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Polotsk Voivodeship

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(Redirected from Polock Voivodeship) Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Polotsk VoivodeshipWojewództwo połockie
Palatinatus Polocensis
Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1504–1793
Coat of arms of Polatsk Coat of arms

Połock Voivodeship in red. Voivodeship's borders did not change since the Union of Lublin.

Połock Voivodeship in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
CapitalPołock
Area 
• 21,800 km (8,400 sq mi)
History 
• Established 1504
• Second Partition of Poland 1793
Political subdivisionsnone
Preceded by Succeeded by
Principality of Polotsk
Russian Empire
Today part ofBelarus
Russia

Polotsk or Połock Voivodeship (Latin: Palatinatus Polocensis; Lithuanian: Polocko vaivadija; Polish: Województwo połockie, Belarusian: Полацкае ваяводства) was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) since the 15th century until the partitions of Poland in 1793.

History

Połock, capital of the voivodeship, in the 16th century

The voivodeship history can be traced to the Principality of Polotsk, conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around late 14th / early 15th centuries. From 1504 the former Principality was recognized as a voivodeship.

Zygmunt Gloger in his monumental book Historical Geography of the Lands of Old Poland provides this description of the Połock Voivodeship:

“Połock, in Latin Polocia, Polocium, lies on the right bank of the Dvina, and is regarded as one of the oldest gords of Rus’. In the 13th century, the Principality of Polotsk was ruled by Kievan princes, but in app. 1225 it was seized by the Lithuanians under Duke Mindaugas (...) Duke Vytautas named the first starosta of Połock, and in app. 1500, the starosta was renamed into the Voivode of Połock, while the Duchy was turned into a voivodeship, divided into halves by the Dvina (...)

The voivodeship had two senators, who were the Voivode and the Castellan of Połock (...) Since it was not too large and its population was not numerous, furthermore, its capital was located in the middle, the voivodeship was not divided into counties. Its courts were located in Połock, where the sejmiks also took place. Połock Voivodeship had two envoys in the Sejm, and two deputies to the Lithuanian Tribunal”.

Population

  • 109,848 in 1790

Administration

Voivodeship Governor (Wojewoda) seat:

Administrative division:

  • this voivodeship was not divided into counties

Number of Senators:

  • 2

Number of envoys in the Sejm:

  • 2

Voivodes

References

  1. ↑ Tabela: Summaryusz Generalny wszelkich dochodów Rzeczypospolitey tak w Koronie iako i w Litwie z kalkulacyą mil kwadratowych, tak со do dymów, podatków, iako i ludzi, w: Dziennik rządowo-ekonomiczno handlowy. Zaymuiący różne Wiadomości, Rządowe, Handlowe, Ekonomiczne, Fabryczne, Kontraktowe na Dobra, Summy, i Produkta. Zajmujący 3 miesiące kwiecień may czerwiec 1790. R.5. T. II. Warszawa 1790.

Bibliography

Historical voivodeships of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Transferred to the Crown of the Polish Kingdom by the Union of Lublin (1569)
Kiev (1471)
Podlaskie (1513)
Bracław (1566)
Volhynian (1566)
Administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Province of
Greater Poland		 Map indicating the administrative division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1619
Province of
Lesser Poland
Grand Duchy of
Lithuania
Polish Livonia
Fiefs

55°29′17″N 28°48′26″E / 55.488099°N 28.807210°E / 55.488099; 28.807210

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