Smolensk (Russian: Смоленск) is a city in western Russia, located on the Dnieper River, the administrative centre of Smolensk Oblast. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The classification system of the types of inhabited localities in Russia, the former Soviet Union, and some other post-Soviet states has certain peculiarities compared Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending For the rocket see Dnepr rocket. For other uses see Dnieper (disambiguation. Smolensk Oblast (Смол́енская о́бласть Smolenskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an Oblast) Its population in 2003 was estimated as 351,100 (325,137 as of 2002 Census). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Russian Census of 2002 (Всеросси́йская пе́репись населе́ния 2002 го́да was the first Census of the Russian Federation carried Situated 360 kilometres (225 mi) west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Today, Smolensk is noted for electronics, textiles, and food processing.
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History
Origins of the name
The name of the city is derived from the name of the Smolnya Rivulet. The origin of the hydronym is less clear. A hydronym (from Greek hudor, "water" and onuma, "name" is a proper name of a body of water One possibility is the old Slavic word for black soil, which might have coloured the waters of the long-derelict Smolnya. Chernozem (чернозём black soil) also known as "black land" or "black earth" is a black-coloured Soil containing a very high percentage An alternative origin could be the Russian word smola that means both tar and resin. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Tar is a viscous black Liquid derived from the Destructive distillation of organic matter Resin, not to be confused with Rosin, is a Hydrocarbon Secretion of many Plants particularly coniferous trees. Pine trees grow in the area, and city was once a center of resin processing and trade. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation.
Medieval origins
Smolensk is among the oldest of Russian cities. The Cathedral of the Assumption, dominating the city of Smolensk from the lofty Cathedral Hill has been the principal church of the Smolensk bishopric for 800 The first recorded mention of the city was 863 AD, two years after the founding of ancient Russia. According to Russian Primary Chronicle, Smolensk (probably located slightly downstream, at the archaeological site of Gnezdovo) was the capital of the Slavic Krivichs tribe in 882 when Oleg of Novgorod took it in passing from Novgorod to Kiev. The Primary Chronicle (ѣѣтъ Пóвесть временны́х лет Povest' vremennykh let; Пóвість врéм'яних літ Povist' vremjanykh Gnezdovo or Gnyozdovo (Гнёздово is an archeological site located near the village of Gnyozdovo in Smolensk Oblast, Russia The Krivichi (Крывічы Kryvičý Кривичи krʲivʲi'tɕi was one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries Events By Place Europe Carloman King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother Oleg of Novgorod ( Slavic: Олег Old Norse: Helgi, Khazarian, possibly Helgu) was a Varangian prince (or konung The town was first attested two decades earlier, when the Varangian chieftains Askold and Dir, while on their way to Kiev, decided against messing with Smolensk on account of its large size and population. The Varangians or Varyags ( Old Norse: Væringjar Greek: Βάραγγοι Βαριάγοι Váraggoi / Varyágoi, Ukrainian Askold ( Haskuldr in Old East Norse and Höskuldr in Old West Norse) and Dir ( Dyri in both dialects of Old Norse Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the
The first foreign writer to mention the city was the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus. Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Ζ΄ Πορφυρογέννητος In De Administrando Imperio (c. De Administrando Imperio is the commonly used Latin title of a scholarly work written in Greek, by the 10th-century Byzantine emperor 950) he described Smolensk as a key station on the Road from Varangians to Greeks. Events By Place Europe Duke Boleslav I of Bohemia makes peace with Otto I. The trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks (Путь «из варяг в греки» Put iz varyag v greki) was a Trade route, which connected Scandinavia The Rus sailed from the Baltics up the Western Dvina as far as they could then they pulled their boats out onto the ground and dragged them along to the upper Dnieper. Rus’ (Русь rusʲ Русичи Русы are an ancient people whose name survives in the cognates Russians, Rusyns, and Ruthenians The Baltic states (Balti riigid Baltijas valstis Baltijos valstybės or Baltic countries are three countries in Northern Europe, all members of the The Daugava or Western Dvina (Daugava Западная Двина́ (Zapadnaya Dvina Заходняя Дзвiна za'xodnʲaja dzʲvʲi'na Dźwina Düna Väina Portage refers to the practice of carrying a Canoe or other Boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route (such as Rapids or a Waterfall For the rocket see Dnepr rocket. For other uses see Dnieper (disambiguation. It was in Smolensk that they supposedly mended any leaks and small holes that might have appeared in their boats from being dragged on the ground and they used tar to do that, hence the city name. Tar is a viscous black Liquid derived from the Destructive distillation of organic matter
