Norfa is a supermarket chain in Lithuania . In 2022, it was fourth largest chain of retail stores in Lithuania.
101-628: Norfa chain stores sizes (in square meters): The first Norfa store was opened in Žirmūnai , Vilnius. In 2023, Norfa opened new stores in Klaipėda , Plungė , Raseiniai , Telšiai and Vilnius . From September 2023 customers will no longer be able to pay for utility services in Norfa stores. According to 15min , Norfa pays highest salaries among other supermarket chains in Lithuania with average monthly net salary reaching €1,046 (€1,633 gross). UAB "Norfos mažmena"
202-533: A cathedral and at least two parochial churches, but the development of the castle became the dominant priority. According to different sources, Memel received Lübeck city rights in 1254 or 1258. Following it Klaipėda's status was quite extraordinary as only three cities in the State of the Teutonic Order had Lübeck city rights. In the spring and summer of 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Grand Duke Gediminas came up
303-428: A decision was made, or with what we have offended Your Lordship so much that Your Lordship has deservedly been directed against us, creating hardship for us everywhere. First of all, you made and announced a decision about the land of Samogitia , which is our inheritance and our homeland from the legal succession of the ancestors and elders. We still own it, it is and has always been the same Lithuanian land, because there
404-503: A few months, and the dispute was brought to the Council of Constance . Even though the dispute was not resolved, the Samogitians had a chance to present their case to the leaders of Europe. It is seen as an important event in the diplomatic history of Lithuania. Several other mediation attempts failed, and yet another war with the Teutonic Order started in 1422. After several months of fighting,
505-683: A few of them later departed to other countries. In 1736–1818 Klaipėda was part of Lithuanian Department which had over 340,000 residents. The recovering population was ravaged by the Imperial Russian Army during the Seven Years' War in 1756–1763. In 1782 Klaipėda had 5500 residents, in 1790 – 6300. In the General State Laws for the Prussian States (completed in 1794) the serfdom and privileged position of landlords and colonists
606-467: A fort in 1252 called Memele castrum (or Memelburg , " Memel Castle "). The fort's construction was completed in 1253, and Memel was garrisoned with troops of the Teutonic Order , administered by Deutschmeister Eberhard von Seyne . Documents for its founding were signed by Eberhard and Bishop Heinrich von Lützelburg of Courland on 29 July 1252 and 1 August 1252. Master Conrad von Thierberg used
707-589: A fortified defence system around the entire town, initiated in 1627, noticeably changed its status and prospects. In November 1678 a small Swedish army invaded the Prussian territory, but was unable to capture the fortress of Memel. By the beginning of the 18th century, Memel was one of the strongest fortresses ( Memelfestung ) in Prussia, and the town became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. Despite its fortifications, it
808-519: A further direct line connected with Königsberg, that crossed the 4-kilometre-wide ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile) Memel Valley over three bridges before its arrival in Memel. During the second half of the 19th century, Memel was a center for the publication of books printed in the Lithuanian language using a Latin-script alphabet – these publications were prohibited in the nearby Russian Empire of which Lithuania
909-614: A naval landing near the city's harbor. After the unification of Germany into the German Empire in 1871, Memel became Germany's northernmost city. The development of the town in the 19th century was influenced by the Industrial Revolution in Prussia, as well as urbanisation. Even though the population of Memel increased fourfold during the 19th century, and had risen to 21,470 by 1910, its pace of development lagged in comparison. The reasons for this were mostly political. Memel
1010-453: A new ship canal between Pillau and Königsberg, which enabled vessels of up to 6.5 m draughts to moor alongside the city, at a cost of 13 million marks. Owing to the absence of heavy industry in the 1870s and 1880s, the population of Memel stagnated, although wood manufacturing persisted as the main industry. It remained the central point of the Baltic timber-trade. A British Consul was located in
1111-761: A part of the Crimea and built a castle there. Now Lithuania spanned from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea . A number of Tatar captives were brought to ethnic Lithuania . Continuing attempts on the part of Poland to subordinate Lithuania drove Vytautas for the third time into the arms of the Order, and by the Treaty of Salynas in October 1398, Vytautas, who now styled himself Supremus Dux Lithuaniae , ceded his ancestral province of Samogitia to
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#17328943550981212-468: A population greater than 100,000, however, Klaipėda has the highest percentage of people whose native language is Russian. Until the 1970s, Klaipėda was only important to the USSR for its economy, while cultural and religious activity was minimal and restricted. The developers of a Roman Catholic church (Maria, Queen of Peace, constructed 1957–1962) were arrested. The city began to develop cultural activities in
1313-593: A third of its industry. Weimar Germany , under Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann , maintained normal relations with Lithuania. However, Nazi Germany desired to reacquire the region and tensions rose. Pro-German parties won clear supermajorities in all elections to the Klaipėda Parliament , which often clashed with the Lithuanian-appointed Klaipėda Directorate . Lithuanian efforts to "re-Lithuanize" Prussian Lithuanians by promoting
1414-652: Is one language and the same inhabitants . But since the land of Samogitia is located lower than the land of Lithuania , it is called as Samogitia, because in Lithuanian it is called lower land [ Žemaitija ]. And the Samogitians call Lithuania as Aukštaitija , that is, from the Samogitian point of view, a higher land. Also, the people of Samogitia have long called themselves as Lithuanians and never as Samogitians, and because of such identity ( sic ) we do not write about Samogitia in our letter, because everything
1515-633: Is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the third largest city in Lithuania , the fifth largest city in the Baltic States and the capital of Klaipėda County , as well as the only major seaport in the country. The city has a complex recorded history, partially due to the combined regional importance of the usually ice-free Port of Klaipėda at the mouth of the river Akmena-Danė [ lt ] . Located in Lithuania Minor , and
1616-414: Is also used as the coat of arms of the Klaipėda city municipality . The modern version was created by the designer Kęstutis Mickevičius . The modern coat of arms was created by restoring old seals of the Memel city (analogous with those used in the years 1446, 1605 and 1618). It was affirmed on 1 July 1992. A settlement of Baltic tribes in the territory of the present-day city is said to have existed in
1717-547: Is known to have stated: We find that the Memel Castle is built in the land of Samogitians. Neither Master , nor the Order was able to prove anything opposing. Nevertheless, no agreement was concluded and fighting continued until the Treaty of Melno in 1422 stabilized the border between the Teutonic Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for the next 501 years. However, two miles of Lithuanian territories, including Klaipėda,
1818-531: Is one: one country and the same inhabitants." — Vytautas the Great , excerpt from his 11 March 1420 Latin letter sent to Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor , in which he described the core of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania , composed from Žemaitija (lowlands) and Aukštaitija (highlands). Term Aukštaitija is known since the 13th century. In the Treaty of Salynas Vytautas had transferred Samogitia to
1919-467: The 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania , however soon World War II started and residents of Klaipėda were evacuated to Germany. In the aftermath of World War II almost all the new residents moved to Klaipėda from Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine , replacing the former German-speaking population (after the war only six old residents remained in the city). Over the years the Lithuanian population in
2020-488: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania . He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites . In modern Lithuania , Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male given name in Lithuania . In commemoration of the 500-year anniversary of his death, Vytautas Magnus University
2121-643: The Kingdom of Prussia was created and Prussian officials and intellectuals propagated a political direction which claimed that a new nation formed from Prussian Lithuanians ( Lietuvininkai ), Old Prussians, and German colonists. In the beginning of the 18th century 300,000 residents lived in the core of Lithuania Minor and up to 100% of peasant farms in the Klaipėda Region were Lithuanian, however cities in Lithuania Minor become centres of Germanisation , cultural assimilation , and colonization. In 1700–1721
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#17328943550982222-672: The Latvian Curonian language, it means mute, silent ( memelis, mimelis, mēms ), as a reference to peaceful flow of the Neman. This name was adopted by German speakers, and also was chosen for the new city founded further away at the lagoon. The name of the city in the Samogitian language is spelled slightly differently: Klaipieda . The most notable non-Lithuanian names include: Latvian : Klaipēda ; Polish : Kłajpeda ; Russian: Клайпеда ; German: Memel . The coat of arms of Klaipėda
2323-547: The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic . Klaipėda has remained within Lithuania since 1944. The city continues to experience sustained demographic decline due to flight towards the suburbs and other cities. The number of inhabitants of Klaipėda city shrank from 202,929 in 1989 to 162,360 in 2011, but the urban zone of Klaipėda expanded well into the suburbs, which sprang up around the city and surrounded it from three sides. These are partly integrated with
2424-528: The Neman and sieged the castle of Memel, while later he marched to other Prussian, Latvian, Estonian territories controlled by the Order, eventually forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October 1323. While planning a campaign against Samogitia , Memel's garrison of the Teutonic Order's Livonian branch was replaced with knights from the Prussian branch in 1328. Threats and attacks by Lithuanians greatly slowed down
2525-608: The Nevėžis River , in return for recognition as Grand Duke of Lithuania. However, in July of the same year, Vytautas broke with the Order and reconciled with Jogaila. He then burned three important Teutonic castles, and regained all Kęstutis' lands, except for Trakai . In 1385, Jogaila concluded the Union of Krewo with Poland , under which he married Jadwiga of Poland and became King of Poland as Władysław II Jagiełło. Vytautas participated in
2626-708: The Polish kings (1466–1660), and they mostly moved to cities and towns. During the Second Northern War in 1656–1657, Lithuania Minor was damaged by Tatars detached from the Army of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . Following the Treaty of Oliva in 1660, Klaipėda become part of the Brandenburg-Prussia constituent state , which led to strengthened oppression of the locals of Lithuania Minor. In 1701
2727-740: The Prussian Law, all native citizens were initially called as Prussians, while only in the 16th century classification of the population by nationality began. In 1525–1818, Klaipėda was part of the Lithuanian Province (the term was used in state legal documents and Prussian monarchs decrees), which comprised the most Lithuanian territories of Lithuania Minor (the Klaipėda, Tilsit , Ragainė , Įsrūtis counties). There were few German colonists in Royal Prussia when Prussian monarchs were vassals of
2828-472: The State of the Teutonic Order and Duchy of Prussia under the suzerainty of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , then the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire , within which it was the northernmost big city until it was placed under French occupation in 1919. From 1923, the city was part of Lithuania until its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1939, and after World War II it was part of
2929-448: The State of the Teutonic Order , Old Prussians and Western Lithuanians were not allowed to engage in trade, crafts, and settle in cities. Thus, in the Duchy of Prussia , most of the cities' residents were Germans. Nevertheless, villages in Lithuania Minor were extensively inhabited by Lithuanians, and Klaipėda developed as one of the most important centres of Lithuania Minor. According to
3030-567: The Teutonic Knights had no further basis for attacks against Lithuania. The campaign resulted in a crushing defeat at the Battle of the Vorskla River in 1399. Over twenty princes, including two brothers of Jogaila, were killed, and Vytautas himself barely escaped alive. This came as a shock to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland. A number of territories revolted against Vytautas, and Smolensk
3131-480: The Teutonic Order on Samogitia started. Vytautas the Great wanted the border to be the Neman River , while the Teutonic Order wanted to have Veliuona and Klaipėda in the right side of the river. Both sides agreed to accept the prospective solution of Emperor Sigismund 's representative Benedict Makrai on 1413. He decided that the right side of Nemunas ( Veliuona , Klaipėda) were to be owned by Lithuania. Makrai
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3232-614: The Treaty of Lake Melno was signed. Samogitia was returned to Lithuania in perpetuity, while the city of Memel (present-day Klaipėda ) and surrounding territories stayed with the Order. This border, as established by the treaty, remained stable for some 500 years until the Memel Territory dispute of 1923. With peace established, Vytautas could now concentrate on reforms and the relationship with Poland. In 1399 Jadwiga of Poland and her newborn died in childbirth . Jogaila 's power in Poland
3333-581: The Uprising of 1863–1864 part of the Lithuanian insurgents retreated to Lithuania Minor. In 1855 Vitė [ lt ] was added to the city of Klaipėda, thus the number of population increased to over 17,000 and in 1875 reached ~20,000. Before World War I , the majority of Lithuanians in Königsberg Region (which included Klaipėda) integrated into the German nation. In March 1915 the population of Klaipėda
3434-643: The kenesa in Vilnius . Born in 1350 in the castle of present-day Old Trakai ( Senieji Trakai ), Vytautas was the son of Kęstutis and his wife Birutė . Vytautas was a cousin and childhood friend of Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło), who became King of Poland in 1386. Around 1370, he married Anna , who gave birth to Sophia of Lithuania . Sophia was married to Vasily I , Grand Prince of Moscow , and mother and regent to their son Vasili II . After Anna's death in 1418, Vytautas married her niece Juliana Olshanska , daughter of Ivan Olshanski who outlived him. Because of
3535-406: The 13th century onwards, while Klaipėda is found in Lithuanian sources since the 15th century. The city was initially mentioned as Caloypede in the letter of Vytautas in 1413, and in negotiation documents from 1420, the city was named Klawppeda. In the Treaty of Melno of 1422, the city's name was listed as Cleupeda . According to Samogitian folk etymology , the name Klaipėda refers to
3636-523: The 13th–15th centuries, Klaipėda was burned or ruined around 20 times. In the second half of the 15th century, the residents began to settle in a territory of the Klaipėda Old Town, which was on a peninsula of the right bank of the old Danė [ lt ] . Soon, the reconstruction of the Klaipėda Castle began, and all residents moved to the peninsula. The development of Klaipėda
3737-511: The 16th century. Memel prospered during the second half of the 18th century by exporting timber to Great Britain for use by the Royal Navy . In 1792, 756 British ships visited the town to transport lumber from forests near Memel. In 1800, its imports consisted chiefly of salt, iron and herrings; the exports, which greatly exceeded the imports, were corn, hemp, flax, and, particularly, timber. The 1815 Encyclopædia Britannica stated that Memel
3838-807: The 1970s and 1980s, such as the introduction of the Sea Festival cultural tradition, where thousands of people come to celebrate from all over the country. Based on the Pedagogical University of Šiauliai and the National Conservatory of Lithuania in Klaipėda, the University of Klaipėda was established in 1991. Klaipėda is now the home of a bilingual German-Lithuanian institution, the Hermann-Sudermann -Schule , as well as an English-language University, LCC International University. In 2014 Klaipėda
3939-636: The European USSR. Shipyards , dockyards , and a fishing port were constructed. Subsequently, by the end of 1959, the population of the city had doubled its pre-war population, and by 1989 there were 202,900 inhabitants. Initially the Russian-speakers dominated local government in the city, but after the death of Joseph Stalin , more people came to the city from the rest of Lithuania than from other Soviet republics and oblasts; Lithuanians then became its major ethnic group. Among Lithuanian cities with
4040-512: The Karaim story of Vytautas and his magic horse, with voiceovers in several languages, including Karaim , Polish, English, and Lithuanian. In the video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition , Vytautas featured as a cavalry hero. Vytautas is also mentioned in Jonathan Franzen's fictitious novel " The Corrections ", which attributes his death in 1430 to Lithuania's gradual downfall as
4141-491: The Lithuanian Foreign Minister on 20 March 1939, demanding the surrender of Klaipėda. Lithuania, unable to secure international support for its cause, submitted to the ultimatum and, in exchange for the right to use the new harbour facilities as a Free Port, ceded the disputed region to Germany in the late evening of 22 March 1939. Adolf Hitler visited the harbour and delivered a speech to the city residents. This
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4242-687: The Lithuanian language, culture, education were often met with resistance from the locals. In 1932, a conflict between the Parliament and the Directorate had to be resolved by the Permanent Court of International Justice . In 1934–1935, the Lithuanians attempted to combat increasing Nazi influence in the region by arresting and prosecuting over 120 Nazi activists for the alleged plot to organize an anti-Lithuanian rebellion. Despite these rather harsh sentences,
4343-879: The Lithuanians decided to stage the Klaipėda Revolt , take the region by force, and present the Entente with a fait accompli . The revolt was carried out in January 1923 while western Europe was distracted by the occupation of the Ruhr . The Germans tacitly supported the action, while the French offered only limited resistance. The revolt was supported by the Chief Rescue Committee of Lithuania Minor, chaired by Prussian Lithuanian Martynas Jankus , which operated since 22 December 1922 with its centre in Klaipėda. The League of Nations protested
4444-475: The Order, and give the Order part of Samogitia up to the Dubysa River . However, the treaty was never ratified and in summer 1383, the war between Jogaila and the Order resumed. Vytautas was baptised as a Catholic , receiving the name of Wigand (Lithuanian: Vygandas ). Vytautas participated in several raids against Jogaila. In January 1384, Vytautas promised to cede part of Samogitia to the Teutonic Order, up to
4545-485: The Order. He burned three Teutonic castles and returned to Vilnius. Jogaila and Vytautas signed the Astrava Treaty in which Vytautas recovered all Kęstutis' lands, including Trakai, and was given more. Vytautas would rule Lithuania in the name of Jogaila. After Vytautas' death, all his lands and powers would revert to Jogaila. Vytautas continued Algirdas ' vision to control as many Ruthenian lands as possible. Much of
4646-451: The Polish nobility agreed not to elect a new king without consulting Vytautas. The unique feature of this union was that the Lithuanian nobility presented their own document: for the first time somebody other than dukes played a role in the state matters. Vytautas was one of the creators of the Union of Horodło with Poland in 1413. According to the act of the union, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
4747-599: The Polish-Lithuanian conflict with the Teutonic Order. He appears in the narrative poem Konrad Wallenrod by Adam Mickiewicz . He was portrayed by Józef Kostecki in Knights of the Teutonic Order , the 1960 adaptation of the famous novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz . In 2014, a short animation was produced by "Four Directions of Fairy Tales" (Cztery Strony Bajek) in association with the Association of Polish Karaims, portraying
4848-479: The Prussian Lithuanians population was dramatically decreased in Klaipėda and other Lithuanian counties by the Great Northern War plague outbreak which killed 160,000 (53%) of residents in Lithuania Minor (more than 90% of the deceased were Prussian Lithuanians). Following it, the Prussian authorities organized a large-scale German colonization of Lithuania Minor. The colonists received various privileges, however they constituted for only 13.4% of residents and quite
4949-447: The Roman curia . As a result of the Peace of Thorn of 1411 , Vytautas received Samogitia for his lifetime. However, the parties could not agree on the border. Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor , agreed to mediate the dispute. In 1413, it was declared that the whole right bank of the Nemunas ( Neman River ) was Samogitia and therefore belonged to Lithuania. The Teutonic Knights disagreed and a new war started in 1414. The war lasted for just
5050-525: The Teutonic Knights. Samogitia was especially important for the Order because it separated the Teutonic Knights, based in Prussia , from the Livonian Order , based in Latvia . The two orders desired to unite and form a mighty force. However, the knights ruled Samogitia for only three years, because on 13 March 1401, the Samogitians, supported by Vytautas, rebelled and burned two castles. The knights received support from Švitrigaila , brother of Jogaila, who desired to take Vytautas' title. In 1404 Peace of Raciąż
5151-600: The Teutonic Order through the Treaty of Königsberg (1390) . Vytautas had to confirm his agreement of 1384, and cede Samogitia to the Order. His army now invaded Lithuania. Also, to gain more influence, Vytautas married his only daughter Sophia to Vasili I of Moscow in 1391. The Polish nobles were unhappy that their new king spent too much time on Lithuanian affairs. It was clear that the war could continue for years and would not benefit Poland. In 1392, Jogaila sent Henry of Masovia with an offer to make Vytautas regent instead of Skirgaila. Vytautas accepted and again broke with
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#17328943550985252-421: The Teutonic Order were stopped at the Polish-Lithuanian border in the autumn of 1430. Vytautas died in the Trakai Island Castle , ending the whole affair. He was buried in the Cathedral of Vilnius . The knowledge about his remains has been lost. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition , Vytautas "was certainly the most imposing personality of his day in Eastern Europe, and his martial valour
5353-416: The Union and in 1386 was re-baptised as a Catholic, receiving the name Alexander. In 1386 Vytautas paid homage to Jagiello, after his coronation as king of Poland. Jogaila left his brother Skirgaila as regent in Lithuania. However, Skirgaila was unpopular with the people and Vytautas saw an opportunity to become Grand Duke. In 1389, he attacked Vilnius but failed. In early 1390, Vytautas again allied with
5454-474: The boggy terrain of the town ( klaidyti =obstruct and pėda =foot). Most likely, the name is of Curonian origin and means "even ground"; it likely originates from a combination of "klais/klait" (flat, open, free) and "peda" (sole of the foot, ground), as a reference to relatively flat terrain of the original settlement's surroundings. The lower reaches of the river Neman were named either * Mēmele or * Mēmela by Scalovians and local Curonian inhabitants. In
5555-409: The cathedral also did not have much effect on the town's religious life in long-term as bishop Edmund von Werth [ de ] waived his rights to the cathedral in 1298. Eventually, the cathedral was moved to Windau . Vytautas Vytautas ( / v ɪ ˈ t aʊ t ə s / ; c. 1350 – 27 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great , was a ruler of
5656-410: The city (city bus lines, city water supply, etc.), and the majority of inhabitants of these suburbs work in Klaipėda. According to data from the Department of Statistics, there are 212,302 permanent inhabitants (as of 2020) in the Klaipėda city and Klaipėda district municipalities combined. Popular seaside resorts found close to Klaipėda are Neringa to the south on the Curonian Spit and Palanga to
5757-435: The city continued to grow and constituted: 55.2% in 1959, 60.9% in 1970, 61.5% in 1979, 63.0% in 1989, 71.3% in 2001, 73.9% in 2011. As of 2020 , the population of Klaipėda was 154,332. The latest data shows that there are more women in the city: females make up 54.89% (84,717), males make up 45.11% (69,615). In 2022, Lithuanians constituted 80% of the population in Klaipėda. The first church (possibly chapel) dedicated to
5858-458: The defendants in the Neumann–Sass case were soon released under pressure from Nazi Germany. The extensive autonomy guaranteed by the Klaipėda Convention prevented Lithuania from blocking the growing pro-German attitudes in the region. As tensions in pre-war Europe continued to grow, it was expected that Germany would make a move against Lithuania to reacquire the region. German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop delivered an ultimatum to
5959-451: The development of Memel. From 1629 to 1635, the town was occupied by Sweden over several periods during the Polish-Swedish War of 1626–1629 . After the Treaty of Königsberg in 1656 during the Northern Wars , Elector Frederick William opened Memel's harbor to Sweden, with whom the harbor's revenue was divided. Sovereignty of the margraves of Brandenburg over the region was affirmed in the Treaty of Oliva in 1660. The construction of
6060-518: The east and Kęstutis the west, primarily responsible for defense against the Teutonic Order . Algirdas was succeeded by his son Jogaila , and a struggle for power ensued. In 1380, Jogaila signed the secret Treaty of Dovydiškės with the Teutonic Order against Kęstutis. When Kęstutis discovered this in 1381, he seized Vilnius , imprisoned Jogaila, and made himself Grand Duke. However, Jogaila escaped and raised an army against Kęstutis. The two sides confronted each other but never engaged in battle. Kęstutis
6161-442: The east and returned to Samogitian matters. In 1409 the second Samogitian uprising against the Teutonic Knights began, as the rebels burned Skirsnemunė castle. Both Poland and Lithuania supported the rebels. Vytautas gathered a large army from 18 lands under his control. The army joined Polish forces and advanced towards the Teutonic headquarters at the castle of Marienburg (present-day Malbork ). In 1410, Vytautas himself commanded
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#17328943550986262-402: The forces of the Grand Duchy in the Battle of Grunwald . The battle ended in a decisive Polish-Lithuanian victory. Even though the siege of Marienburg was unsuccessful, the Teutonic Knights never regained their strength and from then on posed a reduced threat to Poland-Lithuania. From now on, Poland-Lithuania began to be regarded in the west as a great power, and Vytautas stood in high favour with
6363-401: The fortress as a base for further campaigns along the river Neman and against Samogitia . Memel was unsuccessfully besieged by Sambians in 1255, and the Sambians surrendered on 1259. Memel was also colonized by settlers from Holstein , Lübeck and Dortmund . Hence, Memel also being known at the time as Neu-Dortmund , or "New Dortmund". It became the main town of the Diocese of Curonia, with
6464-425: The influential Radvila ( Radziwiłł ) and Goštautas families began their rise. In 1398, Vytautas brought over families of the Karaim (388 families) and Tatar peoples. Their principal role was to guard the castle and the bridges, but they also served as translators, farmers, traders, and diplomats. He retains a very high reputation among them, with the anniversary of his death being officially celebrated in 1930 in
6565-404: The knights, formed an alliance with them for the conquest and partition of Pskov and Novgorod the Great . Inspired by his successful campaign against Timur, Vytautas and Jogaila won support from Pope Boniface IX for organising a crusade against the Mongols. This political move also demonstrated that Lithuania had fully accepted Christianity and was defending the faith on its own, and that
6666-412: The least amount of precipitation occurs in April, with an average of 41 mm. Parks: Forests: Klaipėda was established as an outpost dedicated for German crusaders . Initially, Klaipėda developed slowly. In the 13th century, it was often attacked by the Sambians and Samogitians , and in the middle of the 15th century, it was attacked by the Gdańskians (for trading reasons). Consequently, in
6767-459: The military garrison was built along with the Klaipėda Castle in 1252 and was consecrated after Mary, mother of Jesus , although it did not have as much effect for the townspeople, as well as the residents of surrounding villages. Initially, it was planned that Klaipėda would become centre of the Bishopric of Courland . Thus, before 1290, a St. Mary's Cathedral was built in the town and a six-members chapter settled down in 1290. Nevertheless,
6868-399: The nobles of Poland and of Lithuania. In January 1429, at the Congress of Lutsk it was proposed by Sigismund, king of Hungary , that Vytautas should be crowned King of Lithuania. It resulted in a great crisis between Vytautas, king Władysław and Polish nobles. The envoys who were transporting documents supporting Vytautas's coronation and proposing an alliance between Lithuania, Hungary and
6969-446: The north. The Teutonic Knights built a castle in the *Pilsāts Land of the Curonians and named it Memelburg , which would later be shortened to Memel . From 1252 to 1923 and from 1939 to 1945, the town and city were officially named Memel . Between 1923 and 1939, both names were in official use . Since 1945, the Lithuanian name of Klaipėda has been used. The names Memelburg and Memel are found in most written sources from
7070-446: The onset of a long period of prosperity for the city and port. Klaipėda served as a port for neighbouring Lithuania, benefiting from its location near the mouth of the Neman, with wheat as a profitable export. The Duchy of Prussia was inherited by a relative, John Sigismund , the Hohenzollern prince-electors of the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1618. Brandenburg-Prussia began active participation in regional policy, which affected
7171-463: The reforms of Karl Freiherr vom und zum Stein and Karl August von Hardenberg . The land around Memel suffered major economic setbacks under Napoleon Bonaparte 's Continental System . During Napoleon's retreat from Moscow after the failed invasion of Russia in 1812, General Yorck refused Marshal MacDonald 's orders to fortify Memel at Prussia's expense. During the January Uprising , in June 1863, Polish insurgents made an unsuccessful attempt at
7272-521: The region as early as the 7th century. The Balts initially established Klaipėda as a trading centre for the storage of goods and annual fairs with the Germans. In the 1240s, Pope Gregory IX offered King Håkon IV of Norway the opportunity to conquer the peninsula of Sambia . However, after Grand Duke Mindaugas of Lithuania , the Teutonic Knights and a group of crusaders from Lübeck moved into Sambia and accepted Christianity. These groups founded
7373-674: The relationship between the two women, the Bishop of Vilnius was unwilling to perform the ceremony without a papal dispensation; however, Jan Kropidło did not have such scruples and married them on 13 November 1418. According to the 16th century Bychowiec Chronicle , his first wife was Maria Łukomska, however, this is not confirmed by other sources. A sculpture for Vytautas is display on the Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod . Vytautas appears in several works of fiction dealing with
7474-608: The revolt, but accepted the transfer in February 1923. The formal Klaipėda Convention was signed in Paris on 8 May 1924, securing extensive autonomy for the region. The annexation of the city had significant consequences for the Lithuanian economy and foreign relations. The region subsequently accounted for up to 30% of Lithuania's entire economic production. Between 70% and 80% of foreign trade passed through Klaipėda. The region, which represented only about 5% of Lithuania's territory, contained
7575-477: The second half of the 18th century, Memel's lax customs and Riga 's high duties enticed English traders, who established the first industrial sawmills in the town. In 1784, 996 ships arrived in Memel, 500 of which were English. The specialisation in wood manufacturing guaranteed Memel's merchants income and stability for more than a hundred years. During this era, it also normalised its trade relations with Königsberg ; regional instability had degraded relations since
