Black Ruthenia
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Black Ruthenia (Ruthenian: Czornaja Ruś; Belarusian: Чорная Русь Čornaja Ruś; Polish: Ruś Czarna) is term used for a region in the western part of contemporary Belarus on the upper reaches of the Neman River that was distinct in the 13th-15th centuries.
The origins of the term are disputed. The early Ruthenian sources themselves rarely use the terms "White Ruś" [1] or "Black Ruś".[citation needed]
The most important towns in the area were Navahrudak, Hrodna, Slonim, Vawkavysk, Lida, and Niasvizh.
History
The phrase first appeared in Western European sources circa 1360 but referring to Red Ruthenia (modern Ukraine). The name "Black Ruthenia" is more often found in historical writings from the 18th century to a region in the basin of the upper flow of the Neman River. Towns such as Navahrudak were mentioned for the first time in the Ruthenian annals in 1116 (or 1252), Hrodna (1127), Slonim (1252), Vawkavysk (1252), Niasvizh (1223), Lida (1323).
From the end of the 10th century the area was controlled by the Principality of Kiev. At the beginning of the 13th century it was probably submitted to the Principality of Polotsk. Since 1239 Black Ruthenia was kept by the Grand Prince of the neighbouring Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Mindaugas. 1239 - 1248 was the period with the highest frequency of attacks on Ruthenia by Mindaugas, which was taking advantage of Ruthenia's weakened condition after the Tartar invasions. At this time Mindaugas took control of Black Ruthenia with the Castle of Nowohorodok. Mindaugas may have been invited by authorities of Navahrudak to rule after he had to leave his native land, he then passed a power to his son Vaišvilkas. In 1249 Tautvilas, Erdvilas, and Vykintas fled to Daniel Halicki, the King of Halych-Volhynia. Daniel helped them to organize a coalition against Mindaugas and attacked Black Ruthenia. In the meantime, Vykintas managed to bribe the Yotvingians and half of the Samogitians, and come to an agreement with Livonian Brothers of the Sword. 1254 the King of Halych-Volhynia, Daniel Halicki, overpowered Navahrudak and passed the territory to his son Roman Danilovich, with whom it remained for several years, before being restored to Vaišvilkas, who died in 1267. He was followed by other princes of Lithuanian origin. From the end of the 13th century Black Ruthenia, together with the original Lithuania, comprised the nucleus of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
%201.jpg) Navahrudak Castle. Reconstruction by Viktar Staščaniuk. |
%202.jpg) Navahrudak Castle. Reconstruction by Viktar Staščaniuk. |
%203.jpg) Navahrudak Castle. Reconstruction by Viktar Staščaniuk. |
 The ruins of Navahrudak Castle. |
 Navahrudak, Kostel Preobrażenija Gospodnego. |
 Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Hrodna. |
 Manor of Pusłowski family. Drawing by Napoleon Orda. (now in Slonim). |
 Church of the Corpus Christi and castle tower, Niasvizh. |
Notes
See also
External links
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