Kanev is one of the oldest towns in the Ukraine. According to the chronicles, it was founded in the 11th century during the reign of prince Yaroslav the Wise. Twelfth-century chronicles mention Kanev as a reliable stronghold on the southern borders of Kievan Russ. At that time, it was a rich town with magnificent buildings and churches. In the 13th century it suffered the invasion of Batu Khan and was under Tatar's yoke for hundred of years. Later it was ruled by Lithuanians and Polish feudal lords and Turkish Janissaries. In 1536, Kanev residents rose up against the Lithuanian Prince, who was ruling the town at the time, and detached their city from his territories. In 1625, they gave a decisive rebuff to the polish troops, and took an active part in the Ukrainian people's liberation war of 1648-1654 lead by Bogdan Khmelnitsky. Kanev is inseparably linked with the name of the great Ukrainian poet, artist, thinker and revolutionary democrat Taras Shevchenko. Captivated by the beauty of local nature, Shevchenko dreamt of settling there, and when he died, his remains were transferred to Kanev from St. Petersburg. Shevchenko was buried on the high right bank of the Dnieper, and Chernecha Hill, which soon came to be known as Taras Hill.