Drohiczyn

Drohiczyn [d r ɔ ˈ x i t͡ʂ ɨ n] is a small historic town in Siemiatycze County of Podlasie Voivodeship (previously in Białystok Voivodeship in 1975-1998) in Eastern Poland. The town with population 2,110 is situated on a bank of river Bug.

History

A Neolithic settlement, La Tène culture crematoria, and ancient graves have been uncovered at Drohiczyn.

Drohiczyn lay astride a trade route between Ukraine and Poland, and in the 13th century was a part of the principality of Volhynia. It was annexed by Mazovia in 1238. In 1253, prince Daniel of Halych was crowned by a papal representative in Drohiczyn.

The town changed hands multiple times during the medieval wars between Poland and Lithuania. In 1443 it was a Lithuanian domain, and from 1569 belonged to Poland.

In 1939-1940, when Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Drohiczyn became a border town between both countries. The Soviets plundered the town, destroyed the rich interior of both Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and deported a number of the town inhabitants to Siberia. In spring of 1940, Soviet authorities ordered the destruction of all buildings within 800 metres from the river Bug.