Lithuania’s complex history can pose a serious challenge even for long-time history buffs. National ambition and the struggle for influence from East and West shaped the action-filled past of the Baltic nation.
立陶宛的歷史十分曲折複雜，對於資深歷史迷而言都是個不小的挑戰。國家的雄心壯志並受東西方文化的影響下塑造了這個曾經有輝煌歷史的波羅的海國家。
With the 30th anniversary of the Lithuanian Restoration of Independence on March 11 drawing near, we proudly present 9 fascinating historical facts about Lithuania that anyone should know. To kickstart your journey into the glorious Baltic past, look no further!
3月11日是立陶宛恢復獨立日，隨著恢復獨立三十週年的到來，我們為你送上立陶宛9個有意思的歷史故事，話不多說，趕緊來一起開啟波羅的海的輝煌歷史吧！
1
Lithuania had only one king, Mindaugas
立陶宛歷史上只有一位國王——明道加斯
立陶宛的唯一一位國王明道加斯
He was not a huge fan of large parties. Or so we assume from his reportedly humble crowning ceremony in 1253, which was only attended by the closest witnesses. Lithuania celebrates the crowning day of Mindaugas on July 6, which doubles as Statehood day. However, the actual date or place of the crowning ceremony remains unknown.
這位國王並不熱衷於萬眾矚目的盛典，從1253年他樸素的國王加冕儀式中可見一斑，當時的典禮只在少數親信的見證下完成。立陶宛在每年的7月6日慶祝明道加斯加冕日，也是立陶宛的建國日。然而，當年加冕儀式的具體時間和地點至今仍是一個謎。
Having united Lithuanian lands with might and wits, Mindaugas was the first ruler of Lithuania to accept baptism, convert to Christianity and leave Baltic Paganism behind. Even so, it is suggested he may have later renounced Christianity and turned back to pagan ways.
智勇雙全的明道加斯統一了立陶宛，他是立陶宛第一位由民間信仰教改信基督教並接受洗禮的統治者。即便如此，歷史學家認為他最終還是放棄基督教了，迴歸原來的信仰。
2
The capital Vilnius was founded around the hills of iron wolf howling
首都維爾紐斯建在鐵狼夜嚎的山丘上
格季米納斯塔現在就矗立在鐵狼夜嚎的山丘上
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has long been known for gorgeous old town architecture. But back in the times of Mindaugas, Kernave, a town some 35 kilometers to the northwest of Vilnius, was the capital. It wasn’t until much later that Vilnius was founded.
立陶宛的首都維爾紐斯因老城華麗的建築風光聞名於世。但追溯到明道加斯時期，維爾紐斯向西北35公里的凱爾納韋才是首都所在地。而很久後維爾紐斯才建成。
It is said that the Grand Duke Gediminas, Lithuania’s supreme ruler in the 14th century, dreamed of an iron wolf howling on a hill after a long day of hunting in the valley.
據說，14世紀立陶宛的最高統治者格季米納斯大公在谷中狩獵了一整天，晚上就夢到了一隻在山頂嚎叫的鐵狼。早上醒來，大公立刻召來了一位大祭司Lizdeika。
Upon his awakening in the morning, the duke consulted a pagan high priest, Lizdeika, who prophesied that Gediminas would found a city amongst these hills and the name of it would be heard far and wide, just like the howl of the mysterious iron wolf. And so Gediminas did. The city was named “Vilnius” after the River Vilnia that curves around the hills.
大祭司預言，格季米納斯會在群山中建起一座城，這座城不久就會聲名遠揚，就如同那神秘鐵狼的叫聲一般。後來格季米納斯聽從了大祭司的指示建立了“維爾紐斯”，這座城市是以流經群山的維爾尼亞河為名。
The earliest written source that mentions Vilnius is Gediminas's letters sent to Western Europe in 1323, in which he invites merchants and artisans to come to live and trade in Vilnius.
最早提及維爾紐斯的書面資料是1323年格季米納斯寄往西歐的信件。他邀請商人和工匠前往維爾紐斯生活和貿易。
Today, the hill where the iron wolf may have howled is topped with Gediminas tower that reveals a picturesque panoramic view over the red roofs of Vilnius.
