View source for Pilėnai

{{Short description|Lost hill fort in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Siege of Pilėnai
| width       = 
| partof      = the [[Lithuanian Crusade]]
| image       = File:Duke Margiris defending Pilėnai against Teutonic Knights 1336.PNG
| caption     = Duke Margiris defending Pilėnai against the Teutonic Order by {{illm|Władysław Majeranowski|pl}} (1817–1874)
| date        = February 25, 1336
| place       = Pilėnai
| coordinates = 
| territory   = 
| result      = Decisive Teutonic victory
| status      = 
| combatant1  = {{flagicon image|Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order.svg}} [[Teutonic Order]]
| combatant2  = [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]
| commander1  = [[Dietrich von Altenburg]]
| commander2  = [[Margiris]]{{KIA}}
| strength1   = 200 nobles; 6,000 total soldiers
| strength2   = 4,000 people
| casualties1 = Minimal
| casualties2 = Nearly all
| notes       = 
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Lithuanian Crusade}}
}}

'''Pilėnai''' (also ''Pillenen'' in German) was a [[hill fort]] in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]. Its location is unknown and is subject to academic debates, but it is well known in the [[history of Lithuania]] due to its heroic defense against the [[Teutonic Order]] in 1336. Attacked by a large Teutonic force, the fortress, commanded by Duke [[Margiris]], tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader. Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit [[mass suicide]] to deprive the Order of prisoners and loot (cf. [[scorched earth]]). This dramatic episode from the [[Lithuanian Crusade]] has caught the public imagination, inspired many works of fiction, and became a symbol of Lithuanian struggles and resistance.

== Sources ==

The attack and the defense of Pilėnai were briefly mentioned in several contemporary chronicles, including ''Epitome gestarum Prussiae'' by a [[Sambia]]n canon, ''Der Chronist von Wolfenbüttel'' (Chronicler of Wolfenbüttel), ''Annalista Thorunensis'' (Annals of Thorn), and ''Kurze Reimchronik von Preussen'' (Short Rhymed Chronicle of Prussia). However, these sources recite the basic facts and do not provide enough information to reconstruct the events.

The only contemporary source that describes the events in greater detail is the chronicle of [[Wigand of Marburg]]. However, Wigand's original German text has not survived. His work is known from a Latin translation commissioned by [[Jan Długosz]] in 1464. Several excerpts of the original German text were published by [[Caspar Schütz]] (died 1594) and {{illm|Stanislaus Bornbach|de}} (died 1597). When [[Theodor Hirsch]] prepared Wigand's chronicle for publication in ''[[Scriptores Rerum Prussicarum]]'', he included these excerpts alongside the Latin translation. In particular, Hirsch believed that Schütz's text on Pilėnai was more complete and accurate copy of Wigand than the Latin translation. This opinion has been widely accepted and historians used Schütz's text, which paints a much more heroic and dramatic picture of Pilėnai, as Wigand's original. This long-standing belief has been challenged by Lithuanian historian [[Darius Baronas]]. He has shown that Schütz's text was an unreliable and embellished retelling of Wigand's work. Therefore, the only reliable source is the Latin translation of Wigand's chronicle.

==Attack and defense==
[[File:Lithuania Punia Margiris Pilikalnis.jpg|thumb|300px|left|[[Punia, Lithuania|Punia]] hill fort bears Margiris' name and is one of the traditional locations of Pilėnai]]
The [[Teutonic Order]] waged the decades-long [[Lithuanian Crusade]] against the pagan [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] in hopes of converting it to Christianity. In early 1336, the Order organized another large campaign into Lithuania. Their force included [[Louis V, Duke of Bavaria|Louis, Margrave of Brandenburg]], counts of [[House of Henneberg|Henneberg]] (most likely {{illm|Johann I, Count of Henneberg|de|Johann I. (Henneberg-Schleusingen)}})<ref name=hirsch/> and [[County of Namur|Namur]] (most likely [[Guy II, Marquis of Namur]]),<ref name=hirsch/> and other nobles from France and Austria.<ref name=baran/> In total, according to [[Wigand of Marburg]], there were 200 nobles. Another German chronicle, known as ''Der Chronist von Wolfenbüttel'', counted a total of 6,000 soldiers.<ref name=baron/>

