Zabłudów
Zabłudów (; , , ) is a town in Białystok County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. Prior to 1999 it was part of the Białystok Voivodeship (1975–1998). History The town of Zabłudów was founded in 1553, it was also granted Magdeburg town rights. An annual fair and weekly market were established. It was a private town which in the late 16th century passed successively to the families of Pac, Sapieha, Leszczyński, Sanguszko, and from 1598 until the beginning of the 19th century it was owned by the Radziwiłł family. In the 17th century, there were guilds of tailors, shoemakers and potters; agriculture also developed. Also in the 17th century, Protestants, including the Polish Brethren, as well as Jews, settled in the town. In 1654, King John II Casimir Vasa confirmed Zabłudów's town rights and granted the coat of arms. In 1659 during the Russian-Polish War it was destroyed by invading Russian forces. It was annexed by Prussia during the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. In 1800, the Prussian administration ordered the demolition of the local Catholic church, Germanisation attempts began, in 1803 a German school was founded. In 1807 the town passed to the Russian Partition of Poland. Initially,