Winner of Kaunas City Science Prize, VMU Historian, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liudas Glemža: Only Young Nations Do Not Accept Their Entire History
“In 35 years of independence, Lithuania has raised a generation of professional historians who not only conduct scientific research but also strive to communicate them to the public. However, most of this scholarly work is presented in an overly complex manner and therefore it’s often misunderstood by the public at large. On one hand, this reflects the level of society’s education. On the other, we see that there is a need for more popular literature and media articles to be published not just on the topics of European and world history, but also on that of Lithuania”, notes Dr. Liudas Glemža, Associate Professor at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), discussing the importance of popularizing history.
The scientist is researching the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in the 18th century and the history of its towns at the time, including Kaunas. In 2024, he was awarded the Kaunas City Science Prize. In Dr. Glemža’s words, this recognition doesn’t just reflect the importance of his research but also encourages Kaunas residents to discover this underexplored time period of their city.
Focus on Under-Researched Historical Eras
Dr. Glemža says that he decided to study history when he was still a teenager and his interest in the GDL was also impacted by personal circumstances – he inherited Russian and Polish blood from his mother, even though she herself had always emphasized that she was Lithuanian.
“The GDL was a multi-ethnic state which encompassed many diverse nations and cultures. This stimulated my own interest in the GDL, its society, and the culture of its cities. In my youth, like many of my colleagues, I was a romantic: we wanted to write about Vytautas the Great. However, we quickly realized that we would not say anything new about it, whereas other time periods were equally interesting”, recalls the historian, who focuses on the research of 18th-century Lithuanian history.
According to the associate professor, this is a completely forgotten time period, which has not been included in the overall historical development of Lithuania yet holds great significance and is described as a downfall in some sources. “We have written and explained quite a few times that there was a great upswing in the second half of the 18th century. Researchers often underestimate this period, whereas Vytautas’ era is frequently idealized. However, we shouldn’t treat the GDL as some sort of pinnacle of greatness. It was simply one of the periods of Lithuania’s historical development. Of course, some great things did happen during that time, but I still hold the opinion that we shouldn’t speak of the GDL as Lithuania’s most important legacy”, Dr. Glemža opines, pointing out that idealization of Vytautas’ era began in the early 20th century, when Lithuanians, who had just regained the independence of their country, needed big milestones and heroes to highlight the pride in their nationality.
The historian, who devotes a lot of attention to the history of the GDL’s towns in his research, claims that the duchy’s cities stood out from other contemporary European ones thanks to their architecture and population sizes.
“Both Vilnius and Kaunas lagged behind Western European cities in masonry construction. The gap between the population sizes of Lithuania and other European countries increased greatly in the 18th century, at the time of decline in Lithuania, when the development of both material and spiritual urban culture was halted. In the late 18th century, London had nearly a million inhabitants, Paris had around half a million. At that time, Vilnius had 20,000 and Kaunas only about 5,000 residents. So we should compare the GDL’s cities not to Western European, but primarily to other cities that played a large role in our region”, the historian shares some facts.
He also disagrees with some of his colleagues who claim that the 18th century does not deserve a lot of attention. “I’ve always considered the modern Lithuanian history, i.e. the 20th century, more significant than that of the older times. Perhaps it’s more difficult for us to accept some of the old historical aspects; but it is only the young societies that do not accept history the way that it is”, notes the associate professor, adding that Lithuanians unjustly undervalue the 18th century, which he is researching.
Dr. Glemža calls attention to the fact that this was the age of Enlightenment, which greatly influenced the formation of nations. Recently, the historian has also been interested in women’s history of that time, which is an under-researched area.
“Although men used to manage the most important economic and political matters and women were allowed to handle family affairs only in exceptional cases, some evidence suggests that, by the end of the 18th century, women’s role in society was increasing. Marriage contracts were drawn up, declaring clearly that women are permitted to independently handle the portion of money that they brought in. So it was worthwhile for men to marry a woman because of her financial contribution to the family’s budget. The political-social capital that women brought in through kinship was also important”, the historian reveals.
Lack of Recognition for Achievements in the City’s Name
Discussing popularization of history, VMU scholar expresses delight at the increasing supply of historical books, particularly historical novels, some of which are written by his colleagues, historians, who deal with historical sources as professionals. Nevertheless, he remarks that a large number of prominent figures still remain at the margins of history.