On the feast day of [[Saint Matthias]] (February 25), this large force attacked Pilėnai, located in Trapėnai land, where some 4,000 people from four different lands sought shelter from the invasion. Wigand's description of further events paints a chaotic and bloody scene. He claims that the people panicked as soon as they saw the Christian army and decided to burn their belongings and commit suicide. It was said that one old woman killed a hundred people with an ax before killing herself. Others managed to escape on horseback. Duke [[Margiris]] attempted to organize defense, but soon was overwhelmed by the attackers who threw burning wood and stones into the fortress. Margiris then cut his wife with a sword, threw her body into the fire, and killed his loyal guards and followers. Thus, Pilėnai fell and the Order collected the remaining prisoners and loot. ''Kurze Reimchronik von Preussen'' mentioned that 5,000 people were killed and only a handful escaped.

That is all of the information available from contemporary sources. Later historians and authors added many heroic and dramatic details. For example, they added a large [[pyre]] and murder of children and women; the 4,000 people seeking shelter in the fortress became 4,000 armed soldiers; Lithuanians bravely and determinedly defended the fortress but chose death over converting to Christianity and becoming slaves of the Order; Margiris cut his wife in half and then killed himself; the Teutonic soldiers were moved by the terrible sight and noble sacrifice and returned to Prussia without loot. Possibly some of these details were inspired by similar events from the antiquity, including mass suicides in Astapa following the destruction of [[Illiturgis]] (206 BC), to "death or victory" defense of [[Abydos (Hellespont)|Abydos]] (200 BC), and mass suicide during the desperate [[siege of Masada]] ({{circa|74 CE}}).<ref name=baronldk/>

It is difficult, if not impossible, to objectively evaluate the events as all that is known about Pilėnai comes from a single source, a German chronicler who saw Lithuanians as heathens and enemies. While there is written evidence about suicides in medieval Lithuania, Pilėnai is the only known instance where a ruler killed his own men.<ref name=baronldk/>

==Location==
{{GeoGroupTemplate}}
[[File:Bilioniu piliakalnis.jpg|thumb|300px|Bilionys hill fort]]

The exact location of Pilėnai is unknown and historians propose many different locations. ''Annalista Thorunensis'' and [[Wigand of Marburg]] mentioned that it was located in Trapėnai land (''terra Troppen'') but its location is also unknown.

[[Maciej Stryjkowski]] (1547–1593) identified [[Punia, Lithuania|Punia]] as the location of Pilėnai ({{coord|54|30|43|N|24|05|25|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Punia}}).<ref name=ivin/> This opinion, while not based on any historical arguments, spread widely to historical works and was popularized by various works of fiction.<ref name=ivin/> Punia hill fort became known as Margiris Hill<ref name=delfi/> and in 1973 a monument was erected in memory of Margiris<ref name=volka/> (the monument is inscribed with four lines from a poem by [[Maironis]]).<ref name=baran/> The town organizes events to commemorate the events of 1336.<ref name=delfi/>

Based on superficial etymological connections, [[Teodor Narbutt]] identified Pilėnai with Pilionys (Naujaupis) hill fort in the [[Kėdainiai District]] ({{coord|55|29|12|N|23|47|49|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Pilionys (Naujaupis) hill fort}})<ref name=ivin/> and [[Jonas Basanavičius]] with Piliakalniai hill fort in the [[Vilkaviškis District]] ({{coord|54|27|56|N|23|02|52|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Piliakalniai hill fort}}).<ref name=tauta/> [[Zenonas Ivinskis]] searched for Pilėnai along the lower reaches of the [[Neman River]]. He agreed with Kazys Paunksnis and identified Pilėnai with the Pypliai hill fort near the confluence of [[Nevėžis River|Nevėžis]] and Neman ({{coord|54|55|38|N|23|45|02|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Pypliai hill fort}}).<ref name=ivin/>

