Varniai

Varniai (Samogitian: Varnē; Wornie) is a city in the Telšiai County, western Lithuania. In the Middle Ages the city was known as Medininkai (Samogitian: Medėninkā).

History
It was established in the 14th century, on the bank of the Varnelė River, near an important Samogitian castle. It was the center of Samogitian Catholic church: after the baptism of Samogitia, the Samogitian Bishop resided in the town. In 1320, it was the site of the Battle of Medininkai, in which the Samogitians defeated the invading Teutonic Knights. Afterwards, it was invaded by the Teutonic Knights in 1329, and by the Livonian Order in 1377. In 1413, Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło and Lithuanian Duke Vytautas ordered the demolition of the pagan temple and Christianized the population. Around 1414–1416 the first church was built, and c. 1464 the first cathedral. 1425, a third of the population died due to an epidemic. It was granted Chełmno municipal rights in 1491. During the Swedish invasion, the town was plundered by the Swedes in 1655 and 1656. Five diocesan synods were held in the town between 1656 and 1752.

Varniai was the center of Samogitian episcopate until the middle of the 19th century, when authorities of the Russian Empire moved it to Kaunas.

With support of Merkelis Giedraitis, Mikalojus Daukša translated and made ready for publication Katechizmas, the first Lithuanian language book printed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

It was also residence of Motiejus Valančius.

Notable residents

 * Boris Schatz
 * Merkelis Giedraitis
 * Mikalojus Daukša
 * Motiejus Valančius