Formation of Šiauliai Land

In the beginning, forms of settled life began to form in settlements located far from the present centre of Šiauliai. In addition to the old settlement of Lieporiai, where in the 4^th century people already could smelt iron, there was also Sauginiai, which is to be considered the first inhabited place in the land of Šiauliai (the 1^st millennium BC), and later, other residential places near castles appeared (it is believed that they were begun to be built from around the middle of the 1^st millennium or the 11^th century). Scientists here distinguish an entire defensive chain of mounds (a defensive ring), which protected access to strategically important roads of Šiauliai land. Unfortunately, all castles were destroyed during the crusade campaigns to the lands of Lithuania. It is believed that this was because most of the defenders had retreated from these fortresses and were lying in ambush, waiting for the intruders, who believed in the easy victory. As it turned out later, this was correct tactics, because at that time the troops of the Order were not able to invade far to the land of Lithuania. At that time, the entire land of Šiauliai was dotted with defensive fortifications, secret passages, hidden underwater stony roads across swamps, as Šiauliai inhabitants, who found themselves on the crossroad of strategically important roads, were known as the first to meet the enemy from the north and prevent it from forcing its way further into the depth of the country. This originated the names of the surrounding settlements, such as Ginkūnai or Sauginiai, meaning defended and protected places, while Šiauliai sounds like šaulys – an archer who would bravely fight for the country.

1. archeology
2. ethnology
3. warfare