[[Alvydas Nikžentaitis]] focused on the location of Trapėnai and determined that it was a triangle between [[Viešvilė]], Ančia River (tributary of [[Šešuvis]]), and [[Veliuona]].<ref name=nikze/> Further, he paid particular attention to ''Ycoine'' mentioned by [[Jean d'Outremeuse]] in connection with Margiris' duel with King [[John of Bohemia]] in 1329 and identified it with Jūkainiai village in the [[Raseiniai District]].<ref name=nikze/> There are five hill forts within a {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} distance from Jūkainiai, including the [[Molavėnai]]-Graužai hill fort ({{coord|55|26|52|N|22|52|07|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Molavėnai-Graužai hill fort}}).<ref name=nikze/> In 1995, [[Gintautas Zabiela]] organized a survey of these hill forts and determined that one of them is likely not even a hill fort and other three, including Molavėnai, lacked sufficient cultural layer and archaeological artifacts.<ref name=zabie/> An archaeological excavation of Molavėnai [[outer bailey]] in 2009 found only a few minor items (fragments of clay pots, pieces of iron, stone grinders) that are dated to the 1st–5th century.<ref name=barda/> Excavation of {{convert|10|m2|abbr=on}} of the [[upper bailey]] produced no artifacts but revealed up to {{convert|1.5|m|abbr=on}} thick layer of clay (cf. [[earthen floor]]) used to increase hill fort's height which would date it to the second half of the 14th century.<ref name=zabie11/>

According to Zabiela's survey in 1995, the fifth hill fort, Ižiniškiai ({{coord|55|24|25|N|22|48|53|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Ižiniškiai hill fort}}), is now severely damaged by erosion and human activities but was a strong hill fort with a large settlement.<ref name=zabie/> Zabiela surveyed additional six hill forts in 1996, including Ivangėnai-Karšuva hill fort near [[Skaudvilė]] ({{coord|55|25|19|N|22|36|16|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Ivangėnai-Karšuva hill fort}}) but concluded that Ižiniškiai remained the most probable location of Pilėnai.<ref name=zabie96/> [[Tomas Baranauskas]] disagreed with Nikžentaitis' analysis and searched for Pilėnai in the area of five hill forts that, according to [[Guillaume de Machaut]], were captured by the Teutonic [[Siege of Medvėgalis|campaign to Medvėgalis]] in 1329.<ref name=baran2003/> He concluded that Pilėnai stood in [[Kepaluškalnis|Pilės hill fort]] near [[Kaltinėnai]] in [[Tauragė District]] ({{coord|55|34|1|N|22|26|01|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Pilės hill fort or Kepaluškalnis}}).<ref name=baran2003/> However, an excavation of {{convert|8.5|m2|abbr=on}} area in 1990 produced no artifacts.<ref name=zabie11/>

[[Bilionys]] hill fort in the [[Šilalė District]] ({{coord|55|35|49|N|22|19|17|E|region:LT_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Bilionys hill fort}}) was first suggested by German historian [[Johannes Voigt]].<ref name=kaspa/> This version is supported by Stasys Kasparavičius who noted that Bilionys is sometimes known as Pilionys and is very similar to Pillenen mentioned in written sources.<ref name=kaspa/> Additionally, Bilionys is located just {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Medvėgalis]] which was attacked in 1329 and also likely defended by [[Margiris]]. Bilionys must have been a large and strong fortress as its upper bailey {{convert|57|x|37|m|abbr=on}} but there is no mention in written sources that it was attacked while neighboring hill forts were attacked several times.<ref name=kaspa/> However, [[Etymology|etymological]] connection between Bilionys and Pilėnai is dubious<ref name=baran/> as the [[toponym]] Bilionys likely derived from a personal name.<ref name=almon/> Nevertheless, since 2012 [[Verkiai Regional Park]] organizes events to commemorate Pilėnai on Bilionys hill fort.<ref name=vitku/>

==Cultural significance==
[[File:Actors of "Pilėnai" in 1910.jpeg|thumb|Postcard with actors of the play "Pilėnai" (staged in 1910 by the [[Varpas Society]] in [[Šiauliai]])]]
The heroic defense of Pilėnai inspired many artistic works. The events were described by [[Władysław Syrokomla]] in his epic poem ''Margier'' (1855). The 4000-line poem inspired an opera by [[Konstanty Gorski]] which premiered in 1927. The poem also prompted novel ''Kunigas'' (1881) by [[Józef Ignacy Kraszewski]]. This novel, in turn, inspired an opera by [[Marcelinas Šikšnys]] (1905).<ref name=baran2006/> In 1933, [[Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius]] published a collection of legends from [[Dzūkija|Dainava]], including a story about Pilėnai. [[Maironis]] and [[Paulius Širvys]] composed short poems on the events.<ref name=baran2006/>

