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History

Turaw is an ancient capital of the Dregovichs ethnos - one of the three Eastern Slav ingredients of Belarusian nation. The others are Krivichs (center in Polacak) and Drevlians ( Mahilyow region). The first mention of Turaw is in the " Tale of Bygone Years" in 980. It is located in the South of Belarus in Palesse region.

The city was founded at the crossing of Yazda and Strumen rivers by Duke named Tur - hence Turaw. (Tur is also the name of an extinct wild European ram.) Both rivers were joining with Pripet river, which later entered Dnipro river, flowing to the Black sea. This river route was known to vikingViking refers in a loose sense to the North Germanic (ethnically Scandinavian) population of Northern Europe in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th centuries, which during this time colonized, raided and traded the lengths of the coasts, rivers and islands of Eurs. The VarangianThe Varangians or Variags were Vikings who travelled eastwards from Sweden. Promoting trade, piracy and mercenary militarism, they roamed the river systems and portages of what later became Russia, reaching the Caspian Sea and Constantinople. They created dynasty of RurikRurik or Riurik (held to be the same name as the Scandinavian Rorek Hrorekr (ca 830 ca 879) was a Varangian ( Viking) who gained control of Novgorod in 862 and built Holmgard there (Rurikovo Gorodische). There is a debate over how Rurik came to control Nos has became dukes in the neighboring Kyiv principality. Turaw dukes were also of Rurik DynastyThe Rurik Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Russia from 862 to 1598. More precisely, though, Russia per se did not exist during this time. The state that existed from 862 until 1240 (see Mongol invasion of Russia) is called the Kievan Rus . The Mongols fo. The ancient Turaw was an important trade center of Kyivan Rus due to its location on Viking route to Black SeaNASA MODIS The Black Sea (also known as the Euxine Sea is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara, and to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. There is a.

Many different crafts were developed and practiced in Turaw. Bishop Cyril of Turaw (Kiryla Turawski), an ancient Belarusian philosopher and religious figure, lived in Turaw. Turaw suffered through a number of feudal conflicts in 12th century and lost its importance later on. Turaw is a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1320. Later it becomes a privately owned town of Grand Duke Svidryhajla in 1430. It is owned by M.L. Hlinsky at the end of 15th century, Astrozhski dynasty owned Turaw in 1508 - 1620 and later gave it up to Sapieha , then Potocki dynasties of Belarusian magnates. Turaw went through many devastations over the centuries. It was attacked by Mongols in 1502 and 1521. It was burned by Ian Radzivil in 1649. It was destroyed during war with Muscovy of 1654- 1667. In 1648 Turaw had 401 households, and in 1667 - 111 households were left. Ever since becoming a part of Russian Empire in 1793 Turaw has been a small provincial town.