Banyliv

Banyliv (Ukrainian: Банилів; Romanian: Bănila pe Ceremuș) is a village in Vyzhnytsia Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Banyliv rural hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.^[1]

Banyliv is one of the oldest villages in Bukovyna.

The first recorded mention of the village dates back to the year 1433, documented in a charter issued by Alexander the Good, the Voivode of Moldavia.The original name of the settlement is believed to have derived from the word ban,^[2] possibly referring to small-denomination coins or payments collected by the Turks at a local guard post, reflecting early Ottoman fiscal practices in the region.^[3]

An alternative theory suggests that the name originates from the word ban (/ˈbɑːn/), a title historically used in Slavic and Balkan regions to mean “governor” or “viceroy.” The title ban was held by local rulers or officials in several Central and Southeastern European states from the 7th to the 20th century. Although not of Turkish origin and not part of the Ottoman administrative system, the title continued to be used in regions under Ottoman suzerainty.

Prehistory

The earliest settlements on the site of Ruskyi Banyliv (former name until September 1946)^[4] are attributed to the Trypillia culture, dating back over 5,000 years. On the territory of the village, remnants of several ancient settlements have been discovered, for example, in the locality of the Korytnytsia River,^[5] traces of the Trypillian presence have been identified. Additionally, evidence of an Iron Age settlement dating to the first century B.C. has been found, along with Roman coinage from the second century A.D.^[6]

At the Historical Museum of Banyliv, visitors can see artifacts such as scrapers, stone axes, hand adzes, and arrowheads that reflect this rich archaeological heritage.^[7]

Under the Principality of Moldavia

With the establishment of the Principality of Moldavia in 1359, the village (then known as Ruskyi Banyliv^[6]), along with the rest of Bukovina, became part of the principality, marking its integration into what is recognized as a historic region of Moldavia, later forming part of modern Romania.^[8]

During this period, many areas of Bukovina, including Banyliv, were contested in conflicts between Moldavian forces and Polish authorities, who controlled the lands north of Bukovina. Under Moldavian rule, the social structure of Bukovina consisted primarily of the boyar class (landowners and administrators) and the peasantry. The villagers were divided into three groups: a small number of free citizens, a minority of slaves, mainly Roma and Tatars, and the majority who were serfs (kripaky). These serfs were bound to the land, lacking the right to relocate independently, and were transferred along with the estate upon change of ownership.

From 1514 to 1774, Bukovina came under Ottoman suzerainty,^[8] although the preexisting feudal social order largely persisted. Villagers were subordinated either to monastic estates or secular landlords. Following the Habsburg annexation in the late eighteenth century, reforms modified the feudal system. Notably, the 1766 statute known as the “Zolota Hramota” (“Golden Charter”) formalized peasant obligations, requiring tenant-serfs to render one-tenth of their annual harvest and provide twelve days of unpaid labor to their landlords.^[6]

In Banyliv, the historical legacy endures, with a “Turkish” road and a “Turkish” watchtower still present today.^[3]

Under Austro-Hungarian rule

In 1775, the Habsburg Empire annexed the northwestern portion of Moldavia, including Banyliv, establishing the region known as Bukovina.^[9]

At the time, Banyliv consisted of two sectors: Verkhnyi (Upper) and Nyzhnyi (Lower) Banyliv. Its territory extended primarily between the Cheremosh River and its tributary, the Mlynivka, and in 1775, it was home to 197 families, including 187 peasant households, 6 families of mazyls (petty landowners), and 4 priestly families.

Under Austrian administration, however, the feudal system intensified despite regulations like the 'Zolota Hramota'. Landlords imposed extra obligations beyond legal requirements: horse-owning peasants were forced into construction labor and firewood supply, while others owed a tenth of their harvest, a chicken, and a length of yarn. These demands led to widespread poverty and a landless class.

This exploitation persisted after the 1788 decree granting hereditary land rights, which failed to improve distribution. Instead, large landowners expropriated communal forests and meadows, escalating land pressure. By 1847, extreme inequality was stark: 19 landlords held 3,458 yochs (≈1,990 ha) of prime land, while 769 village families collectively subsisted on just 5,058 yochs (≈2,910 ha) - this translates to just 6.6 yochs (3.8 ha) per family, with an average household size of 5-6 persons.^[6] This systemic exploitation drove residents to join Lukian Kobylytsia’s uprising against feudal abuses. Although Austrian forces brutally crushed the revolt, it catalyzed the abolition of serfdom in 1848.

