Antanas Mackevicius
Encyclopedia
Antanas Mackevičius (June 14, 1828 in Morkiai, near Kelmė
– December 16, 1863 in Kaunas
) – was a Lithuanian priest
and one of the initiators and leaders of the 1863 January Uprising
in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania
, on the lands of the partitioned
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
.
. Between 1846-1849, after finishing his secondary education at the gymnasium
in Vilnius
, he continued his studies at St. Vladimir University
in Kiev
. During this period a series of political upheavals occurred throughout the European continent, the Revolutions of 1848
, which spread eastward. As a consequence of these events and influenced by them, Mackevičius began to consider the possibility of liberating Lithuania from the Russian Empire
. In 1850 he left Kiev and entered the seminary in Varniai
. He was ordained, and between 1853 and 1855 he served as the vicar in Krekenava
, and between 1856 and 1862, served as pastor of the church in Paberžė.
According to Jurgis Želvys, following the unsuccessful 1831 Uprising, Antanas Mackevičius, like most of the Lithuanian nobility, did not lose hope of restoring Lithuania's independence. A new opportunity arose in the spring of 1863, when a subsequent uprising against the Russian Empire spread to Lithuania. Antanas Mackevičius was one of the first to openly agitate for Lithuanian independence. In a sermon at the church in Paberžė he called upon the people to rise up and restore independence, and promised to reorganize society by granting greater rights for peasants, and also promised them land. Mackevičius also criticized Polish nobility attempts to attach Lithuania to Poland. However, according to Timothy Snyder
, although now seen as a "proto-Lithuanian nationalist", Mackevičius' goal was indeed to recreate the Grand Duchy - but "in a provisional association with Poland"
Mackevičius succeeded in organizing some two hundred and fifty men, armed with hunting rifles and straightened scythe
s. Mackevičius' platoon fought until November 26, but after a defeat near Vilkija
on December 17, he was captured and taken to the prison in Kaunas
. After Mackevičius refused to betray other leaders of the uprising, he was hanged on December 28, 1863 by the direct order of Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov-Vilensky
. An attempt to rescue him by a group from Aleksotas
did not get beyond the planning stages and therefore unable to prevent his execution.
In Lithuania, thirty thousand poorly trained and armed insurgents faced approximately one hundred and forty-five thousand regular Russian troops.
there is commemorative exposition honoring Antanas Mackevičius' legacy at the town's museum. It contains many of Antanas Mackevičius' personal artifacts - his furniture, private letters, documents, and other items.
Kelme
Kelmė is a city in central Lithuania. It has a population of around 11,000 and is the administrative center of the Kelmė district municipality.-History:Prior to World War II, Kelmė was home to a famous Rabbinical College, the Kelm Talmud Torah....
– December 16, 1863 in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
) – was a Lithuanian priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
and one of the initiators and leaders of the 1863 January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
, on the lands of the partitioned
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
.
Biography
Antanas Mackevičius was born into a family of minor Polish-Lithuanian nobilityPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. Between 1846-1849, after finishing his secondary education at the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, he continued his studies at St. Vladimir University
Kiev University
Taras Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv , colloquially known in Ukrainian as KNU is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is the third oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and Kharkiv University. Currently, its structure...
in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. During this period a series of political upheavals occurred throughout the European continent, the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
, which spread eastward. As a consequence of these events and influenced by them, Mackevičius began to consider the possibility of liberating Lithuania from the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. In 1850 he left Kiev and entered the seminary in Varniai
Varniai
Varniai , is a city in the Telšiai County, western Lithuania. In the Middle Ages the city was known as Medininkai. It was established in the 14th century, on the bank of the Varnelė River, near an important Samogitian castle. It was the center of Samogitian Catholic church: after the baptism of...
. He was ordained, and between 1853 and 1855 he served as the vicar in Krekenava
Krekenava
Krekenava is a town in Panevėžys district municipality in northern Lithuania, on the bank of Nevėžis.From 1409 it was center of Upytė poviat, 1419 first wooden church built by Vytautas the Great. Nearby Krekanava is a birthplace of the painter Roman Szwoynicki .- Economy :1975 is a year of...
, and between 1856 and 1862, served as pastor of the church in Paberžė.
According to Jurgis Želvys, following the unsuccessful 1831 Uprising, Antanas Mackevičius, like most of the Lithuanian nobility, did not lose hope of restoring Lithuania's independence. A new opportunity arose in the spring of 1863, when a subsequent uprising against the Russian Empire spread to Lithuania. Antanas Mackevičius was one of the first to openly agitate for Lithuanian independence. In a sermon at the church in Paberžė he called upon the people to rise up and restore independence, and promised to reorganize society by granting greater rights for peasants, and also promised them land. Mackevičius also criticized Polish nobility attempts to attach Lithuania to Poland. However, according to Timothy Snyder
Timothy Snyder
Timothy D. Snyder is an American professor of history at Yale University, specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Holocaust...
, although now seen as a "proto-Lithuanian nationalist", Mackevičius' goal was indeed to recreate the Grand Duchy - but "in a provisional association with Poland"
Mackevičius succeeded in organizing some two hundred and fifty men, armed with hunting rifles and straightened scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
s. Mackevičius' platoon fought until November 26, but after a defeat near Vilkija
Vilkija
Vilkija is situated in the Kaunas district municipality, Lithuania. It is located north-west of Kaunas. It's right on the north side of the river Nemunas, the most important river in Lithuania....
on December 17, he was captured and taken to the prison in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. After Mackevičius refused to betray other leaders of the uprising, he was hanged on December 28, 1863 by the direct order of Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov-Vilensky
Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov-Vilensky
Count Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov was one of the most reactionary Russian imperial statesmen of the 19th century...
. An attempt to rescue him by a group from Aleksotas
Aleksotas
Aleksotas is an elderate in the southern section of the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, bordering the left bank of the Neman River . Its population in 2006 was 21,694....
did not get beyond the planning stages and therefore unable to prevent his execution.
In Lithuania, thirty thousand poorly trained and armed insurgents faced approximately one hundred and forty-five thousand regular Russian troops.
Memorial
In KėdainiaiKedainiai
Kėdainiai is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. It is located on the Nevėžis River. First mentioned in the 1372 Livonian Chronicle of Hermann de Wartberge, its population as of 2008 was 30,214. Its old town dates to the 17th century....
there is commemorative exposition honoring Antanas Mackevičius' legacy at the town's museum. It contains many of Antanas Mackevičius' personal artifacts - his furniture, private letters, documents, and other items.