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Duchy Of Alšėnai
The Duchy of Alšėnai () was a feudal patrimony of the Alšėniškiai in the late 13th and mid-16th centuries. History It was first mentioned in the Bychowiec Chronicle, where , son of (slavicized as ''Holsza'', son of ''Romunt''), according to legend, was the one who "founded a town on the river Korablis; He arose from there, began reigning and called himself the duke of Alšėnai". Maciej Stryjkowski also relates the origins of the Alšėniškiai family to Alšis Romuntavičius (), coming from the line of Dausprungas. The dukes of Alšėnai held high positions in the Lithuanian state for a long time. In 1440 and 1492, meetings were held in Alšėnai to determine the candidates for the Grand Ducal throne. In the middle of the 16th century, the ancestral possession of the Alšėniškiai passed to the Sapiega family. Geography The duchy's center was Alšėnai (now Halshany) and it was the territory between the rivers Vilija and Nemunas. In the 15th century, the duch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alšėniškiai
The House of Alšėniškiai (, ) was a Lithuanian by origin Ruthenianized and predominantly Eastern Orthodox princely family of Hipocentaur coat of arms. Their patrimony was the Duchy of Alšėnai, which included the castles of Rokantiškės and Alšėnai. History Origin Maciej Stryjkowski relates the origins of this family to Alšis Ramuntavičius () (), coming from the line of Dausprungas. According to the ancient genealogy of Lithuanian princes written by Teodor Narbutt, Alšis was to be the eleventh generation of the Palemonids, and was to give rise to the Alšėniškiai, who ended in the late 16th century. What Stryjkowski or Narbutt wrote is very dubious as the distance of time is too large to prove it documentally. The history of this house, already based on some writings, only begins with Jonas Alšėniškis (), whose father Algimantas (''Ougemundes'') presents the first historically proven generation of the Alšėniškiai. For the first time Alšėniškiai family ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ukmergė
Ukmergė (; previously ''Vilkmergė''; ) is a city in Vilnius County, Lithuania, located northwest of Vilnius. It is the administrative center of the Ukmergė District Municipality. Ukmergė (Vilkmergė) was mentioned for the first time as a settlement in 1333. The Ukmergė Old Town contains structure of old streets and squares, also well-preserved buildings of the 19th-20th centuries, therefore it was included in the Registry of Cultural Property (Lithuania), Registry of Cultural Property of Lithuania. Etymology and variant names The city took its original name ''Vilkmergė'' from the River, which was initially called Vilkmergė and assumed a diminutive form after the growth of the settlement. It is commonly thought that the name may be translated as "she-wolf", from the combination of ''Vilkas'' (wolf) and ''Merga'' (maiden). More likely the second root of the dual-stemmed name is the verb ''merg-/merk-'' meaning "to submerge" or "to dip". According to local legend, Vilkm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
16th-century Disestablishments
The 16th century began with the Julian calendar, Julian year 1501 (represented by the Roman numerals MDI) and ended with either the Julian or the Gregorian calendar, Gregorian year 1600 (MDC), depending on the reckoning used (the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582). The Renaissance in Italy and Europe saw the emergence of important artists, authors and scientists, and led to the foundation of important subjects which include accounting and political science. Copernicus proposed the Copernican heliocentrism, heliocentric universe, which was met with strong resistance, and Tycho Brahe refuted the theory of celestial spheres through observational measurement of the SN 1572, 1572 appearance of a Milky Way supernova. These events directly challenged the long-held notion of an immutable universe supported by Ptolemy and Aristotle, and led to major revolutions in astronomy and science. Galileo Galilei became a champion of the new sciences, invented the first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masty, Belarus
Masty or Mosty is a town in Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative centre of Masty District. As of 2025, it has a population of 14,239. History Within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Masty was part of Trakai Voivodeship. It was located on a trade route connecting Grodno and Slonim. In 1539, Queen consort of Poland Bona Sforza founded the Saint John the Baptist church. In 1795, Masty was acquired by the Russian Empire as a result of the Third Partition of Poland. From 1921 until 1939, Mosty, as it was known in Polish, was part of the Second Polish Republic, within which it was administratively located in the Grodno County in the Białystok Voivodeship. In the 1921 census, the entire population declared Polish nationality, of which 88.4% were Catholics and 11.3% were of Jewish faith. At the start of World War II, in September 1939, the town was occupied by the Red Army and, on 14 November 1939, incorporated into the Byelorussian SSR. From 25 June 1941 until 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minsk
Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of Minsk region and Minsk district. it has a population of about two million, making Minsk the Largest cities in Europe, 11th-most populous city in Europe. Minsk is one of the administrative capitals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). First mentioned in 1067, Minsk became the capital of the Principality of Minsk, an appanage of the Principality of Polotsk, before being annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1242. It received town privileges in 1499. From 1569, it was the capital of Minsk Voivodeship, an administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was part of the territories annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793, as a consequence of the Second Part ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Turov, Belarus
