Chashniki


Chashniki is a town in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Chashniki District. It is famous for the Battle of Ula during the Livonian War and the Battle of Chashniki that took place during the French invasion of Russia in 1812. In 2021, its population was 8,092. As of 2025, it has a population of 7,573.

Etymology

It is believed that the term Chashniki comes from the Belarusian word, which referred to an official who would pour drinks for the Lithuanian prince. Another possible etymology comes from the, which connects the name of the settlements to bowl.

History

Chashniki was a private town of the Kiszka and Służka families, administratively located in the Polotsk Voivodeship of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1564, Polish–Lithuanian forces defeated Russian invaders in the Battle of the Ula near the town.
The town was formerly home to the Chashniki castle, which was erected during the Livonian War under order of Ivan the Terrible. It burned down during the Great Northern War during the advancement of Peter the Great's troops through the area.
In the 19th century, the town conducted trade with the city of Riga, selling grain, flax, and timber.
Chashniki has historically had two churches. The first was the, a baroque church erected in the 17th century, and monastery founded by Dominik Służka in 1674. In, the Dominican monastery was closed and the church was converted into a regular Catholic parish church, and then in 1868 it was converted into an Orthodox church. It was demolished by Soviet authorities in 1964. The second was the, an example of classicism established in 1843. It was restored in 2000.

Geography

Chashniki is located on the, a tributary of the Daugava.

Jewish population

In 1897, out of a total population of 4,590, about 4,000 were Jews. Besides those engaged in dairying, which was entirely in the hands of the Jewish population, there were 310 Jewish artisans and 99 Jewish journeymen.
In 1906, according to the statistical data of the state archive of the Vitebsk province, the total number of residents of Chashniki was 5,530 people. Of these, 4,276 were Jews, 1,254 were Christians.

People