如今，鐵狼在夜裡長嘯的山頂上便是格季米納斯塔，從那裡可以盡情俯瞰由維爾紐斯紅房頂組成如畫的風景。
3
Lithuania was the last country in Europe to get baptized
立陶宛是歐洲最後一個接受基督教的國家
立陶宛大公國的領土
Lithuanians strongly held on to the traditional polytheistic Indo-European religion and only accepted Christianity in the 14th century. The last Lithuanian tribe, Samogitians, stayed with the traditional religion all the way until the 15th century.
立陶宛人堅守民間宗教，直到14世紀才接受基督教。立陶宛最後一個部落薩莫吉西亞15世紀以前都一直保持這種傳統宗教信仰。
The first Christian missions to Lithuanian territories started back in the 10th century, but the missionaries hardly received a warm welcome.
基督教傳教士在10世紀首次前往立陶宛，但他們並沒有得到盛情款待。
4
Lithuanian-Polish joint armies crushed crusaders in a historical battle
立陶宛波蘭的聯合軍隊曾擊潰十字軍
格倫瓦爾德戰役，維陶塔斯大公位於畫面中央（楊·馬特依科 1878）
The battle of Grunwald (Zalgiris in Lithuanian) in 1410 was one of the largest knight battles of the Middle Ages and a culmination of the long-standing conflict between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Crusaders order.
1410年的格林瓦爾德戰役（在立陶宛稱為扎爾吉里斯）是中世紀規模最大的騎士戰爭之一，立陶宛大公國和十字軍之間的衝突達到了頂峰。
The joint armies of The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland defeated the Teutonic order knights with estimated 8,000 Teutonic versus 2,000-3,000 casualties on the Lithuanian side.
立陶宛大公國和波蘭王國的聯合軍隊擊敗條頓騎士團，約8千名條頓騎士傷亡，而立陶宛方僅折損2千-3千名士兵。
While Lithuanian armies were larger on man count, Teutonic order was more advanced in weaponry and armor. Thus the battle was won by a clever strategic move by Grand Duke Vytautas when the Lithuanian army seemingly retreated, luring the enemy into a trap.
儘管立陶宛軍隊人多勢眾，但是條頓騎士團的裝備卻更為精良。因此，立陶宛軍隊假意撤退，誘敵深入，維陶塔斯大公巧妙的策略最終使這場戰役大獲成功。
5
Lithuania was the largest country in Europe during the Middle Ages
中世紀時 立陶宛曾是歐洲面積最大的國家
立陶宛中世紀時的領土面積
A surprise for many: the current compact Lithuanian territory reached all the way to the Black Sea in the 15th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as it was called at the time, included parts of present-day Poland, Latvia, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
一段鮮為人知的歷史：15世紀時，立陶宛領土曾一度延伸至黑海。那時的立陶宛大公國囊括了現在的波蘭、拉脫維亞、白俄羅斯、俄羅斯和烏克蘭的部分領土。
One of the popular legends claims that Grand Duke Vytautas would let his horses drink from the Black Sea, thus illustrating the grand size of the duchy.
有個廣為流傳的傳說提到維陶塔斯大公讓他的駿馬喝黑海里的水，從而說明了大公國疆域之廣。
The myth was partially confirmed recently, when Lithuanian historians speculated that the horses could have been drinking the water close to one of the tributary streams which made the water less salty. Eureka!
該傳說最近得到了進一步證實，立陶宛的歷史學家們推測，原本這些馬可以在其中一條支流附近飲水，正是這條支流讓河水鹹度降低了。總算髮現證據啦！
6
Lithuania and Poland were once a joint republic
立陶宛和波蘭曾是聯合共和國
《盧布林合併條約》後，波蘭-立陶宛聯邦誕生
Lithuania and Poland have a long history of collaboration and friendship, and the peak of it was the Poland- Lithuania commonwealth established in 1569. It united the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and The Crown of Poland.
立陶宛和波蘭合作、交好的歷史源遠流長，並在1569年波蘭立陶宛聯邦建立時到達頂峰。它是立陶宛大公國和波蘭王國的聯合體。
At its largest, this commonwealth covered almost 1 million square kilometres, which made it one of the largest and most populous countries of 16-17th century Europe. The commonwealth used Polish and Latin as the official languages and incorporated a multi-ethnic population of almost 11 million.
這個聯邦國家最鼎盛時期的面積將近100萬平方公里，成為了16世紀至17世紀歐洲面積最大、人口最多的國家之一。波蘭立陶宛聯邦以波蘭語和拉丁語為官方語言，並融合了近1100萬的多種族人口。
The Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth existed for more than two centuries and ended after Russian Empire, Austria, and Prussia divided the territories amongst them in 1797.
