Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

214  INTRODUCING LITHU ANIA

THE HISTORY OF

LITHUANIA

Europe’s last pagan stronghold, Lithuania rose as a powerful state by the late 14th
century, surviving until the 16th century. It was thereafter subjugated first by the
Poles and then the Russians. The long periods of occupation endured by the
country stirred a reawakening of national identity in its people. An independent
republic, briefly created during the inter-war era, was finally established in 1991.

At the start of the 13th century, of Lithuania (see pp216–17), led by a
Lithuanian tribes, such as the dynasty established by Gediminas
Samogitians in the west and (r.1316–41). The crusaders
Aukštaitiai in the east, began to occupied the Grand Duchy for
unite in the face of regular 100 years, until they were finally
incursions by Germanic crusaders. and decisively defeated at the
The brutal attacks grew with Battle of Grünwald (Žalgiris) in 1410
increasing intensity before the 13th-century seal of the by the powerful allied armies of
resolutely pagan Samogitians Germanic crusaders Lithuania and Poland.
vanquished the Knights of the
Sword at the Battle of the Sun in 1236. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Grand Duke Jogaila (r.1362–1434) married
The Lithuanian Grand Duchy Jadwiga of Poland in 1386 and accepted
Duke Mindaugas (r.1235–63), who was Christianity, which led to mass baptisms
rapidly adding territory to his base in throughout Lithuania in the ensuing years.
Aukštaitija, united the tribes in
1240, crowning himself king in
1253. His acceptance of
Christianity to appease the
crusaders enraged the
Samogitians, who murdered him,
took over his land and reverted to
paganism. By the beginning of
the 14th century, large numbers
of crusaders returned from the
Middle East and joined the fight
against the pagan Grand Duchy Impression of the Union of Lublin by 19th-century artist Jan Matejko

King Mindaugas (c.1203–63)
1236 Samogitian 1253 Duke
victory at the Mindaugas 1386 Lithuania 1392 Grand Duchy of
Battle of the Sun crowned and Poland Lithuania reaches the
unite Black Sea
1200 1300 1400 1500
1240 Duke 1410 Battle of Grünwald
Mindaugas 1316 Accession 1382 Crusaders (Žalgiris) destroys the
unites Lithuania of Gediminas seize Samogitia Teutonic Knights

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