“One of such individuals is Tadas Kosčiuska – we should get a Lithuanian translation of a book about him as soon as possible. Also, there are no streets in Kaunas that would be named in honour of such figures as Albertas Kojalavičius-Vijūkas, Paulius Oderbornas or Laurynas Gucevičius. Without Kojalavičius-Vijūkas, the development of GDL’s history would be unimaginable. Odebornas, who lived in Kaunas during the 16th century, wrote a book on Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Even though today we might see it as a collection of distorted facts, it’s still a biographical work written about a contemporary which became the first European best-seller written in Lithuania”, the specialist comments.
According to Dr. Glemža, educating the public about the figures who had lived in the city should be primarily the task of museums. Conversely, construction of sculptures and monuments dedicated to certain historical figures is dependent on municipal decisions. He notes that monuments in Kaunas have been controversial in recent years. One example is the monument to Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Alexander Jagiellon, which was erected in Ramybės Park last year.
“Other GDL dukes were of more merit to Kaunas. First of all, this monument is more reminiscent of a 19th-century work. Also, back in Alexander Jagiellon’s time, this location was a swamp. The duke himself is connected to Kaunas only by the fact that he funded the churches of St. George and St. Gertrude and defended Kaunas against Danzig – trying to protect the local merchants – when it suited him, i.e. before he became the King of Poland as well. Historical sources show that he visited Kaunas just a few times, he did not care much for the city. He was a far more significant individual in terms of national impact, as he contributed substantially to state reforms and defended the GDL against intervention by the Moscovian Army. His contribution to the capital Vilnius was much greater than to Kaunas”, Glemža explains, emphasizing that decisions related to city monuments should be made by society rather than by historians.
The scientist is also critical of the Monument to Vytautas the Great located in downtown Kaunas, next to the municipal building. “Although the monument is linked to the [national] revival of the late 20th century, it is also highly aggressive towards our neighbours: it depicts a trampled Pole. When I guide Polish tourists, I often spend a lot of time explaining the context as to why such a depiction was chosen. However, it does not reflect true history but is more of a fiction. You have to remember that the original stood in Panemunė, where no one saw it. But when such a monument is placed in the city’s central square, next to the municipal building, naturally, it may take on entirely different significance”, Dr. Glemža observes.
Lack of Time Makes Work Difficult
At the end of last year, the VMU historian received special recognition: for his achievements in the humanities and social sciences, he was awarded the Kaunas City Science Prize.
“This recognition, although unexpected, is truly important to me. It is proof that I am on the right path and also is related to my belief that the entire history of Kaunas is important. It is my hope that, with time, the city residents will also realize its significance, especially that of history which is less familiar and less highlighted”, Dr. Glemža notes, adding that the greatest challenge in his work is the lack of time rather than that of sources.
Lectures Often Draw Parallels Between Old and Modern Russia
Though most of his time is devoted to historical research, the scholar also holds lectures for VMU students – a course on Russian history. He says that the topic for the lectures is often influenced by the current geopolitical shockwaves.
“I teach Russian history from the time of Ivan the 3rd until the Bolshevik coup. I think there should be a separate course on the history of the Soviet Union. During lectures, me and the students often draw parallels between the old and the modern Russia. Of course, the war in Ukraine changed certain aspects of the course. For instance, in the old history, Belarus and Ukraine were not as strongly distinguished from the history of Russia. However, today, when I discuss Moscovia, I always separate Ukraine and Belarus. One must not forget that both Belarus and, during a certain period, Ukraine were also a part of the GDL. Thus, GDL doesn’t belong only to Lithuanians. It is a complex entity which is difficult for modern people living in the era of nation-states to understand”, Dr. Liudas Glemža explains.
Comparing GDL to modern day Lithuania, VMU associate professor emphasizes that, during its golden age, the GDL always felt Moscovia – the prototype of today’s Russia – breathing down its neck.
“We must understand that is a perpetual factor which is unlikely to change. In this case, we should not dwell on what we cannot change but instead focus on what we can do. For now, it means preparation for difficult or even extreme situations and thinking about what contribution each of us can make to strengthening our country’s security – whether it’s fighting on the front lines, helping people, or some other form of self-realization”, Glemža concludes.
