Zasłaŭje
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Zasłaŭje (Belarusian: Засла́ўе, IPA: [za'sɫau̯je]; Russian: Заславль, Zaslavl; Lithuanian: Zaslauja, Polish: Zasław; Latin: Zaslavium) is a historic town in Minsk Province of Belarus, 12 miles (20 kilometres) northwest of Minsk.
Zasłaŭje is believed to have been founded in 985 by Vladimir the Great who sent his wife Rogneda to live here with their son Izyaslav of Polotsk, the founder of the princely house of Polatsk. The town's current name derives from Izyaslav's name.
In the early Middle Age the town was centre of the Duchy of Zasłaŭje. In the 11th century, the town was heavily fortified; much of its territory has been designated an archaeological reservation. There is also a modern outdoor statue of Rogneda and Izyaslav on the grounds.
Architectural monuments of Zasłaŭje include the Saviour Church, which was built from 1577 onward and is still in fair preservation, and the Roman Catholic church of Mary's Nativity, a towered edifice which goes back to 1774-99.
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