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Grodno Governorate

Coordinates: 53°40′00″N 23°49′00″E / 53.6667°N 23.8167°E / 53.6667; 23.8167
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Grodno Governorate
Гродненская губерния
Governorate
Coat of arms of Grodno Governorate
Coat of arms
Location in the Russian Empire
Location in the Russian Empire
CountryRussian Empire
KraiNorthwestern
Established1801
Abolished1918
CapitalGrodno
Area
 • Total
38,671.5 km2 (14,931.1 sq mi)
Population
 (1897)
 • Total
1,631,645
 • Density42/km2 (110/sq mi)
 • Urban
15.60%
 • Rural
84.40%
Northwestern Krai Governorates
1821 Grodno Governorate Map (in Russian and Polish)
1834 Grodno Governorate Map
Grodno Governorate (in Russian)

Grodno Governorate[a] was an administrative-territorial unit (guberniya) of the Northwestern Krai of the Russian Empire, with its capital in Grodno. It encompassed 38,671.5 square kilometres (14,931.1 sq mi) in area and consisted of a population of 1,631,645 inhabitants by 1897. Grodno Governorate was bordered by Suwałki Governorate to the north, Vilna Governorate to the northeast, Minsk Governorate to the east, Volhynia Governorate to the south, Kholm Governorate to the west, and Łomża Governorate to the northwest. The governorate covered the areas of modern-day Grodno Region of Belarus, part of the Podlaskie Voivodeship of Poland, and a small part of Druskininkai, Lazdijai and Varėna districts of Lithuania.

Overview

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Grodno, a western province or governorate of the former Russian Empire, currently located in Belarus, was situated between about 52° to 54° N latitude and 21° to 24° E longitude, and bounded N by Vilna E by Minsk S by Volhynia and W by the former kingdom of Poland. Its land size was 14,961 square miles (38,750 km2). The province was a wide plain in parts, very swampy and covered with large pine tree forests. Of these, that of Białowieża in the district of comprising a circuit of over 100 miles (160 km) deserves notice. There, bisons were preserved. The navigable rivers are Niemen, Bug, Narev, and Bobra, the most important of those being the Bug. The soil is chiefly alluvial intermixed with sand waws,[clarification needed] which was favorable for agriculture anil, rearing of cattle and bees. The atmosphere was damp, misty and the climate in winter was cold. Large quantities of rye, barley, oats, hops, hemp and flax were raised but the amount of fruit and vegetables grown was small. The products produced in the region were insignificant, but included woolen cloths, hats, leather, paper and spirits. There also a good export trade in grain, wool, cattle. Some forty fairs were held annually in the province.

It was divided into nine districts:

The administration of the whole province was in the governor appointed by the crown. In 1870 the population was 1,008,521 comprising Lithuanians, Poles, Belarusians, Tartars, and a few German colonists. Grodno's capital was Grodno, on the right bank of the Niemen, and was connected by railway with Moscow and Warsaw. It contained eight Roman Catholic, one Eastern and two United Greek Catholic churches, a chapel, and two Jewish synagogues. There were two fine erected respectively by Stephen Batory who died here 1586 and Augustus III (kings of Poland). Among other buildings were a public library, a school of a gymnasium, and several seminaries. The 24,789 were engaged in the manufacture of woolen hats, paper, and the preparation of wax. Three fairs were held annually.

Grodno was built in the 12th century until 1795 belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The diet held there in 1793 ratified the partition of Poland. Two years later Stanislaus, the last king, signed his abdication there.[1]

From Stanisław Plater's estimates in 1825[2]
Language People
Ruthenians 470,000
Yiddish 120,000
Lithuanian 100,000
Polish 80,000
Russians 20,000
Tatars 10,000
Total 800,000
From Stanisław Plater's estimates in 1825[3]
Religion People
Roman Catholic 380,000
Eastern Catholic 270,000
Judaism 120,000
Old Believers 20,000
Muslims 10,000
Total 800,000

Administrative divisions

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The seat was in Grodno. It divided into 9 Uyezds:[4]

History

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Slonim Governorate (1795–1796)

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The governorate was formed in 1796, in the aftermath of the final partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and originally known as Slonim Governorate, but that only existed until December 12, 1796, when Paul I merged it with Vilna Governorate to form Lithuania Governorate.[4]

The Slonim Governorate had 8 provinces:

