At the dawning of its history, Podlaskie Voivodeship was covered by impenetrable primeval forests and swamps, which extended from the Bug to the Niemen River . Very few people inhabited only the edge of the voivodeship. This border area was under the ethnic influence of Polish,
Russian and Lithuanian cultures. In the XIII and XIV centuries the western part of present Podlaskie Voivodeship - Kurpie Land - permanently joined the Mazovia district. Subsequent to this, the middle strip of the area, extending between the Drohiczyn and Biebrza swamps, was incorporated into neighbouring principalities. The Drohiczyn Land temporarily even became a part of the Wlodzimiersko-Halickie Duchy. In 1253 the ruler of this duchy - Prince Daniel Romanowicz crowned himself King of Ruthenia. This interesting event, however, was incidental only. In the XIII century the princes of Mazovia and Wlodzimiersko-Halickie Duchies had to face strong competition arising in the north of the voivodeship, due to the establishment of the country of Lithuania . At the beginning this resulted mainly in the escalation of Lithuanian invasions of the Podlasie land. The continuous wars were the reason for a low population density in the region. Settlement concentrated only around the most important towns such as Bielsk, Drohiczyn, Lomza, Mielnik, Rajgrod and Suraz.
¬ród³o: WrotaPodlasia.pl
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