Minsk — ancient Russian city in Northwest edge, but time of its basis is precisely not known — the first annalistic news about this city concern to half XI century when Minsk belonged to the grandson of prince Izjaslava of Vladimirovich, to Polotsk prince Vseslav Brjachislavichu — to well-known «magician». In 1066 Vseslav Brjachislavich has unexpectedly attacked Pskov and has plundered Novgorod. In revenged oneself for him great duke Kiev Izyaslav with brothers Svyatoslav Chernigov and Vsevolod Pereyaslavskiy has moved on the ground Polotsk and has besieged the city of Minsk. Vseslav Brjachislavich was at this time near Pskov, having learned about осаде cities, it has come back to Minsk, but last has been already plundered, and Vseslav Brjachislavich has artfully been captured and brought to Kiev. This event is described in «the Word about shelf's Igorev».
Vseslav has died in 1101. To it inherited six sons, and the Polotsk princedom was shattered. Prince Gleb Vseslavichu managed Minsk. From now on Minsk has become capital of a special specific princedom, and Gleb Vseslavich — its first prince.
In the beginning of reigning of Gleb have armed on him dukes Oleg, Yaropolk and David and have besieged Minsk, but success had no. In 1115 — 1116 Vladimir Monomah itself has gone to Minsk, but Gleb has obeyed and thus has kept behind itself Minsk. In following year during an attack Gleb has burnt the city of Slutsk belonged then duke's Yaroslavich. Vladimir Monomah has again moved to Minsk, has taken and has devastated some cities, and Gleb has been compelled to beg it about the world.
In 1129 with exile of many princes Polotsk of their patrimonial possession the Minsk princedom has been attached to Kiev and together with Polotsk is given by grand duke Mstislavom to the son Izyaslav.
Since 1151 year Rastislav, after exile from Polotsk Rogvoloda, son-in-law Izjaslava, has been called by inhabitants of Polotsk for management of city against what grand duke Izjaslav nothing had, and Minsk has got to second son Gleb Volodarju, but for a short while: in 1158 Rostislav has been expelled, and a place it has borrowed again Rogvolod, and it was an occasion to new long war. After Rostislav's death Minsk owned Volodar.
Thus, within XII century Minsk had no calmness and passed from hands in hands of descendants of Gleb who is constantly at enmity among themselves. After Volodar's death which most other princes resisted to Lithuania, Minsk has fallen under authority of this of last, but, possibly, descendants of former Russian princes were kept here still long enough as in the annals in the beginning of XIV century it is mentioned about dukes of Minsk which undoubtedly were in the perfect dependence on the Lithuanian princes. After that connections to Lithuania Minsk has lost the former value.
The further history of the Minsk princedom, that is from the end of XII century and within all XIII century, became extremely dark, and it is difficult to understand it as annals mention Minsk occasionally and casually, but possible to consider probable, that after death of prince Volodarja, the son of the Cornflower, the owner of Minsk became the most outstanding from the Lithuanian princes Mendovg, then its son Ginvil and grandson Boris.
In XIII century Minsk has undergone to an attack of nomads under leadership Koydan which, however, have been crushed. In XIV century Minsk was in possession of princes from house of Gedimin, and grand duke Jagajlo has given its brother Skirgayl. In XV century the Minsk princedom was a part of Poland-Lithuanian possession. In 1413 at drawing up of the certificate about connection of Lithuania with Poland Minsk has been appointed by the main city Minsk of military, the most extensive as into its structure entered and Mozirsk and Rechitsky cities. From time of the certificate growth of city has renewed also. In 1441 great duke Lithuanian Kazimir Yagelonchik has included the city of Minsk in number of the cities, used special privileges, and successor Kazimira Alexander Jagellonchik the letter of 1496 has given Minsk «at eternal o'clock the right German which is called maytborskoe» (Magdebourg).
In general, at this time Minsk was strong and rich city — two greater roads through Minsk — northern through ancient Logozjsk (Logoysk), Borisov, Orsha, Smolensk to Moscow and southeast through Slutsk to Volhynia and further to Tsargrad, and on the West through Brest and further — were the main arteries of Minsk and promoted enrichment of city.
In the beginning of XVIII century decline of city is again observed — it has been some times besieged that by Russian Swedes and every time paid to winners enormous taxes, and besides the main tribunal has been translated in city Grodno later. At empress Ekaterina II Minsk and all Belarus has been attached to Russia.
In1796 year the former arms of city of Minsk, representing in the blue sky mam's god, surrounded by angels, with connection to it of the State Emblem has been approved also, and also has been appointed to the Minsk orthodox faculty by bishop Iov Potyomkin.
In 1798 in Minsk the Catholic diocese which first bishop was Isakov Dederko has been opened. In 1802 Minsk was visited by emperor Alexander I and was here on the ball, arranged nobility in a hall of house Гейдукевича at a corner of the Cathedral area and the School lane.
