14th-15th Centuries – a Changeable Period: between the State Defence and Christianity Light – History of Šiauliai

In Short about Šiauliai Character

Šiaulių TIC — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 22:24:19 +0000

Šiauliai land started the 13^th century as an important, one of the most significant members of the Union of Samogitians, the opinion of which was always considered. It became independent of other territories of Samogitians, but the possibility to make independent decisions later cost dearly. In the 14^th-15^th centuries, it almost disappeared from history: historical sources rarely mentioned this territory. In the 15^th century, alongside with changes in the Great Duchy of Lithuania and slight changes in its territorial boundaries, Šiauliai land turned into a rural district. Although Šiauliai land was declining, it can be stated that people who lived here were known for their strong personality, had their principles, and were not afraid to oppose both the ruler of the country and the external forces attacking the land.

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Pentinis kirvis (X–XVI a.)

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Įtveriamasis ietigalis.

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Šiauliai Land at the Dawn of Christianity in Samogitia

Šiaulių TIC — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 21:00:51 +0000

Šiauliai land succeeded to survive and in 1445, to gain the parish status, which could already indicate that Šiauliai was becoming the centre of the rural district and started rising from the ruins to a new stage. All of it took place with the approval and under the auspices of Samogitian authorities. Upon receiving the parish status, on the initiative of Samogitian elder Mykolas Kęsgaila, in 1445, Šiauliai church was built. The new establishing Šiauliai settlement, which formerly was in the shadow of Salduvė or Šiauliai castle on Salduvė mound, was eventually able to outlive and join it. Šiauliai church became the central accent of the city, surrounded by the rapidly developing city’s cemetery, because all the dead wanted to be buried in the consecrated ground.

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Šiaulių bažnyčia.

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Šiauliai Inhabitants – the Defenders of the State from Outside Enemies

Šiaulių TIC — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:49:21 +0000

Unexpectedly, or perhaps as planned, in 1348, Šiauliai inhabitants decided to attack the forces of the Order marching by. They later paid for this action because the Order did not forget it: in the same year, in the revenge campaign the knights destroy Dubysa (in 1358, this castle is repeatedly destroyed), Kuliai, Bauska, Šiauliai castles. It is thought that these castles were partially abandoned because most of their defenders had re-grouped and retreated to the interior of the state and were waiting for the Knights of the Cross, who were ready to go to the depth of the country as they believed in an easy victory. This served the purpose, because the crusaders were prevented from pushing forward and were forced to return. Unfortunately, due to this courageous resistance, the land of Šiauliai was completely devastated and ravaged, poorly inhabited. In the chronicle of the Baltramiejus Hionekė, this assault of the crusaders is described as complete devastation of the land, leaving very few inhabitants in the vicinities. The fights against outer forces and disagreement with local Samogitian noblemen led to the decline of the nobility layer in Šiauliai land, and the very land barely survived: among the majority of Samogitian lands, mentioned in the treaty between Samogitians and Livonia, signed in 1390, Šiauliai is not noted.

14th-15th Centuries – a Changeable Period: between the State Defence and Christianity Light – History of Šiauliai

In Short about Šiauliai Character

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Šiauliai Land at the Dawn of Christianity in Samogitia

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Šiauliai Inhabitants – the Defenders of the State from Outside Enemies

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