4000 Defenders Of Pilenai Commit Mass Suicide When Attacked By Teutonic Knights
On February 25, 1336, Pilenai, a hill fort in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania attacked by large Teutonic forces, tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader.
Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit mass suicide to deprive the Order of prisoners and loot (cf. scorched earth). The location of this unknown place and is subject to academic debates, but it is well known in the history of Lithuania due to its heroic defense against the Teutonic Order in 1336.
The Teutonic Order waged the decades-long Lithuanian Crusade against the pagan Grand Duchy of Lithuania in hopes of converting it to Christianity. In early 1336, the Order organized another large campaign into Lithuania.
The large force attacked Pilenai, located in Trapenai land, where some 4,000 people from four different lands sought shelter from the invasion. Wigand’s description of further events paints a chaotic and bloody scene. He claims that the people panicked as soon as they saw the Christian army and decided to burn their belongings and commit suicide.
It was said that one old woman killed a hundred people with an ax before killing herself. Others managed to escape on horseback. Duke Margiris attempted to organize defense, but soon was overwhelmed by the attackers who threw burning wood and stones into the fortress.
Margiris then cut his wife with a sword, threw her body into the fire, and killed his loyal guards and followers. Thus, Pilenai fell and the Order collected the remaining prisoners and loot. Kurze Reimchronik von Preussen mentioned that 5,000 people were killed and only a handful escaped.
This dramatic episode from the Lithuanian Crusade has caught the public imagination, inspired many works of fiction, and became a symbol of Lithuanian struggles and resistance.
