Barysau
Encyclopedia
Barysaw (population 150,700 as of 1999), also transliterated Barysau, is a city in Belarus
situated near the Berezina River
in the Minsk Voblast.
as being founded (as Borisov) in 1102 by Polotsk prince Boris Vseslavovich. During the next couple of centuries it was burned and then rebuilt slightly south of its original location.
At the end of thirteenth century it became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. In 1569 (after the Union of Lublin
) it became part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and then became part of the Russian Empire
in 1793 as a result of the Second Partition of Poland
).
On 22 January 1796 the town's arm of coats was established (decree #17435) by Stanislaw August, the top half containing the coat of arms of Minsk
, while the lower half had two stylized towers on a silver background with a passage between them and Saint Peter
above the towers holding a key in his hand. At that time, Borisow was an uyezd
town.
In 1812 Napoleon's troops were defeated while crossing the Berezina river
, with some of the action taking place at the nearby Hospital Heights. This event was reenacted by medieval military amateurs during town festivals. A cannon from the Napoleonic era is kept near town's museum.
In 1871, the railway between Brest
and Moscow
passed near Barysaw, and a station was built there. In 1900 the area around the station was annexed to Barysaw. In November 1917 the area became a part of the Soviet Union
but was occupied by Germany
and then Poland
from 1918 until 1920 after which the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was established.
During World War II
, Barysaw was occupied by Nazi Germany
from July 2, 1941, to July 1, 1944, and most of the city was destroyed. More than 33,000 people were killed in six death camps which were constructed around the town.
, the CIS
, and abroad. The railroad is still an important artery, but now it is powered by overhead electric lines. The largest factories, in no particular order, are:
Town is divided by river to Old and New parts connected by one bridge. Railway station, internation road, Ispolkom (ex-KPSS Gorispolkom), military staff and central place are in new part. As usual for this region, families live mostly in flats in large, modern apartment buildings, but there are some single-family homes on the outskirts, some of which do not yet have indoor plumbing. The water comes from an artesian well and is very clean and healthy.
are based in the city. They have won the Belarusian Premier League
six times, and competed in the UEFA Cup
and UEFA Champions League
.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
situated near the Berezina River
Berezina River
The Berezina is a river in Belarus and a tributary of the Dnieper River.The Berezina Preserve by the river is in the UNESCO list of Biosphere Preserves.-Historical significance:...
in the Minsk Voblast.
History
Barysaw is first mentioned in Laurentian CodexLaurentian Codex
Laurentian Codex or Laurentian Chronicle is a collection of chronicles that includes the oldest extant version of the Primary Chronicle and its continuations, mostly relating the events in Northern Russia ....
as being founded (as Borisov) in 1102 by Polotsk prince Boris Vseslavovich. During the next couple of centuries it was burned and then rebuilt slightly south of its original location.
At the end of thirteenth century it became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. In 1569 (after the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
) it became part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and then became part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1793 as a result of the Second Partition of Poland
Second Partition of Poland
The 1793 Second Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the second of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the War in Defense of the Constitution and the Targowica Confederation of 1792...
).
On 22 January 1796 the town's arm of coats was established (decree #17435) by Stanislaw August, the top half containing the coat of arms of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, while the lower half had two stylized towers on a silver background with a passage between them and Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
above the towers holding a key in his hand. At that time, Borisow was an uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
town.
In 1812 Napoleon's troops were defeated while crossing the Berezina river
Battle of Berezina
The Battle of Berezina took place November 26–29, 1812 between the French army of Napoleon, retreating after his invasion of Russia and crossing the Berezina , and the Russian armies under Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Wittgenstein and Admiral Pavel Chichagov. The battle ended with a mixed outcome...
, with some of the action taking place at the nearby Hospital Heights. This event was reenacted by medieval military amateurs during town festivals. A cannon from the Napoleonic era is kept near town's museum.
In 1871, the railway between Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
passed near Barysaw, and a station was built there. In 1900 the area around the station was annexed to Barysaw. In November 1917 the area became a part of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
but was occupied by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and then Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
from 1918 until 1920 after which the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was established.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Barysaw was occupied by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
from July 2, 1941, to July 1, 1944, and most of the city was destroyed. More than 33,000 people were killed in six death camps which were constructed around the town.
Industry
After the war Barysaw became a major industrial centre, and as of 2002 there are 41 large factories, whose goods are exported to RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
, and abroad. The railroad is still an important artery, but now it is powered by overhead electric lines. The largest factories, in no particular order, are:
- BATE (electricity automobile parts)
- AGU (avto-gidro-usilitel — power steeringPower steeringPower steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
in Russian) - Pharmaceutical plant (medpreparatov)
- Turbocompressors plant (agregatov)
- matchMatchA match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface...
factory (Borisovdrev)
Modern living
Authorities
- President of the Republic of Belarus Lukashenko January 9, 2009 has assigned Vladimir Miranovich to the position of Head of Regional Administration (Ispolkom).
- Head of City Administration, or Mayor, is Vassily Burgun
Media
- “Borisovskiye Novosti” newspaper: privately owned independent media on both languages. A recent scandal related to an attempt by the Mayor to stop distribution of the paper, recently overturned by a court
- Official “Adzinstva” newspaper in Belarussian.
- Local TV company "Skif" (website)
Notable residents
- Anatoly ChubaisAnatoly ChubaisAnatoly Borisovich Chubais is a Russian politician and business manager who was responsible for privatization in Russia as an influential member of Boris Yeltsin's administration. From 1998 to 2008 he was the head of the state owned electrical power monopoly RAO UES. The 2004 survey by...
, Soviet and Russian economist - Haim Laskov, the fifth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Force
- Andrei AramnauAndrei AramnauAndrei Nikolayevich Aramnau is a weightlifter and current world record holder from Belarus.He won silver in the 94 kg category at the 2006 Junior World Championships, with a total of 393 kg...
, a weightlifter and current world record holder - A Swiss songBeresinaliedThe Beresinalied, originally known as Unser Leben gleicht der Reise is a Lied composed by Friedrich Wilke after the 1792 poem die Nachtreise by Ludwig Giseke....
about the Battle of BerezinaBattle of BerezinaThe Battle of Berezina took place November 26–29, 1812 between the French army of Napoleon, retreating after his invasion of Russia and crossing the Berezina , and the Russian armies under Mikhail Kutuzov, Peter Wittgenstein and Admiral Pavel Chichagov. The battle ended with a mixed outcome...
exists
Sport
Football team FC BATEFC BATE
FC BATE Borisov is a Belarusian football team playing in the city of Borisov. They compete in the Belarusian Premier League and are the reigning champions. BATE are the only Belarusian team to have qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and for the group stage of the UEFA...
are based in the city. They have won the Belarusian Premier League
Belarusian Premier League
-Soviet era champions:*1934 BVO *1935 BVO *1936 BVO *1937 Dinamo *1938 Dinamo *1939 Dinamo *1940 DKA *1941-44 unknown...
six times, and competed in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.