Turov or Turaw is a town in Zhytkavichy District, Gomel Region, Belarus. As of 2025, it has a population of 2,761. It served as the capital of the Principality of Turov during the Middle Ages. History Turov was an ancient capital of the Dregovich tribe - one of the three Eastern Slavic tribes that are considered ancestors of the modern Belarusian people (the others being Krivichs and Drevlians). Turov was first mentioned in the '' Tale of Bygone Years'' from 980. It is located in the southern part of Belarus, in the historical region of Polesia. According to legend, the city was founded at the crossing of Yazda and Strumen rivers by Duke Tur - hence the name Turov. Other etymology draws the name from ''Tur'', the Slavic name of the Aurochs. Both rivers join with the Pripyat river, which in turn flows into the Dnieper and then leads to the Black Sea. This river route was known to Vikings, who used it extensively for communication and during their frequent raids to Constant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hlusk
Hlusk (; ; ; ) is an urban-type settlement in Mogilev Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Hlusk District, and is home to nearly half of its district's residents. As of 2024, it has a population of 6,983. History The earliest written records of Hlusk date back to the 15th century. In March 1655, during the Russo-Polish War, the village was destroyed by the Cossacks, and thus released by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from paying taxes for the following ten years. There was an active Jewish community there, where Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Halevi Zimmerman and later Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz served as rabbi (Rabbi Leibowitz later moved to Lithuania). During the Second Partition of Poland, Hlusk became part of the Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pastavy
Pastavy (; ; ; ) is a town in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Pastavy District. As of 2025, it has a population of 18,450. Location Pastavy is located on the river Myadelka. Postavy Air Base is located 5 km west of Pastavy. Amenities Pastavy has a station on the railway line between Vitebsk and Vilnius, Lithuania. History Pastavy has several historic buildings including 18th-century houses and 19th-century church. In 2009, Pastavy celebrated its 600th anniversary. Within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Pastavy was part of Vilnius Voivodeship. In 1793, Pastavy was acquired by the Russian Empire as a result of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1921 until 1939, Pastavy was part of the Second Polish Republic. In the 1921 census, 43.3% people declared Polish nationality, 34.8% declared Jewish nationality, and 21.7% declared Belarusian nationality. In September 1939, the town was occupied by the Red Army and, on 14 November 1939, inco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nemunas
Neman, Nemunas or Niemen is a river in Europe that rises in central Belarus and flows through Lithuania then forms the northern border of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia's western exclave, which specifically follows its southern channel. It drains into the Curonian Lagoon, narrowly connected to the Baltic Sea. The long Neman is a major Eastern European river. It flows generally west to Grodno within of the Polish border, north to Kaunas, then westward again to the sea. The largest river in Lithuania, and the third-largest in Belarus, it is navigable for most of its length. It starts from two small headwaters merging about southwest of the town of Uzda – about southwest of capital city Minsk. Only , an eastward meander, contributes to the Belarus–Lithuania border. Thereafter the river includes notable loops along a minor tectonic fault. Its drainage basin settled in the late Quaternary to be roughly along the edge of the last glacial sheet so dates to about 25,000 to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bychowiec Chronicle
The ''Bychowiec Chronicle'' (; ; also spelled ''Bykhovets'', ''Bykovets'' or '' Bychovec'') is an anonymous 16th-century chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Although one of the least reliable sources of the epoch, it is considered the most extensive redaction of the Lithuanian Chronicles. It is named after its discoverer. Origin and publication The chronicle was most probably authored between 1519 and 1542, though some parts continued to be added until 1574. Authors of the chronicle are not known. The text highlights achievements of the Goštautai and Olshanski families, particularly to Jonas Goštautas. Therefore, scholars concluded that it was sponsored by a member of these families. Scholars proposed Grand Chancellor Albertas Goštautas, Bishop Paweł Holszański, and Duke Olelkovich. Aleksander Bychowiec, a 19th-century Polish noble and historian, discovered the chronicle in 1830 and it is now known by his name. Teodor Narbutt studied, copied and published it i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vilija
The river Neris () or Vilija (, ) rises in northern Belarus. It flows westward, passing through Vilnius (Lithuania's capital) and in the south-centre of that country it flows into the Nemunas (Neman) from the right bank, at Kaunas, as its main tributary. Its length is . After passing through Belarus for , the Neris flows through Lithuania for a further . The Neris connects successive Lithuanian capitals – Kernavė and Vilnius. Along its banks are the burial places of the pagan Lithuanians. At from Vilnius there is are old Karmazinai Hillfort and . Dual naming The reasons for the dual naming of the river as Neris by the Lithuanians and Viliya (formerly ''Velja'', meaning "big, great" in Slavic) by the Slavs are complex. Even in Vilnius, there are toponyms including both names, e. g. ''Neris'' remains in the riverside names of '' Paneriai'' and ''Paneriškės'' while ''Velja'' is a part of the name ''Valakampiai'', which means "an angle of Velja" in Lithuanian.Vykint ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Halshany
Halshany (; ; ; ; ) is an agrotown in Ashmyany District, Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Halshany selsoviet. It is known as the former seat of the Olshansky princely family and the location of the ruined Halshany Castle. History It was the birthplace of the Lithuanian princess and later Grand Duchess of Lithuania and queen of Poland Sophia of Halshany, extending Lithuanian Jagellon dynasty over two states. During the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth the town was in the hands of the Sapieha family, which constructed a castle there in early 17th century. The town grew smaller with the devastations of the mid-17th century wars wrought in the Commonwealth. The town became part of the Russian Empire with the partitions of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century. During the French invasion of Russia, the vicinity was captured by the Franco- Polish troops on 30 June 1812. It was recaptured by the Russian Imperia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
