Pinsk (
Belarusian ?????,
Polish Pinsk), a town in
Belarus, in the
Polesia region, traversed by the river
Pripyat, at the confluence of the
Strumen and
Pina rivers. The region is known as the
Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of
Minsk. The population is about 130,000. The city is a small industrial center producing ships sailing the local rivers.
The historic city has a beautifully restored downtown full of two-story buildings dating from the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Pinsk is first mentioned in the chronicles of 1097 as Pinesk, a town belonging to Sviatopolk of Turau. The name is derived from the river Pina. Pinsk's early history is closely linked with the history of Turau. Until the mid-12th century Pinsk was the seat of Sviatopolk's descendants, but a cadet line of the same family established their own seat at Pinsk after the Mongol invasion of Rus in 1239.
The Pinsk principality had an important strategic location, between the principalities of Navahrudak and Halych-Volynia, which fought each other for other Ruthenian territories. Pinsk did not take part in this struggle, although it was inclined towards the princes of Novaharodak, which is shown by the fact that the future prince of Novaharodak and Voyshalk of Lithuania spent some time in Pinsk.
