GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA

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The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) was a European state that lasted from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and Austria. The state was founded by the Lithuanians, a polytheistic nation born from several united Baltic tribes from Aukštaitija.

The Grand Duchy expanded to include large portions of the former Kievan Rus' and other neighbouring states, including what is now Belarus and parts of Ukraine, Latvia, Poland and Russia. At its greatest extent, in the 15th century, it was the largest state in Europe. It was a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, with great diversity in languages, religion, and cultural heritage. Continue reading in Wikipedia

Administrative division of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Based on Wiki.

The administrative division of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was finally formed in the middle of the 16th century, when the state was divided into Voivodeships (Vaivadija—LT, Województwo —PL) and counties (Pavietas—LT, Powiat—PL), following the example of Poland.

GDL before the 15th century

In the 13th century, after Mindaugas united the Duchy of Lithuania, it consisted of several dozen Lithuanian and Aukštaitija (the Highlands) territories: Upytė, Neris, Lietuva, Nalšia, etc. In the 15th and 16th centuries, they became important in forming administrative units—parishes and counties.

After the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the expansion of the state, various Rus' principalities were included in its composition. They were included as peculiar administrative units (in this way, the Duchy of Lithuania also became one of them). These are the so-called partial principalities. Most often, local (or Lithuanian) princely dynasties remained in power in them (for example, in the case of the Duchy of Polotsk, Smolensk, Volhynia, Chernigov, Kiev).

In the middle of the 14th century, the Duchy of Lithuania, which had grown greatly, split into two separate principalities—Trakai (which also included Samogitia) and Vilnius. In the second half of the 14th century, counties began to be established (e.g., Paštuva, Trakai, Veliuona, Vilnius).

This annexation of partial principalities continued until the first half of the 15th century. At that time, the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania expanded to its maximum. In addition to the Ruthenian principalities in the lands of Polotsk, Chernigov, Kiev, Smolensk, and Volhynia, the Grand Duchy also ruled the Tatar lands in the Great Dykra. Its suzerainty was also recognized by a group of small principalities in the east - the so-called Oka Upper Principalities.

Reforms in the 15th-16th centuries

At the end of the 14th century, to centralize governance, the principalities were gradually abolished, and Lithuanian governors were appointed. In this way, they became sub-districts (or prefectures) and directly belonged to the Duchy of Lithuania. Already in 1390, the Polotsk prefecture was created. Later, the same happened with the Smolensk, Vitebsk and other principalities located mainly in the territory of present-day Belarus.

Vytautas the Great initiated administrative reforms at the beginning of the 15th century. Following the example of Poland, the old feudal principalities began to be transformed into voivodeships, but the process was slow. In 1413, 2 "Lithuanian" voivodeships were established - Trakai voivodeship and Vilnius voivodeship, while Smolensk voivodeship was established only in 1508. Then, counties (pavietai) subordinate to the voivodeships began to be established. After these early reforms, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisted of 9 voivodeships: Trakai, Vilnius, Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Chernigov, Kiev, Volhynia and Eastern Podolia.

During the second half of the 15th century and the first half of the 16th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania lost many territories: the eastern partial principalities passed to Moscow's side. As a result, most of the territories of the Chernigov and Smolensk lands were lost.

During the territorial, administrative, noble court and political reforms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1564–1566, the administrative structure of the state was finally established: all principalities were abolished, new voivodeships were formed (the Vilnius voivodeship was significantly reduced during the reforms), and they were divided into counties. Some counties were approximately equal to the older village, while others included several villages. They became a self-governing, judicial, political and military unit of the nobility. The district had a land court, a castle court, a sejm, a marshal, a sub-cabinet, a flagman, a tax collector, and from 1793 a castellan.

1569–1793

In 1569, when the Union of Lublin was formed, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania lost about a third of its territory, i.e. four of its southern and western voivodeships (Volhynia Voivodeship, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Bratislav Voivodeship, Kiev Voivodeship), which passed to the Kingdom of Poland.

From 1569 to 1772, a stable system of voivodeships of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was established, and their borders changed little. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisted of 9 voivodeships (22 counties) and the Samogitian eldership. True, one of the voivodeships, Smolensk Voivodeship, was only nominal for a long time - the Moscow Duchy governed its territories. Despite this, officials were appointed to the voivodeship.

