VILNIUSVILNIUS

Apie VilniuApie Vilniu

VilniusVilnius  help·info, see also other names is the capital of Lithuania, and its   help·info, see also other names is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 (850,324 together with Vilnius largest city, with a population of 560,190 (850,324 together with Vilnius County) as of 2010. is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of County) as of 2010. is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of

the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius Countythe Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County. .

Vilniaus HistoryVilniaus HistoryEarly historyEarly history

Historian Romas Batūra identifies the city with Voruta, one of the castles Historian Romas Batūra identifies the city with Voruta, one of the castles of Mindaugas, crowned in 1253 as King of Lithuania. During the reign of Vytenis a city of Mindaugas, crowned in 1253 as King of Lithuania. During the reign of Vytenis a city started to emerge from a trading settlement and the first Franciscan Catholic church started to emerge from a trading settlement and the first Franciscan Catholic church was built. The city was first mentioned in written sources in 1323, when the Letters of was built. The city was first mentioned in written sources in 1323, when the Letters of Grand Duke Gediminas were sent to German cities inviting German members of Grand Duke Gediminas were sent to German cities inviting German members of the Jewish community to settle in the capital city, as well as to Pope John XXII. These the Jewish community to settle in the capital city, as well as to Pope John XXII. These letters contain the first unambiguous reference to Vilnius as the capital; Old Trakai letters contain the first unambiguous reference to Vilnius as the capital; Old Trakai Castle had been the earlier seat of the court of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Castle had been the earlier seat of the court of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. According to legend, Gediminas dreamt of an iron wolf howling on a hilltop and According to legend, Gediminas dreamt of an iron wolf howling on a hilltop and consulted a pagan priest for its interpretation. He was told: "What is destined for the consulted a pagan priest for its interpretation. He was told: "What is destined for the ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall echo throughout the world". The location offered practical advantages: it lay within the echo throughout the world". The location offered practical advantages: it lay within the Lithuanian heartland at the confluence of two navigable rivers, surrounded by forests Lithuanian heartland at the confluence of two navigable rivers, surrounded by forests and wetlands that were difficult to penetrate. The duchy had been subject to and wetlands that were difficult to penetrate. The duchy had been subject to intrusions by the Teutonic Knightsintrusions by the Teutonic Knights..

Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The city underwent a period of expansion. The Vilnius city walls were built for The city underwent a period of expansion. The Vilnius city walls were built for protection between 1503 and 1522, comprising nine city gatesand three towers, protection between 1503 and 1522, comprising nine city gatesand three towers, and Sigismund August moved his court there in 1544and Sigismund August moved his court there in 1544Subačius gateSubačius gateIts growth was due in part to the establishment of Alma Academia et Universitas Its growth was due in part to the establishment of Alma Academia et Universitas Vilnensis Societatis Iesu by King Stefan Bathory in 1579. The university soon Vilnensis Societatis Iesu by King Stefan Bathory in 1579. The university soon developed into one of the most important scientific and cultural centres of the region developed into one of the most important scientific and cultural centres of the region and the most notable scientific centre of the Commonwealth. During its rapid and the most notable scientific centre of the Commonwealth. During its rapid development, the city was open to migrants from the territories of the Grand Duchy development, the city was open to migrants from the territories of the Grand Duchy and further. A variety of languages were and further. A variety of languages were spoken: Lithuanian, Polish, Ruthenian,Russian, OldSlavonic, Latin, German, Yiddish, spoken: Lithuanian, Polish, Ruthenian,Russian, OldSlavonic, Latin, German, Yiddish, Hebrew and Turkic; the city was compared toBabylon. Each group made its unique Hebrew and Turkic; the city was compared toBabylon. Each group made its unique contribution to the life of the city, and crafts, trade, and science prospered.contribution to the life of the city, and crafts, trade, and science prospered.The 17th century brought a number of setbacks. The Commonwealth was involved in The 17th century brought a number of setbacks. The Commonwealth was involved in a series of wars, collectively known as The Deluge. During the Russo-Polish War a series of wars, collectively known as The Deluge. During the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667), Vilnius was occupied by Russian forces; it was pillaged and burned, (1654–1667), Vilnius was occupied by Russian forces; it was pillaged and burned, and its population was massacred. During the Great Northern War it was looted by and its population was massacred. During the Great Northern War it was looted by the Swedish army. An outbreak of bubonic plague in 1710 killed about 35,000 the Swedish army. An outbreak of bubonic plague in 1710 killed about 35,000 residents; devastating fires occurred in 1715, 1737, 1741, 1748, and 1749. The city's residents; devastating fires occurred in 1715, 1737, 1741, 1748, and 1749. The city's growth lost its momentum for many years, but the population rebounded, and by the growth lost its momentum for many years, but the population rebounded, and by the beginning of the 19th century its population reached 20,0beginning of the 19th century its population reached 20,0

In PolandIn PolandDuring World War I, Vilnius and the rest of Lithuania was occupied by the German During World War I, Vilnius and the rest of Lithuania was occupied by the German Army from 1915 until 1918. The Germans found a city that appeared to be Polish, and Army from 1915 until 1918. The Germans found a city that appeared to be Polish, and their commander referred to it as "the jewel of the Polish crown". The Acf of their commander referred to it as "the jewel of the Polish crown". The Acf of lidependence of Lithuania, declaring Lithuanian independence from any affiliation to lidependence of Lithuania, declaring Lithuanian independence from any affiliation to any other nation, was issued in the city on 16 February 1918. After the withdrawal of any other nation, was issued in the city on 16 February 1918. After the withdrawal of German forces, the city was briefly controlled by Polish self-defence units which were German forces, the city was briefly controlled by Polish self-defence units which were driven out by advancing Soviet forces. Vilnius changed hands again during driven out by advancing Soviet forces. Vilnius changed hands again during the Polish-Soviet War and the Lithuanian Wars of Independence: it was retaken by the Polish-Soviet War and the Lithuanian Wars of Independence: it was retaken by the Polish Army, only to fall to the Soviet forces again. Shortly after its defeat in the Polish Army, only to fall to the Soviet forces again. Shortly after its defeat in the battle of Warsaw, the retreating Red Army, in order to delay the Polish advance, the battle of Warsaw, the retreating Red Army, in order to delay the Polish advance, ceded the city back to neutral Lithuania after signing the Soviet-Lithuanian Treaty on ceded the city back to neutral Lithuania after signing the Soviet-Lithuanian Treaty on 12 July 1920. 12 July 1920.