Margiris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hill of Margiris in Punia, one of the many possible locations for Pilėnai castle

Margiris or Margis (Polish: Margier; died in 1336) was a duke of Samogitia, a medieval Lithuanian prince, mentioned in the chronicle of Wigand of Marburg as the heroic defender of the Pilėnai on Neman River bank in 1336. Not able to defend the castle against the siege of Teutonic Knights, Margiris decided to commit suicide, along with the other defenders. He burnt himself with the rest of defenders of Pilėnai castle so that the enemy would not be able to collect any treasures.

Margiris had a high position in the society. It is evidenced by a duel with Jean of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia, who came to aid the Order in 1329. After the rules of the duel were broken, Margiris had to pay a ransom. He did so with coins minted by Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor stolen during a 1326 raid to Margraviate of Brandenburg. If Margiris was not from the ruling class, King of Bohemia would consider it degrading to fight with him and Margiris would not have a share of spoils of war.

Since Margiris commanded Samogitian forces while himself being not from Samogitia, historians tend to conclude that Margiris must have been son of Butvydas and brother of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. Regarding his family, chronicles mention only Margiris' son who soon after father's death was captured by the enemy and did not return.

Margier is also the title of a historic epic poem about the heroic prince, written by Władysław Syrokomla in 1855.

[edit] References

• (Lithuanian) Nikžentaitis, Alvydas (1989). Gediminas. Vilnius: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija, 10-11. 

 This Lithuanian history-related article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

This Lithuanian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This Poland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.