Samogitian nobility was nobility originating in the Lithuanian region of Samogitia.[1][2][3][4] The Samogitian nobility was an integral part of Lithuanian nobility.[1] Historically, the local gentry was formed of people of various ethnic backgrounds, including Lithuanian, Polish, Tartar, German and Ruthenian.[5]
Samogitian nobility, especially its lower class, preserved knowledge of the Lithuanian language very well.[9] In fact, the Lithuanian language remained dominant in Samogitia and its nobility throughout the early modern period.[10] This is proven by the letter of Stanisław Radziwiłł to his brother Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł immediately after becoming the Elder of Samogitia that: "While learning various languages, I forgot Lithuanian, and now I see, I have to go to school again, because that language, as I see, God willing, will be needed."[10]
↑ Simas Suziedielis (1999). "Samogitia". Postilla 400. The State Committee for theCommemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the Postile. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
↑ Włodzimierz Budka (1921). "Kto podpisał Konfederację Warszawską 1573 r.?". Reformacja W Polsce (in Polish). 1 (4): 314–319.
1 2 Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Žemaitijos seniūnija". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 11 March 2023. Seniūnas turėjo vaivados teises (Ponų Taryboje pagal rangą ėjo po Vilniaus ir Trakų vaivadų). Jį rinko žemaičių bajorai, didysis kunigaikštis tik tvirtino.
↑ "Gabriel Narutowicz". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 11 March 2023. Kilęs iš Žemaitijos bajorų šeimos.
↑ Miknys, Rimantas. "Józef Piłsudski". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 11 March 2023. Kilęs iš senos Žemaitijos bajorų Gineičių giminės.
Sources
Drungila, Jonas (2019). Erelis lokio guolyje (in Lithuanian).
Lithuanian is an Eastern Baltic language belonging to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is the official language of Lithuania and one of the official languages of the European Union. There are approximately 2.8 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 1,000,000 speakers elsewhere. Around half a million inhabitants of Lithuania of non-Lithuanian background speak Lithuanian daily as a second language.
Samogitia or Žemaitija is one of the five cultural regions of Lithuania and formerly one of the two core administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania alongside Lithuania proper. Žemaitija is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai. Žemaitija has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian language.
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