Husiatyn

Name in Ukrainian: 
Гусятин
Name in Polish: 
Husiatyn
Name in Hebrew: 
הוסיאטין
Historical-cultural region: 
Eastern Galicia
Administrative District : 
Ternopil Region
Population Data: 

Jewish Population

General Population

Year

1208

(?)

1765

3782

5214

1880

4197

6060

1890

3648

5736

1900

3288

5799

1910

368

2104

1921

388

(?)

1931

 

Husiatyn is located on both banks of the Zbruch River, about 65 km. south-east of Ternopil. This location had a significant effect on the development of the city in general, and on the lives of its Jews in particular.

Husiatyn was established in 1559, initially as a royal town. Its location in a fertile agricultural region led to the fast development; however, various disputes and wars led to its destruction at several times. In 1594 Severyn Nalyvaiko, the commander of a regiment of Cossacks, burnt and razed the city in retaliation for his father’s execution at the hands of the city’s lords. In 1645 Kalinowski, the ruler of the city, fortified the eastern bank of the city and his castle and built a wall around the city. However, in May of 1648, Kalinowski was captured by the Tatars and Cossacks in the battle of Korsun, and his castle was ransacked. The city succeeded in withstanding a number of attacks during the years 1651-1655, but in 1672, following an Ottoman attack against the Polish kingdom, it moved into Ottoman hands for about thirty years, until the Podole region and parts of the Ukraine were returned to the Polish kingdom following the Treaty of Karlowitz. During the period of Ottoman rule the city was developed, and several magnificent buildings were built.