1311 m. Voplaukio mūšis: priežastys, eiga, karybos aspektai, istorinė atmintis

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Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Straipsnis / Article
Language:
Lietuvių kalba / Lithuanian
Title:
1311 m. Voplaukio mūšis: priežastys, eiga, karybos aspektai, istorinė atmintis
Alternative Title:
Battle of Voplaukis (1311): reasons, course, military aspects and historical memory
In the Journal:
Karo archyvas. 2015, 30, p. 12-43, 380-383
Keywords:
LT
13 amžius; 14 amžius; 20 amžius; Baltarusija (Belarus); Latvija (Latvia); Lietuva (Lithuania).
Summary / Abstract:

ENDuring the reign of Grand Duke Vytenis (1295–1315), an intense war with the Teutonic Order took place. Among the many small-scale clashes, one of the biggest battles of the fourteenth century, which was unsuccessful for the Vytenis forces, however, very informative in terms of military history should be mentioned, namely, the battle of Voplaukis, which took place on 7 April 1311. There were two reasons for the battle, and they were driven to the time unfavourable to the Teutonic Order. In 1311, there were two marches to Prussia. The first attack in February was unsuccessful. The general battle took place during the second march. Vytenis forces consisting of Lithuanian cavalry and infantry, and Russian shooters settled in a camp in the Barthen land fenced on all sides (the so-called ring-defence). Horde forces reached the entrenched camp and attacked it in two waves. The camp’s defenders threw spears, butts, and Russian shooters shot arrows from bows. From the second half of the thirteenth century, Russian shooter regiments were an integral part of the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but most often they were separated into a shooter regiment. When some part of the fence guarded by Russian shooters was broken during the second attack, the forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were divided. They scattered and the Teutonic Order celebrated victory. The exact number of soldiers who fought and died in the battle is not known. Very abstract figures provided in the sources do not display a precise picture of the battle. It is clear from the analysis of the text that the battle of Voplaukis and subsequent events were interwoven with Teutonic Order propaganda. The image of Vytenis created as the enemy of Christianity did not disclose the real relations of the Duke with the Christian world.The Teutonic Order began to commemorate the victory of Voplaukis against the Lithuanians immediately after the battle, and established a nunnery in Torun. Until the twentieth century, there were no attempts to commemorate the battle, but in 1936 (on the occasion of the 625th anniversary), near Voplaukis field, on the so-called Bloody Hill, a memorial stone was erected. In 1945, by the decision of the Potsdam Conference, the southern part of East Prussia went to Poland, so basically the territory and the opponents who were fighting there had no historical link with Poland. In 2011, to commemorate the 700-year anniversary of the battle, Sofia Lichareva Ketrzyn Land Amateur Society held the first dramatisation of the battle of Voplaukis, and this led to the tradition of organising a similar event each year. The battle of Voplaukis has left no image in the historical memory of Lithuanians. This is partly explained by the fact that the battle was lost, and, in general, little is known about Vytenis, the Grand Duke of Lithuania (and his era). Voplaukis in Polish history has found its place in respect of religion, demonstrating the triumph of Christianity over paganism. [From the publication]

ISSN:
1392-6489; 2424-6123
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https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/61190
Updated:
2018-12-17 14:02:26
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