Knyszyn
The commune and town Knyszyn is situated in the central part of the Podlaskie province, on the edge of the Knyszyn Forest.
It covers 128 sq and is inhabited by 5,214 people (including 2,932 inhabitants of Knyszyn town).
First traces of settlement in the Knyszyn land are dated to about 10,000 years ago, to the period of Holocene.
In the Middle Ages it was a borderland of influences of Mazovian, Lithuanian and Russian settlement. At the turn of the 14th c., as a result of raids of Jaćwing tribes, Mazovian people, the Teutonic Knights, Lithuanians and Russian the settlement was almost completely destroyed. The settlement situation in the region is described in the oldest document from 1358, i.e. the act issued by prince Kiejstut confirming the separation between Lithuania and Mazovia along the Brzozówka and Czarna rivers. After the Union treaty in Krew in 1358 the whole region was incorporated under the Lithuanian rule, and, after the Union in Lublin in 1569, it returned to the Crown. About 1500 the ground was granted by king Kazimierz Jagiellończyk to prince Michał Gliński.
In 1509 king Zygmunt Stary granted the manor to Mikołaj Radziwiłł.
Knyszyn, established by queen Bona north of the existing here manor house, was the only urban centre.
In 1568 Knyszyn received the civic rights from King Zygmunt August. The reign of King Zygmunt August was the “Golden Age” for Knyszyn. Then the town hall, baths, a building of scales were built and streets were paved. There are documents confirming 19 stays of the king lasting altogether nearly 500 days, in the period of 1553-1572.
The king willingly rested in Knyszyn, from here also he ruled the State of Two Nations (Poland and Lithuania). Here he signed many documents, e.g. the first in Poland Marine and Forest Law. King Zygmunt August died in Knyszyn on 7th July 1572. In the market square there is his memorial statue.
As a result of the 3rd partition of Poland Knyszyn was incorporated into Prussia.
After signing the treaty in Tylża Knyszyn, together with the Białystok district, was included into the Russian Empire. At the many times Jews settled in the town, trade and textile industry developed after the customs the customs border on the Narew River had been introduced. The process was however accompanied with political repression and Russification. Therefore, inhabitants of the Knyszyn Land took part in all national uprising thus manifesting their patriotism.
During the First World War the town was damaged in about 25%. Inhabitants worked then mainly in agriculture, commerce and handicraft. After regaining independence by Poland in 1918 Knyszyn formed a part of the Białystok province. In 1939-1941 Knyszyn was occupied by Soviet troops. Grange buildings were destroyed then, the manor garden was devastated, trees were hewed down. During the Second World War inhabitants of the land fought on many fronts.
The Knyszyn Land comprises the town and the commune Knyszyn and the historic Knyszyn Forest extending between Knyszyn and the Czarna river. Coniferous abodes with an advantage of pine and spruce witch here has its range border dominate in the forest. Small fragments of mixed, mainly hornbeam, forests growing on wet soils and coniferous forests growing on swamps are also found. Spring grounds from which e.g. Hatka, Wodziłówka, Jaskranka flow are an interesting hydrologic phenomenon.
THE KNYSZYN DAYS - 2007
Project `Through the Knyszyn Land with English language`
Projekt `Meeting with multicultural Knyszyn`
