Black Ruthenia
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Black Ruthenia (Latin: Ruthenia Nigra), Black Rus' (Belarusian: Чорная Русь, romanized: Čornaja Ruś, Polish: Ruś Czarna, Lithuanian: Juodoji Rusia) is a historical region on Upper Nemunas, including Novogrudok (Naugardukas), Grodno (Gardinas) and Slonim (Slanimas).[1] Besides Novogrudok, other important cities of Black Rus' are Vawkavysk (Valkaviskas) and Nyasvizh (Nesvyžius).[citation needed]
History[]
The convention of distinguishing different Ruthenian regions by colours was first done by Medieval Western and Central European historians from the 14th to 17th centuries.[1] It was first done circa 1360 by , referring to the Black and Red Ruthenia (placing them in modern Ukraine).[citation needed] Some researchers claim that this color naming convention was influenced by the Mongol invaders, who used them for the cardinal directions.[2]
Sometimes in the 16th century, the names Black, White and Red Ruthenia were given to respectively Grand Duchies of Moscow, Lithuania, and to Lithuanian-owned Ruthenian lands given to Poland during the Union of Lublin.[1]
During the Second Partition of Poland in 1793, the eastern part around Słuck was annexed by the Russian Empire and incorporated into the Minsk Governorate.[citation needed] The western part followed in the Third Partition of 1795 and was administered within the Grodno Governorate.[citation needed] Early Ruthenian sources do not use the term "Black Ruś", the name "Black Ruthenia" appears primarily in historical writings from the 18th century.[citation needed]
According to Bancks' book from 1813, Black Russia was composed of the Governorates of Kaluga, Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Vladimir and Yaroslav.[3]
According to Alfred Nicolas Rambaud in the late 19th century:
The Lithuanian territories of Grodno, Novogrodek and Belostok were sometimes called Black Russia.[4]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Spečiūnas, Vytautas. "Juodoji Rusia". Vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 6 September 2021.
- ^ Łatyszonek, Oleg (2006). Od Rusinów Białych do Białorusinów: u *zródeł białoruskiej idei narodowej [From White Ruthenians to Belarusians: at the sources of the Belarusian national idea]. Białystok: Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku. ISBN 9788374311205. OL 19715579M.
- ^ Bancks, John (1813). The Life of Peter the Great, Formerly Emperor of Russia. . p. 7.
- ^ Rambaud, Alfred (1898). "2". History of Russia.
External links[]
- Media related to Black Ruthenia at Wikimedia Commons
- Historical regions in Belarus
- Ruthenians in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth