This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Etnographic regions of Lithuania. Samogitia is marked in green

This article is about the ethnographic region of Lithuania. For info about the historical Samogitian Eldership/Duchy, see Eldership of Samogitia.

Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaitija, literally lowlands) is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 569 pixelsFull resolution (3218 × 2290 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/png) Ethnographic regions of Lithuania within borders of modern Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 569 pixelsFull resolution (3218 × 2290 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/png) Ethnographic regions of Lithuania within borders of modern Lithuania. ... (Eldership in English) Smallest administrative division of Lithuania. ... A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. ... The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ... Ethnography (from the Greek ethnos = nation and graphe = writing) refers to the qualitative description of human social phenomena, based on months or years of fieldwork. ... Lithuania is divided into historical and cultural regions: Aukštaitija (literally Upper Lithuania) comprises present Vilnius county, Utena County, Panevėžys County and the eastern part of Šiauliai County. ...

Geography

The region is located in western Lithuania in the territories of Palanga city municipality, Rietavas municipality, Tauragė district municipality, Šilalė district municipality, Skuodas district municipality, Jurbarkas district municipality, Mažeikiai district municipality, Kretinga district municipality, Plungė district municipality, Telšiai district municipality, Akmenė district municipality, Kelmė district municipality, Šiauliai district municipality, Raseiniai district municipality, eastern parts of Klaipėda district municipality and Šilutė district municipality, western part of Joniškis district municipality, also the Šiauliai city municipality. The largest city is Šiauliai, or Klaipėda if the latter is considered in the region. Telšiai is the capital, although Medininkai (now Varniai) was once the capital of the Eldership of Samogitia. The largest cities (those with over 20,000 inhabitants) are (Samogitian name, if different, is provided after slash): Palanga city municipality is a municipality consisting of small towns: BÅ«tingÄ—, Nemirseta, Palanga and Å ventoji and some villages. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County General information Capital Rietavas Major settlements Rietavas (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TauragÄ— County General information Capital TauragÄ— Major settlements TauragÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TauragÄ— County General information Capital Å ilalÄ— Major settlements Å ilalÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County General information Capital Skuodas Major settlements Skuodas (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia / Lithuania Minor County TauragÄ— County General information Capital Jurbarkas Major settlements Jurbarkas (pop. ... Map Capital Mažeikiai Cities Mažeikiai (42,675 people) ViekÅ¡niai (2,270 people) Seda (1,309 people) Mayor Vilhelmas Džiugelis Size 30th place 1220,2 km² Population 10th place 67,296 people; Population density 12th place 55,2/km² Telephone code 443 Official website http://www. ... Location Ethnographic region Sudovia County KlaipÄ—da County General information Capital Kretinga Major settlements Kretinga (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County General information Capital PlungÄ— Major settlements PlungÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County General information Capital TelÅ¡iai Major settlements TelÅ¡iai (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County Å iauliai County General information Capital Naujoji AkmenÄ— Major settlements Naujoji AkmenÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County Å iauliai County General information Capital KelmÄ— Major settlements KelmÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region [[Samogitia / AukÅ¡taitija]] County Å iauliai County General information Capital Å iauliai Major settlements KurÅ¡Ä—nai (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County Kaunas County General information Capital Raseiniai Major settlements Raseiniai (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region Lithuania Minor / Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County General information Capital Gargždai Major settlements Gargždai (pop. ... {{infobox savivaldybe|Å ilutÄ—s rajono|Image:Silute district location. ... JoniÅ¡kis district municipality (JoniÅ¡kio rajono savivaldybÄ—) is a territorial unit of Lithuania with a population of around 30 thousand. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County Å iauliai County General information Capital Å iauliai Major settlements Å iauliai (pop. ... Nickname: Location of Å iauliai Coordinates: , Country Lithuania Ethnographic region County Å iauliai County Municipality Å iauliai city municipality Elderate Number of elderates 2 Capital of Å iauliai County Å iauliai city municipality Å iauliai district municipality First mentioned 1236 Granted city rights 1589 Population (2007)  - Total 128 396  - Rank 4th Time zone EET (UTC+2... Location Ethnographic region Lithuania minor County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Geographic coordinate system Number of elderates 1 General Information Capital of KlaipÄ—da County KlaipÄ—da city municipality Population 187,316 in 2006 (3rd) First mentioned 1252 Granted city rights 1254 or 1258 (Lübeck); 1475 (Kulm) KlaipÄ—da ( (help... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality TelÅ¡iai district municipality Elderate TelÅ¡iai town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates {{{coordinates}}} General information Capital of Samogitia (unofficial) TelÅ¡iai County TelÅ¡iai district municipality TelÅ¡iai town elderate TelÅ¡iai rural elderate Population (rank) 31,460 in 2001... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality TelÅ¡iai district municipality Elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of Varniai rural elderate Population (rank) 1,310 in 2005 (90th) First mentioned 1314 Granted city rights 1950 Varniai is a city in western Lithuania, TelÅ¡iai County. ... The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ... Samogitian (Samogitian: Žemaitiu ruoda, Lithuanian: , or Lithuanian: ) is a dialect (or independent Baltic language) of the Lithuanian language spoken mostly in Samogitia (in the west part of Lithuania). ...

• Šiauliai/Šiaulē (133,883 inhabitants)
• Mažeikiai/Mažeikē (42,675 inhabitants)
• Telšiai/Telšē (31,460 inhabitants) - considered capital
• Tauragė (29,124 inhabitants)
• Plungė (23,436 inhabitants)
• Kretinga (21,423 inhabitants)

Nickname: Location of Å iauliai Coordinates: , Country Lithuania Ethnographic region County Å iauliai County Municipality Å iauliai city municipality Elderate Number of elderates 2 Capital of Å iauliai County Å iauliai city municipality Å iauliai district municipality First mentioned 1236 Granted city rights 1589 Population (2007)  - Total 128 396  - Rank 4th Time zone EET (UTC+2... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality Elderate Mažeikiai town elderate Geographic coordinate system General Information Capital of Mažeikiai district municipality Mažeikiai town elderate Mažeikiai rural elderate Population 42,675 in 2001 (8th) First mentioned 16th century Granted city rights 1924 Mažeikiai ( (help... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality TelÅ¡iai district municipality Elderate TelÅ¡iai town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates {{{coordinates}}} General information Capital of Samogitia (unofficial) TelÅ¡iai County TelÅ¡iai district municipality TelÅ¡iai town elderate TelÅ¡iai rural elderate Population (rank) 31,460 in 2001... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TauragÄ— County Municipality TauragÄ— district municipality Elderate TauragÄ— town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of TauragÄ— County TauragÄ— district municipality TauragÄ— town elderate TauragÄ— rural elderate Population (rank) 28,504 in 2005 (14th) First mentioned 16th century Granted city rights TauragÄ— ( (help... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality PlungÄ— district municipality Elderate PlungÄ— town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of PlungÄ— district municipality PlungÄ— town elderate PlungÄ— rural elderate Population (rank) 23,436 in 2001 (16th) First mentioned 1567 Granted city rights 1792 PlungÄ— ( (help· info... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Kretinga district municipality Elderate Kretinga town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of Kretinga district municipality Kretinga town elderate Kretinga rural elderate Population (rank) 21,423 in 2001 (18th) First mentioned 1253 Granted city rights 1607 Kretinga is a...

Demographics and language

The people of Samogitia speak Samogitian, a dialect of Lithuanian that was previously considered one of 3 main dialects (modern linguists have determined that it is one of two dialects, the other being Aukštaitian, and that both of these dialects have 3 subdialects each). Samogitian has northern and southern subdialects (which are further subdivided). A western subdialect once existed in the Klaipėda region, but it became extinct after World War II after its inhabitants fled the region, as a result of being expelled or persecuted by the Soviet authorities (since the 16th or even 15th century the Samogitians of the Klaipėda region called themselves "Lietuvininkai", and since the end of 19th century they called themselves "Prūsai"; after World War II the territory of the western subdialect was resettled mainly by northern and southern Samogitians, and by other Lithuanians also). Samogitian (Samogitian: Žemaitiu ruoda, Lithuanian: , or Lithuanian: ) is a dialect (or independent Baltic language) of the Lithuanian language spoken mostly in Samogitia (in the west part of Lithuania). ... For dialects of programming languages, see Programming language dialect. ... Historical map of Memelland and the northern part of East Prussia. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Soviet redirects here. ... The Samogitian language (Žemaičių kalba) is a language spoken in the Samogitia (Žemaitija) region of Lithuania. ... Historical map of Memelland and the northern part of East Prussia. ... Lietuvinink (Lithuanian: Lietuvininkas, plural - Lietuvininkai) is a Lithuanian from Lithuania Minor. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Samogitia is one of the most ethnically homogenous regions of the country, with an ethnic Lithuanian population exceeding 99.5% in some districts; in the 1st part of 19th century it was a major center of Lithuanian culture (Samogitians traditionally tended to oppose any anti-Lithuanian restrictions). The region is predominantly Roman Catholic, although there are significant Lutheran minorities in the south. This article is about administrational division of Lithuania. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...

The use of the Samogitian dialect is decreasing as more people tend to use standard Lithuanian, although there have been some minor attempts by local councils, especially in Telšiai, to write certain roadside information in Samogitian as well. Samogitian is a dialect of the Lithuanian language spoken mostly in Samogitia (in the west part of Lithuania). ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality TelÅ¡iai district municipality Elderate TelÅ¡iai town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates {{{coordinates}}} General information Capital of Samogitia (unofficial) TelÅ¡iai County TelÅ¡iai district municipality TelÅ¡iai town elderate TelÅ¡iai rural elderate Population (rank) 31,460 in 2001...

History

Further information: Eldership of Samogitia

Samogitians are shown as an ethnic group of Lithuanians in the context of the other Baltic tribes

The modern concept of "dialectological" Samogitia appeared only by the end of 19th century. The territory of ancient Samogitia was much larger, than current ethnographic, or "dialectological" Samogitia, and embraced all of Central and Western Lithuania. The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ... Image File history File links Baltic_Tribes_c_1200. ... Image File history File links Baltic_Tribes_c_1200. ... Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million [8]. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada and Russia. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The very term "Samogitians" (Žemaičiai in Lithuanian) is a Latinized form of the ancient Lithuanian name for the region's lowlanders, who dwelt in Central Lithuania's lowlands. The original subethnic Samogitia, i.e. the Central Lithuania's flat burial grounds culture, was formed as early as the 5th-6th centuries, whereas the Western part of historical Samogitia became ethnically Lithuanian between the 13th-16th centuries, – before that time it was inhabited by southern Semigallians and southern Curonians. The primal eastern boundary of historical Samogitia was the Šventoji River (a tributary of the Neris River), and from the end of the 13th century (approximately about that time the Lithuanian ruler Vytenis had expanded the territory of his domain in Aukštaitija at the expense of Samogitia) it ran along the Nevėžis River. The Semigallians in the context of the other Baltic tribes, circa 1200 CE. The Eastern Balts are shown in brown hues while the Western Balts are shown in green. ... The Curonians (also called Kursi, Latvian KurÅ¡i) are one of the extinct Baltic tribes that later formed the Latvian nation. ... Å ventoji ( (help· info)) is the longest river which is completely in Lithuania. ... Neris ( (help· info), Belarusian: , Polish: ) is a river arising in Belarus, flowing through Vilnius (Lithuania) and becoming a tributary of the Neman River (Nemunas) at Kaunas (Lithuania). ... Grand Duchy of Lithuania Vytenis (in Belarusian: Ð’iцень or VicieÅ„, in Polish: Witenes, in Russian: Витень; 13th century – 1316) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania 1293 (1296?) – 1316. ... AukÅ¡taitija (litterally Highlands) is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... Nevėžis River ( (help· info)) is the sixth longest river in Lithuania and one of the main tributaries of the Neman River. ...

Due to the fact, that in 13-16th centuries the Teutonic order and the Livonian order bordered Samogitia, it was always threatened by their expansionist aims. As such, Samogitian territory was offered to these Orders, or exchanged in peace treaties, a number of times. Lithuania would regain Samogitia back again in subsequent conflicts. Teutonic Knights, charging into battle. ... Map of the Livonian Confederation, showing the territories of the Order in 1260 Capital Fellin (Viljandi) Language(s) Low German Religion Roman Catholicism Government Principality Master of the Livonian Order  - 1204–09 Wenno von Rohrbach  - 1209–36 Volquin  - 1237–38 Hermann Balk¹  - 1559–61 Gotthard Kettler¹ Historical era Middle Ages...

For more than two hundred years, Samogitia played a central role in Lithuania’s wars against the crusading order of the Teutonic Knights (Knights of the Cross and Knights of the Sword). Invasions started in Lithuania in 1229. Combined military forces undertook numerous campaigns against Samogitians and Aukstaitians. Saule (1236), Skuodas (1239), Durbe (1260), Lievarde (1261) are just a few of the battles that took place. Since Samogitia was the last pagan region in Europe left to be invaded, Teutonic order set their sights on this last mission. 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. Year after year fortresses were attacked, farms and crops were put to the torch, women and children enslaved and men killed. Despite all the effort, Samogitians managed to defend their lands until 1410 decisive battle of Grunwald, where united Samogitian-Lithuanian-Polish forces defeated Teutonic order and ended their crusading era.^[1] Combatants Kingdom of Poland Grand Duchy of Lithuania Teutonic Order and Mercenaries and Various Knights from the rest of Europe Commanders WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw II JagieÅ‚Å‚o, Vytautas the Great Ulrich von Jungingen† Strength 39,000 27,000 Casualties Unknown 8,000 dead 14,000 captured The Battle of Grunwald...

In the 15th century, Samogitia was the last region in Europe to be converted to Christianity. During the 15-18th centuries, it was known as the Duchy or Eldership of Samogitia, which included some territories of what is now considered Aukštaitija and Suvalkija as well. The Duchy, or the Eldership of Samogitia was an administrative unit similar to a voivodeship in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... St Francis Xavier converting the Paravas: a 19th-century image of the docile heathen The historical phenomenon of Christianization, the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once, also includes the practice of converting pagan practices, pagan religious imagery, pagan sites and the pagan calendar... The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ... The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ... AukÅ¡taitija (litterally Highlands) is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... Sudovia, or Suvalkija (pronouncing soo-vul-kee-uh), is the name of a historical region inhabited by Sudovians. ... A Voivodship (also voivodeship, Romanian: Voievodat, Polish: Województwo, Serbian: Vojvodstvo or Vojvodina) was a feudal state in medieval Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Serbia (see Vojvodina), ruled by a Voivod (voivode). ... The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: , Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje, Ruskaje, Å»amojckaje, Belarusian: , Ukrainian: , Polish: , Latin: ) was an Eastern and Central European state of the 12th[1] /13th century until the 18th century. ...

After the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Samogitia was incorporated into the Russian Empire along with the rest of Lithuania. The Partitions of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Polish: Rozbiór Polski or Rozbiory Polski; Lithuanian: Lietuvos-Lenkijos padalijimai, Belarusian: Падзелы Рэчы Паспалітай) took place in the 18th century and ended the existence of the sovereign Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ...

Samogitia was the main source of the Lithuanian cultural revival in the 19th century, and was a focal point for the smuggling of books printed in the banned Lithuanian language. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... KnygneÅ¡iai (singular: knygneÅ¡ys) is a Lithuanian word with no direct translation in any of the word languages (see Untranslatability), litteral translation of the parts of the word (knyga + neÅ¡ti) would mean something like book carrier. Actually, the word meant people who were smuggling printed material across the...

After World War I, the region became a part of the newly re-established Lithuanian State. The Samogitians resisted the Bolsheviks, the Bermontians, and the Poles in 1919-1920, only to be occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... Bermontians were Russian troops who were at first taken as POWs by Germany in World War I and then released on the promise that they would help fighting against the communists in the Russian civil war. ... Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ...

In 1945, the Soviets denied the existence of the Lithuania Minor ethnographic region due to political concerns, declaring the Klaipėda region a part of Samogitia. Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Lithuania Minor (Lithuanian: ; German: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) or Prussian Lithuania (Lithuanian: ; German: , Polish: ) is a historical ethnographic region of Prussia, later East Prussia in Germany, where Prussian Lithuanians or Lietuvininkai lived. ... Historical map of Memelland and the northern part of East Prussia. ...

Tourism

Samogitia has a huge potential for tourism development, due to its nature's beauty, cultural and historical heritage. Samogitia is attractive for many local and international tourists. Most popular tourist destinations are Palanga, Kretinga and Žemaičių Kalvarija. Majority of the tourists come from Latvia, Poland, Germany, Spain, Finland and Sweden. For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... Heritage can refer to: Cultural heritage Cultural traditions Heritage tourism Inheritance Kinship and descent Natural heritage A novel in the BBC Books series See also English Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Palanga city municipality Elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of Palanga city municipality Population (rank) 17,623 in 2001 (21st) First mentioned 1253 Granted city rights 1791 Gintaras Amber Museum in Palanga. ... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Kretinga district municipality Elderate Kretinga town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of Kretinga district municipality Kretinga town elderate Kretinga rural elderate Population (rank) 21,423 in 2001 (18th) First mentioned 1253 Granted city rights 1607 Kretinga is a...

Palanga is popular tourist destination among tourists from the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia. Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Palanga city municipality Elderate Number of elderates Coordinates General information Capital of Palanga city municipality Population (rank) 17,623 in 2001 (21st) First mentioned 1253 Granted city rights 1791 Gintaras Amber Museum in Palanga. ...

Žemaičių Kalvarija (or New Jerusalem as it used to be called) is very popular among pilgrims from all around the World, due to its annual The Great Žemaičių Kalvarija Church Festival (usually in June or July). For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

Politics

Samogitia historically was an autonomous region in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, although it lost this status once Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire following the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795 as a part of the Vilna Governorate. In 1843, the region was incorporated into the Kovno Governorate, with a minor part of it being attached to the Courland Governorate. Since then the region has not had a separate political status, although there have been some plans to administratively reform Lithuania into the traditional ethnocentric regions. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: , Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje, Ruskaje, Żamojckaje, Belarusian: , Ukrainian: , Polish: , Latin: ) was an Eastern and Central European state of the 12th[1] /13th century until the 18th century. ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ... Coat of Arms of Vilna Governorate (1845 - 1915) Vilnа Governorate (Russian: , Vilenskaya guberniya) was a governorate (guberniya) of the Russian Empire created after Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795 and attached to the Northwestern Krai. ... Kovno Governorate with a center in Kovno (Kaunas) was a governorate (guberniya) of the Russian Empire. ... Courland Governorate (german Kurländisches Gouvernement) was one of the governorates of the Russian Empire. ...

Currently Samogitia is represented by the Samogitian cultural society, a group interested in preserving Samogitian culture and language, and the Žemaitijos parlamentas (literally Parliament of Samogitia), which concerns itself with regional autonomy based on historical claims. These claims often include the Klaipėda region in the interwar and would claim Klaipėda rather than Telšiai as the capital. The same group, led by Justinas Burba and having a small membership, has also published the controversial newspaper Žemaitijos parlamentas, which raised the idea that the European Union should repay Samogitia for its defense of Europe against the Mongols. Historical map of Memelland and the northern part of East Prussia. ... Location Ethnographic region Lithuania minor County KlaipÄ—da County Municipality Geographic coordinate system Number of elderates 1 General Information Capital of KlaipÄ—da County KlaipÄ—da city municipality Population 187,316 in 2006 (3rd) First mentioned 1252 Granted city rights 1254 or 1258 (Lübeck); 1475 (Kulm) KlaipÄ—da ( (help... Location Ethnographic region Samogitia County TelÅ¡iai County Municipality TelÅ¡iai district municipality Elderate TelÅ¡iai town elderate Number of elderates Coordinates {{{coordinates}}} General information Capital of Samogitia (unofficial) TelÅ¡iai County TelÅ¡iai district municipality TelÅ¡iai town elderate TelÅ¡iai rural elderate Population (rank) 31,460 in 2001... Lithuanian politician. ... For other uses, see Mongols (disambiguation). ...

Historic coat of arms of Samogitia

Historic flag of Samogitia

Current Grand Coat of Arms of Samogitia region.

Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Image File history File links Historic flag of Samogitia. ... Image File history File links Historic flag of Samogitia. ...

Symbols

The coat of arms depicts a black bear with silver claws and collar on a red shield topped with a crown. A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ...

The flag of Samogitia depicts the coat of arms on a white background. It is a non-rectangular flag ending in two triangles, rather than the rectangular flag typically used. The only official non-rectangular flags are those of Nepal and of Ohio, USA. In geometry, a rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral where all four of its angles are right angles. ... The flag of Ohio was adopted in 1902 and designed by John Eisemann. ...

Both symbols are assumed to have been in use for centuries, especially the coat of arms (differing claims assert it was first used in the 14th or 16th centuries). The symbols were used by the Eldership of Samogitia. These are the oldest symbols of the Lithuanian ethnographic regions. The Eldership of Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaičių seniūnija) was the western part of Lithuania Artistic picture of Žemaičių Seniūnija in 18th century. ...

Because Samogitia does not correspond to any current administrative division of Lithuania, these symbols are not officially used. However, they might come back into use if Lithuania undergoes administrative reform in the future.

On 21 July 1994 these symbols were recognized by the government of the Lithuanian Republic. is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ...

Notes and references

External links

• Website of Samogitia