  • Brest (Russian: Волковысского)
  • Volkovysskij (Russian: Виленского)
  • Grodno (Russian: Завилейского)
  • Kobrin (Russian: Кобринского)
  • Lida (Russian: Ли́да)
  • Novogrudok (Russian: Новогрудского)
  • Pruzhany (Russian: Пружанского)
  • Slonimsky (Russian: Слонимского)

Lithuania Governorate (1796–1801)

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Main article: Lithuania Governorate

Just a year later, on December 12, 1796, by order of Tsar Paul I they were merged into one governorate, called the Lithuanian Governorate, with its capital in Vilnius.[5]

Lithuania-Grodno Governorate (1801–1840)

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After Paul's death, by order of Tsar Alexander I on September 9, 1801, the Lithuanian Governorate was split into the Lithuania-Vilnius Governorate and the Lithuania-Grodno Governorate. The Lithuania-Grodno Governorate was restored within the borders of 1796 Slonim Governorate.[4]

The Lithuania-Grodno Governorate had 8 provinces:

  • Brest (Russian: Волковысского)
  • Volkovysskij (Russian: Виленского)
  • Grodno (Russian: Завилейского)
  • Kobrin (Russian: Кобринского)
  • Lida (Russian: Ли́да)
  • Novogrudok (Russian: Новогрудского)
  • Pruzhany (Russian: Пружанского)
  • Slonimsky (Russian: Слонимского)
  • Sokolka Province (Russian: Соколька)

Grodno Governorate (1840–1870)

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In 1840 the word "Lithuania" was dropped from the name by Nicholas I.[6]

In 1843, another administrative reform took place. The Vilnius Governorate received the Lida district from the Grodno Governorate [7] and the Belostok Oblast was incorporated into it as the districts of Belostok, Belsk and Sokolka. Also, Novogrudok one to Minsk Governorate[4]

The Grodno Governorate had 9 provinces:

  • Brest (Russian: Волковысского)
  • Volkovysskij (Russian: Виленского)
  • Grodno (Russian: Завилейского)
  • Kobrin (Russian: Кобринского)
  • Pruzhany (Russian: Пружанского)
  • Slonimsky (Russian: Слонимского)
  • Belostok Province (Russian: Белосток)
  • Belsk Province (Russian: Бельскъ)
  • Sokolka Province (Russian: Соколька)

Bialystok-Grodno District (1915–1917)

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Main article: Bialystok-Grodno District

The Grodno Governorate was occupied by Germany in 1915 during World War I. It was known as the Bialystok-Grodno District of Ober-Ost. After the Peace of Riga on 18 March 1921, which ended the Polish-Soviet War,[8] the governorate became the voivodeships of Białystok, Nowogródek and Polesie of the Second Polish Republic.[9]

Governors

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Notes

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  1. ^
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  1. ^ The new Werner twentieth century edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Akron, OH: The Werner Company. 1907. pp. Vol 11, p 183.
  2. ^ Jeografia wschodniéy części Europy czyli Opis krajów przez wielorakie narody słowiańskie zamieszkanych : obejmujący Prussy, Xsięztwo Poznańskie, Szląsk Pruski, Gallicyą, Rzeczpospolitę Krakowską, Krolestwo Polskie i Litwę, p.214
  3. ^ Jeografia wschodniéy części Europy czyli Opis krajów przez wielorakie narody słowiańskie zamieszkanych : obejmujący Prussy, Xsięztwo Poznańskie, Szląsk Pruski, Gallicyą, Rzeczpospolitę Krakowską, Krolestwo Polskie i Litwę, p.206
  4. ^ a b c d "Administrative division of Belarus: a historical information" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2006-10-26. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  5. ^ Kulakauskas, Antanas (2002). "Administracinės reformos". Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Elektroninės leidybos namai. ISBN 9986-9216-9-4. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  6. ^ "Литовская губерния". Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian). 1890–1906.
  7. ^ Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Administration". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. I. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 17–21. LCCN 74-114275.
  8. ^ K. Marek. Identity and Continuity of States in Public International Law. Librairie Droz 1968. pp. 419-420.
  9. ^ Eberhardt, Piotr; Jan Owsinski (2003). Ethnic Groups and Population Changes in Twentieth-Century Central-Eastern Europe: History, Data, Analysis. M.E. Sharpe. p. 260. ISBN 0-7656-0665-8.

53°40′00″N 23°49′00″E / 53.6667°N 23.8167°E / 53.6667; 23.8167

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