The opera ''Pilėnai'' was written by the musical composer [[Vytautas Klova]], and the [[libretto]] was written by [[Jonas Mackonis]]. The opera premiered in 1956, and is often performed in Lithuania. In 2001 the performances took place at the [[Trakai Island Castle]]. The [[Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago]] performed the work in 2006 to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

In 2002, there was a proposal to create Duke Margiris [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Lithuania|state award]] for defending Lithuanian independence with emphasis on loyalty and sacrifice.<ref name=bns/> It was intended for members of armed and unarmed resistance during the Soviet and Nazi Germany occupations in 1940–90.<ref name=bns/>

==Historiography==
The story of Pilėnai spread from one history book to another, from [[Simon Grunau]], [[Maciej Stryjkowski]], [[Albert Wijuk Kojałowicz]], to [[Teodor Narbutt]], but these are just retellings and embellishments of Wigand's original information.

==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=almon>{{cite journal |first1=Vytenis |last1=Almonaitis |first2=Junona |last2=Almonaitienė |url=http://www.satenai.lt/2014/03/04/bilioniu-bylojimai/ |title=Bilionių bylojimai |journal=Šiaurės Atėnai | date=2014-02-28 |volume=8 |issue=1170 |page=10 |issn=1392-7760 |language=lt }}</ref>
<ref name=baran>{{cite web |first=Tomas |last=Baranauskas |title=Pilėnai: žygdarbis ir mįslė |url=http://alkas.lt/2011/02/25/pilenai-zygdarbis-ir-misle/  |date=2011-02-25 |language=lt |publisher=Alkas.lt |access-date=2016-09-02}}</ref>
<ref name=baran2006>{{cite web |first=Tomas |last=Baranauskas |title=Pilėnų gynėjai vietoj vergijos pasirinko mirtį |url=http://lietuvos.istorija.net/publicistika/pilenai.htm |date=2006-02-25 |publisher=OMNI naujienos |access-date=2016-09-03 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=baran2003>{{cite journal |first=Tomas |last=Baranauskas |url=http://talpykla.istorija.lt/bitstream/handle/99999/1524/LA_24_57-106.pdf |title=Lietuvos medinės pilys rašytinių šaltinių duomenimis |journal=Lietuvos archeologija |volume=24 |year=2003 |issn=0207-8694 |language=lt |pages=59, 61 |access-date=2016-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129150331/http://talpykla.istorija.lt/bitstream/handle/99999/1524/LA_24_57-106.pdf |archive-date=2015-11-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name=baron>{{cite journal| first=Darius |last=Baronas |title=Pilėnai ir Margiris: faktai ir fikcijos | url=http://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/fedora/objects/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2008~1367165774902/datastreams/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC/content |journal=Istorijos šaltinių tyrimai |volume=I |year=2008 |pages=39, 47, 53, 57 |language=lt |issn=2029-0705}}</ref>
<ref name=barda>{{cite web|first=Jevgenijus |last=Bardauskas |url=http://www.delfi.lt/mokslas/mokslas/archeologai-pilenu-nerado.d?id=22273019 |title=Archeologai Pilėnų nerado |date=2009-05-21 |publisher=[[Delfi.lt]] |access-date=2016-09-03 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=baronldk>{{cite web| first=Darius |last=Baronas |url=http://m.ldkistorija.lt/index.php/istoriniai-faktai/pilenai-ir-margiris-/1093 |title=Pilėnai ir Margiris |year=2012 |publisher=Vilnius University |work=Orbis Lituaniae |access-date=2016-09-03 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=bns>{{cite web |author=Baltic News Service |author-link=Baltic News Service | title=Siūloma įsteigti Pilėnų pilies gynėjo ordiną |url= http://www.delfi.lt/veidai/kultura/siuloma-isteigti-pilenu-pilies-gynejo-ordina.d?id=858195 |publisher=[[Delfi.lt]] |date=2002-03-15 |access-date=2016-09-03 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=delfi>{{cite web| url=http://www.delfi.lt/veidai/kultura/ant-margirio-kalno-bus-paminetas-pilenu-zygdarbis.d?id=9500714 |title=Ant Margirio kalno bus paminėtas Pilėnų žygdarbis |publisher=[[Delfi.lt]] |date=2006-05-11 |access-date=2016-09-03 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=hirsch>{{cite book| title=Scriptores rerum Prussicarum: die Geschichtsquellen der Preussischen Vorzeit bis zum Untergange der Ordensherrschaft |year=1863 |location=Leipzig |publisher=Verlag von S. Hirzel |volume=2 |editor-first=Theodor |editor-last=Hirsch |editor-first2=Max |editor-last2=Töppen |editor-first3=Ernst |editor-last3=Strehlke |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8H8OAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA488 |page=488 (notes 246 and 247) |oclc=16348289 |language=de}}</ref>
