Lida

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For other uses, see Lida (disambiguation).

Location of the city of Lida in Belarus

Lida (Belarusian: Лі́да, Russian: Ли́да, Lithuanian: Lyda, Polish: Lida) is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.

1 Name
2 History
3 Facts
4 People
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Name

Name Lida derived from river's name Lidzeya, which origin associated with Lithuanian language appellative word Lyda - Lydimas, meaning woman from Lydia, an ancient kingdom in western Asia . ^[1]

[edit] History

[edit] Medieval origin

There are passing mentions of Lida in chronicles from 1180. Until the early 1300's the settlement at Lida was a wooden fortress. In 1323, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas built a brick fortress there. 1380 is generally considered the founding year of the city of Lida. The fortress with stood Crusader attacks from Prussia in 1392 and 1394 but it was burned to the ground in 1710. Following the death of Gediminas, when Lithuania was divided into principalities, Lida became the capital of one of them, the seat of Algirdas.

[edit] Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Lida was in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the second half of the 14th century, after the Christianization of Lithuania the Catholic parish was established in former pagan lands and a Church was built by Jogaila (ruins are still preserved). Subsequently in 15th century town became a centre of production by craftsmen and trade. Lida was connected with Vilnius, Navahrudak and Minsk. At that time the town had a market square and four streets Wielenska, Zamkowa, Kamieńska and Krivaya^{[citation needed]}. In 1588 Lida became the seat of Lida District in Vilnius Voivodeship. Magdeburg Rights were granted to the town in 1590 and confirmed in 1776 by the Polish Sejm. By these rights Lida held two annual fairs of little import to the local economy. The population was between 2000 to 5000 people.

[edit] Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and imperial Russia

COA of Lida in Vilna Governorate

The 17th century was a difficult time in Lida. Caught by invading to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth forces of Russia and Sweden. A depression resulted, and people moved out of Lida. By 1786, 514 inhabitants were left in Lida. in 1795, Lida was annexed by the Russian Empire as a powiat centre of the Slonim Governorate (1795). Afterwards, Lida was a part of the Lithuania Governorate in 1797 and of Grodno Governorate since 1801.

The town was greatly destroyed during the French occupation in 1812. In 1817 the population was 1366 people. Since 1842 Lida was the "district" centre in Vilna Governorate. In 1863 and 1873, two beer factories were built in Lida. In 1884, the railway Vilnius-Lunenets was finished. In 1907, the railway Molodechno-Mosty opened. The 1897 population was 8626 people.

A two-year school opened. Then, a parish school with the department for girls opened as did a Jewish school. In 1899 a hospital opened which consisted of 25 beds. In 1901 cast-iron plant began to operate. In 1903 sawmill started its operation. At the end of 19th century and at the beginning of 20 century two brick plants were built. In 1904, there were 1000 houses of which 275 were brick, fourteen small enterprises, four hospitals with beds for 115 people, and six elementary schools for 700 pupils. In 1904, in near Minsk the Russian Social Democratic Party was formed. During the revolutions of 1905-07, the uprisings of the workers took place, complete with political slogans. In 1914, there were almost 40 factories.

[edit] Recent history

During World War I Lida was occupied by the German troops.
1919 the Red Army established Soviet power.
April 17 1919, Polish troops enter Lida.
July 17, 1920 the Red Army returnes.
September 30 1920 Polish regains control.

After 1920 Moscow Treaty it belonged to Lithuania until it was captured and anexed by Poland.

In accordance with Riga Peace Treaty of 1921, it belonged to Poland as the powiat centre in Nowogródek Voivodship. In 1927, there were twenty-four factories in Lida. 1928 were years of rapid growth in the production. A new rubber good's factory started up, employing almost 800 people. Also, Lida was an important garrison of the Polish Army, with one infantry division and the 5th Corps of the Polish Air Force stationed there.

In 1939 Lida became part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Beginning January 1940 Lida was the centre of Lida Raion, Baranavichy Voblast.

From June 1941 to July 1944, it was occupied by the German troops who slaughtered almost 25,149 people. Beginning of September 1944, Lida was in Hrodna Voblast.