Zvenyhorodka

History

Early history

Zvenyhorodka has its origins in the days of the Kievan Rus' and the first mention of the city dates back to 1394, although its actual origins are likely to be older, as the city was previously destroyed during the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'. According to modern legend, the original city was situated 3 km further from its current location, encircling a conical mountain.

In 1504 Zvenyhorodka became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, after being relinquished by Meñli I Giray. It passed to the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland in 1569 following the capture of Right-bank Ukraine. Following this takeover, the population was subject to significant socio-economic oppression from the Polish aristocracy in the forms of various taxes. During the 1648–1654 Khmelnytsky Uprising, the townsfolk revolted and expelled the Polish nobility from the region. Zvenyhorodka then remained part of the Korsun Regiment, a military-territorial unit of the Hetman state, until the Polish crown regained control of Right-bank Ukraine in 1667 as per the Andrusiv Armistice.

Under Polish rule, the population suffered under socio-economic oppression again and fell victim to various national and religious hostilities. The Catholic clergy violently pursued a campaign of polarising Ukrainian nationals, which led to several uprisings in the 18th century. Haydamak forces were active in the area, led by the Cossack , and they twice stormed the local castle, in 1737 and then 1743. Following these attacks, the Polish government built fortifications around the castle, including new towers and barracks.

During the Koliivshchyna rebellion in 1768, many residents of the city joined the insurgents in fighting against the Catholic church and Polish nobility, among others, due to the treatment of peasants and their serfdom. The rebellion was unsuccessful and the city remained under Polish control. In 1792 King Stanisław August Poniatowski granted Zwinogródka city rights under Magdeburg law and it became a royal city of Poland. In the following year it was annexed by Russia after the Second Partition of Poland.

Russian Empire

From 1798 Zvenyhorodka became an administrative centre of uyezd in Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire. The intensive development of trade owing to the inclusion of Zvenyhorodka in the Russian market allowed for rapid development of industries, in particularly dairy and lumber, as well as pottery and handicrafts. The city became one of the centres of the dairy industry alongside Chyhyryn and Bila Tserkva. In the 1830s the city saw considerable development including the construction of a local hospital, post office, telegraph communications, and a bridge over the river Hnylyi Tikich. Classes began at the parish school in 1833 with just over 20 students being educated and most of the population being illiterate at the time.

Modern history

Around the turn to the 20th century the town had a train station, three Greek Orthodox churches and one Roman Catholic church.

A congress of Free Cossacks took place in the town in April 1917 during the Ukrainian struggle for independence.

A local newspaper has been published here since March 14, 1919.

During the Second World War, Zvenyhorodka was occupied by Nazi Germany from July 29, 1941 to January 28, 1944. in September 1941, a ghetto was set up here where around 1,500 Jews were shot.

Population

Number of inhabitants in years

• 1850: 7, 501
• 1897: 16, 972
• 1926: 18, 020, 61% Ukrainians, 37% Jews, 1% Russians and 1% Poles.
• 1989: 22, 740
• 2013: 17, 958

Language

Distribution of the population by native language according to the 2001 census:

Geography

Climate

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Notable residents

• Ahatanhel Krymsky (1871–1942), Ukrainian philologist and orientalist.
• David Günzburg (1857–1910), Russian orientalist and Jewish communal leader.
• Horace Günzburg (1833–1909), Russian philanthropist.
• Grigory Petrovich Nikulin (1895–1965), Russian Bolshevik and Chekist.
• Yurii Karmazin (1957-2022), Ukrainian politician.

Gallery

File:71-212-0034 Zvenigrodka Shevchenko SAM 2478.jpg|Taras Shevchenko monument File:Звенигородка, Черкащина. будинок, у якому народився А.Кримський - вчений, письменник. Нині - музей.TIF|Ahatanhel Krymsky Museum File:Zvenyhorodka Conglomerate.JPG|Zvenyhorodka Conglomerate geologic landmark

References

Notes

Sources

• (1972) Історіа міст і сіл Української CCP – Черкаська область (History of Towns and Villages of the Ukrainian SSR – Cherkasy Oblast), Kyiv.

References

1. "Звенигородська територіальна громада". decentralization.gov.ua.
2. (11 Feb 2015). "Local History of Zvenyhorodka".
3. ''Meyers Konversations-Lexikon''. 6th edition, vol. 19, Leipzig and Vienna 1909, p. 227 (in German).
4. "Free Cossacks".
5. Летопись периодических и продолжающихся изданий СССР 1986 – 1990. Часть 2. Газеты. М., «Книжная палата», 1994. стр.421
6. [[USHMM]]: Encyclopedia 2012, Vol. II, Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern Europe.
7. ''Der Große Brockhaus''. 15th edition, vol. 18, Leipzig 1934, p. 368 (in German).
8. "Демоскоп Weekly – Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей.".
9. "Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2013 року. Державна служба статистики України. Київ, 2013. стор.106".
10. "Рідні мови в об'єднаних територіальних громадах України".