The book is the most complete and serious historical and geographical study of one of the largest principalities of Ancient Rus', covering lands from Chernigov in the west to Kolomna and Ryazan in the east. The book includes an unpublished dissertation by an outstanding specialist in historical geography (1976) A. K. Zaitsev , as well as articles from small-circulation collections on the history of settlements that were part of the Chernigov reign. The publication contains maps compiled by the author and a consolidated final map prepared by V. N. Temushev, as well as a bibliography of works and a short biography of A. K. Zaitsev.