On February 16, Lithuania celebrates Independence Day. She has the Baltic Sea on her West Coast with a land mass of 65,200 sq. km. and a population of a little over 3.2 million. Her people are mostly of Lithuanian, Poles and Russian origins with about 79% are Roman Catholics.
Baltic tribes that were made up of a distinct Indo-European ethnic group, established themselves on what is now known as
Lithuanian territory between the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Duke Mindaugas united the various Baltic tribes and established the state of Lithuania during the period of 1236 – 1263. Mindaugas embraced Christianity for political reasons and accepted the Crown from the Pope of Rome, becoming the first and only king in Lithuanian history.
Lithuanian territory between the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. Duke Mindaugas united the various Baltic tribes and established the state of Lithuania during the period of 1236 – 1263. Mindaugas embraced Christianity for political reasons and accepted the Crown from the Pope of Rome, becoming the first and only king in Lithuanian history.
Lithuania was the largest European country at the end of the 14th century and in 1386, Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania was crowned the King of Poland. In 1795, over 90% of Lithuania was incorporated into the Russian Empire.
The German army occupied Lithuania during the First World War and a resolution was adopted to restore the independence of Lithuania state. On February 16, 1918, the council declared Lithuania’s independence and a parliamentary republic.
Lithuania was forced to sign an agreement with the U.S.S.R on October 10, 1939, due to Soviet pressure and a complicated international situation. During the late 1980s, Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost, eroded communist rule and Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to claim independence on March 11, 1990. Lithuania joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. On August 31, 1993, Lithuania and Russia signed an agreement whereby the last Red Army left Lithuania.
Happy Independence Day, Lithuania from Kuantan4u, Malaysia.