Belarusian Nobility

Belarusian Nobility

Noble people on Belarusian lands (Belarusian: шляхта, szlachta) were usually of Slavic (Ruthenian) origin in the east or of Baltic (Lithuanian in historical context, Litvin) origin in the west of the lands of what is now Belarus. The percentage of nobility among inhabitants of the lands of modern Belarus was very high compared to other countries: 10%-12% at the end of 18th century compared to 1% in Russia, Prussia or Austria of that time. According to the historian Anatol Hrytskievich, this was because of the necessity to have a large amount of military szlachta was the base for.