The fact that education in Šiauliai was among the most important priorities is demonstrated by the mention dated 1617, that Šiauliai had a school. Mauricius Griškevičius (Hriškevičius) writes about the rectory of the church and the school attached to the church and states that it used to be here before too. So, local inhabitants always had a need for education and training. This need might have appeared to them as early as 1445, when the church was built in the city, which became a shrine of both religion and education. It is to be maintained that according to the traditions prevailing throughout Europe, in the course of time, a learning institution had to appear by the church, possibly for education of future intellectuals.

In the second half of the 17^th century, Šiauliai economy was already ruled by the Sapiegos family. It is detected in the inventory of the manor, made in 1680, that in addition to windmills, there was a brewery in its area of outbuildings. It is the oldest known brewery in Lithuania, which later flourished and became significant for the economy of Šiauliai city and region, and is still operating now.

The fact that Šiauliai was an important unit of economy is proved by a road map, drawn up in 1699-1700. It was made by hired Saxon cartographers under the order of the Swedish Army that was invading the country during the Northern War. The legends of the plan show that Šiauliai was clearly distinguished as the largest urban structure of surrounding areas, where all the main roads intersected. Šiauliai church was also recorded in the map; it was clearly distinguished as the largest building.

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Jeronimas Valavičius.

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Mauricijaus Hriškevičiaus Šiaulių ekonomijos istorija (titulinis lapas).

The post The Emergence of Šiauliai Crown Estate (Economy) and its Significance for the State appeared first on History of Šiauliai.

The wealthiest inhabitants of the city settled around the market square; a court, other institutions were founded, businesses developed, craftsmen worked. There was a large church site near the market square (in the south-east). Until the 17^th century, a wooden church stood there, in 1617, the construction of the brick one was started. It is said that the first Christian cemetery was set up near the wooden Catholic church built in the middle of the 15^th century, which stood next to the present St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral. The new brick church was built in the 17^th century on the initiative of Vilnius voivode Kristupas Radvila Našlaitėlis, who at that time ruled Šiauliai land ascribed to him, but he died in 1616, not living to see the end of the construction. The brick church building was finished only in the middle of the 17^th century. His initiative was continued and supported by the elder of Samogitia Jeronimas Valavičius, and the organizer of all constructions was priest Petras Tarvainis. This active man came to Šiauliai in 1614 from Aukštaitija parish and straight away started to implement the design of the brick church. It was he to whom the major part of merits belongs that this church was built. P.Tarvainis organised the purchase of building materials from local nobles and ensured the establishment of church land boundaries, for which he had to confront the manor of the city and the locals who did not want to acknowledge these boundaries. By the way, this active priest also has other merits: a book of 24 pages, a gracious appeal to the bishop of Samogitia Jurgis Tiškevičius, who in 1634 came to consecrate the church. This text entitled ‘Linksmasis Pasveikinimas’ (‘Merry Greeting’) is the first written narrative about Šiauliai, written in syllabic versification, and is the first example of syllabic versification of Baroque poetry in the Lithuanian literature.

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Planas nuo Gargždų į Kauną.

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Petras Tarvainis 82 psl.

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Petras Tarvainis 89 psl.

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