Trakai Peninsula Castle
Encyclopedia
Trakai Peninsula Castle is one of the castles in Trakai
, Lithuania
. It is located on a peninsula between southern Lake Galvė
and Lake Luka. Built around 1350–1377 by Kęstutis
, Duke of Trakai, it was an important defensive structure protecting Trakai and Vilnius
, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
, against attacks of the Teutonic Knights
. Much of the castle was destroyed in the 17th century. Remaining walls and towers are preserved and protected by the Trakai Historical National Park
.
The castle had seven towers connected by a 10 m (32.8 ft) high wall. The three largest towers, measuring 15 metre, protected most vulnerable southwestern flank. A 12 – wide moat
separated the structure from the town. The castle was attacked in 1382 and 1383 (during the civil war of 1381–1384
) and in 1390 (during the civil war of 1389–1392
). After the 1422 Treaty of Melno
, the castle lost its significance as a defensive structure. It is known that grand Dukes used it as a residence. Sigismund Kęstutaitis
was murdered in the castle on 20 March 1440.
In the 16th century it was used a prison. The castle was destroyed during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
and never rebuilt. The territory was granted to a Dominican
cloister in 1678 by Marcjan Aleksander Ogiński
, Voivode of Trakai. However, the monks built their monastery and church only in 1770s. These buildings are also part of the castle ensemble.
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It is located on a peninsula between southern Lake Galvė
Lake Galve
Lake Galvė is a lake in Trakai Lithuania. It has 21 islands, and one of them houses Trakai Island Castle. Trakai Peninsula Castle is located on its southern shore. There are ruins of the little Orthodox church in Bažnytėlė Island. The lake and most of the other lakes surrounding the castle and...
and Lake Luka. Built around 1350–1377 by Kęstutis
Kestutis
Kęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila...
, Duke of Trakai, it was an important defensive structure protecting Trakai and 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...
, capital of the 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...
, against attacks of the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
. Much of the castle was destroyed in the 17th century. Remaining walls and towers are preserved and protected by the Trakai Historical National Park
Trakai Historical National Park
Trakai Historical National Park is a national park in Lithuania. It was designated in 1992 to embrace the historic city of Trakai, some 25 kilometers west of Vilnius, and the forests, lakes, and villages in its environs. It is the only historical national park in Europe.- External links :* *...
.
The castle had seven towers connected by a 10 m (32.8 ft) high wall. The three largest towers, measuring 15 metre, protected most vulnerable southwestern flank. A 12 – wide moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
separated the structure from the town. The castle was attacked in 1382 and 1383 (during the civil war of 1381–1384
Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)
The Lithuanian Civil War of 1381–1384 was the first struggle for power between the cousins Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania and later King of Poland, and Vytautas the Great. It began after Jogaila signed the Treaty of Dovydiškės with the Teutonic Knights which was aimed against his uncle Kęstutis,...
) and in 1390 (during the civil war of 1389–1392
Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)
The Lithuanian Civil War of 1389–1392 was the second civil conflict between Jogaila, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his cousin Vytautas the Great. At issue was control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then the largest state in Europe. Jogaila had been crowned King of Poland in...
). After the 1422 Treaty of Melno
Treaty of Melno
The Treaty of Melno or Treaty of Lake Melno was a peace treaty ending the Gollub War. It was signed on September 27, 1422, between the Teutonic Knights and an alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at Lake Melno , east of Graudenz...
, the castle lost its significance as a defensive structure. It is known that grand Dukes used it as a residence. Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Sigismund Kestutaitis
Sigismund Kęstutaitis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1432 to 1440. Sigismund was his baptismal name; Sigismund's pagan Lithuanian birth name is unknown. He was son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis and his wife Birutė....
was murdered in the castle on 20 March 1440.
In the 16th century it was used a prison. The castle was destroyed during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
The Russo-Polish War of 1654–1667, also called Thirteen Years' War, First Northern War, War for Ukraine was the last major conflict between Tsardom of Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Between 1655 and 1660, the Second Northern War was also fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,...
and never rebuilt. The territory was granted to a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
cloister in 1678 by Marcjan Aleksander Ogiński
Marcjan Aleksander Oginski
Marcjan Aleksander Ogiński was a nobleman, a military commander and a statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He advanced to colonel in 1657, served as Voivod of Trakai and Grand Chancellor of Lithuania...
, Voivode of Trakai. However, the monks built their monastery and church only in 1770s. These buildings are also part of the castle ensemble.
See also
- Trakai Island CastleTrakai Island CastleTrakai Island Castle is an island castle located in Trakai, Lithuania on an island in Lake Galvė. The castle is sometimes referred to as "Little Marienburg". The construction of the stone castle was begun in the 14th century by Kęstutis, and around 1409 major works were completed by his son...
- Old Trakai CastleOld Trakai CastleSenieji Trakai Castle was a castle in Senieji Trakai in Lithuania.The first enclosure type brick castle was built by Grand Duke Gediminas, who transferred the capital of Lithuania from Kernavė to Trakai before 1321...
- List of castles in Lithuania