Lithuania — Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Lithuania, a former grand-duchy of Europe, composed of three groups of territory: (1) Lithuania proper, or Litva, corresponding to the modern Russian government of Vilna, with Troki; (2) the duchy of Samoghitia; (3) Russian Lithuania, comprising Polesia, Black Russia or Novogrodok, White Russia or Minsk, Mislav, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Plotsk, and Polish Livonia. But in the 15th century Lithuania extended as far south as Odessa and the Sea of Azov, and as far east as the river Moskva. The Lithuanians, a race to whom belong the Letts (q.v.) of Livonia, the Cours of Conrland, and the Borussians or ancient inhabitants of East Prussia, constitute one of the main divisions of the Indo-

A detailed black and white illustration of a lithotripsy instrument. It consists of a long, vertical handle with a screw mechanism at the top for adjusting the blades. The blades are shown in an open position, revealing their curved, sharp edges designed for crushing stones. The instrument is mounted on a small, ornate base.

European stock; to them are sometimes added the Yatvyags or Yadzvings, who dwelt on the upper tributaries of the Bug and Niemen, thus making about $3\frac{1}{2}$ millions in all. The Jmuds, 700,000 in number, are a branch of the Lithuanians proper. The Lithuanian tongue is spoken by about $1\frac{1}{4}$ million; in some respects it comes nearer Sanskrit than any other Aryan language, though it contains a strong admixture of Slavonic words. Along with Lettish and the extinct Old Prussian it constitutes the Baltic family of the Aryan branch of languages. Owing to its many archaic forms and the early stage of its development, it possesses great value for students of comparative philology. The literature is exceptionally rich in poetry, popular tales, &c. The poetry is frequently full of the very breath of nature. See works by Schleicher (1854 to 1876) and Bezzenberger (1877 and 1882), and collections of songs by Rhesa and Kurschat (1843), Nesselmann (1853), Brugmann and Leskien (1882); Veckenstedt's Mythen, Sagen, &c. (1883); Ch. Bartsch, Litauische Melodien (2 parts, 1887-90). A Lithuanian literary society was formed in Tilsit in 1879.

As a race the Lithuanians are fair and well built, with fine features and blue eyes. They have strong religious temperaments, and, though they belong to the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic churches, they cling tenaciously to heathen reminiscences and customs. They have been kept in a state little superior to serfdom by German and Polish land-owners, but since 1863 the Russians have allowed them to become, to some extent, owners of the soil. Agriculture, cattle-breeding, and bee-keeping are the principal occupations. The country they inhabit is covered with vast primeval forests and with numerous marshes and lakes. These circumstances have impressed traits of peacefulness, melancholy, and loneliness, but at the same time of sweetness, upon both the national character and the national songs. For many centuries worship was performed in the forests, and great oaks are still objects of religious veneration. They have never had any towns, only villages, and have always relied for protection upon the dense forests and the extensive marshes. Nothing authentic is known as to the history of this people prior to the 13th century. The first prince to gather the scattered tribal chiefs around him was Ringold (1230-35); his policy of centralisation was continued by his son Mindovg (died 1263), who even consented to be baptised, but afterwards apostatised. During these reigns the Lithuanians waged almost incessant war against the Livonian order and the Teutonic Knights (see LIVONIA). Olgerd (1345-77), after reviving (along with his brother Keistut, the legendary national hero of the Lithuanians) the principality of Lithuania, extended his conquests into southern Russia. His son Jagiello (1377-1434) married the heiress of Poland (q.v.), thus forming the first link of connection between these two states; the last link was welded in 1569 by their complete political unity. In the interval Lithuania had been governed by grand-dukes appointed by the king of Poland. By the three partitions of Poland Russia acquired the bulk of the grand-duchy (Polotsk, Troki, Brest, Novgorod-Syeversk, and the governments of Grodno, Kovno, Vilna, Moghileff, Vitebsk, Minsk); the rest fell to Prussia, but passed in 1814 to Russia. See Histories by Schlözer and Gebhardi (Berlin, 1785) and Lelewel (Paris, 1861).