The Principality of Smolensk was founded in 1054. The Principality of Smolensk (eventually Grand Principality of Smolensk) was a Kievan Rus lordship between the eleventh- and fifteenth-century Due to its central position amid Russian lands, the city developed rapidly. By the end of the 12th century the princedom was one of the strongest in Eastern Europe, so that Smolensk dynasty frequently controlled the Kievan throne. Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Kievan Rus′ (Ки́евская Русь romanised: Kievskaya Rus', rusʲ also written as Kyivan Rus′ (Ки́ївська Русь or Kievan Numerous churches were built in the city at that time, including the church of Sts Peter and Paul (1146, reconstructed to its presumed original appearance after WWII) and church of St John the Baptist (1180, also partly rebuilt). A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. Saint John the Baptist ( heb. Jochanan ben Sacharja, arab. يحيى Yaḥyā or يوحنا Yūḥanna, aram. The most remarkable church in the city is called Svirskaya (1197, still standing); it was admired by contemporaries as the most beautiful structure to the east of Kiev. Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the
Between Russia, Lithuania, and Poland
Although spared by the Mongol armies in 1240, Smolensk paid tribute to the Golden Horde, gradually becoming a pawn in the long struggle between Lithuania and Muscovy. This article refers to the medieval Turkic state For the Irish rock band see The Golden Horde (band. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое княжество Московское was a medieval Russian polity centered on Moscow between 1340 and The last sovereign monarch of Smolensk was George of Smolensk; during his disastrous reign the city was taken by Vytautas of Lithuania on three occasions, in 1395, 1404 and 1408. Yury Svyatoslavich or Georgy Svyatoslavovich (Юрий Святославович or Георгий Святославович was the last sovereign ruler of Smolensk Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian:; Vitaŭt; Latin: Alexander Vitoldus; Witold Ruthenian: Vitovt; c After the city's incorporation into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, some Smolensk boyars (e. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje This article refers to the aristocratic title of boyar. For the Boyar caste of India, see Boyar (caste. g. , the Sapiehas) moved to Vilnius; descendants of the ruling princes (e. The Sapieha ( Belarusian: Сапега; Lithuanian Sapiega) is a Polish - Lithuanian princely family descending from the medieval g. , the Tatishchevs, Kropotkins, Mussorgskys, Viazemskis) fled to Moscow. Mussorgsky (Му́соргские the name of an old Russian noble family which is one of the branches of rich Boyar family of Monastyrev, descendants Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of
With a population of tens of thousands of people, Smolensk was probably the largest city in 15th-century Lithuania. Three Smolensk regiments proved decisive during the Battle of Grunwald against the Teutonic knights. The Battle of Grunwald (or 1st Battle of Tannenberg) took place on 15 July 1410 with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. It was a severe blow to Lithuania when the city was retaken by Vasili III of Russia in 1514. Vasili III Ivanovich (Василий III Иванович, also Basil) ( March 25[[ 479]] – December 3[[ 533]] Moscow was the Grand Prince of Moscow To commemorate this event, the tsar founded the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow and dedicated it to the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk. Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. Novodevichy Convent, also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery (Новоде́вичий монасты́рь Богоро́дице-Смоле́нский An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. The Hodegetria ( Οδηγήτρια, literally "She who shows the way" Russian Одигитрия is the Iconography depicting the Theotokos
