, capital of the voivodeship, in 1627 The territory of Smolensk was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1404, but the voivodeship was established only in 1508. Just six years later, in 1514, it was lost to the
Grand Duchy of Moscow during the
Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars. The voivodeship was recaptured by the Commonwealth in 1611 during the
Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18) and lost again in 1654 during the
Russo-Polish War (1654–67). Even when the territory was under Russian control, Poland and Lithuania claimed it as a titular voivodeship. The capital of the voivodeship, and the seat of its governor (
voivode), was in
Smolensk. It was subdivided into two
powiats: Smolensk and
Starodub.
Zygmunt Gloger in his monumental book Historical Geography of the Lands of Old Poland provides this description of the Smolensk Voivodeship: . In the 9th century, Smolensk was the main center of the
Krivichs. In the 11th century, it became the capital of a separate duchy, the
Principality of Smolensk, which in the 14th century was conquered by the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1404, it became a permanent part of Lithuania, and later on, the Principality was turned into a Voivodeship. In 1514, Smolensk was captured by
Muscovy, which was confirmed by a 1522 treaty. For the next 89 years Smolensk belonged to Muscovy. It was recovered by King
Sigismund III of Poland in 1611, but Smolensk Voivodeship as part of the Commonwealth existed only for 56 years. In 1654 it was recaptured by the Russians, which was confirmed by the
Truce of Andrusovo in 1667. Smolensk Voivodeship had three senators: the Bishop, the Voivode, and the Castellan of Smolensk. It was divided into two counties: those of Smolensk and
Starodub. After its final annexation by
Russia, it continued to exist as a voivodeship in exile, with
sejmiks taking place at a
Bernardine Church in
Vilnius. Furthermore, the title of Bishop of Smolensk remained in use. The last titular Bishops before the partitions of Poland were
Adam Naruszewicz, and
Tymoteusz Gorzeński. ==See also==