The 1842 Creation of Kovno Guberniya
Changed the Borders of the Vilna Guberniya and Grodno Guberniya
by
Ellen Sadove Renck
A December 18, 1842 Royal Edict reorganized the northwestern Russian
Empire and created the Kovno Guberniya. That reorganization effected
the Vilna and Grodno gubernii. The northern uezds of Vilna Guberniya (Novoaleksandrovsk,
Rassein, Telshi, Shavli, Upita, Vilkomir, and part of Kovno) became a new
guberniya called Kovno. The southern part of Vilna Guberniya that was the
uezds of Vilna, Oshmiany, and Zavileyski (renamed Sventsion uezd) remained
in the Vilna Guberniya. The Lida
Uezd, at that time part of the Grodno Guberniya, as well as Disna and
Vileika Uezds, then part of the Minsk Guberniya, were added to Vilna
Guberniya. Novogrudek Uezd that had been part of Grodno Guberniya
was added to Minsk Guberniya.
The Grodno Guberniya uezds of Grodno, Volkovysk, Slonim, Brest, Kobrin,
Pruzhany and three uyezds of the Bialystok province became part of the
Grodno Guberniya that also was being reorganized. Drogichin Uezd merged
with Belsk Uyezd causing Drogichin to lose its status as the uezd
administrative center. The capital remained Grodno. Bialystok
guberniya was abolished.
Last modified January 26, 2007
