By the roads of Mykolaivshchyna By the roads of Mykolaivshchyna | Page 13

most likely, the capital of White Croatia was situated in Stilsko, with its main sanctuary being in Iliv. In the years 981–992, the principalities of Croats were joined to Kievan Rus by grand prince Vladimir Sviatoslavich. During those wars, Stilsko was levelled to the ground; later, it never grew to the level of a town. As it was mentioned by archaeologist A. Schneider, in the year 1607, the foun­ dations of the town walls, Ruthenian coins, and huge sanctuary were discovered in the process of laying the ground for the cathedral. In the 19th century, one could see the ramparts, which surrounded the town. According to Schneider, that was the ancient town of Teterev. In the year 1241, almost all settle­ ments were destroyed by Mongolian troops, with all town population, dwelled on the slopes of Okruzhna Mountain (later Drogovizh) being killed. The land of Mykolaiv got resurrected as the part of Przemysl Principality. In February, 1387th, the territory of Rayon was occupied by the Poles. In the years 1403–1408, Verbizh was granted town privileges, and Polish and German colonists were invited to get settled there. Historical documents of the 15th century contain records related to Gorozhanna Velyka, Verbizh, Berezdevtsi, Bilche, Kolodruby, Drogovizh, Rozvadiv, Iliv, Ustya, Demnya, Krynytsya, Krasiv, Lyashki Gorishni, Lyashki Dolishni, Veryn, Polyana, Dobryany, and Rycha­ giv. The documents of the 16th–17th centuries have references to the villages of Gorutska, Derzhiv, Pisochna, and Novisilki-Oparski. Thus, in the 16th–17th centuries, the territory of Mykolaivshchyna was densely populated. In the year of 1570, Polish king Sigizmund II Augustus granted the chart for the foundation of a town not far from Drogovyzh to nobleman Mikolaj View of Mykolaiv 11