Kapyl

Kapyl / Kopyl
Капыль / Копыль

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Kapyl / Kopyl

Location in Belarus

Coordinates: 53°09′0″N 27°05′30″E / 53.15000°N 27.09167°E / 53.15000; 27.09167Coordinates: 53°09′0″N 27°05′30″E / 53.15000°N 27.09167°E / 53.15000; 27.09167
Country  Belarus
Voblast Minsk
Raion Kapyl
First mentioned 1274
Population (2009)
 • Total 9,900
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s) +375 1719

Kapyl (Belarusian Капыль, Russian Копыль. Polish Kopyl, Yiddish: קאפוליע‎) is an urban settlement and the capital of Kapyl Raion in Belarus. It is located 34 kilometers (21 mi) west-northwest of Slutsk and 90 kilometers (56 mi) south-southwest of Minsk.[1] The current population estimate of 9,900 for the town is based on the provisional figures from the 2009 census.[2]

The postal codes for Kapyl are 223910 and 223927.[3]

History

Kapyl, first mentioned in 1274,[4] was a walled town that was noteworthy by the 14th century, and is listed in the atlas of Ortelius of 1574.[5] During the 14th century the town was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1395 it came into the possession of Prince Vladimir Olgerdovich and his heirs, the Olelkovich family, where it remained until 1612. Kapyl was part of the dowry of Zofia Olelkowicz Słucka and was one of the seven fortified towns left to her husband Janusz Radziwill upon her death in 1612.[5] Kapyl was attacked by the Tatars numerous times and was sacked on at least one occasion during the 16th century.[5]

On August 27, 1652, Kapyl received the Magdeburg Law and gained its own seal, a coat of arms depicting a hunting horn on a gold field. With this privilege came the right to hold fairs and weekly auctions. During the 16th century weaving became established in the town, including the production of velvet. Six guilds came into existence as a result of the growth of the weaving industry.

After the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 Kapyl became part of the Russian Empire. From 1832 it became a personal holding of Prince Wittgenstein. During the 19th century local businesses included a brewery, 2 water mills, and 6 shops. Other local institutions included 3 schools, churches (including a Calvinist church), and 2 Jewish synagogues.

Towards the end of the 19th century Kapyl had over 350 houses and over 2000 inhabitants. At that time a majority of the town’s population was Jewish.[5] By 1900 the Jewish population was 2,671.[1]

In 1924, Kapyl became the capital city of the Kapyl District.

During World War II the Slutsk-Kapyl area was the subject of a German military operation code-named Erntefest II (Harvest Festival) which ended in February 1943. Although ostensibly aimed at suppressing the activities of Soviet partisans in the area the operation resulted in the deaths of 2,325 of the local inhabitants (against the loss of six German soldiers), which can only be characterized as a campaign of genocide and terror.[6]

One of Kapyl district’s major architectural monuments is a 19th-century church in the town itself.[7]

Personalities

Kapyl is also known as the birthplace of Mendele Mocher Sforim.

Sister cities

See also

List of towns with German town law

References

  1. 1 2 , Kapyl, Belarus on JewishGen.Org accessed 13 July 2010
  2. ↑ , Belarus City Population accessed 13 July 2010
  3. ↑ Kopyl raion page at Minsk Oblispolkom website accessed 13 July 2010
  4. ↑ , Kopyl Region Executive Committee website retrieved 20 July 2010
  5. 1 2 3 4 , Geographical Dictionary of Polish Kingdom and other Slavic countries (in Polish), vol 4, edited by F. Sulimirskiego, B. Chlebowski, W. Walewski, Warsaw 1883, pp. 386-387 accessed 13 July 2010
  6. ↑ , Rodoh Forum: Major Antipartisan Operations in Belorussia accessed 13 July 2010
  7. ↑ , Kapyl District at Treklens accessed 13 July 2010
  8. ↑ "International Relations". joniskis.lt. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
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