about Samogitia

Samogitia (Zemaiciai, Zhemaitiya), (western part in modern Lithuania) bounded by the Nevezis river in east, the Baltic Sea on the west, the Neman river on the south, and the Latvian border on the north, inhabitants came to be called zemaiciai (lowlanders; . Zhemaitis);

The Letuvians (Lithuanians in modern, current sense) living in the more elevated areas of eastern Lithuania are known as Aukstaiciai (highlanders). In the 1322 treaty between Lithuania and the Livonian Order the region is listed under the name Samaythen. Latin and German sources of the 13th-15th century refer to the area as Samaiten, Samaitae, Zamaytae, Samogitia, Samattae, Samethia, and from the 16th century onwards, as Samogitia. The latter name has been retained to the present day in the English language.

Before the emergence of the unified Lithuanian state, Samogitia was ruled by regional princes. The Volynian Chronicle relates that two Samogitian princes, Erdvil and Vikint, were among the twenty signatories to a treaty with Volyn (1219). Although nothing more is known of Erdvilas, Vykintas sides with the Livonian Order and the princes of Volynia against Mindaugas, who was then in the process of uniting the different Lithuanian principalities under his banner. Vikint died in battle in 1251. His alleged son Treniota took part in the assassination of Mindau(g) in 1263 and succeeded him as Lithuania’s ruler. He was murdered in 1264...

about Samogitia in detail

Selonian, Semigolian, Samogitian, Curonian

For more than two hundred years Samogitia played a central role in Lithuania’s wars against the crusading order of the Teutonic Knights. The protracted conflicts began with clashes with the Knights of the Sword, who had established bases in Livonia in 1202-1203 and had begun raiding Lithuania in 1229. After the Lithuanian victory at the battle of Saule-Siauliai in 1236, the Livonian Knights joined ranks with the Knights of the Cross, who had gained a foothold in Prussia in 1230. These two branches of the Teutonic Order were prevent from uniting by Samogitia, situated between Livonia and Prussia. As a result, the region was intensively and systematically attacked and raided. Before the final subjugation of the Prussians by the Knights of the Cross in 1283, attacks of Samogitia were carried out from Livonia. On several occasions the invading Christians suffered serious losses at the hands of the Lithuanians, namely at the battles of Skuodas (1259), Durbe (1260), and Lielvarde (1261), Subsequently both branches undertook campaigns against Samogitia.

Between 1345 and 1382, the Knights of the Cross attacked from Prussia some 70 times, while the Livonian Knights of the Sword made 30 military forays. The Lithuanians retaliated with 31 attacks of Prussia and 11 on Livonia.

In 1382 Jogaila ceded Samogitian territory up to the Dubysa river , while in 1398 and 1404 Vitaut gave away Samogitia as far as the Nevezh river. The Order soon built several fortresses in the acquired territory and to subdue the inhabitants began taking hostages from Samogitian nobility. These measures proved to be ineffective. The Samogitians revolted in 1401 and 1409 and drove out the Teutonic Knights. The latter revolt was indirectly aided by Vitaut who had decided to engage the Knights in a decisive battle. But even after the order’s defeat at the battle of Grunwald (1410), the Order did not give up its pretensions to Samogitia, and diplomatic maneuvering over its control continued for the next decade. Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg was asked to rule on the validity of the Order’s claims to the region and in 1420 announced a decision in favor of the Order....

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