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Pilėnai
Pilėnai (also ''Pillenen'' in German) was a hill fort in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its location is unknown and is subject to academic debates, but it is well known in the history of Lithuania due to its heroic defense against the Teutonic Order in 1336. Attacked by a large Teutonic force, the fortress, commanded by Duke Margiris, tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader. Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit mass suicide to deprive the Order of prisoners and loot (cf. scorched earth). This dramatic episode from the Lithuanian Crusade has caught the public imagination, inspired many works of fiction, and became a symbol of Lithuanian struggles and resistance. Sources The attack and the defense of Pilėnai were briefly mentioned in several contemporary chronicles, including ''Epitome gestarum Prussiae'' by a Sambian canon, ''Der Chronist von Wolfenbüttel'' (Chronicler of Wolfenbüttel), ''Annalista Thorunens ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margiris
Margiris or Margis (died 25 February 1336) was a Grand Duchy of Lithuania, medieval Lithuanian/Samogitian prince, mentioned by Caspar Schütz, via Wigand of Marburg, as the heroic defender of Pilėnai fortress in 1336. Not able to defend the fortress against the Teutonic Order, Margiris and other defenders decided to commit a mass suicide, burning the castle and leaving no loot for the enemy. This episode from the Lithuanian Crusade was popularized during the 19th-century wave of romantic nationalism and Margiris is treated as a national hero in Lithuania. Biography Very little is known about Margiris' life. In primary written sources his name is mentioned only twice, in 1329 as ''Margalis'' by chronicler Jean d'Outremeuse in ''Ly myreur des histors'' and as ''Marger'' in 1336 by Caspar Schütz in ''Historia Rerum Prussicarum''. In early 1329, John of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia, joined the Lithuanian Crusade, Teutonic crusade against Lithuania and Siege of Medvėgalis, capt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lithuanian Crusade
The Lithuanian Crusade was a series of campaigns by the Teutonic Order and the Livonian Order under the pretext of forcibly Christianizing the pagan Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Livonian Order occupied Riga in 1202 and in the 1230s they settled in Chełmno Land, a fief of Poland. They first conquered other neighboring Baltic tribes—Curonians, Semigallians, Latgalians, Selonians, and Old Prussians—in the Livonian Crusade and Prussian Crusade. The first raid against the Lithuanians and Samogitians was in 1208. From then on, the orders played a key role in Lithuanian politics, but they were not a direct threat until the 1280s. By that time, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was already a centralized state and could mount defenses. For the next century, the order organized annual colonialist (raids) into Samogitian and Lithuanian lands, without great success but at immense human cost. Border regions in Samogitia and Suvalkija became sparsely inhabited wilderness due to ethnic cleans ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Punia, Lithuania
Punia is a historic village in the Alytus District Municipality, Lithuania. Situated on the right bank of the Nemunas River, it has a population of about 800. It was an important early city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. History Grand Duchy of Lithuania The town was first mentioned in 1382. The first church was built in 1425, likely by Vytautas the Great. Because of its good geographical location (Nemunas, direct route to Trakai), Punia became a local centre. 16th century In 1503, the town received Magdeburg rights and was promoted to city status. 17th century The city reached its peak in the 17th century and became known for its pottery and smithery. The third church was built in 1688. 18th century At the beginning of the 18th century, Punia suffered a great deal of damage from the Great Northern War at the hands of the Swedish and did not recover until the end of the century. In 1785 a town hall was built. 19th century During the middle of the 19th century Jews set ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mass Suicide
Mass suicide is a form of suicide, occurring when a group of people simultaneously kill themselves. Mass suicide sometimes occurs in religious settings. In war, defeated groups may resort to mass suicide rather than being captured. Suicide pacts are a form of mass suicide that are sometimes planned or carried out by small groups of depressed or hopeless people. Mass suicides have been used as a form of political protest. Attitudes towards mass suicide change according to place and circumstance. People who resort to mass suicide rather than submit to what they consider intolerable oppression sometimes become the focus of a heroic myth. Such mass suicides might also win the grudging respect of the victors. On the other hand, the act of people resorting to mass suicide without being threatened – especially, when driven to this step by a charismatic religious leader, for reasons which often seem obscure – tends to be regarded far more negatively. Historical mass suicides * Fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louis V, Duke Of Bavaria
Louis V, called the Brandenburger (May 1315 – 18 September 1361), a member of the House of Wittelsbach, ruled as Margrave of Brandenburg from 1323 to 1351 and as Duke of Bavaria from 1347 until his death. From 1342 he also was co-ruling Count of Tyrol by his marriage with the House of Gorizia, Meinhardiner countess Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, Margaret. Family history Louis V was the eldest son of King Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV of Germany and his first wife, Beatrice of Silesia, Beatrice of Świdnica. His father, Duke of Bavaria since 1294, had been elected king in 1314, rivalled by the House of Habsburg, Habsburg anti-king Frederick the Fair. He had to defend his rights in a lengthy throne quarrel, finally defeated Frederick's forces in the 1322 Battle of Mühldorf, and in 1328 received the Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor, Imperial crown; though not by the pope but by the "Roman people" led by Sciarra Colonna. Margrave of Brandenburg Upon his victory at M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Illiturgis
