Knyszyn
Encyclopedia
Knyszyn ' is a town in north-eastern Poland
, 16 miles (25.7 km) northwest of Białystok. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship
(since 1999), and was formerly in the Białystok Voivodeship (1975-1998).
A part of Podlaskie, it belonged for many centuries to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. It was the property of Court Marshall of Lithuania Michael Glinski
until confiscated and passed to the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania Mikołaj Radziwiłł in 1507. In 1569 it was annexed by the Polish crown
. In 1795 it was annexed to Prussia; in 1806 it was annexed to Russia, and in 1919 it returned to Poland
.
From 1939-1941 the Soviet Union
controlled the area, and afterwards the German Nazis took control after expelling the Soviets from Poland, breaking the pact that the Germans and Soviets had signed.
Knyszyn had a Jewish population of nearly 2000 until the Nazis invaded the area, after which most of Knyszyn's Jews were killed.
, and was the Polish court's main base for hunting expeditions into the nearby virgin forests. In the 1560s the king maintained a royal stud of over 3000 horses in Knyszyn, including large numbers of Arabian horse
s, among the first to be bred in northern Europe. Sigmund II died in the town in 1572, after which the place rapidly fell into neglect.
There are now few signs of the former royal residence and extensive studs aside from foundations, and what remains is poorly marked.
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...
, 16 miles (25.7 km) northwest of Białystok. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship
Podlaskie Voivodeship
Podlaskie Voivodeship , is a voivodeship in northeastern Poland. It borders on Masovian Voivodeship to the west, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship to the northwest, Lublin Voivodeship to the south, the Belarusssian Voblasts of Grodno and Brest to the east, the Lithuanian Counties of Alytus and...
(since 1999), and was formerly in the Białystok Voivodeship (1975-1998).
A part of Podlaskie, it belonged for many centuries to 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...
. It was the property of Court Marshall of Lithuania Michael Glinski
Michael Glinski
Michael Glinski was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of distant Tatar extraction who was also a tutor of his nephew, Ivan the Terrible. As a young man, Glinski served in the court of Emperor Maximilian I and earned distinction for his military service. Around 1498 he returned to Lithuania...
until confiscated and passed to the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania Mikołaj Radziwiłł in 1507. In 1569 it was annexed by the Polish crown
Crown of the Polish Kingdom
The Crown of the Kingdom of Poland , or simply the Crown , is the name for the unit of administrative division, the territories under direct administration of Polish nobility from middle-ages to late 18th century...
. In 1795 it was annexed to Prussia; in 1806 it was annexed to Russia, and in 1919 it returned to 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 1939-1941 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....
controlled the area, and afterwards the German Nazis took control after expelling the Soviets from Poland, breaking the pact that the Germans and Soviets had signed.
Knyszyn had a Jewish population of nearly 2000 until the Nazis invaded the area, after which most of Knyszyn's Jews were killed.
The royal stud at Knyszyn
Knyszyn was the favourite residence of King Sigismund II of PolandSigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
, and was the Polish court's main base for hunting expeditions into the nearby virgin forests. In the 1560s the king maintained a royal stud of over 3000 horses in Knyszyn, including large numbers of Arabian horse
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
s, among the first to be bred in northern Europe. Sigmund II died in the town in 1572, after which the place rapidly fell into neglect.
There are now few signs of the former royal residence and extensive studs aside from foundations, and what remains is poorly marked.