Favourable Conditions for the Expansion of the Settlement

The name of Šiauliai city was first mentioned in the 16th century, on June 11, 1524, in the letter of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Žygimantas Senasis, by which Šiauliai rural district was transferred to the bishop of Vilnius, Jonas. At a similar time, in 1555, Šiauliai appeared on the map for the first time, when the German cartographer Caspar Vopel marked Šiauliai, creating a map of Europe. In the sources of the 16th century, Šiauliai is mentioned as a locality near the roads which at that time were already trade routes. One road led from Riga to Karaliaučius via Tilžė, Tauragė, Kražiai, Kurtuvėnai, Joniškis, Mintauja (Jelgava), the other road was via Radviliškis, Šeduva, Panevėžys to Vilnius or Kaunas and Kėdainiai, from the other side reaching Klaipėda. This geographical location promoted the beginning of expansion of the settlement. Close enough location of Riga and provision of guarantees to develop import and export of goods to the port of Riga, where intensive trade with Western countries took place, and constant movement and transit in the very Šiauliai, where the church, the market and the manor stood next to each other, promoted the development of service businesses and crafts. And here the sources of the beginning of the 16th century say that Šiauliai is a city or a small town, at the same time a parish centre and the centre of the rural district, meeting religious and secular needs of the region. In the second half of the 16th century, Šiauliai is called ‘the great Šiauliai’, but in 1589, a huge fire destroys the city – almost all town houses burn away. There is no remaining data how the then Šiauliai looked like, how streets were located, etc.

Kristupas Radvila (Naslaitelis) gavo teisę iki gyvos galvos valdyti Šiaulius

Kristupas Radvila (Naslaitelis) gavo teisę iki gyvos galvos valdyti Šiaulius.

19
Jan
2018

Facebook

Leave feedback

Your email will not be published
*