Duchy of Samogitia

Samogitia is a Latinized version of the name Žemaitija, meaning "the Lowlands" as opposed to Aukštaitija for "the Highlands". In the Middle Ages, the names Samaiten, Samaitae, Zamaytae, Samogitia, Samattae, Samethi were used in German and Latin sources. They, together with other variants Schmudien, Schamaiten (German) and Żmudź (Polish), are all derived from the Lithuanian Žemaičiai, dial. Žemaitiai / Žemaitei.

File:1712. Samogitie et Lithuanie Propre, Grand Duché de Lithuanie.png in a 1712 map by Henri Chatelain]]

The Duchy was located in what today is several counties (apskritis) in Lithuania: a small part of Kaunas County (Kauno Apskritis), the western part Šiauliai County (Šiaulių Apskritis), Tauragė County (Tauragės Apskritis), Telšiai County (Telšių Apskritis), the northern part of Klaipėda County (Klaipėdos Apskritis) and the northern part of Marijampolė County (Marijampolės Apskritis).

The major part of Samogitia is located on Western Upland. Lowlands which are referred in its name are on the border between Samogitia and Eastern Lithuania, along the Nevėžis River.

The Duchy of Samogitia had the size of approximately 25,700 square kilometers.{{Sfn|Błaszczyk|1985|pp=19}}

File:RON księstwo żmudzkie map.svg (1569-1795)]]

File:Coat of arms of Samogitia.svg

File:1662 Samogetia is Lithuania.jpg

File:Map of the Duchy of Samogitia (Žemaitija), 1753.jpg

File:Carte des Estats de Suede, de Dannemarq, et de Pologne; sur la Mer Baltique.jpg with Duchy of Samogitia ({{lang|fr|Samogitie}}) and Lithuania proper ({{lang|fr|Vraye Lithuanie}}) separated with red and green lines]]

Before the formation of the Lithuanian state, Samogitia was ruled by its local noblemen. A chronicle mentions two dukes from Samogitia in 1219 as signatories of a treaty with Volhynia.

Since the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13th century, Samogitia was its dependent territory, however sometimes the influence of the Lithuanian Grand Duke was very limited. During the rule of the first Lithuanian king, Mindaugas, Samogitians pursued an independent foreign policy and continued fighting with the Knights of the Sword even after King Mindaugas had signed a peace treaty with them.

Samogitia for 200 years played a crucial role in halting the expansion of the Teutonic Order and defeated the Knights of the Sword in the Battle of Saule (1236) and the Livonian Order in the Battle of Skuodas (1259), and the Battle of Durbe (1260).

In the atmosphere of fierce battles with the Teutonic Knights, the Lithuanian rulers Jogaila and Vytautas several times ceded Samogitia to the Teutonic Order in 1382, 1398 and 1404. However, the Teutonic Knights were not successful in subjugating the land, and Samogitians revolted in 1401 and 1409. After the defeats in the Battle of Grunwald (1410) and following wars, in 1422 the Teutonic Order ceded Samogitia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania under the Treaty of Melno.

Samogitians were the last in Europe to accept Christianity in 1413. During the Christianization of Samogitia, none of the clergy, who came to Samogitia with Jogaila, were able to communicate with the natives, therefore Jogaila himself taught the Samogitians about the Catholicism, thus he was able to communicate in the Samogitian dialect of the Lithuanian language.{{cite book |last1=Baronas |first1=Darius |title=Žemaičių krikštas: tyrimai ir refleksija |date=2013 |publisher=Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science |location=Vilnius |isbn=978-9986-592-71-6 |pages=33–34 |url=https://www.lkma.lt/site/files/file/leidiniai/Zemaiciu_krikstas.pdf |access-date=17 July 2021 |language=lt}}

The Grand Duke of Lithuania Casimir Jagiellon acknowledged the autonomy of Samogitia in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and then issued a privilege to the Eldership of Samogitia to elects its own elder (starost) in 1441.

Because of its prolonged wars with the Teutonic Order, Samogitia had developed a social and political structure different from the rest of Lithuania. It had a larger proportion of free farmers and smaller estates than in Eastern Lithuania.

As with most of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Samogitia suffered in the aftermath of the Swedish invasion of Commonwealth (the Deluge, mid-17th century). Its population dropped from close to 400,000 to about 250,000; only to return to 400,000 by the late 18th century.{{Sfn|Błaszczyk|1985|pp=70, 140}}

After the annexation of Lithuania by Imperial Russia, Samogitia was included in the Vilna Governorate (the southern extreme was detached for New East Prussia and so on); in 1843 it was transferred to a newly established Kovno Governorate. In the early 19th century, Samogitia was the centre of the Lithuanian national revival, which stressed the importance of the Lithuanian language and opposed russification and polonization.