<ref name=ivin>{{cite book| first=Zenonas |last=Ivinskis |pages=85–86 |year=1989 |title=Rinktiniai raštai. Lietuvių kovos su Vokiečių riteriais XII–XV a. |volume=III |publisher=Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija |location=Rome |language=lt |oclc=500289596}}</ref>
<ref name=kaspa>{{cite journal |first=Stasys |last=Kasparavičius |url=http://www.atl.lt/2002/274-275.pdf |title=Bilionių piliakalnis – legendiniai Pilėnai? |journal=Archeologiniai tyrinėjimai Lietuvoje |year=2002 |volume=22 |issn=1392-5512 |pages=274–275 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=nikze>{{cite book| first=Alvydas |last=Nikžentaitis | title=Žemaičių praeitis. 1990 m. Varnių konferencijos medžiaga |volume=I |url=http://www.aruodai.lt/paieska/objektas.php?OId=836 | year=1990 |publisher=Mokslas |location=Vilnius |pages=93–99 |language=lt |oclc=35805682}}</ref>
<ref name=tauta>{{cite book| editor-first=Adolfas |editor-last=Tautavičius |title=Lietuvos TSR archeologijos atlasas |volume=II |year=1976 |location=Vilnius |publisher=Mintis |url=http://www.lad.lt/data/com_ladlibrary/139/1-228.pdf |page=136 |language=lt |oclc=1133467}}</ref>
<ref name=vitku>{{cite journal| first=Manvydas |last=Vitkūnas |title=Kovos Lietuvos istorinėje atmintyje: piliakalniai kaip "atminties vieta" |journal=Karo Archyvas |volume=XXXI |url=http://www.lka.lt/download/42035/karo%2520archyvas%2520xxxi%2520internetui.pdf |year=2016 |language=lt |issn=1392-6489 |page=322}}</ref>
<ref name=volka>{{cite book |first=Regina |last=Volkaitė-Kulikauskienė |title=Punia: svarbiausios žinios |location=Vilnius |publisher=Mintis |year=1990 |page=44 |isbn=5417028584 |language=lt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hhkKAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Tais+pa%C4%8Diais+metais+atidengtas+paminklas+piliakalnio+pap%C4%97d%C4%97je%22}}</ref>
<ref name=zabie>{{cite journal |first=Gintautas |last=Zabiela | title=Pilėnų pilies paieškos |url=http://www.heritage.lt/atl/1994-1995/350-353.pdf |journal=Archeologiniai tyrinėjimai Lietuvoje |year=1994–1995 |issn=1392-5512 |pages=352–353 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=zabie96>{{cite journal |first1=Gintautas |last1=Zabiela |first2=Vykintas |last2=Vaitkevičius | title=Archeologijos paminklų žvalgymas Žemaitijoje |url=http://www.heritage.lt/atl/1996-1997/487-497.pdf |journal=Archeologiniai tyrinėjimai Lietuvoje |year=1996–1997 |issn=1392-5512 |pages=487–488 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=zabie11>{{cite journal |first=Gintautas |last=Zabiela | title=Žemaitijos piliakalniai XIII amžiuje |journal=Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis |volume=XXII |year=2011 |url=http://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/fedora/get/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2011~1367180333818/DS.002.0.01.ARTIC |pages=28–29 |issn=1392-4095 |language=lt}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.opera.lt/?tabid=519 Opera Pilėnai]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040916081747/http://viduramziu.lietuvos.net/socium/pilenai-en.htm Listen to two samples from the opera]}}

{{Mass suicide}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilenai}}
[[Category:Former castles in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1336]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Teutonic Order]]
[[Category:Last stands]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Mass suicides]]
[[Category:14th century in Lithuania]]
[[Category:14th century in the State of the Teutonic Order]]