Nevel was first mentioned in the Ivan the Terrible's will among towns that had been founded during his reign. It is believed that Nevel was founded some time before 1580. It was ceded to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the close of the Livonian War and was not returned to Russia until the First Partition of Poland in 1772, when it was included into newly established Pskov Governorate. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and Nevel was transferred to Belarus Governorate; since 1802 to Vitebsk Governorate. After 1919, Vitebsk Governorate was a part of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.[9] In 1924, Vitebsk Governorate was abolished, and Nevel was transferred to Pskov Governorate.