該聯邦維持了兩個多世紀，一直到1797年遭到俄羅斯帝國、奧地利和普魯士帝國的瓜分。
7
Vilnius boasts the oldest university in the Baltic States
維爾紐斯擁有波羅的海國家最古老的大學
維爾紐斯大學主要的庭院
Vilnius University was founded in 1579 and has since been the majestic and slightly mysterious palace of education.
維爾紐斯大學始建於1579年，在此後的歲月裡一直是莊嚴略顯神秘的教育殿堂。
With over 20,000 students reaching towards the stars, the University takes pride in a gorgeous architectural complex representing all major architectural styles of the second millennium – baroque, gothic, renaissance, and classicism.
維爾紐斯大學目前有兩萬多名優秀學生，並以其雄偉華麗的建築群為豪。這些建築群代表了上個世紀所有主要建築風格：巴洛克、哥特式、文藝復興和古典主義。
Today, the eclectic courtyards are filled with students and curious explorers or tourists alike – there is simply so much to discover between the curved corridors and green yards of this architectural masterpiece.
如今，大學的庭院裡都是學生和充滿好奇的探險家和旅客們。在這座集大成的建築傑作裡，蜿蜒的迴廊和綠意盎然的院子裡有無數值得探尋的東西。
8
Lithuanian constitution is the first one in Europe
立陶宛憲法是歐洲第一部憲法
《波蘭立陶宛聯邦憲法》原件副本
The second written constitution following suit of the USA, which ratified the supreme law in 1787, was approved in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1791. The original copy of the constitution is now exhibited to the public in Poland.
繼美國在1787年批准的最高法案之後，第二部書面憲法於1791年在波蘭立陶宛聯邦得到批准。憲法的副本現在位於波蘭向公眾開放展覽。
The first European constitution consisted of 11 articles and defined religion, real estate, governmental and legal institutions, military, and others spheres of life in the commonwealth. The document was originally written in Polish and later translated to Lithuanian.
歐洲首部由十一條構成的憲法，對宗教、房產、政府和法律機構、軍事以及聯邦生活中其他的領域進行了定義。該憲法最初用波蘭語寫成，後來翻譯至立陶宛語。
9
For 40 years, books were smuggled to Lithuania as contraband
四十年來，書籍偷偷被運送至立陶宛境內
左側是非法使用拉丁字母的宗教歌曲書籍副本，
右側是國家認可的西裡爾字母書籍副本
Who would have thought that books printed in Latin alphabet could ever become so unwelcome in a country that they would need to be secretly smuggled from abroad!
誰能想得到，拉丁字母印刷的書籍在一國受到無比歡迎，甚至需要偷偷從國外運來呢！
When Lithuania was a part of the Russian Empire, 1864-1904 saw a complete ban of the Latin alphabet. Instead, the Cyrillic alphabet was introduced. That meant that all the documents, books, and other types of printed material in Lithuania could only use Cyrillic alphabet.
1864年至1904年，當立陶宛仍是俄羅斯帝國的一部分時，拉丁字母被完全禁用。政府引入了西裡爾字母取而代之。這意味著立陶宛的所有文件、書籍和其他印刷品只能使用西裡爾字母。
Most of the books using Latin alphabet were printed in East Prussia (presently Kaliningrad, Russia) but also as far as the USA. It is estimated that around 30,000-40,000 illegal books were smuggled into the country every year to keep spreading Lithuanian language and heritage throughout the country.
大多數使用拉丁字母的書籍是在東普魯士（現為俄羅斯加里寧格勒）印刷的，但也有在遙遠的美國印刷。據估計，每年約有3-4萬本非法書籍被偷偷運到立陶宛，才得以在立陶宛國內繼續傳播立陶宛語和文化遺產。
One of the national traits shared by many Lithuanians is love for uncovering historical curiosities about their country. Especially with the 30th anniversary of Restoration of Independence drawing near! Since the starting kit of the Lithuanian history has been laid out, you are ready to dive deeper into the fascinating world of grand dukes, epic battles, and ancient languages of the Baltics!
從許多立陶宛人都有一個共同的民族特徵，那就是喜歡發掘與祖國相關有趣的歷史，尤其是在恢復獨立三十週年之際！探秘立陶宛歷史的工具都幫你準備好了，你準備好更深入地探索大公，史詩戰鬥和波羅的海古老語言了嗎？
以上圖片來源: vilnius-tourism.com, Wikimedia commons
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