Zalavas
Encyclopedia
Zalavas is a small village in Švenčionys district municipality
, Lithuania
. It is located on the Mera river near the Lithuanian state border with Belarus
. According to the 2001 census, it had 173 residents. It is the birthplace of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, who later became Chief of State of Poland
.
of Navahrudak. It then passed to the Giedraičiai princely family, and in the 18th century the village was bought by the Rurikid Ogiński family
, one of the notable magnate
clans of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. In the early 19th century the village was inherited by the Michałowskis. As part of the dowry
of Helena Michałowska, it passed to her husband, Antoni Billewicz, who then bequeathed it to their daughter, Maria Billewiczówna. In 1863, after marrying Józef Wincenty Piłsudski, the village became the property of the Piłsudski family. It was there that both their sons were born, Bronisław Piłsudski
, on November 2, 1866, and Józef Piłsudski, on December 5, 1867.
In July 1874, the local manor burned down and the family moved to Vilnius
. Soon afterward the family was forced to sell most of their property in Lithuania including Zalavas and nineteen other villages, in order to pay for legal expenses and fines for Bronisław, who was involved in an assassination
attempt on the life of tsar Alexander III of Russia
. In 1882 the village was bought by Michał Ogiński, an heir to the Ogiński family
who had owned it in the 18th century. However, as the policies of Russification
of former lands in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth forbade Poles
to purchase any real estate, he was forced to sell it to a Russian merchant from Riga
named Klim. The latter sold the village to a certain imperial officer named Kuronosov, who divided the property, sold most of the forests and was forced to abandon the area in 1915, during World War I
. The Germans
occupied the area later that year, and most of the remaining forests were cut down.
In 1920 following the Polish–Lithuanian War
, the area became part of the Republic of Central Lithuania
. In 1922, after a disputed election, Central Lithuania was annexed by the Second Polish Republic
, and Zalavas was incorporated into the Wilno Voivodeship. Since the former Piłsudski's property had belonged to a Russian official who abandoned it, it was nationalized, and limited to the core of 65 hectare
s, and attached to a military base located nearby. In 1934 an association of veterans of the Polish–Soviet War purchased it from the army and a committee was created whose aim was to rebuild the manor of Marshal Piłsudski, who by then was regarded as a Polish national hero. The manor was reconstructed, and officially opened to the public as a museum on October 10, 1937. However, it was destroyed by the Soviets
shortly after the Invasion of Poland
in 1939. An oak
and a memorial stone still mark the location of the former manor. According to the Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty
of 1939, Zalavas was returned to Lithuania.
Švencionys district municipality
-Twin towns — Sister cities:Švenčionys district municipality is twinned with the following towns: Świdnica, Poland...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It is located on the Mera river near the Lithuanian state border with Belarus
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 ,...
. According to the 2001 census, it had 173 residents. It is the birthplace of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, who later became Chief of State of Poland
Naczelnik panstwa
Naczelnik Państwa was the title of Poland's head of state in the early years of the Second Polish Republic. This office was held only by Józef Piłsudski, from 1918 to 1922. Until 1919 it was called tymczasowy naczelnik państwa...
.
History
The village's earliest known name is Mieciany. At some later point, the name was changed, and it became known to its Polish inhabitants as Zułów, and to its Lithuanian ones, as Zalavas. The village was first mentioned in the late 17th century as the private property of Aleksander Wojna-Jasieniecki, a CastellanCastellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Navahrudak. It then passed to the Giedraičiai princely family, and in the 18th century the village was bought by the Rurikid Ogiński family
Oginski family
Ogiński was a noble family of Lithuania and Poland , member of The Princely Houses of Poland.They were most likely of Rurikid stock, related to Chernihiv Knyaz family, and originated from the Smolensk region, incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around 14th century...
, one of the notable magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
clans 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 the early 19th century the village was inherited by the Michałowskis. As part of the dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
of Helena Michałowska, it passed to her husband, Antoni Billewicz, who then bequeathed it to their daughter, Maria Billewiczówna. In 1863, after marrying Józef Wincenty Piłsudski, the village became the property of the Piłsudski family. It was there that both their sons were born, Bronisław Piłsudski
Bronisław Piłsudski
Bronisław Piotr Piłsudski , brother of Józef Piłsudski, was a Polish cultural anthropologist who conducted outstanding research on the Ainu ethnic group, which then inhabited Sakhalin Island, but now live mostly on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, with only a small minority left on...
, on November 2, 1866, and Józef Piłsudski, on December 5, 1867.
In July 1874, the local manor burned down and the family moved to Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. Soon afterward the family was forced to sell most of their property in Lithuania including Zalavas and nineteen other villages, in order to pay for legal expenses and fines for Bronisław, who was involved in an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt on the life of tsar Alexander III of Russia
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
. In 1882 the village was bought by Michał Ogiński, an heir to the Ogiński family
Oginski family
Ogiński was a noble family of Lithuania and Poland , member of The Princely Houses of Poland.They were most likely of Rurikid stock, related to Chernihiv Knyaz family, and originated from the Smolensk region, incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around 14th century...
who had owned it in the 18th century. However, as the policies of Russification
Russification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
of former lands in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth forbade Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
to purchase any real estate, he was forced to sell it to a Russian merchant from Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
named Klim. The latter sold the village to a certain imperial officer named Kuronosov, who divided the property, sold most of the forests and was forced to abandon the area in 1915, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Germans
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
occupied the area later that year, and most of the remaining forests were cut down.
In 1920 following the Polish–Lithuanian War
Polish–Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
, the area became part of the Republic of Central Lithuania
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania , or simply Central Lithuania , was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition...
. In 1922, after a disputed election, Central Lithuania was annexed by the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, and Zalavas was incorporated into the Wilno Voivodeship. Since the former Piłsudski's property had belonged to a Russian official who abandoned it, it was nationalized, and limited to the core of 65 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s, and attached to a military base located nearby. In 1934 an association of veterans of the Polish–Soviet War purchased it from the army and a committee was created whose aim was to rebuild the manor of Marshal Piłsudski, who by then was regarded as a Polish national hero. The manor was reconstructed, and officially opened to the public as a museum on October 10, 1937. However, it was destroyed by the Soviets
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....
shortly after the Invasion of Poland
Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
The 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland was a Soviet military operation that started without a formal declaration of war on 17 September 1939, during the early stages of World War II. Sixteen days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west, the Soviet Union did so from the east...
in 1939. An oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and a memorial stone still mark the location of the former manor. According to the Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty
Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty
The Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty was a bilateral treaty signed between the Soviet Union and Lithuania on October 10, 1939. According to provisions outlined in the treaty, Lithuania would acquire about one fifth of the Vilnius Region, including Lithuania's historical capital, Vilnius,...
of 1939, Zalavas was returned to Lithuania.
External links
- Mieciany (Zułów) in the Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland (1885)