The General Elders of Samogitia (equivalents of voivodes) included:

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait or Coat of Arms

| officeholder_title = Elder of Samogitia

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{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Rumbaudas Valimantaitis

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1432

| term_start = 1409

| term_end = 1411

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1409|1 January 1411}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Mykolas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = {{circa|1450}}

| term_start = 1412

| term_end = 1432

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1412|1 January 1432}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Sign of Golimin.png

| officeholder = {{ill|Jurgis Galminas|lt}}

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1409

| died_year = 1438

| term_start = 1432

| term_end = 1434

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1432|1 January 1434}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image =

| officeholder = Mykolas Kantautas

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

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| term_start = 1435

| term_end = 1440

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1435|1 January 1440}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Mykolas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = {{circa|1450}}

| term_start = 1440

| term_end = 1441

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1440|1 January 1441}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image =

| officeholder = Petras Gedgaudas

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year =

| term_start = 1441

| term_end = 1443

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1441|1 January 1443}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Mykolas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = {{circa|1450}}

| term_start = 1443

| term_end = 1450

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1443|1 January 1450}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Jonas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1485

| term_start = 1451

| term_end = 1485

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1451|1 January 1485}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Stanislovas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1527

| term_start = 1486

| term_end = 1526

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1486|1 January 1526}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = POL COA Zadora.svg

| officeholder = Stanislovas Kęsgaila

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1503

| died_year = 1532

| term_start = 1527

| term_end = 1532

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1527|1 January 1532}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = POL COA Dąbrowa.svg

| officeholder = Petras Kiška ({{langx|pl|Piotr Kiszka|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1534

| term_start = 1532

| term_end = 1534

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1532|1 January 1534}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Jan Radziwill (304253).jpg

| officeholder = Jonas Radvila ({{langx|pl|Jan Radziwiłł|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1492

| died_year = 1542

| term_start = 1535

| term_end = 1542

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1535|1 January 1542}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image = POL COA Ogończyk.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Motiejus Vaitiekaitis Kločka|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Maciej Janowicz Kłoczko|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1543

| term_start = 1542

| term_end = 1543

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1542|1 January 1543}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = POL COA Mogiła.svg

| officeholder = Jurgis Bilevičius ({{langx|pl|Jerzy Billewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year =

| term_start = 1543

| term_end = 1544

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1543|1 January 1544}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = POL Stanisław Kieżgajło.jpg

| officeholder = {{ill|Stanislovas Mikolajaitis Kęsgaila|lt|Stanislovas Kęsgaila}} ({{langx|pl|Stanisław Kieżgajło|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1520

| died_year = 1554

| term_start = 1544

| term_end = 1555

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1543|1 January 1544}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image = POL COA Chodkiewicz.svg

| officeholder = Jeronimas Chodkevičius ({{langx|pl|Hieronim Chodkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = {{circa|1515}}

| died_year = 1561

| term_start = 1545

| term_end = 1561

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1545|1 January 1561}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1561

| term_end = 1563

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1561|1 January 1563}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = Jan Chadkievič. Ян Хадкевіч (XIX).jpg

| officeholder = Jonas Chodkevičius ({{langx|pl|Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1537

| died_year = 1579

| term_start = 1563

| term_end = 1579

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1563|1 January 1579}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = POL COA Dąbrowa.svg

| officeholder = Jonas Kiška ({{langx|pl|Jan Kiszka|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1547

| died_year = 1592

| term_start = 1579

| term_end = 1592

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1579|1 January 1592}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 19

| image = POL COA Chodkiewicz.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Jurgis Chodkevičius|lt|Jurgis Chodkevičius (1570)}} ({{langx|pl|Jerzy Chodkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1570

| died_year = 1595

| term_start = 1590

| term_end = 1595

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1590|1 January 1595}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 20

| image = Stanislaw Radziwill (304521).jpg

| officeholder = Stanislovas Radvila ({{langx|pl|Stanisław Radziwiłł|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1570

| died_year = 1595

| term_start = 1595

| term_end = 1599

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1595|1 January 1599}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 21

| image = Jan Karal Chadkievič. Ян Караль Хадкевіч (XVII) (6).jpg

| officeholder = Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius ({{langx|pl|Jan Karol Chodkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1561

| died_year = 1621

| term_start = 1599

| term_end = 1616

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1599|1 January 1616}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1616

| term_end = 1619

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1616|1 January 1619}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

