She was probably born near Palanga to a Lithuanian, Samogitian or Curonian[citation needed] magnate family. The story of her marriage to Kęstutis became a romantic legend in Lithuania. Chronicles mention that Birutė was a priestess (Lithuanian: vaidilutė) and served the Pagan gods by guarding the sacred fire. When Kęstutis heard of her beauty, he visited the shire and asked her to marry him. She refused because she had promised the gods to guard her virginity until her death. Kęstutis then took her by force to Trakai and threw a big wedding. She and Kęstutis had three sons and three daughters. Vytautas, their first son, was born around 1350. This suggests that the marriage took place in 1349 or a bit earlier.
Historian S.C. Rowell suggests that a marriage to a pagan duchess rather than to an Orthodox duchess from Slavic lands helped to win pagan Lithuanian support after Kęstutis and his brother Algirdas deposed Jaunutis in 1345.[2]
Death
The circumstances surrounding Birutė's death are not entirely clear. Between 1381 and 1382 her husband Kęstutis waged a war against his nephew Jogaila who became the Grand Duke of Lithuania and signed a treaty with the Teutonic Knights against Kęstutis. Her husband was arrested and transported to the castle at Kreva. A week later Kęstutis was dead and some chronicles hint that he was murdered. In spite of the circumstances being unclear, one chronicle written by the Teutonic Knights briefly mentioned that Birutė was, for reasons of safety, moved to Brest, Belarus, where she was drowned in fall of 1382 (likely in response to Vytautas escape from Kreva). However, there are no other sources that confirm or refute this claim. Thirty-five years later, a Samogitian delegation to the Council of Constance denied her murder, and another legend claimed that Birutė returned to the shrine where she had served earlier in Palanga, and resumed serving the gods until her death there circa 1389.
Legend has it that she was buried in Palanga at the bottom of the hill named in her honor.
Worship
A grotto at the bottom of Birutė Hill, designed by Édouard André
A cult around Birutė developed and remained strong long after her death. She was considered to be a goddess or the pagan equivalent of a saint by the local people. In 1989 archaeologists found evidence of a pagan sanctuary and observatory, which had existed on the top of Birutė Hill in the late 14th or early 15th century. It was likely built in Birutė's honor. There are many accounts of people praying to Birutė, asking her to bestow good health or fortune upon them. To discourage people from worshiping pagan gods and Birutė's grave, a chapel for Saint George was built on the top of the hill in 1506. In 1869 the chapel was re-built and survives to this day. It is a popular destination for tourists.
Birutė Hill is the highest dune at the seaside resort of Palanga on the Baltic Seashore, and now a part of the Palanga Botanical Garden. Archaeological research shows that there was a village at the bottom of the hill in the 10th century. In the 13th century, when the Teutonic Knights and Livonian Order invaded, the villagers built a defense system with a tower. After an initial defeat, the system was rebuilt and made even stronger; it now had two towers and a wall surrounded the top of the hill. However, when this was burned in the second half of the 14th century, a pagan shrine and observatory was built in its place instead.
^Rowell, S. C. (Spring 1994). "Pious Princesses or Daughters of Belial: Pagan Lithuanian Dynastic Diplomacy, 1279–1423". Medieval Prosopography. 15 (1): 12. ISSN 0198-9405.
References
History: Birutė 2016-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, from "Encyclopedia Lituanica," II, Boston, 1972, pages 361–362, Palanga Botanical Park, Lithuanian Art Museum. Accessed May 24, 2006.
(in Lithuanian)Vykintas Vaitkevičius, Rašytiniai Šaltiniai apie Birutės Kalną 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, Palanga Botanical Park, Lithuanian Art Museum. Accessed May 24, 2006.
(in Lithuanian) Dr. Libertas Klimka Birutės kalnas 2006-12-15 at the Wayback Machine, Palanga Botanical Park, Lithuanian Art Museum. Accessed May 24, 2006.
(in Lithuanian) Vladas Žulkus, Palangos priešistorė ir viduramžiai archeologo akimis 2007-02-24 at the Wayback Machine, part II, from Palangos istorija, Klaipėda: Libra Memelensis, 1999, Palanga Botanical Park, Lithuanian Art Museum. Accessed May 24, 2006.
(in Lithuanian) Inga Deidulė, Vytauto Didžiojo įvaizdžio genezės mįslė, - "ieškokite moterų", Birutės kultas, Vartiklis. Accessed May 24, 2006.
