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Kaunas Castle, Lithuania. The castle was constructed in the 14th century at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, a strategic position in the medieval Lithuanian castles defense system. During the 14th century the Teutonic Order built a chain of castles along the Nemunas river (Ragnit, Georgenburg, Christmemel, Gotteswerder, Ritterswerder, etc.) in the pursuit of conquer Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Kaunas became a strategic point for the Order in this struggle for Vilnius and the inner Lithuania lands. To implement this strategy the Teutonic Knights sieged and destroyed Kaunas castle in 1362. After few decades, their fleet came by Nemunas to Kaunas, brought workers and materials, and according to the chronicle, an impressive castle, with 17 meters height and 3 meters thick walls and even the inner port, was constructed within 4 weeks in the spring of 1384. Thus, probably the most eastern outpost of the Teutonic Order in Lithuania, named Marienwerder, was created. In the autumn of the same year the castle was sieged, seized, and destroyed by Lithuanians to stop an onslaught of the Teutonic Knights to Lithuania. Later on, as clashes between Lithuanians and the Teutonic Knights continued, Kaunas castle and Marienwerder were rebuilt and destroyed, however an exact location of the Marienwerder still is a mystery until today
Author: Algirdas Stočkus
File state: Final
Property Release: No
Photo size: 7.5 Mpixels (21.4 MB uncompressed) - 3155x2366 pixels (10.5x7.9 in / 26.7x20 cm at 300 ppi)