7676-557: The surrounding Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) were detached from Germany and made a protectorate of the Entente States . The French became provisional administrators of the region until a more permanent solution could be worked out. Both Lithuania and Poland campaigned for their rights in the region. However, it seemed that the region would become a free city, similar to the Free City of Danzig . Not waiting for an unfavorable decision,
7777-637: The territory was already under the Grand Duke's rule, but the rest was controlled by the Mongols . Tokhtamysh , Khan of the Golden Horde , sought help from Vytautas when he was removed from the throne in 1395 after his defeat by Timur . An agreement was reached that Vytautas would help Tokhtamysh to regain power, and the Horde would cede more lands to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in return. In 1398, Vytautas' army attacked
7878-583: The town in 1800; in 1900 a British Vice-Consul was recorded there, as well as a Lloyd's Agent. By 1900 steamer services had been established between Memel and Cranz (on the southern end of the Curonian Spit), and also between Memel and Tilsit . A main-line railway was built from Insterburg , the main East Prussian railway junction, to St. Petersburg via Eydtkuhnen , the Prussian frontier station. The Memel line also ran from Insterburg via Tilsit , where
7979-405: The town's development; the castle was sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1360, and in 1379 the reconstructed castle and town were both sacked once again. In 1409, the castle was rebuilt and in 1422–1441 the strengthening of the castle's fortifications continued when eventually its ramparts reached 7 meters height. After the Battle of Grunwald , the dispute between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and
8080-546: The wishes of its governor and commander, Eric of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel , Memel adopted Lutheranism after the conversion of Grand Master Albert of Prussia and the creation of the Duchy of Prussia as a fief of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland in 1525, soon part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . Since then, Klaipėda has become the county centre within the Duchy of Prussia. It was
8181-539: Was "provided with the finest harbour in the Baltic". During the Napoleonic Wars , Memel became the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. Between 1807 and 1808, the town was the residence of King Frederick William III , his consort Louise , his court, and the government. On 9 October 1807 the king signed a document in Memel, later called the October Edict , which abolished serfdom in Prussia. It originated
8282-460: Was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) in August 2014. In January and February, the coldest season, high temperatures average 0 °C (32 °F) with low temperatures averaging −5 °C (23 °F). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Klaipėda is −33.4 °C (−28.1 °F) in February 1956. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in August, with an average precipitation of 85 mm. Meanwhile,
8383-489: Was Hitler's last territorial acquisition before World War II. During the war, the Germans operated a forced labour subcamp of the Stalag I-A prisoner-of-war camp for Allied prisoners of war in the city, and expelled Poles from German-occupied Poland were also enslaved as forced labour in the city's vicinity. During World War II, from the end of 1944 into 1945, the battle of Memel took place. The nearly empty city
8484-455: Was a province. The books were then smuggled over the Lithuanian border. The German 1910 census lists the Memel Territory population as 149,766, of whom 67,345 declared Lithuanian to be their first language. The Germans greatly predominated in the town and port of Memel as well as in other nearby villages; the Lithuanian population was predominant in the area's rural districts. Under the Treaty of Versailles after World War I , Klaipėda and
8585-459: Was captured by Russian troops during the Seven Years' War in 1757. Consequently, from 1757 to 1762 the town, along with the rest of eastern Prussia, was dependent on the Russian Empire . After this war ended, the maintenance of the fortress was neglected, but the town's growth continued. Memel became part of the newly formed province of East Prussia within the Kingdom of Prussia in 1773. In
8686-638: Was captured by the Soviet Red Army on 28 January 1945 with only about 50 remaining people. After the war the Klaipėda Region was incorporated into the Lithuanian SSR , as the post-1937 German occupation of various regions of Europe, including Klaipėda, was considered illegal. The Soviets turned Klaipėda, the foremost ice-free port in the Eastern Baltic, into the largest piscatorial-marine base in
8787-415: Was combined with statesmanlike foresight." Vytautas backed the economic development of his state and introduced many reforms. Under his rule the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually became more centralised, as local princes with dynastic ties to the throne were replaced by the governors loyal to Vytautas. The governors were rich landowners who formed the basis for the Lithuanian nobility. During Vytautas' rule,
8888-501: Was consolidated. During the Napoleonic Wars Napoleon I occupied most of the Kingdom of Prussia, thus in 1807–1808 Klaipėda was a residence of Prussian monarchs and in 1807 Frederick William III abolished serfdom. Following the abolishment of serfdom Prussian Lithuanians migrated to Klaipėda, especially its outskirts, and in 1837 they constituted 10.1% of the residents. In 1825 Klaipėda had 8,500 residents. Moreover, after
