Mstsislaw

Mstislaw[lower-alpha 1] or Mstislavl (Belarusian: Мсціслаў, romanized: Mscislaŭ,[lower-alpha 2] IPA: [msʲt͡sʲiˈsɫau̯] ⓘ; Russian: Мстиславль, IPA: [msʲtʲɪˈslavlʲ];[2][3] Polish: Mścisław, Lithuanian: Mstislavlis) is a town in Mogilev Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Mstsislaw District. In 2009, its population was 10,804.[4] As of 2023, it has a population of 10,069.[1]

Mstsislaw
Мсціслаў (Belarusian)
Мстиславль (Russian)
Mstislavl
The trading arcade, 19th century
The trading arcade, 19th century
Flag of Mstsislaw
Flag
Coat of arms of Mstsislaw
Coat of arms
Mstsislaw is located in Belarus
Mstsislaw
Mstsislaw
Location of Mstsislaw, shown within Mogilev Region
Coordinates: 54°1′N 31°43′E
CountryBelarus
RegionMogilev Region
DistrictMstsislaw District
First mentioned1156
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total10,069
Time zoneUTC+3 (MSK)
License plate6

History

Mstislavl was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle in 1156. It was initially a part of the Principality of Smolensk, but had become the capital of the Principality of Mstislavl by 1180. In the Middle Ages, it was the seat of the Mstislavsky princely family. Pyotr Mstislavets is believed to have been born in Mstislavl.

In 1377, it was joined to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by own free will. The first Lithuanian duke of Mstislavl was Karigaila, brother of Jogaila. The town remained part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth under the Mścisław Voivodship until the Partitions of Poland in 1772.

Buildings of historic interest include the Carmelite church (1637, renovated 1746–50) and the Jesuit cathedral (1640, renovated 1730–38, turned into an Orthodox cathedral in 1842).

Jews had a historic presence in the town. In 1939, there were 2,067 Jews living in Mstislavl which represented almost 20% of the local population. The German army occupied the town in July 1941. In early October, they killed 30 elderly Jews. On October 15, 1941, together with the local police, they murdered from 850 to 1,300 Jews.[5]

It is the birthplace of Jewish historian and writer Simon Dubnow, Jewish statesman and Communist politician Yakov Chubin, and expressionist artist Abraham A. Manievich, among others.

  • Jesuit Collegium building, from the 17th century
    Jesuit Collegium building, from the 17th century
  • Mstislaw Male Gymnasium, from the beginning of the 19th century
    Mstislaw Male Gymnasium, from the beginning of the 19th century
  • Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, built in the 19th century on the foundation of an earlier Catholic Cathedral
    Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, built in the 19th century on the foundation of an earlier Catholic Cathedral
  • Orthodox Church
    Orthodox Church
  • Ruins of the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
    Ruins of the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
  • Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Notes
  1. BGN/PCGN romanization.
  2. Official transliteration.

References
  1. "Численность населения на 1 января 2023 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2022 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа". belsat.gov.by. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. "Official website of the district" (in Russian). Mstsislaw District. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  3. "Website of Mogilyov Region administration" (in Russian). Mogilyov Oblast Administration. 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. Численность населения областей и районов: Могилевская (PDF) (in Russian). Национальный статистический комитет Республики Беларусь. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  5. "YAHAD - IN UNUM". www.yahadmap.org. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
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