Smolensk

Smolensk (Russian: ????????;, Belarusian: ????????) is a city in western Russia, located on the Dniepr river at {{coor d|54.79|N|32.05|E|}}, administrative center of Smolensk Oblast. Its population in 2003 is 351,100.

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. It was taken by the Vytautas the Great in 1395, 1404 and 1408. After the city's incorporation into Grand Duchy of Lithuania, some Smolensk boyars (e.g., the Sapiehas) moved to Vilnius; descendants of the ruling princes (e.g., the Tatischevs, Kropotkins, Mussorgskis, Viazemskis) fled to Moscow.

Related Topics:
Mongol - 1240 - Golden Horde - Lithuania - Muscovy - Vytautas the Great - 1395 - 1404 - 1408 - Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Boyars - Sapieha - Vilnius - Tatischev - Kropotkin - Mussorgski - Viazemski - Moscow

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With a population of tens of thousands of people, Smolensk was probably the largest city in the 15th-century Lithuania. Three Smolensk regiments proved decisive during the Battle of Grunwald against the Teutonic knights. It was a severe blow when the city was recaptured by Vasili III of Russia in 1514. To commemorate this event, the tsar founded the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow and dedicated it to the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.

Related Topics:
Battle of Grunwald - Teutonic knights - Vasili III of Russia - 1514 - Tsar - Novodevichy Convent - Icon - Our Lady of Smolensk

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In order to repel future Polish-Lithuanian attacks, Boris Godunov made it his priority to heavily fortify the city. The stone kremlin constructed in 1597–1602 is the largest in Russia. 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. Weakened Muscovy ceded temporarily Smolensk land to the Commonwealth in the Truce of Deulino and for the next fifty years it was the capital of the Smole?sk Voivodship. To recapture the city, Muscovy launched the so-called "Smolensk War" against the Commonwealth in 1632. After a heavy defeat at the hands of king Wladislaw IV, the city remained in Polish-Lithuanian hands. It was finally occupied by Russian forces in 1654, when the Commonwealth was being rocked by the Uprising of Ukrainian Cossacks and Swedish invasion. Poland-Lithuania finally renounced its claims to the city in the 1667 Treaty of Andrusovo.

Related Topics:
Polish-Lithuanian - Boris Godunov - Kremlin - 1597 - 1602 - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - 1611 - Time of Troubles - Dimitriads - Truce of Deulino - Smole?sk Voivodship - Muscovy - Smolensk War - 1632 - Wladislaw IV - 1654 - Uprising of Ukrainian Cossacks - Swedish invasion - 1667 - Treaty of Andrusovo

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