Ashmiany (Belarusian: Ашмя́ны, Russian: Ошмяны, Oshmiany) is a town in Hrodna voblast, Belarus (previously in Wilno guberniya, Imperial Russia), capital of the Ashmiany raion. It lies in the basin of the Oshmianka River , on hilly, fertile lands. The name is derived from the Lithuanian "Azymertas", meaning "the edge". It is also known as "Aschemynne" in the Chronicles of the Teutonic Knights .

Buildings of Note

• An Orthodox church, "Bogojawlenska", built in 1840.
• The Holy Archangel Michael Catholic Church.

History

There are signs of settlement as early as 1040 BCE. In 1384, the Teutonic Knights attempted to attack Osmiana as a beginning attempt to destroy the hereditary state of Jagiello. It then became the center of a good deal of historic activity for some decades.

Miscellaneous

• Alternate Names: Oshmyany, Oszmiana, Aschemynne, Oshmyany, Asmena, Oshmana, Oshmene, Oshmina, Osmiany, Oszmiana, Ozmiana, Osmiana
• Mentioned in: Memoirs of Baron Lejeune , Volume II, Chapter VII.

External links

• Lejeune book
• Oszmiana
• Coat of Arms
• Photos on Radzima.org
• PolishRoots Description