Volhynia
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Volhynia (Volyn) is the historic region in Western Ukraine between Pripyat and Wester Bug rivers. The area has one of the oldest Slavic settlements in Europe.

History

An ancient sity of Halicz (Halych) was first mentioned in 981 when taken over Kievan Rus'.

• Prinicipalities of Halych (Galicia) and Volodymyr Volynski (Vladimir Volynskii) are among the successors of the Kievan Rus'.
• Grand Duchy of Halych-Volodymyr, also called Galich-Vladimir Rus'.
• Divided between Poland (Western Volhynia) and Lithuania (Eastern Volhynia).
• Since 1569 a province of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
• After partitions of Poland, becomes a province of Russia.
• After the Polish-Soviet war, by Peace of Riga, 1921, the Western Wohlynia was returned to Poland as Wolhynian Voivodship, see a map at Voivodships of Poland.
• in 1939 by Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact it was annexed by the USSR, and the possession confirmed as a result of the WWII.

A notable migation of German settlers to Vohlynia occurred. Initially it was encouraged by German-born Catherine the Great. First agricultural colonies of Mennonites are recorded by 1783. By the end of the 19th century Vohlynia had over 200,000 of German settlers, most of which moved from Poland.

Related articles

• Massacres of Poles in Volhynia.
• Volyn region

The original article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volhynia.
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