retained the role of hegemon of the entire Left Bank. At the beginning of the XIII century only the fortifications of the city were more than 350 hectares and in the city there were at least 11 brick cathedrals and 2 princely towers. All this put Chernihiv in the top ten largest European cities of the time. However, in 1239 Chernihiv fell into a series of calamities that began with the Mongol demolition. During the second half of the thirteenth - fourteenth centuries the city is gradually but steadily declining, decreasing in size at least in 10 times.

The revival of the city began only in the 1370s, when the city became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Already in 1380, Prince Vitovt rebuilt the fortress here, and at the beginning of the XV century the city became the residence of Prince Svydrygailo. However, at this time almost the entire city was located on the territory of the former Old Rus part - Dytynets.

In 1500 Chernihiv became a part of the Moscow state. It turns into a large border fortress. However, constant sieges and attacks by the Lithuanian army, and later by the Polish army, did not contribute to the development of the city. At the end of the XVI century Chernihiv remained a fortress city under the leadership of the Moscow office of voivode. At that time, there was only one active Savior Cathedral in the city, other ancient Rus brick temples stood unattended and were destroyed. In 1610 the city was burned by the Kyiv Chamber of Deputies S. Gornostay, the population that survived after the demolition, scattered throughout the district.

In 1618, under the terms of the Deulin Armistice between Muscow and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Chernihiv became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The new Polish administration quickly began rebuilding the city. Already in 1623 the fortification was restored, and the city was granted the Magdeburg Law. At the same time, cathedrals and churches began to be restored, in particular the Borys and Hlib Cathedral, which became a Catholic church, the Savior Cathedral, and others.

However, the real prosperity of Chernihiv began only after 1648, when the city became the center of the Chernihiv Hetmanate Regiment. In the second half of the XVII century Chernihiv colonels made considerable efforts to revive the city. It is clear that the greatest contribution was made by V. Dunin-Borkovsky. During his reign the Chernihiv fortress was rebuilt, and the city received new fortifications. With his help, the Savior and Assumption Cathedrals, the Piatnutska Church, the brick Church of the Resurrection on the territory of Fortress and the Peter and Paul Church on the territory of the Yeletsky Monastery, as well as several wooden churches in the city were restored. Also at the end of the XVII century the construction of a new large monastery on Boldyn Hills began, the dominant of which was the Trinity Cathedral by I. Sauer-Baptist.

The heyday of Chernihiv lasted until the middle of the XVIII century, when the administrative and economic system of the Hetmanate did not undergo significant changes. During the second half of the XVIII century began the incorporation of the city into the Russian Empire. Already in 1781 the city became the center of the Chernihiv governorate and from 1802 the Chernihiv province.

The development of provincial Chernihiv was slow, at that time it was not even the largest city in the province. At the beginning of the XIX century it had only 6,000 inhabitants. However, during this period, brick building did not stop, and in the early nineteenth century the city began radical changing. Instead of the old network of streets, a new one appeared; churches continued to be built, in particular the Church of St. Michael and Fyodor, the Kazan Church, the Epiphany Church and others.

Chernihiv's measured life was interrupted in the spring of 1917, when revolutionary events began in the city. During 1918-1919 Chernihiv was part of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian State was admired by the Bolsheviks, Denikin's troops. However, at the end of 1919 the Bolshevik government was established here.

In 1934, the city began a radical redevelopment of buildings to new standards. During this period, part of the building of the XVIII-XIX centuries was rebuilt or destroyed.

In September 1941, Chernihiv was captured by Nazi Germany and its allies. The battles for the city lasted more than 2 weeks, from which Chernihiv suffered significant damage. During September 19-21, 1943, Nazi troops were driven out of the city by the advancing Red Army. During these battles, the city also suffered extensive damage.

Reconstruction of the city began in 1944. Women, children and prisoners of war were involved in the work. By the mid-1950s, the city's main buildings had been rebuilt. In particular, the restoration of architectural monuments began at this time. Beginning in the late 1950's, the city's population began to grow rapidly, while in 1959 the population was only 90,000, then in 1979 it was 238,000, and in 1995 it was 314,000.