About Lviv / History of Lviv

 

 

Historians suggest that Lviv was founded by Prince Danylo for his son Lev (means Lion). First mention about city dates back to 1256. It is mentioned in the Galician-Volyn chronicles and appears in the context of describing the fire in the capital of Galicia-Volyn Kingdom - Holm. 

 

After the death of Danylo, Prince Lev made the city a capital of Galicia-Volyn Kingdom. The city remained unconquered for many years. The old city was situated around the modern area of the Old Market Square. Slightly above the church of St. Nicholas King’s palace took place. The town was surrounded by ramparts and two protective ditches. The King’s castle was situated on the Vysokyi Zamok mountain and was surrounded with a wall.

 

 

In 1340, Lviv was conquered by the kingdom of Poland, but the local boyars threw away the Polish government and formed an independent boyar republic. 
In 1349, the Casimir III conquered Lviv again, and gave the city the status of the capital of Rus' kingdom - an autonomous administrative unit in Poland. He put the Center of Urban Life to a place on the modern area of Market Square. In 1356 the Magdeburg Law was given to the city. 
In 1378, Lviv, along with all Galicia got under Hungarian rule. Hungarian government lasted 9 years, after which Polish troops led by Queen Jadwiga seized the city again. 


 

In 1572 Ivan Fedorov moved to Lviv, he was first to publish books in Ukraine. 
In 1661 the Jesuit Collegium was founded which is meant the mother of the Lviv University. 
In the first half of XVII century Lviv became Ukraine's largest city with population of 25-30 thousand people. 


 

 

In the XVII - XVIII century. Lviv experiencing frequent attacks, but steadily continues to defend its borders. 
The city was in siege by troops of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. There were frequent attacks of the Turks. And only once the walls of Leopolis let the enemies enter the city - Lviv was taken by Swedish troops. To establish joint action against Charles XII in 1707 Peter I visited the city. 


 

 

In 1772, the Lviv got into the Austrian empire, becoming the capital of Crown lands - Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Austrian authorities demolished the city walls. That encouraged the development and growth of the city. 
Kerosene and kerosene lamps were first invented in Lviv. The world's first balloon on liquid fuel started from Lviv. The first concrete bridge in Europe was built here. 


 

 

During World War Lviv was occupied by Russian Empire. 
In the night of October 31 - November 1, 1918 Western Ukrainian People's Republic with its capital in Lviv was formed. 
From the early days of newly formed state Second Polish Republic declared war on WUPR: Lviv was captured by Polish troops as early as 21 November, the city became the administrative center of Lviv province. 
 

 

In 1939, under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Lviv entered the Soviet Union. The city became the administrative center of Lviv region. 
In June 1941 Lviv was occupied by Nazi forces of Hitler. In June, 30 Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (wing of Bandera) proclaimed Act of renewal of Ukrainian state in Lviv, but this initiative was not liked by the German administration and its proponents were arrested. 
July 27, 1944 the Red Army occupied Lviv. 
 

In 1992 Lviv became a member of the independent Ukraine. 

In 1998, the Old Town and the city's Cathedral of St. George were declared UNESCO world cultural heritage items under serial number 865. 
In 1999 the Sixth Summit of Presidents of Central and Eastern Europe was held here.In 2001 Pope John Paul II visited the city of Lviv. 
 

 

At the beginning of the XXI century, Lviv is becoming the cultural and tourist capital of Ukraine. 
The city has the largest festivals and the largest architectural monuments in the country.
 

 

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