Historical Dictionary of Lithuania, 2nd Edition (Historical Dictionaries of Europe)

"The Lithuanian people have undergone historic changes quite different from those of other European nations. In earlier centuries geography provided strategic advantage and opportunities for expansion but in recent times the country has more often experienced location as a geopolitical curse. After constantly losing territory and shrinking in size, the country disappeared in 1795. However, after World War I a popular national movement led to the restoration of Lithuania as an independent state. World War II and its bloody aftermath brought foreign occupation as well as genocide, mass murder, and destruction unparalleled in the country's modern history. The restoration of independence in 1990 has fundamentally altered Lithuania's geopolitical reality. Integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization promise a new level of security for the Lithuanian state in the 21st century even as the social and economic transformations present both promising opportunities and difficult challenges. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Lithuania will serve as a useful introduction to virtually all aspects of Lithuania's historical experience, including the country's relations with its neighbors. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places, and events; institutions and organizations; and political, economic, social, cultural, and religious facets"--Provided by publisher Annotation The Lithuanian people have undergone historic changes quite different from those of other European nations. In earlier centuries geography provided strategic advantage and opportunities for expansion but in recent times the country has more often experienced location as a geopolitical curse. After constantly losing territory and shrinking in size, the country disappeared in 1795. However, after World War I a popular national movement led to the restoration of Lithuania as an independent state. World War II and its bloody aftermath brought foreign occupation as well as genocide, mass murder, and destruction unparalleled in the country's modern history. The restoration of independence in 1990 has fundamentally altered Lithuania's geopolitical reality. Integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization promise a new level of security for the Lithuanian state in the 21st century even as the social and economic transformations present both promising opportunities and difficult challenges. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Lithuania will serve as a useful introduction to virtually all aspects of Lithuania's historical experience, including the country's relations with its neighbors. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places, and events; institutions and organizations; and political, economic, social, cultural, and religious facets Contents......Page 8 Editor’s Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Reader’s Note Lithuanian Proper Names and Calendar Dates......Page 14 Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 16 Maps......Page 20 Chronology......Page 24 Introduction......Page 36 A......Page 72 B......Page 92 C......Page 106 D......Page 126 E......Page 134 F......Page 144 G......Page 148 H......Page 160 I......Page 166 J......Page 174 K......Page 180 L......Page 198 M......Page 218 N......Page 232 O......Page 246 P......Page 248 Q......Page 276 R......Page 278 S......Page 296 T......Page 326 U......Page 340 V......Page 348 W......Page 360 Y......Page 368 Z......Page 372 Appendix 1 Pronunciation of Lithuanian Terms......Page 374 Appendix 2 Lithuanian Rulers, 1251–1572a......Page 376 Appendix 3 Rulers of the Commonwealth Period, 1569–1795......Page 378 Appendix 4 Lithuanian Political Leaders since 1918......Page 380 Appendix 5 Peculiarities of Place and Time......Page 384 Glossary......Page 386 Bibliography......Page 388 About the Author......Page 426