Yes, it is true that we have already celebrated two independence days here in Lithuania — one commemorating the declaration of independence from the Russian empire in 1918 to form a Lithuania nation-state (February 16) and one marking the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 to re-establish the Lithuania state.  Today we are going way back in time to celebrate the first Lithuanian political entity, a medieval empire that spread from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.  Today is also known as Mindaugas Day, in honor of King Mindaugas who ruled from 1253-1263 and consolidated the empire.

Mindaugas was Lithuania’s first and only king — for some reason all the other rulers were called Grand Dukes.  He actually started ruling and consolidating his realm in 1240, but was baptised and crowned as king by a papal decree in 1253.  Mindaugas was later accused of abandoning the Christian faith.  After his wife’s death in 1263, he kidnapped her sister to marry her — unfortunately the sister was already married and her husband took revenge by killing Mindaugas.  Not much is known about Mindaugas, given that he lived in the 13th century, but his name has lived on — and you can even meet Lithuanian men today named Mindaugas.

This statue of Mindaugas was erected in front of the National Museum in 2003 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of his crowning.

This statue of Mindaugas was erected in front of the National Museum in 2003 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of his crowning.