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{{Officeholder table

| order = 22

| image = Hieranim Vałovič. Геранім Валовіч (XVIII).jpg

| officeholder = Jeronimas Valavičius ({{langx|pl|Hieronim Wołłowicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1573

| died_year = 1636

| term_start = 1619

| term_end = 1636

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1619|1 January 1636}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1636

| term_end = 1643

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1636|1 January 1643}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 23

| image = Jan Alfons Lacki. Ян Альфонс Ляцкі (XIX).jpg

| officeholder = {{ill|Jonas Alfonsas Liackis|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Jan Alfons Lacki|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1646

| term_start = 1643

| term_end = 1646

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1643|1 January 1646}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 24

| image = Januš Radzivił. Януш Радзівіл (B. Strobel, 1634).jpg

| officeholder = Jonušas Radvila ({{langx|pl|Janusz Radziwiłł|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1612

| died_year = 1655

| term_start = 1646

| term_end = 1653

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1646|1 January 1653}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 25

| image = POL COA Leliwa.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Jurgis Glebavičius|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Jerzy Hlebowicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1605?

| died_year = 1669

| term_start = 1653

| term_end = 1668

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1653|1 January 1668}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 26

| image = Alaksandar Hilary Pałubinski. Аляксандар Гіляры Палубінскі (XVII).jpg

| officeholder = {{ill|Aleksandras Palubinskis|lt|Aleksandras Hilaris Palubinskis}} ({{langx|pl|Aleksander Połubiński|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1626

| died_year = 1679

| term_start = 1668

| term_end = 1669

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1668|1 January 1669}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 27

| image = POL COA Doliwa.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Viktorinas Mlečka|lt|Viktorinas Konstantinas Mlečka}} ({{langx|pl|Wiktoryn Mleczko|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1679

| term_start = 1670

| term_end = 1679

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1670|1 January 1679}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1679

| term_end = 1681

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1679|1 January 1681}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 28

| image = Kazimierz Jan Paweł Sapieha.PNG

| officeholder = Kazimieras Jonas Sapiega ({{langx|pl|Kazimierz Jan Sapieha|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1637

| died_year = 1720

| term_start = 1681

| term_end = 1682

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1681|1 January 1682}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1682

| term_end = 1684

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1682|1 January 1684}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 29

| image = POL COA Gozdawa.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Petras Mykolas Pacas|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Piotr Pac|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1645

| died_year = 1696

| term_start = 1684

| term_end = 1696

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1681|1 January 1696}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1696

| term_end = 1698

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1696|1 January 1698}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 30

| image = Croix Grzegorz Antoni Ogiński.jpg

| officeholder = Grigalius Antanas Oginskis ({{langx|pl|Grzegorz Antoni Ogiński|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1654

| died_year = 1709

| term_start = 1698

| term_end = 1709

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1681|1 January 1682}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 31

| image = POL COA Korczak.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Kazimieras Garbauskis|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Kazimierz Horbowski|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 1729

| term_start = 1710

| term_end = 1729

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1710|1 January 1729}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1729

| term_end = 1742

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1729|1 January 1742}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 32

| image = Juzef Tyškievič. Юзэф Тышкевіч (1794).jpg

| officeholder = {{ill|Juozapas Tiškevičius|lt|Juozapas Skuminas Tiškevičius}} ({{langx|pl|Józef Tyszkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1694

| died_year = 1754

| term_start = 1742

| term_end = 1754

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1742|1 January 1754}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1754

| term_end = 1767

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1754|1 January 1767}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 33

| image = Jan Mikałaj Chadkievič. Ян Мікалай Хадкевіч.jpg

| officeholder = Jonas Chodkevičius ({{langx|pl|Jan Chodkiewicz|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1738

| died_year = 1781

| term_start = 1767

| term_end = 1781

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1767|1 January 1781}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = -

| image =

| officeholder = Vacant

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1781

| term_end = 1783

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1781|1 January 1783}}

| alt_officeholder =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 34

| image = POL COA Giełgud.svg

| officeholder = {{ill|Antanas Anupras Gelgaudas|lt}} ({{langx|pl|Antoni Onufry Giełgud|links=no}})

| officeholder_sort =

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1720

| died_year = 1795

| term_start = 1783

| term_end = 1795

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 January 1783|1 January 1795}}

| alt_officeholder =

}}

|}

• Samogitian diocese
• Samogitian language

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Błaszczyk |first=Grzegorz |title=Żmudź w XVII i XVIII wieku: zaludnienie i struktura społeczna |publisher=Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań |year=1985 |isbn= |language=pl |issn=0554-8217}}

• [http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/index-en.htm Samogitia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305070338/http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/index-en.htm |date=2005-03-05 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050610075241/http://www.kresy.co.uk/zmudz.html Zmudz/Samogitia]

{{Voivodeships of Lithuania}}

{{Administrative division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duchy Of Samogitia}}

Category:Voivodeships of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Category:Principalities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Category:1219 establishments in Europe

Category:1795 disestablishments in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Category:History of Samogitia