April 28, 2023
birutė, this, article, about, grand, duchess, given, name, biruta, given, name, other, uses, disambiguation, died, 1382, second, wife, kęstutis, grand, duke, lithuania, mother, vytautas, great, there, very, little, known, about, life, after, death, strong, cul. This article is about the grand duchess For the given name see Biruta given name For other uses see Birute disambiguation Birute died 1382 was the second wife of Kestutis Grand Duke of Lithuania and mother of Vytautas the Great 1 There is very little known about Birute s life but after her death a strong cult developed among Lithuanians especially in Samogitia BiruteGrand Duchess of LithuaniaImaginary artistic depiction of Birute from the 19th centuryBornc 1330 near PalangaDied1382BurialPalangaSpouseKestutisIssueVytautasSigismund KestutaitisDanute of LithuaniaA bronze sculpture of Birute near her presumed grave Contents 1 Life 1 1 Marriage 1 2 Death 2 Worship 3 Eponym 4 Notes 5 ReferencesLife EditMarriage Edit She was probably born near Palanga to a Lithuanian Samogitian or Curonian citation needed magnate family The story of her marriage to Kestutis became a romantic legend in Lithuania Chronicles mention that Birute was a priestess Lithuanian vaidilute and served the Pagan gods by guarding the sacred fire When Kestutis heard of her beauty he visited the shire and asked her to marry him She refused because she had promised the gods to guard her virginity until her death Kestutis then took her by force to Trakai and threw a big wedding She and Kestutis had three sons and three daughters Vytautas their first son was born around 1350 This suggests that the marriage took place in 1349 or a bit earlier Historian S C Rowell suggests that a marriage to a pagan duchess rather than to an Orthodox duchess from Slavic lands helped to win pagan Lithuanian support after Kestutis and his brother Algirdas deposed Jaunutis in 1345 2 Death Edit The circumstances surrounding Birute s death are not entirely clear Between 1381 and 1382 her husband Kestutis waged a war against his nephew Jogaila who became the Grand Duke of Lithuania and signed a treaty with the Teutonic Knights against Kestutis Her husband was arrested and transported to the castle at Kreva A week later Kestutis was dead and some chronicles hint that he was murdered In spite of the circumstances being unclear one chronicle written by the Teutonic Knights briefly mentioned that Birute was for reasons of safety moved to Brest Belarus where she was drowned in fall of 1382 likely in response to Vytautas escape from Kreva However there are no other sources that confirm or refute this claim Thirty five years later a Samogitian delegation to the Council of Constance denied her murder and another legend claimed that Birute returned to the shrine where she had served earlier in Palanga and resumed serving the gods until her death there circa 1389 Legend has it that she was buried in Palanga at the bottom of the hill named in her honor Worship Edit A grotto at the bottom of Birute Hill designed by Edouard Andre A cult around Birute developed and remained strong long after her death She was considered to be a goddess or the pagan equivalent of a saint by the local people In 1989 archaeologists found evidence of a pagan sanctuary and observatory which had existed on the top of Birute Hill in the late 14th or early 15th century It was likely built in Birute s honor There are many accounts of people praying to Birute asking her to bestow good health or fortune upon them To discourage people from worshiping pagan gods and Birute s grave a chapel for Saint George was built on the top of the hill in 1506 In 1869 the chapel was re built and survives to this day It is a popular destination for tourists Birute Hill is the highest dune at the seaside resort of Palanga on the Baltic Seashore and now a part of the Palanga Botanical Garden Archaeological research shows that there was a village at the bottom of the hill in the 10th century In the 13th century when the Teutonic Knights and Livonian Order invaded the villagers built a defense system with a tower After an initial defeat the system was rebuilt and made even stronger it now had two towers and a wall surrounded the top of the hill However when this was burned in the second half of the 14th century a pagan shrine and observatory was built in its place instead Eponym EditAsteroid 212977 BiruteNotes Edit Gudavicius Edvardas Birute Visuotine lietuviu enciklopedija in Lithuanian Retrieved 11 February 2023 Rowell S C Spring 1994 Pious Princesses or Daughters of Belial Pagan Lithuanian Dynastic Diplomacy 1279 1423 Medieval Prosopography 15 1 12 ISSN 0198 9405 References EditHistory Birute Archived 2016 10 17 at the Wayback Machine from Encyclopedia Lituanica II Boston 1972 pages 361 362 Palanga Botanical Park Lithuanian Art Museum Accessed May 24 2006 in Lithuanian Vykintas Vaitkevicius Rasytiniai Saltiniai apie Birutes Kalna Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine Palanga Botanical Park Lithuanian Art Museum Accessed May 24 2006 in Lithuanian Dr Libertas Klimka Birutes kalnas Archived 2006 12 15 at the Wayback Machine Palanga Botanical Park Lithuanian Art Museum Accessed May 24 2006 in Lithuanian Vladas Zulkus Palangos priesistore ir viduramziai archeologo akimis Archived 2007 02 24 at the Wayback Machine part II from Palangos istorija Klaipeda Libra Memelensis 1999 Palanga Botanical Park Lithuanian Art Museum Accessed May 24 2006 in Lithuanian Inga Deidule Vytauto Didziojo įvaizdzio genezes mįsle ieskokite moteru Birutes kultas Vartiklis Accessed May 24 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birute amp oldid 1151491421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
