Talk:Vilna Governorate

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Blockquote of contemporaries
Wilna. - This was formerly the capital of a Lithuanian palatinate, but now of a Russian province or government. It is situated in a hilly country, and occupies several eminences near the river Vilna or Vilia, 400 miles south-south-west of Petersburgh, and 195 east of Koningsberg. Its circuit is nearly four miles ; its population, amounting in 1788 to 21,000, is now nearly 30,000. Like other towns in Poland and Russia, it is built chiefly of wood, very deficient in cleanliness, and exhibits a'striking contrast of wretchedness and tawdry magnificence. Wilna is the seat of a Greek metropolitan and a Catholic bishop. Its university, established 1570, was new modelled by the Russian government in 1803. Connected with the establishment is an observatory and several libraries. There are in Wilna also a gymnasium or classical school, a seminary for the education of the Catholic clergy, another for those of the Greek church, and an institution for youths of good family. The province of Wilna contains the north part of Lithuania. It extends from 53° 40' to 56° 15' of north lat. ; has an area of 2300 square miles, and a population of 1,000,000. The trade, such as it is, is carried on by the Jews. The principal rivers are the Niemen, the Vilia, the Pripez, and the Narew ; and the chief towns are Lida, Breslaw, Smorgone, Dory, Oszmiana or Oshmiana, and Molodegno. At the latter place, on November 29, 1812, the Emperor Napoleon, surrounded by an escort of officers, left the miserable remains of his army, on their retreat from Moscow.'' M. Ross (of Durham.) A History of Poland, from Its Foundation as a State to the Present Time ... 1835

Reasons of different ethnic compositions

 * 1) Historical meaning of word 'russian' is orthodox confession people not ethnic
 * 2) Traditionally catholics in Lithuania was called as polish due to church propaganda. Also people choose mixed identity to differentiate from Russian Empire and peasants people which follow greek church in their masses
 * 3) Historical name of Belarusians is Lithuanians while modern Lithuanians is Samogitians. Newest nation name 'Belarusians' was barely known out of the czardom ideology books until the beginning of 20 century and meaning swap happened due to political reasons after occupation of Grand Duchy Of Lithuania in the end of 18 century

Due to frequent change of armies and ideology in Vilna and in Lithuania generally, the region is known for its curious phenomenon. Part of people took blurry identity which called 'tuteiszia' (Тутэйшыя) which could be translated as 'here people', 'local people'. This phenomena saved to modern days and there same-named tragicomedy theatre play was staged in 1922 by Yanka Kupala.


 * Before the creation of the Republic of Lithuania in 1918 Baltic Lithuanians and Baltic Samogitians were considered two completely different ethnic groups. Even today Samogitians make up only about a quarter of Lithuanians. "Lithuanians" was sometimes a non-ethnic name encompassing Belarusians as well, but today's Lithuanians are in NO way Samogitian. Even Kaunas is in NO way in Samogitia, though you can still find Baltic-speaking people even in Belarus. --Yomal Sidoroff-Biarmskii (talk) 07:16, 15 April 2021 (UTC)