ASOW, a celebrated and important fortreſs of Ruſſia, once a place of conſiderable trade, but now deſoiled. It was ſituated in the diſtrićt of Bachmut, near the place where the Greeks many centuries ago built the city of Tanais, which was very famous for its trade, and underwent many viciffitudes. The Genoefe, who ſettled a trade with Ruſſia ſoon after the diſcovery of Archangel by Captain Chancellor, became maſters of this place, and gave it the name of Tana, or Catana: but the Tartars, who were very powerful in theſe parts, ſeem to have been in poſſeſſion of it long before; for, as Buſching informs us, there are Aſow coins yet extant, on which is the name of Taktamyſi-Kan. From the Genoefe it fell into the hands of the Turks, loſt its trade, and became an inconſiderable town. In 1637, it was taken by the Coſſacks, who defended it againſt the Turks in 1641, and next year ſet fire to it, and blew it up. The Turks rebuilt it with ſtrong fortifications. The Ruſſians laid claim to it in 1672, and took it in 1696; but, by the treaty of Pruth in 1711, it was reſtored to the Turks. In 1736, the Ruſſians became maſters of Aſow; but by the treaty of Belgrade they were obliged to relinquish it, and entirely deſtroy the place.