Morta (c1210-1262)

Morta (baptized c. 1252 by the bishop of Chełmno, died c. 1263) was the Grand Duchess of Lithuania (until 1253) and later Queen of Lithuania (1253–1262). There is very little known about her life; even her pre-Christianised name is unknown. The only clue into her origin or birth place is a short mention in the comments following the treaty signed in 1219 between the Lithuanian dukes and Galicia–Volhynia. It says that Mindaugas killed many members of the Bulaičiai family, including Vismantas whose wife Mindaugas took for himself. It is generally assumed that Morta was Vismantas' wife. Edvardas Gudavičius, a modern Lithuanian historian, based on toponyms, determined that the Bulaičiai family most likely came from the Šiauliai region. Based on this evidence and hypotheses, residents of Šiauliai call the city home of Morta.

It is known that Mindaugas had more than one wife. Probably, Morta was his second wife as Vaišvilkas, eldest son of Mindaugas, was already a mature man active in international politics when Morta's sons were still young and dependent on the parents. After her death, Mindaugas married her sister, the wife of Daumantas. It is also known that two of her sons were killed together with Mindaugas in 1263.

It would be funny if not sad. Voruta "I read some interesting news." In fact, it's just me, was just the same news, Šiauliai and they appear to have been living for several years. Apparently, I was not careful enough and for the first time I learned about it only recently appeared in Vytautas Baška articles: Siauliai, Queen Martha's birthplace, in 1993 established an annual prize in its name (Voruta. in 1998, no. 4). " pretty happy with the initiative to honor the memory of Queen Martha Siauliai. Focusing on the legendary Lithuanian women is associated with the origin of the famous family Bulionių. The city council decided to look for more suitable object than the cultural town square to honor her. It is likely that the LSC Division Siauliai motion for consideration of another location (Voruta . in 1998, no. 7, you can read this article ).

Conflict will not take Šiauliai efforts to honor the memory of his wife Mindaugas. Maybe Martha and indeed for a time lived in Siauliai and their surroundings. However, respect for the historical personality demands that respect for Martha rodantieji at least know what kind of connection could link it to Šiauliai. In fact, there are almost no opportunities for Martha to derive from the Siauliai region. And is not impossible that it belonged to the dukes Bulaitis (Bulionių) tribe.

Mindaugas wife of origin is known only to the extent of Volhynia chronicler wrote the 1219 Treaty of commentary to explain the fate of the princes Bulaitis: " ... and here Bulaitis - Hannah, it did kill Mindaugas and his wife swept their deadly rivals, and his brothers killed Gedvilas Sprudeikis. .. "

So Martha is a former Vismantas Bulaitis wife, and therefore it could not be descended from the tribe Bulaitis. Incidentally, it may be here added to the "chronicler of the colors. Maybe Martha was only fiancée Vismantas. After all, Jagiello and was later accused of his wife swept their deadly rivals from Wilhelm Habsburg, in fact, Jadwiga was only fiancée Wilhelm.

Same Bulaitis really trying to link to Šiauliai. Of course, that believes in the hypothesis, based on place-names. Written sources of Bulaitis Holdings did not say anything. About the same Bulaitis also just about anything else is unknown. Ipat'evsky born again only mentions Hannah, detail the circumstances of his death. He died in 1251-1253 kaudamasis Mindaugas Vykintas troops to the castle, called Tvirimantu (Tviremietj, Tviremietj - a castle somewhere in the Lowlands, but at Tver, as often claimed). Apparently, Vismantas tried unsuccessfully to take revenge for his wife Mindaugas bride or seizure. If Martha, before she married Mindaugas, has actually been raised many a Vismantas wife, it may for some time, and senior citizens in Siauliai.

But on what basis Vismantas associated with Siauliai? To the east of Siauliai Few Vismantas Vismantėlių and are named after villages (it seems they believe originated from two villages in the original). They are also comparing them with the surrounding area Klems Gedvilas Gedvilaičių, extinct Gedviliškių Gedviliškės and villages and countryside Bulėnų Siauliai district. All of these place is like a meeting place-names Bulaitis complex.

On this basis, Edward Gudavicius and localized here Bulaitis Holdings (1984). In addition, the associated fault appeared Sorudeikiu Bulaitis Hill (spoon a mound Tent district). Although it lies adjacent to the complex, but there are already far from Šiauliai. If no other place-is unlikely to have any desire to be associated with this hill-land of Šiauliai.

However, when we talk about this place-we should not forget that they can be embedded in all other complexes. Here is the XV-XVI century Žemaitija noble family, well known Ruslan. It has had a brother Vismantas Rupeikį, and this - the son of George. Hill and the village made famous by Jurgaičiai currently connected to Meškuičių Rupeikių village consists of a complex with the aforementioned Vismantas villages. So do not only with these noblemen to be a more reliable link Vismantas place names? The net Vismantas place-all Bulaitis complex center of gravity toward the Kelme region.

As there bbūtų, it is clear that the place names is not very reliable source of XIII century Dukes holdings location. They can not compete with even a hint of menkiausiomis written sources. And the land of Siauliai is one such cue. Ipat'evsky chronicles mention that the Livonian Order of Knights in 1249 Vykintas complained that this killing many brothers of the Order. Many historians associate with the accusation in 1236 Battle of Siauliai and the consequences of his conclusion that it was led by Vykintas Siauliai battle.

So do not just Vykintas and Siauliai was Duke? Known, could be Vismantas Vykintas retainer (which conflicts with its participation in the defense of the castle Vykintas). But perhaps still more reliable to his holdings look anywhere near Siauliai land?

Thus we see that even Vismantas connection with Siauliai is far from certain. And what I say about Martha, even if it is not clear whether she really was married to Hannah, or is engaged only with him? In any case, it is clear that it is derived from Siauliai, there is no reason. If you were really Vismantas Siauliai Duke, Martha is the origin of Siauliai is even quite incredible. After all the other princes, dukes married daughters, not his subordinates.

Šiauliai blame inattention. I suspect that they were misled by professional historians. That Martha comes from Siauliai, and even the princes Bulaitis family, I first "discovered" in 1996, that appears Alvydas Nikžentaičio himself a "From Daumantas by Gediminas. Here's A. Nikžentaičiui a curious error does not really honor. When historians begin to feel more responsibility for their claims, then ordinary citizens will be able to pay tribute to brave the memory of historical figures, fearing that their beautiful efforts of historians despised inattention.

Family
The written sources contain little information on Morta's family and it is not entirely clear how many children she had. The chronicles mention two sons, Replys and Gerstukas, in 1261. In 1263 two sons, Ruklys and Rupeikis, were assassinated together with Mindaugas. This is the only information available and historians disagree on whether these were the same two sons, whose names were distorted by medieval scribes, or whether there were four sons.