Population – 2,000
In the 14th century the town was alternately owned by Prince Hiedymin of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Prince Andrei Yuryevich of Volyn, Polish King Casimir III the Great and Prince Keistut of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1379 Berestye was plundered and destroyed by Teutonic knights, but the crusaders found the castle to be impregnable.
After a short period of time the town got back on its feet, the trade was lively, rich fairs were organized, the first wholesale marketplace was built. Berestye merchants traded on a grand scale: they exported grain, furs, leather, hemp, and timber to Europe and imported cloth, silk, salt, glass, crockery, paper, jewelry. Blacksmithing, pottery, sewing, shoemaking and jewelry crafts, woodworking, spinning and weaving crafts reached their peak. The townspeople were also engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, hunting and fishing, providing themselves with food.
In 1390 Berestye was the first Belarusian city and the second one after Vilna in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to receive the right to self-government, known as Magdeburg Law. The city was ruled by a council elected by the townspeople from among major merchants and artisans. The grand duke of Lithuania appointed a voit - the head of the city council.
Since then Berestye was allowed to use a coat of arms and a seal, which were subsequently changed several times. The most famous Berestye coats of arms depicted a silver bow and arrow on a blue background; a hipped tower like the Berestye donjon on a red field at the intersection of two rivers; a galloping silver rider on a red background (the coat of arms of Berestye Voivodeship called Pogonya [Pursuit]).
