From the History of Minsk

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 455.

More than 200 years ago on the banks of the Niamiha and Svislach rivers came into existence the city of Minsk or Mensk as it used to be called before.

The name of the city is believed to be associated with the river Menka that flowed into lake Ptsich not far from the city. But the legends say that the city derives its name from the word ‘mena' as in the ancient times there was a barter market in the newly-founded settlement on the right bank of the Svislach.

Mensk was first mentioned as a town in the Principality of Polatsk in a chronicle in 1067 in connection with a battle on the Niamiha between Prince Usiaslau of Polatsk and Prince Yaraslau's sons: Yziaslau, Usevalad and Sviataslau. As a result of this battle Mensk was ruined

with all men killed, women and children taken to prison.

In 1084 Mensk was burnt yet another time by the Great Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh.

In the 12th century the Polatsk Principality was divided among Prince Yziaslau's sons. Mensk became the centre of the independent principality.

In the late 13th century the Principality of Mensk became part of the Great Duchy of Lithuania. The 14th – 15th centuries were very important in the life of Mensk and its inhabitants. It was the period when the Belarusian nation was formed with its national language and culture.

But in 1569 the Lithuania Princes united with the Polish Kingdom and formed a joined state Rzeczpospolita. It was at that period when Mensk was renamed into Minsk.

In 1793 Belarus joined the Russian empire. Three years later it was turned into a gubernia (province) with Minsk as its centre.

Throughout the 17th – 18th centuries the Upper Town remained the town's main administrative, trade and cultural centre. Minsk rapidly grew and developed. But in 1812 the Napoleon troops burnt the city again.

In the 20th century the foreign invaders not once occupied the Belarusian capital: in 1918 it was occupied by Germany, in 1919 – 1920 by Poland. The most horrible disaster befell the city of Minsk in 1941 – 1944 in the years of fascist invasion.

Not only wars were responsible for Minsk's numerous devastations. Fires caused great damage to the city too. Especially damaging was the 1881 fire. Since then only stone and brick buildings have been constructed in the centre of Minsk.

And every time our people rebuilt the city, it became more beautiful than before.