In 1812 on June, 26th Minsk has been borrowed by the French armies. Having borrowed I Shall wag, Napoleon aspired to separate Russian armies. With this purpose it has sent marshal Davu with the five-ten-thousand case to Minsk which should block Bagration's to armies the ways leading to the first Russian army. Having learned about it, Bagration on June, 23rd has moved also to Minsk and on June, 24th there was already at a place a World, but the further movement was dangerous, as Minsk already had strong enemy groups through which there was no opportunity to make the way to city.
All Russian population of Minsk hasty sought safety in flight, and peasants with the property have disappeared in woods or ran inside of Russia, devastating all on the way on which have then passed the French armies. As if to Poles they did not think to run from city and it is quiet, with pleasure expected the Frenchmen, seeing in them the future liberators, and those establishments where the Polish element prevailed, any measures to departure from Minsk did not undertake, and, on the contrary, have prepared to solemn meeting frenchmens.
On October, 7th Napoleon has seen, that business is lost and has acted from Moscow, and in the beginning of November its army, after a lot of defeats, hungry, pursued as Russian armies, in the disorder approached to borders of the Minsk province. At the same time from a southwest from Brest the Danube army Chichagova moved to Minsk, and it was possible to think, that within the limits of Minsk, provinces campaign by a capture of Napoleon in a captivity will end. Surprise of the population of the Minsk province and Minsk when close Nesvizga there was a Russian advance party column of Lambert was unusually great, and behind it the main forces of army Chichagova moved also. Meanwhile Napoleon, having received authentic data on intention of Russian to take Minsk, has ordered to marshal Udino to borrow Boriss and to hasten to Minsk. The confusion of the population in Minsk was awful.
In the following three days Napoleon has made transition through Berezina and, having lost here up to 50 thousand army, has had time to leave with the pity rests of former army, and hoped to outstrip Russian armies in Minsk, apparently from the bulletin in Molodechno. However it should change the plan because of prosecutions by its Russian army. 20 November Napoleon has put forward the avant guarde from Slonim to Nesvizg, and also has directed great strengths to Minsk, but already on November, 23rd, having charged army Mjuratu, has left from Smorgon.
After leaving armies of Napoleon Minsk represented a picture of full destruction: state establishments, orthodox churches, Catholic and uniates monasteries where there were shops, infirmaries and other have especially suffered. In general invasion of the Frenchmen has dearly managed to Minsk: the losses, caused to city the enemy, on that time were great, reaching almost 254 thousand roubles bank notes, and moreover and Russian armies has been put losses on 118 thousand roubles.
On December, 1st, 1830 owing to the Polish mutiny the Minsk province has been declared on the martial law and subordinated to prince N. A. Dolgorukov, the general-governor. The governor Minsk during with 1831 for 1835 was A.F. fon Drebush. The first year of its management in the Minsk province has responded the Polish revolt. The governor undertook reasonable measures to suppression of revolt. Has the same year reached the maximum pressure and a cholera brought on several years earlier in limits of the Minsk province. For struggle against a cholera infirmaries in cities and villages have been arranged. On July, 31st the same year rules of the sequester of the manors belonged persons, participated in revolt have been declared, and also the provincial commission in Minsk is founded for this purpose. Later the Polish names of offices and posts have been cancelled. In following year the martial law has been removed from the Minsk province and Russian is entered into office-work. In 1835 1 regulations about a residence of Jews have been approved by emperor Nikolay, and Minsk has been designated in feature of the Jewish settled way of life.
With 1836 for 1839 Minsk city a head was a merchant L. V. Deloac which has undertaken levelling the area carried the name of the New market where it is broken Alexandrovskiy park. This space looked like a quadrangle, growthen grass and covered by holes and ravines. On own means Delpac has made even a surface of the area and has surrounded with its maples, lindens and poplars. On this square till 1840th years on Sundays the tenders were made, and then they have been transferred for city.
1844 in Minsk the small theatre in the stone town hall which is located the Cathedral area has been arranged, and the school for an elementary education of maidens of poor estate is opened. In 1846 have been published in Minsk by the special book of the letter and the certificates of the Minsk province collected under the order of governor A. V. Semenov. Then in street Zaharevskoj the lutheran church on a place of the same church which have burned down in 1835 has been constructed.
In 1862 in Minsk the demonstrations which have served by the beginning of the second Polish revolt have been made, in following year in the Minsk province the martial law has been entered, and also have been taken measures for the prompt termination of obligatory attitudes between landowners and temporarily obliged peasants by the repayment of plots with assistance of the government.
Minsk — trading and rich enough city. It lays on a crossroads of two railways — Moscow-Brest and Libavo-Romensk and conducts mainly holiday trade, and almost all — trade is concentrated to sending of bread and wood materials on railways. On both roads send front wood and fire wood to southern cities of Russia, and also on Libav arsaw. To Moscow through Minsk there are metal products, the chemical goods, various grades of a yarn, a fabric and other. The factory industry of Minsk also has considerably increased: according to 1899, in the city of Minsk 47 factories and factories with quantity of workers in 1640 person were registered. Distilling manufacture, then tobacco and barmy, further tanning, tipoletogravskoe, soap-producing, brewing and flour-grinding is most of all developed in Minsk. …доход
