Bely, Tver Oblast

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Coat of arms of Bely

Bely (Russian: Бе́лый) is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, situated on the Obsha River, about halfway between Smolensk (to the west), Toropets (to the north), and Rzhev (to the south-east). Population: 4,400 (2003 est.); 4,350 (2002 Census); 6,900 (1897).

Bely is the Russian for "white", although it is a moot point why the epithet came to be applied to this town. It was first noticed in 1359 as a fort in the principality of Smolensk, passing to Lithuania by the end of the century. In the 15th century, it became a seat of the Belsky branch of the ruling House of Gediminas. The town was overrun by Muscovy in 1503. Three years later, they built a formidable castle, which the Lithuanians laid a siege to in 1508. The town was again subordinated to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between 1618 and 1654.

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Administrative center: Tver

	Andreapol · Bezhetsk · Bely · Bologoye · Kalyazin · Kashin · Kimry · Konakovo · Krasny Kholm · Kuvshinovo · Likhoslavl · Nelidovo · Ostashkov · Rzhev · Staritsa · Torzhok · Toropets · Udomlya · Vesyegonsk · Vyshny Volochyok · Zapadnaya Dvina · Zubtsov