Short answers, pulled from the story.
The year 863 marks the first recorded mention of Smolensk in historical texts. This date places the city's origins two years after the founding of Kievan Rus'. Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII recorded the name as early as 950 AD.
Tsars Fyodor I Ioannovich and Boris Godunov ordered the construction of the stone Kremlin between 1597 and 1602. Architect Fyodor Kon supervised this massive project which stands today as one of Russia's greatest medieval achievements. The fortress features thick walls and numerous watchtowers designed to repel future attacks.
Two of the largest armies ever assembled clashed in Smolensk during August 1812. Napoleon entered the city during this hard-fought battle described by Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace. Total losses were estimated at 30,000 men across both sides.
German forces captured the city again on the 16th of July 1941 during Operation Barbarossa. Over 93% of the urban landscape was destroyed during fighting that lasted months. Hermann Göring ordered Gotthard Heinrici to destroy Smolensk according to Nazi scorched earth policy.
A Tu-154 military jet carrying Polish president Lech Kaczyński crashed near Smolensk on the 10th of April 2010. All ninety-six passengers died immediately upon impact including the president's wife and many political figures. The visit aimed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.