Why Belarus is NOT White Russia

[Vessna]

1)Belaya Rus - that used to be the name of Moscow Rus. This word meant "Free Russia". White is free, black is not free. The territory of Ukraine and Belarus belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the INCL. and were not ruled by the Old Russian Rurikovich family. Moscow Russia was white Russia, that is, the only free Russia. Then this name passed to the Belarusians.

This is an interesting interpretation. What is your source for this information? I’ve never heard Moscow to be called “White Russia”. Belarus was a part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Rurik rule of Russia and was called Balto(White) Ruthenia.

[Vessna]

In the proto-Slavic language, the four cardinal directions were associated with colors.
White — North, Red —West, Black — South, and Green — East.
Thus, Belarus = land of the Northern Rus.

White Ruthenia (Belarusian: Белая Русь, romanized: Biełaja Ruś; Polish: Ruś Biała; Russian: Белая Русь, romanized: Bjelaja Ruś; Ukrainian: Біла Русь, romanized: Bila Ruś) alternatively known as Russia Alba, White Rus' or White Russia, is an archaism[1][2] for the eastern part of present-day Belarus, including the cities of Polotsk, Vitebsk and Mogilev.

According to Alfred Nicolas Rambaud:

The name of White (Lithuanian: Balta) Russia is given to the provinces conquered from the 13th to the 14th century by the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. These were the ancient territories of the Krivitches, Polotchans, Dregovitches, Drevlians, Doulebes, now forming the governments of Vitepsk, Mohilef, and Minsk. The Lithuanian territories of Grodno, Novogrodek and Belostok were sometimes called Black Russia.[3]


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[Ugo]

Yeah I re-read the first paragraph and raised my eyebrows

I know the history of Russia well. Arguing with me is pointless. Read it here. Although there is not all the information here. I will note 2 points from this link. 1) Belarus is the Novgorod Republic 2) The very first territory that was called Belarus was the Rostov-Suzdal Principality.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91...83%D1%81%D1%8C

[Vessna]

I know the history of Russia well. Arguing with me is pointless. Read it here. Although there is not all the information here. I will note 2 points from this link. 1) Belarus is the Novgorod Republic 2) The very first territory that was called Belarus was the Rostov-Suzdal Principality.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91...83%D1%81%D1%8C

The link doesn’t work


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[CountGrishnackh]

This is an interesting interpretation. What is your source for this information? I’ve never heard Moscow to be called “White Russia”. Belarus was a part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Rurik rule of Russia and was called Balto(White) Ruthenia.

his 'source' is his drunk ass, it has absolutely nothing to do with Belarus being 'Free' or whatever. Free as opposed to what? Being enslaved? There are 0 sources claiming 'White' in Belarus stands for 'Free'.

[CordedWhelp]

Accurate or not, Balt-Rus has a nice little ring to it.

[Ugo]

Here is all the evidence that White Russia was originally called 1) the Novgorod Republic
2) Moscow kingdom

On the map of Central Europe, published around 1459 by Nikolai Kuzansky, the name Belaya Rus means Muscovy (Russia Alba sive Moscovia). This area lies to the east of the Dnieper (Borysthenes)[12].

On the 26th, we were called for the last time to His Highness and before the audience began, we examined various silk products prepared by his order, not too excellent, however, as well as gifts appointed for the Duke of Burgundy, for our Most Serene Republic and for a certain Mark Rosso, ambassador of the Grand Duke of Moscow, Sovereign of White Russia[15].

So, on September 26, 1476, singing the prayer "We praise God to You" and offering thanks to God, who saved us from many troubles and dangers, we entered the city of Moscow, belonging to Grand Duke John, ruler of Great White Russia (il duca Zuane, signer della gran Rossia Bianca)[16].

https://web.archive.org/web/20150402...83%D1%81%D1%8C

[Vessna]

Accurate or not, Balt-Rus has a nice little ring to it.

Belarus in Lithuanian is Baltarusija, and they call us baltarusių.


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[Ugo]

his 'source' is his drunk ass, it has absolutely nothing to do with Belarus being 'Free' or whatever. Free as opposed to what? Being enslaved? There are 0 sources claiming 'White' in Belarus stands for 'Free'.

Where did you come from here, troll? You've been banned.

[Vessna]

Here is all the evidence that White Russia was originally called 1) the Novgorod Republic
2) Moscow kingdom



https://web.archive.org/web/20150402...83%D1%81%D1%8C

I read the wiki article and sounds like they called “White Rus” a lot of different places from Eastern Poland to Northern Russia
Anyway, if this name was at the core of Russian identity, it would have stuck. But it did not. It was not important to the Russian people of the past.