History of Belarus

Principality of Polotsk, 900 CE–1397 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Principality of Polotsk was a medieval principality. The principality was supposedly established around the town of Polotsk by the tribal union of Krivichs. At the time of its greatest extent, the principality stretched over large parts of present-day northern and central Belarus and a smaller part of today's southeastern Latvia. By the 13th century, it was integrated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Seat of power: Polatsak

Rulers

• Izyaslav of Polotsk, Head of state, 988 CE–1001
• Bryachislav of Polotsk, Head of state, 1003–1044

Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1236–1795 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a sovereign state in northeastern Europe that existed from the 13th century, succeeding the Kingdom of Lithuania. By 1440 the grand duchy had become the largest European state, controlling an area from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. It was a multi-ethnic and multiconfessional state, with great diversity in languages, religion, and cultural heritage. The Union of Lublin of 1569 created a new state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Seat of power: Navahrudak

Rulers

• Mindaugas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1236–1253
• Treniota, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1263–1264
• Wojsiełk, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1264–1267
• Shvarn, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1267–1269
• Traidenis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1269–1282
• Butigeidis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1282–1292
• Butvydas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1292–1296
• Vytenis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1295–1316
• Jaunutis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1341–1345
• Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1345–1377
• Vytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1392–1430
• Švitrigaila / Svidrigiello, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1430–1432
• Sigismund Kęstutaitis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1432–1440
• Casimir IV Jagiellon, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1440–1492
• Augustus III of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1734–1763

Belarusian People's Republic, 1918–1919 Draft, not yet reviewed

During World War I, the Belarusian People's Republic was proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in its Second Constituent Charter on 9 March 1918. On March 25, under conditions of German occupation, the Third Constituent Charter proclaimed Belarus an independent and free state. The government of the Belarusian Democratic Republic never had power over the whole territory of Belarus. By December 1918, units of the Red Army had already entered Minsk.

Seat of power: Minsk

Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1919–1991 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. Byelorussia was one of several Soviet republics occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. Altogether, over 2,000,000 people were killed in Belarus during the three years of German occupation, almost a quarter of the region's population. On 25 August 1991, the Byelorussian SSR declared independence, and on 19 September it was renamed the Republic of Belarus.

Seat of power: Minsk

Belarus, 1991 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

The parliament of the republic proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus on 27 July 1990, and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus gained independence on 25 August 1991. Following the adoption of a new constitution in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was elected Belarus's first president in the country's first and only free election after independence, serving as president ever since. Lukashenko heads a highly centralised authoritarian government. Mass protests erupted across the country following the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, in which Lukashenko sought a sixth term in office.

Seat of power: Minsk

Rulers

• Viačasław Kiebič, Prime Minister of Belarus, 1991–1994
• Alexander Lukashenka, President of Belarus, 1994 to today