In order to repel future Polish-Lithuanian attacks, Boris Godunov made it his priority to heavily fortify the city. Boris Fyodorovich Godunov (Бори́с Фёдорович Годуно́в (c The stone kremlin constructed in 1597–1602 is the largest in Russia. View01jpg|thumb|right|250px|Remains of the Kolomna Kremlin]] Kremlin (Кремль Kreml) is the Russian word for "fortress" "citadel" or "castle" It features remarkably thick walls and numerous watch-towers. Heavy fortifications didn't prevent the fortress from being taken by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1611 after a long 20-month siege, during the Time of Troubles and Dimitriads. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic The Siege of Smolensk, known as the Smolensk Defense in Russia ( Смоленская оборона in Russian) lasted 20 months between For the Dungeons & Dragons plotline see Time of Troubles (Forgotten Realms. Weakened Muscovy ceded temporarily Smolensk land to the Commonwealth in the Truce of Deulino and for the next forty three years it was the capital of the Smoleńsk Voivodship. See also List of treaties Smolensk Voivodeship ( Lithuanian: Smolensko vaivadija, Polish: Województwo Smoleńskie) was a unit of administrative division and local
To recapture the city, Muscovy launched the so-called "Smolensk War" against the Commonwealth in 1632. The Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое княжество Московское was a medieval Russian polity centered on Moscow between 1340 and The Smolensk War (1632–1634 was a conflict fought between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia. After a heavy defeat at the hands of king Wladislaw IV, the city remained in Polish-Lithuanian hands. This article is about the 17th century king of Poland For another person sometimes mentioned as Wladislaw IV of Poland in works of reference see the 14th century Władysław In 1632, the Uniate bishop Lew Kreuza built his apartments in Smolensk; they were later converted into the Orthodox church of St. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Barbara. The hostilities resumed in 1654 when the Commonwealth was being rocked by the Uprising of Ukrainian Cossacks and Swedish invasion. The Russo-Polish War of 1654–1667, also called the War for Ukraine, was the last major conflict between the Tsardom of Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The term Khmelnytsky Uprising (also Khmel'nyts'kyi/Chmielnicki Uprising or Khmelnytsky / Chmielnicki Rebellion) refers to a Rebellion or The Deluge ( Polish: Potop, full Polish name is Potop Szwedzki Deluge''' is the name commonly assigned in the History After another siege, on September 23, 1654 Smolensk was recaptured by Russia as the Polish garrison left the city. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English In the 1667 Treaty of Andrusovo the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth finally renounced its claims to the Smolensk. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic
Modern history
Smolensk has been a special place to Russians for many reasons, not least for the fact that the local cathedral housed one of the most venerated Orthodox icons, attributed to St Luke. The Cathedral of the Assumption, dominating the city of Smolensk from the lofty Cathedral Hill has been the principal church of the Smolensk bishopric for 800 Luke the Evangelist ( Hebrew: לוּקָֻא Greek: Loukás) was an early Christian leader who is said by tradition to be the author of Building the new Cathedral of the Assumption was a great project which took more than a century to complete. The Cathedral of the Assumption, dominating the city of Smolensk from the lofty Cathedral Hill has been the principal church of the Smolensk bishopric for 800 Despite slowly sinking into economic backwater, Smolensk was still valued by tsars as a key fortress defending the route to Moscow. Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of It was made the capital of Guberniya in 1708. Guberniya (губе́рния) (also gubernia, guberniia, gubernya) was a major administrative subdivision of Imperial Russia, usually Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
In August 1812 two of the largest armies ever assembled clashed in Smolensk. Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year During the hard-fought battle, described by Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace, Napoleon entered the city. The First Battle of Smolensk took place on August 17 1812, between 175000 men of the Grande Armée under Napoleon Bonaparte and 130000 Leo Tolstoy, or Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy ( –) (Лев Никола́евич Толсто́й, was a Russian Writer widely regarded War and Peace (Война и мир Voyna i mir) is a Novel by Leo Tolstoy, first published from 1865 to 1869 in Russkii Vestnik Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Total losses were estimated at 30,000 men. Apart from other military monuments, downtown Smolensk features the Eagles monument, unveiled in 1912 to mark the centenary of Napoleon's Russian campaign. The French invasion of Russia in 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars.
