Trakai Island Castle - Lithuania --- Mouse Mat

Beautiful Trakai Castle, in Lithuania, is situated on an island in Lake Galve. The castle served as the seat of power for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the reign of Vytautas the Great (1350-1430). By 1400, about the time Trakai Castle was built, the Teutonic Knights had occupied Lithuania for almost 100 years, in their efforts to convert the last pagan nation of Europe. The Lithuanians were a people of the land, sky, and myth. They did not want to become Christians! Vytautas and King Jogaila led the combined armies of Lithuania and Poland to a decisive victory over the Teutonic Knights (Crusaders) at the famous Battle of Grunwald in 1410. Subsequent Lithuanian leaders moved the capital to nearby Vilnius. An invasion by Russian Cossacks destroyed Trakai Castle in 1655. Its reconstruction was completed in 1987. Today, Lithuanian heritage people celebrate many rich traditions, thanks to the blending of their pagan and Christian history, myths, and culture.