From 1589, the Livonian Voivodeship, the Duchy of Courland, and Semigallia became vassal possessions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland. The Piltene County, part of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, was directly subordinate to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

1772-1795

After the First Partition (annexation by the Russian Empire) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1772, 7 voivodeships, two (2) duchies, and 22 counties remained in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1790, the Vitebsk Voivodeship was restored (center—Cholopeničai). In November 1791, the Law on Administrative-Territorial Division was adopted, according to which the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was divided into 10 voivodeships and 34 counties.

After the Second Partition of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, only the Samogitian Eldership and Trakai Voivodeship remained in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as parts of Vilnius, Novgorod, and Brest Voivodes. In November 1793, the Grodno Seimas adopted a new Law on Administrative Division of Lithuania, which divided the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into eight (8) voivodeships and 24 counties. Several new voivodeships were created based on old counties.

In 1795, the entire administrative system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was abolished. It was replaced by the system of governorates of the Russian Empire, and in Užnemunė - by the system of Prussian provinces.

— Vilnius Voivodeship —

Established in 1413. From its part, the Minsk and Novgorod voivodeships were formed. In 1791, a large part of the territory was lost. In 1793, the Breslav voivodeship was separated.

Vilnius (Wilno) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1565 as part of Vilnius Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Vilniaus apskritis.

Ashmyany (Ašmena, Oszmiany) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

The Region existed since 1566 as part of Vilnius Voivodeship, Lithuania. Later, it was moved from Lithuania to Belarus and back again. Now, it is part of Belarus.

Braslaw (Breslauja, Brasław County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1566 as part of Vilnius Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it is part of Belarus.

Lida (Lyda) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1566 as part of Vilnius Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it is part of Belarus.

Vilkomir (Vilkmergė, Ukmergė, Wiłkomierz) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1565 as part of Vilnius Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Ukmergės apskritis.

Zavileyka (Užneris, Zawilejka) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Separated northern part of Ashmyany county in 1775. Now, it is split between Lithuania and Belarus.

Eyshishkes (Eišiškės, Ejszyszki) County (žemė, apskritis, pavietas, powiat, gmina)

Separated northern part of Lida county in 1791. Now, it is split between Lithuania and Belarus.

— Trakai Voivodeship —

Established in 1413. From its part, the Podlaskie, Novgorod and Brest voivodeships were formed. In 1793, the Merke and Grodno voivodeships were separated.

Trakai (Troki) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1413 as part of Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Trakų apskritis.

Kaunas (Kowno) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1564 as part of Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Kauno apskritis.

Upite (Upytė, Panevėžys, Upita) County (apskritis, pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1565 as part of Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Panevėžio apskritis.

Merkine (Merkinė, Merecz) County (pavietas, powiat)

Established in 1791 as part of Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Alytaus apskritis.

Prienai (Preny) County (žemė, pavietas, powiat, ziemia, gmina)

Established in 1791 as part of Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuania. Now, it remains as a part of Lithuania, Kauno apskritis.

Grodno (Gardinas, Hrodna) County (pavietas, powiat)

Included in Trakai Voivodeship since 1413. In 1793, it was made into Voivodeship. Now it is part of Belarus.

— Samogitia Eldership —

Established in 1413. From it, the Samogitian Voivodeship was formed in 1793.

— Volyn (Volynia, Volhynian) Voivodeship —

Established in 1464. In 1569 it passed to the Kingdom of Poland.

— Kiev (Kievan) Voivodeship —

Established in 1471. In 1569 it passed to the Kingdom of Poland.

— Polotsk (Polatsk, Polock) Voivodeship —

Established in 1504. In 1773, it lost most of its territory, which was transferred to Russia. The center was moved to Usache. It was abolished in 1793.

— Novahrudak (Nowogrodek0 Voivodeship —

Established in 1507. In 1791, it lost most of its territory, which fell to Russia.

— Vitebsk (Viciebsk) Voivodeship —

Established in 1511. In 1773, it lost almost all of its territory, which fell to Russia. It nominally survived until 1793.

— Polesie (Podlaskie) Voivodeship—

Established in 1514. In 1569 it passed to the Kingdom of Poland.

— Livonian (Inflanty) Voivodeship —

Established in 1561. In 1772 it fell to Russia.

— Braslav (Bracław) Voivodeship —

Established in 1564. In 1569 it passed to the Kingdom of Poland.

— Brest Litovsk Voivodeship —

Established in 1566. In 1791, it lost part of its territory, which went to Russia.