Immediately after the October Revolution, when Belarus proper was still occupied by German forces, Smolensk (Belarusian: Смаленск, Smalensk) became a notable centre of Belarusian political life, although remaining administratively a part of Russia. The October Revolution (Октябрьская революция Oktyabrskaya revolyutsiya) also known as the Soviet Revolution The Belarusian language, or Belorussian,(беларуская мова BGN/PCGN: byelaruskaya mova, Scientific: belaruskaja mova In 1918, German occupational forces declared Smolensk Governorate a constituent of the Belarusian People's Republic, which only lasted less than a year. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Smolensk Governate (Смоле́нская губе́рния or Government of Smolensk was a Governorate ( Guberniya) of the The Belarusian People's Republic (Белару́ская Наро́дная Рэспу́бліка bʲeɫa'ruskaja na'rodnaja rɛs'publʲika translit On January 2, 1919 the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in Smolensk, but its government moved to Minsk as soon as the Polish forces had been driven out of the Belarusian capital several months later. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (abbreviated as Byelorussian SSR or BSSR) (Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка Minsk (Мінск mʲinsk Минск mʲinsk is the Capital and largest city in Belarus, situated on the Svislach and Niamiha rivers
During World War II Smolensk was again chosen by history as a stage for one of its greater battles, the Battle of Smolensk. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Battle of Smolensk was a successful encirclement operation by Army Group Centre 's 2nd Panzer Army led by Heinz Guderian and the 3rd Panzer Army The first Soviet counteroffensive against the German army was launched here in August 1941. The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Over 93% of the city was destroyed during the fighting. The ancient icon was lost forever. It is no surprise that the title of Hero City was bestowed on Smolensk after the war. Hero City ( Russian: город-герой gorod-geroy, Ukrainian: Місто-герой Misto-heroy) is a Soviet Honorary Smolensk is served by Smolensk Airport and Smolensk air base. Smolensk Airport (also Smolensk South) is an airport in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located 4 km south of Smolensk. Smolensk Military (also Smolensk) is an air base in Smolensk Oblast, Russia located 4 km north of Smolensk.
After the Germans captured the city in 1941, they found the intact archives of Smolensk Oblast Committee of the Communist Party, the so-called Smolensk Archive. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Smolensk Archive is the name given to the archives of Smolensk Oblast Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which were captured intact by the army of The archive was moved to Germany, and a significant part of it eventually ended up in the United States, providing Western scholars and intelligence specialists with unique information on the local workings of the Soviet government during its first two decades. The archives were returned to Russia by the United States in 2002 [1][2]
- The prominent Jewish 19th Century novelist Peretz Smolenskin was of a family originating from Smolensk, as evident from the name - though he himself was born near Mogilev. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Peretz ( Peter) Smolenskin (פרץ (פטרוס סמולנסקין 1842-1885 a Russian Jewish Novelist, was born near Mogilev
Sister cities
Tulle, France (1981)
Hagen, Germany (1985)
Colorado Springs, Colorado (1993)
Other pictures
- A wall of Smolensk Kremlin in 1912
- 2-rouble coin dedicated to Smolensk, 2000
External links
- Smolensk Youth information portal (Russian)
- Travel to Smolensk (English)
- Smolensk Wiki (Russian)
- Basketball in Smolensk (Russian)
- Homepage of the Smolensk fortress (Russian)
- Some photos of the Smolensk fortress
- More photos
- Historic images of Smolensk
- Smolensk on Wikimapia
- Smolensk for tourists (Russian)
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