Yet this reform failed to resolve the fundamental land crisis - the core resource defining peasant existence, later immortalized in Olha Kobylianska’s well known novel Zemlya (Land, 1902). By 1865, landlessness in Banyliv surged from 30 families (1847) to 141 (1865), while smallholders owning ≤2 yochs (≤1.15 ha) grew from 125 to 230 families, and those holding 2–5 yochs (1.15 - 2.88 ha) rose from 130 to 194, still below the 5-yoch (2.88 ha) threshold for self-sufficiency.^[6]

Ultimately, this unsustainable pressure triggered mass emigration to countries such as Canada, the USA, and others.^[6]

From 1899 to 1914, around of 502 individuals emigrated from Banyliv to East Central Alberta, Canada.^[4]

Other key developments in Banyliv during the late 19th century:

• 1856 – An elementary school was built, marking the beginning of formal education in the village.
• 1869 – A post office was established, connecting Banyliv to the wider communication network.
• 1880 – Weekly Wednesday bazaars were authorised.
• 1882 – the Assumption Church (historically Orthodox and now part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine) was built, physically and symbolically connecting Verkhnyi (Upper) and Nyzhnyi (Lower) Banyliv.
• Late 1890s – Construction of the Nepolokivtsi–Vyzhnytsia railway began, with a station opened in the village.
• 1904 – A Ukrainian People's Home reading-house (хата-читальня) was built, serving as a center of cultural life, education, and Ukrainian national identity.^[6]

One of the notable and historically documented facts is Yuriy Fedkovych’s visit to the village of Banyliv in 1867. His visit was part of a broader educational and cultural mission, as he actively promoted the development of Ukrainian language, culture, and education in Bukovina. As recorded in the 1902 travelogue "In the Footsteps of Fedkovych (Za slїdamy Fedʹkovycha: Notes from a Walk through Bukovina)"/"За слїдами Федьковича (записки з прогулянки по Буковині)" by Roman Zaklynskyi/Роман Заклинський, some villagers already knew Fedkovych prior to his visit, having met him during their military service in the Austrian army, particularly during the 1859 campaign of the Second Italian War of Independence, when Austria fought against the allied forces of France and the Kingdom of Sardinia in Northern Italy.^[10]

The period of World War I (1914–1918)

Based on documented accounts in The Story of the Great War, Volume VI^[11] , the village of Banyliv, situated along the Cheremosh River, occupied a vulnerable position during World War I. In August 1916 and July 1917, the region experienced repeated Austro-German offensives and Russian withdrawals, with nearby towns such as Kuty,Verkhovyna (old name Schabje ), Vyzhnytsia, and Yablunytsia appearing prominently in operational reports. Although Banyliv itself is not mentioned by name, its geographic location places it squarely within the broader zone of military activity. It is therefore historically reasonable to conclude that Banyliv stood on or near the front line and endured the disruption and hardship that accompanied shifting control and military operations in Bukovina.^[12]

This conclusion is supported by eyewitness accounts, which recall fighting over the bridge across the Cheremosh River in the part of Banyliv known locally as Piket. Though absent from official wartime reports, these testimonies indicate that the village likely witnessed direct combat, consistent with its strategic position in a heavily contested sector during the 1916–1917 campaigns.

Many men from the village were recruited into the Austro-Hungarian army. Among those who served in the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen’s Legion were also several women. One notable example is Olena Kuz^[13], who was born in Banyliv and took part in the legion’s activities. In recognition of her contribution, a bust was unveiled in her honor on 14 October 2014 in the courtyard of the local school.

Under Romanian rule

Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Bukovina experienced a brief period of political uncertainty. For several weeks, Banyliv, situated in Northern Bukovina, fell under the authority of the Ukrainian Bukovina Executive Committee, which sought unification with the West Ukrainian People's Republic. On 3 November 1918, the Ukrainian Bukovina Viche in Chernivtsi voiced its opposition to Romanian annexation. Despite this, between November and December 1918, Romanian military forces occupied the region, including Chernivtsi and surrounding districts. As a result of these developments, and following the failure of the Ukrainian War of Independence, Northern Bukovina, including Banyliv, was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of Romania, a status internationally recognized under the Treaty of Trianon in 1920.^[14]

World War II and the Era of Soviet Domination

After September 7, 1946, Ruskyi Banyliv was officially called "Banyliv".^[6]

Independence

Since 1991, Banyliv has been a part of an independent Ukraine.

48°22′N 25°21′E / 48.367°N 25.350°E / 48.367; 25.350