Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi

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Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (#redirect , translit. Bilhorod-Dnistrovs’kyi, Russian: , translit. Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Romanian: Cetatea Albă, Polish: Białogród, Turkish: Akkerman, Hungarian: Nyeszterfehérvár, Italian: Moncastro; also referred to as Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky or Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyy) is a city situated on the right bank of the Dniester Liman (in the estuary of the Dniester river) in the Odessa Oblast (province) of south-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Raion (district), the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is part of the historical region of Bessarabia.

The current estimated population is around 48,100 (as of 2004).

History

It fell under the rule of Halych-Volhynia by the 13th century. The Republic of Genoa briefly controlled the town during the 14th century, as did Louis I of Hungary. Bilhorod was incorporated into Moldavia in the 15th century,under the rule of Ştefan cel Mare, and became the important Moldavian fortress commonly known as Cetatea Albă. It was under Polish rule as a fief in the years 1387-1484.

The Ottoman Empire conquered the town in 1484 and established it as the fortress of Akkerman, part of its defensive system against Poland-Lithuania and, later, the Russian Empire. Major battles between the Ottomans and the Russians were fought near Bilhorod in 1770 and 1789. Russia conquered the town in 1770, 1774, and 1806, but returned the town after the conclusion of hostilities. It was not incorporated into Russia until 1812.

On September 25 1826, Russia and the Ottomans signed the Akkerman Convention which imposed that the rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia be elected by their respective Divans for seven-year terms, with the approval of both Powers (this was never implemented, due tu the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829). It also imposed the retreat of Turkish forces from both countries after their prolonged stay following military actions in 1821 (that were carried in response to the Philikí Etaireía and Tudor Vladimirescu's actions in the Greek War of Independence). The Turks also agreed to cede Wallachia control over the Danube ports of Giurgiu, Brăila and Turnu.

In 1918 Bilhorod passed to Romania, but became part of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union as a consequence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940.

According to the [2001 Ukrainian census], the majority of city population are Ukrainians. The rest are Russians (28%), Bulgarians (4%) and Moldovans (2%).

Notable natives

• The former Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Văcăroiu was born here.

External links

• [Soviet topographic map 1:100,000]

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