— Minsk Voivodeship —

Established in 1566. In 1791 it fell to Russia.

• Locality: Hainiai Eldership, Minsk Vo., GDL

— Mstislavl (Mstsislaw) Voivodeship —

Established in 1569. In 1772 it fell to Russia.

— Smolensk Voivodeship —

Established in 1608. 1514-1611 ir po 1667 m. teritorijas valdė Rusija. Nominaliai išliko iki 1793 m.

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Вели́кое кня́жество Лито́вское — восточноевропейское государство, существовавшее с середины XIII века по 1795 год на территории современных Белоруссии (полностью), Литвы (за исключением Клайпедского края), Украины (бо́льшая часть, до 1569 года), России (юго-западные земли, включая Смоленск, Брянск и Курск), Польши (Подляшье, до 1569 года), Латвии (частично, после 1561 года), Эстонии (частично, с 1561 по 1629 годы) и Молдавии (левобережная часть Приднестровья, до 1569 года). Обширные земли Руси, попавшие под власть Великого княжества Литовского и составлявшие львиную долю его территории, именуются Литовской Русью.

С 1385 года находилось в личной унии с Королевством Польским, а с 1569 года — в сеймовой Люблинской унии в составе федеративной Речи Посполитой. В XV—XVI веках Великое княжество Литовское — соперник Великого княжества Московского в борьбе за господство на восточнославянских землях и в целом в Восточной Европе. Прекратило существование после третьего раздела Речи Посполитой в 1795 году. К 1815 году вся территория бывшего княжества вошла в состав Российской империи.

Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie (lit. Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė, biał. Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае, rus. Великое князство Литовъское, łac. Magnus Ducatus Lituaniae), potocznie Litwa[3] – państwo powstałe przez zjednoczenie plemiennych księstw litewskich w roku 1240 przez Mendoga. Od 1316 do 1569 pod władzą dziedzicznych wielkich książąt litewskich z dynastii Giedyminowiczów (i jej bocznej linii Jagiellonów). Od 1385 w unii z Polską. W latach 1569–1795 jeden z dwóch równoprawnych członów Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodów. Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie obejmowało obszar dzisiejszej Litwy i Białorusi, a w największym zasięgu terytorialnym (XIV–XVI wiek) również środkowej i, częściowo, wschodniej i południowej Ukrainy, zachodnich kresów Rosji, Podlasia oraz skrawków Mołdawii.

Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае (лац.: Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae, скарочана ВКЛ), поўная назва — Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае, Ру́скае, Жамо́йцкае і і́ншых зяме́ль — еўрапейская дзяржава, якая існавала (паводле літоўскага гісторыка Томаса Баранаўскаса) з канца 12-га стагоддзя[1] ці (паводле беларускіх і іншых літоўскіх гісторыкаў) з 1240-х гг.[2][3][4][5] да 1795 года[6]. Генезіс дзяржавы не мае агульнапрынятай канцэпцыі, а выклікае дыскусіі[7][8][9][10][11][12]. На ранніх этапах існавання новай дзяржавы і ў 14—16-м стст. тэрыторыя ВКЛ была значна пашырана за кошт уключэння балцкіх, славянскіх ды іншых земляў, у выніку чаго яна ахапіла амаль усю сучасную Літву і ўсю сучасную Беларусь, а таксама часткі сучасных Украіны, Расіі, Польшчы, Латвіі, Эстоніі і Малдовы. У час свайго росквіту ў 15-м стагоддзі з'яўлялася найбуйнейшай дзяржавай у Еўропе[13]. Вялікае Княства Літоўскае было шматнацыянальнай і шматканфесійнай дзяржавай з вялікай

Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė – XIII–XVIII a. gyvavusi feodalinė valstybė. Nuo XIII a. vidurio apėmė beveik visą dabartinę Lietuvą ir dalį dab. Baltarusijos, nuo XIV a. vid. – beveik visą dabartinę Lietuvą ir visą dabartinę Baltarusiją, nuo XIV a. II pusės iki 1569 m. – didžiąją dabartinę Ukrainos dalį, taip pat dalį dabartinės Rusijos (Smolenskas, Brianskas, Kurskas), dabartinės Lenkijos (Palenkė), po 1561 m. – dalį dab. Latvijos ir Estijos. XV a. tai buvo didžiausia Europos valstybė.