People

 November 23rd, 1851 Jonas Basanavičius was born in Ožkabaliai village, Bartninkai parish, Vilkaviškis district, in a family of local farmer. He went to the Lukšiai primary school, he then travelled to Moscow to study at the faculty of history and philosophy at the Moscow University; in 1873–1874. A year later he transferred to a school of medicine. After graduating in 1879, J. Basanavičius moved to Bulgaria in 1880. He settled in Lom, where he got a job as the director of local hospital. In the meantime J. Basanavičius started to collaborate with the Lithuanian newspapers published in Lithuania Minor, like Lietuviška Ceitunga and Naujasis Keleivis. In 1882, he created a new Lithuanian newspaper Aušra. Jonas Basanavičius interested in historical research lead him to visit Bulgarian towns and copy the Roman inscriptions and excavated ruins from the Roman times. In 1891, he went on a trip across European cities, to collect data to support his work on the theory of “thracology”. Jonas Basanavičius continuously sent articles to the Lithuanian press, on his studies on folklore. He tried to get other citizens to collecting Lithuanian folklore. He returned to Lithuania when the ban for Lithuanian press was lifted in 1904. Due to the upsurge of the national revival tension in the society, Jonas Basanavičius started to unit them as national intelligentsia. In 1907, Jonas Basanavičius was a chairman at the first organized meeting of the representatives of the Lithuanian people,these was called the Great Seimas in Vilnius. He also started to set in place the Lithuanian Science Society in 1907. While spending his time in USA Jonas Basanavičius and M. Yčas collected donations to build houses for the Lithuanian Science Society and Art Society. Then during the World War I Jonas Basanavičius lived in Vilnius and settled down there. Basanavicius was one of the creators of the Lithuanian Seimas (Parliament) in Vilnius, and the national Lithuanian democratic party.He was elected to the Council of Lithuania at the Lithuanian conference, held in Vilnius in September of 1917. On February 16, 1918, Jonas Basanavicius and nineteen other of members of the Lithuanian Council, declared the Lithuanian independence, by signing the Declaration of Independence. Vilnius was occupied by Russia and Poland, Lithuanian government had to temporarily move to Kaunas. Jonas Basanavicius on other hand stayed in Vilnius with the Lithuanian Learned Society. On Oct. 9, 1920, Poland broke its agreement with Lithuania and occupied Vilnius. Jonas Basanavicius fought for Lithuanian rights by writing publical papers, and continuing his research. Jonas Basanavičius passed away on February 16, 1927.
 * Jonas Basanavicius **
 * Birthplace: Ozkabaliai, Lithuania **
 * Birth: 1851 **
 * Death: 1927 **



 Vytautas was born in Senieji Trakai ("Old Trakai") in1350. He was the son of Kęstutis and Birutė. His cousin,Jogaila, became King of Poland as Władysław II, and his grandfather was the Vasili II of Russia. Vytautas’s uncle Algirdas was the Grand Duke of Lithuania, while Kęstutis was responsibe for defense against the Teutonic Knights. When Algirdas died in 1377, his son Jogaila became Grand Duke. There then became a struggle for power between the families. Then in 1380, Jogaila signed a secret Treaty of Dovydiškės with the Teutonic Knight against Kęstutis. When Jogaila plan was discovered by Kęstutis, Kęstutis seized Vilnius, threw Jogaila and became the Grand Duke. Unfortunitly Jogaila escaped and raised an army against Kęstutis. There was never a battle, in stead Kęstutis and Vytautas were arrested and put to Kreva castle. One week later, Kęstutis was found dead. In 1382, Vytautas escape from Kreva with help Vytautas' wife, Anna. She was allowed to visit him in the castle and during one of these visits, Vytautas dressed in the clothes of one of Anna's female servants. When he escaped he asked the Teutonic Knights to take down his cousin. At the same time Jogaila was negotiating with the Teutonic Order and they made the Treaty of Dubysa, but the treaty was never ratified. Therefore in the summer of 1383, a war started between Jogaila and the Order. Vytautas participated in several raids against Jogaila. Vytautas again promised to cede part of Samogitia, to the Teutonic Order, up to the Nevėžis River in return for the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania in January 1384. In July of the same year, Vytautas betrayed the Teutonic Order by abandoning the Teutonic Knights and reconciled with Jogaila. Then he burn three important Teutonic castles, and he redeemed all Kęstutis' lands, except for Trakai.  In 1385, Vytautas signed the Union of Kreva with Poland, this treaty provided for the marriage of Jogaila to Jadwiga of Poland. Jogaila then became the King of Poland. Vytautas saw an opportunity to become the Grand Duke again. In 1389 Vytautas started a war and attacked Vilnius but was defeated. Vytautas had to ask the Teutonic Knights for help again in the 1390. He had to turn over Samogitia to the Order and promise to keep the original agreement of 1384. His army then attacked Lithuanian lands. In 1392, Wladyslaw II Jagiełło's envoy, Henry of Masovia, offered Vytautas to become his regent instead of Skirgaila. Vytautas accepted and once again not keeping to his word, he burned three Teutonic castles and returned to Vilnius. Jagiełło and Vytautas signed the Astrava treaty in which Vytautas redeemed all Kęstutis' lands and more. In the name of Wladyslaw II Jagiełło, Vytautas ruled Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuania widly expanded under his rule. While Vytautas was Grand Duchy of Lithuania did great things for the county. In 1413, Vytautas was one of the creators of the Union of Horodło with Poland. Lithuanian Christian nobles now could received the same rights as Polish szlachta.This was very a important culturally than politically. This created more contacts and cooperation between the nobles and for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When Vytautas died all the land and power returned to the King of Poland.
 * Vytautas the Great **
 * Birthplace: **
 * Birth: 1350 **
 * Death: October 27 1430 **