8989-420: Was established in 1997. The company opened its first store in 1997. By the end of 2004 company had 87 stores. In 2022, this number reached 155. This Lithuania -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Klaip%C4%97da Klaipėda ( / ˈ k l eɪ p ɛ d ə / CLAY -ped-ə ; Lithuanian: [ˈklˠɐɪ̯ˑpʲeːdˠɐ] ), historically also Memel ,
9090-524: Was fueled by the increasing trade of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the Western countries . Around 1503, there were 25 families of full-fledged townspeople, while in 1540, there were 107 families. Eventually, in 1589, there were 143 families in Klaipėda. The Lithuanians and Curonians lived alongside the German colonists , but the magistrate did not allow non-Germans to join artisan corporations and did not grant them rights available to townspeople. In
9191-460: Was granted to Jogaila's brother Lengvenis , and the important city of Pskov to Jogaila's envoy Jerzy Nos , the latter settlement a clear violation of the treaty of Raciąż. The war with Muscovy ended in December 1408, on terms that made further conflict with the Teutonic Order inevitable, despite Hermann II of Celje 's attempt to negotiate a solution. "We do not know on whose merits or guilt such
9292-442: Was jeopardised as he was a foreigner king with no other ties to the throne but his wife. Also, the defeat at Vorskla forced a re-evaluation of the relationship between Poland and Lithuania. The result was the Union of Vilnius and Radom in 1401. Vytautas was granted wide autonomy, but after his death the title and powers of Grand Duke of Lithuania were to be transferred to the king of Poland. In case Jagiełło died first without an heir,
9393-550: Was left for the Order. In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation . After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) the city became a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Knights, and thus located within the Polish–Lithuanian union . The rebuilt town received Kulm law city rights in 1475. Against
9494-467: Was named after him. Monuments in his honour were built in many towns in independent Lithuania during the interwar period from 1918 to 1939 . Vytautas knew and spoke the Lithuanian language with his cousin Jogaila . Vytautas' uncle Algirdas had been Grand Duke of Lithuania until his death in 1377. Algirdas and Vytautas' father Kęstutis had ruled jointly in the form of diarchy, with Algirdas governing
9595-466: Was ready to negotiate, but he and Vytautas were arrested and transported to Kreva Castle . One week later, Kęstutis was found dead. Whether he died of natural causes or was murdered is still a matter of debate. In 1382, Vytautas escaped from Kreva and he sought help from the Teutonic Order, who were negotiating with Jogaila at the time. Jogaila and the Order agreed to the Treaty of Dubysa , by which Jogaila promised to accept Christianity, become an ally of
9696-467: Was retaken by its hereditary ruler, George of Smolensk , and not re-conquered by Lithuanians until 1404. Vytautas waged a war in 1406–1408 against his son-in-law Vasili I of Moscow and Švitrigaila , a brother of Jogaila who with the support of the Teutonic Order had declared himself grand prince. A major stand-off between the two armies ended without a battle in the Treaty of Ugra , by which Velikiy Novgorod
9797-454: Was signed, which in essence repeated the Treaty of Salynas : Samogitia was transferred to the Teutonic Knights. Poland promised not to support Lithuania in case of another war. The knights promised to support Vytautas in the east and not to support any Gediminid who could have claims to the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania . However, the treaty did not solve the problems, and all the parties prepared for war. In 1408, Vytautas reached peace in
9898-577: Was the northernmost and easternmost city in Germany, and although the government was engaged in a very costly tree-planting exercise to stabilise the sand-dunes on the Curonian Spit , most of the financial infusions in the province of East Prussia were concentrated in Königsberg, the capital of the province. Some notable instances of the German infrastructure investments in the area included sandbar blasting and
9999-419: Was to retain a separate Grand Duke and its own parliament. At the same time both the Polish and Lithuanian Sejms were to discuss all the important matters jointly. This union was important culturally as well as politically because it granted Lithuanian Christian nobles the same rights as the Polish szlachta . This act did not include Orthodox nobles. This paved the way for more contacts and cooperation between
10100-543: Was visited 64 times by cruise ships , surpassing the Latvian capital, Riga , for the first time. Klaipėda's climate is considered to be oceanic (Köppen Cfb ) using the −3 °C (26.6 °F) isotherm and warm humid continental (Köppen Dfb) using the 0 °C (32.0 °F) isotherm. In July and August, the warmest season, high temperatures average 20 °C (68 °F), and low temperatures average 14 °C (57 °F). The highest official temperature ever recorded
10201-614: Was yet again ravaged by the Imperial Russian Army. Following the Klaipėda Revolt in 1923, Klaipėda Region was incorporated into Lithuania and Lithuanian population in Klaipėda increased due to migration (Lithuanians constituted 30.3% and Germans 57.3% of Klaipėda's 35,845 population in 1925). German politicians promoted a Memellander ideology and argued that Germans and local Lithuanians were "two ethnicities ( Volkstümer ), yet one cultural community ( Kulturgemeinschaft )". Lithuania ceded Klaipėda Region to Nazi Germany due to
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