Smolensko, City

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Smolensko, Smolentum, one of the principal Cities of Poland, and the Capital of a Palatinate. It stands upon the Borysthenes in White Russia in Lithuania, near the Borders of Muscovy. Great and very strong, surrounded by a Wall eight Cubits broad at the top, strengthened by fifty two great Towers, and a very strong Castle. It contains about eight thousand Houses and was once much greater: subject at first to a Russian Duke, who was the Sovereign of it; but conquered by Vitondus Duke of Lithuania, in 1403. Casimirus II. King of Poland subjected it to that Crown, in 1452. The Russ took it in 1514. The Poles after many other fruitless attempts, recovered it again under Sigismund III. in 1611. after a Siege of two years. The Russ besieged it in 1616. and in 1633. to their great loss: Being the last time, after a years besieging of it, defeated by Ʋladislaus IV. King of Poland; who obtained from the Pope the settlement of a Bishops See in it. In 1654. it was taken by them, October 13. under whom it now is: and by a Treaty in 1656. yielded to the Russ. It lies one hundred and fifty Polish Miles from Vilna to the East, and the same distance from Kiovia to the North.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Smolensko, Smolenscium, a City of Lithuania upon the River Borysthenes or Nieper, being the Capital of a great Province of the same Name, with the Title of a Dukedom, near the Borders of Muscovy. It is a great and strong City, being surrounded with a Wall eight Cubits broad at the top, and strengthened by fifty two great Towers. and a very strong Castle. It was formerly much greater than it is at present, though it contains still about 8000 Houses. The City and Dukedom of Smolensko at first belong'd to a Russian Duke, bu• was Conquered by Vitondus Duke of Lithuania in 1403. Casimire King of Poland subjected it to that Crown in 1452; the •oscovites took it in 1514, and kept it till 1611, when Sigismund III. took it from them after a Siege of near two Years. The Moscovites •fter this attempted it again in 1616 and 1633, and this last time, after a Years Siege, were defeated by Ladislaus IV. But it was taken by them the 13th of October 1654, and by a Treaty in 1656 was yielded to them. It lies 150 Polish Miles from Vilna to the East, and the same distance from Kiovia to the North, and 80 Miles West of Muscow.