Illiturgis, also known as Iliturgi, was a city in Spain during antiquity, located on the road from Córdoba, Andalusia, Corduba to Castulo. Originally, it was located near the site of Mengíbar, but when it was destroyed the populace was relocated near present-day Andújar. It had the surname of ''Forum Julium'' during Roman Empire, Roman times. During the Second Punic War, it sided with the Romans, and was besieged by the Carthaginians. However, the sieges were raised. When the two Scipios, Publius Cornelius Scipio (consul 218 BC), Publius and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, Calvus, were overthrown, Illiturgis and Castulo sided with the Carthaginians. In addition, according to Roman sources, the citizens of Illiturgis are said to have executed the Romans who had fled to the city for refuge during the war. Scipio Africanus stormed the city in 206 BC and burnt the corpses of the slaughtered townspeople. (see below a detailed description of events during the Second Punic War). As ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
County Of Namur
The County of Namur () was a county of the Holy Roman Empire with its military and administrative capital at the town of Namur (city), Namur, at the merging of the Sambre and Meuse rivers in what is now Wallonia, French-speaking Belgium. Under this name it existed from about 990 until about 1790. Like most of what is now Belgium, during the 15th century the County of Namur became part of the Burgundian Netherlands, which subsequently became a possession of the Kings of Spain, and later of Austria. Like its neighbours, the county ceased to exist during the French Revolution, when the entire region was conquered by the revolutionary French Republic. The modern Belgian provinces, Belgian province of Namur (province), Namur is larger than the old county. The boundaries of the province are based upon those of the French Departments of France, départment of Sambre-et-Meuse, and stretch further eastwards and southwards. Prehistory to the Roman period The city of Namur most likely ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guy II, Marquis Of Namur
Guy II (c. 1312 – 12 March 1336) was Count of Namur from 1335 to 1336. He was the second son of John I, Marquis of Namur, and Mary of Artois. Life He participated in 1332 on the side of the Count of Flanders against the Duke of Brabant, in the war over Mechelen. He succeeded his brother John II as Count of Namur on 2 April 1335. Under influence of his younger brother Robert of Namur, he recognized King Edward III of England as his Lord, in exchange for a pension. He also participated in the Second War of Scottish Independence with 300 men, but was surprised by a larger Scottish force under John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray in the Battle of Boroughmuir. Guy was taken prisoner, but released for ransom. After his return to Namur, he participated in a tournament in Flanders, where he was mortally wounded. He was succeeded by his younger brother Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saint Matthias
Matthias (; Koine Greek: , , from Hebrew ; ; died ) was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, chosen by God through the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death. His calling as an apostle is unique, in that he was elected by fellow disciples following Jesus' Ascension into heaven, though Matthias knew Jesus throughout his earthly ministry. Biography There is no mention of a Matthias among the lists of disciples or followers of Jesus in the three synoptic gospels, but according to Acts, he had been with Jesus from his baptism by John until his Ascension. In the days following, Peter proposed that the assembled disciples, who numbered about 120, nominate two men to replace Judas. They chose Joseph called Barsabbas (whose surname was Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all en shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pyre
A pyre (; ), also known as a funeral pyre, is a structure, usually made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite or execution. As a form of cremation, a body is placed upon or under the pyre, which is then set on fire. In discussing ancient Greek religion, "pyre" (the normal Greek word for fire anglicized) is also used for the sacred fires at altars, on which parts of the animal sacrifice were burnt as an offering to the deity. Materials Pyres are crafted using wood. The composition of a pyre may be determined through use of charcoal analysis. Charcoal analysis helps to predict composition of the fuel and local forestry of the charcoal being studied. Ireland Specifically, in the Bronze Age, pyre materials were gathered based on local abundance and ease of access to the wood although materials were also selected due to the specific properties, potential traditional purpose, or due to economical reasons. In Templenoe, pyres typically consisted of oak and fruit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abydos (Hellespont)
Abydos (, ) was an ancient city and bishopric in Mysia. It was located at the Nara Burnu promontory on the Asian coast of the Dardanelles, Hellespont (the straits of Dardanelles), opposite the ancient city of Sestos, and near the city of Çanakkale in Turkey. Abydos was founded in at the most narrow point in the straits, and thus was one of the main crossing points between Europe and Asia, until its replacement by the crossing between Lampsacus and Gelibolu, Kallipolis in the 13th century, and the abandonment of Abydos in the early 14th century. In Greek mythology, Abydos is presented in the myth of Hero and Leander as the home of Leander. The city is also mentioned in ''Rodanthe and Dosikles'', a novel written by Theodore Prodromos, a 12th-century writer, in which Dosikles kidnaps Rodanthe at Abydos. Archaeology In 1675, the site of Abydos was first identified, and was subsequently visited by numerous classicists and travellers, such as Robert Wood (antiquarian), Robert Wood, R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
