Podlaskie Voivodeship (also known as Podlasie Province, Polish: wojewdztwo or simply Podlaskie) is a voivodeship (province) in north-eastern Poland. It was created on January 1, 1999, out of the former BiaÅ?ystok and Łomża Voivodeships and the eastern half of the former SuwaÅ?ki Voivodeship, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. Its capital is BiaÅ?ystok.   Podlaskie is the most diverse of all Polish voivodships. The area has been inhabited for centuries by members of different nations and religions: Belarusians, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Russyns, Gypsies, Tatars, Jews and Filipons.