The History Of Alytus
In the environs of Alytus people started to settle in the first ages AD. This is proven by the settlements of Bakšiai, dating 3rd – 4th century, Radžiūnai mound settlement – 3rd – 5th century, Alytus mound settlement dating 7th - 12th century.
For the first time in 1377 the name of Alytus was mentioned in the Chronicles of Vygandas Magburgietis. The wooden castle which had stood on the mound of Alytus was mentioned in 1384 for the first time. This castle which stood next to Merkinė, Nemunaitis, Punia, Birštonas, Darsūniškis and Kaunas castles composed the defensive system which defended the most important roads to Trakai, Vilnius from the Teutonic attacks. Alytus is called a town in the Privilege which Jogaila issued to Skirgaila, Alytus land is mentioned along with a Great Duke's Castle which stood in its center.
After the Battle of Žalgiris, when the threat of the Teutonic Ordin disappeared, the mound of Alytus lost its defensive meaning. The town, which was situated near the mound started to grow. After Užnemunė was reclaimed, the city started to build up in the left coast of the river Nemunas. Two estates that stood on the left and the right coasts of Nemunas influenced the expansion of the city.
In the 16th century Alytus belonged to various owners: Land Marshal Jonas Zabžežinskis, Queen Bona, Žygimantas Augustas, Barbora Radvilaitė. According to the 16th Century inventor, Silver Tax, Alytus could be characterized as a small town, with 1000 inhabitants. Most of them were occupied with crafts and trade. In 1524 a first Catholic church of Alytus was mentioned. School is mentioned in 1595.
A new city development stage started on the 15th of June 1581, when Lithuanias Great Duke and Steponas Batoras the King of Poland signed a privilege which granted Magdeburg Liberties. The city got autonomy and the blazon – a White Rose on a Red Field. The inhabitants were told to build a city hall in which the self-governed City Magistrate Body was supposed to participate in sessions. In 1589 Royal Table Economy was created, it created better conditions for the city's economic development.
In the 17th - 18th Centuries the city suffered from various misfortunes: war, plague, fires. All of this had influence on the citys development, population and territory. In 1775 courts from Trakai and Merkinė were shifted to Alytus. In 1776 Republic of Both Nations Seimas enacted a Constitution, according to which self-governing rights were deprived from many towns including Alytus. According to the rulings of the Four Year Seimas (1788-1792), the Constitution of 1791 May 3rd, in 1791-1792 citizens of Alytus tried to reestablish self-governing. The King of Poland and the Great Duke of Lithuania S.A. Poniatovskis did not grant a privilege, therefore citys self-government was not legitimized. After the Third Division of the Republic of Both Nations in 1795, a border line between Russia and Prussia was drawn along Nemunas, consequently dividing Alytus between two countries.
For more than hundred years two parts of the town were developed differently. In 1796 most of Lintuanian towns were classified to miestiečko, and were assigned to administration of manors. A small town of Alytus was assigned to Lelionys, county of Trakai It was established local authority in all empire of Russia after canceling the corvee in 1861. Alyus I was assigned to Aleksandrovskas local authority (now Alovė, Alytus region). The law of towns was passed in Russia in 1870 and in Lithuania 1876. Remained sparse historical sources revealed that inhabitants from this part of town elected the elder and board of citizens in the of the 20th century and elder of village in the beginning of the 20th century. The left side of the River Nemunas ( Alytus II) devolved to Prussia, later to the Napoleons established Dukedom of Warsaw. According to the 1815 Vienna Congress ruling, the newly established Kingdom of Poland having the rights of autonomy was incorporated in to the Russian Empire. Alytus II was assigned to the Augustaw voivode and to province of Augustaw later. This part of Alytus was assigned to the Kalvarija district from 1867. When local authority in all Kingdom of Poland was established, Alytus II became the centre of local authority. Inhabitants from this part of town tried to reestablish the autonomy and blazon as they had in the past. Magistrate was ruling till 1870. Alytus II was considered as suburb of Alytus I for several centuries.
There lived 1435 inhabitants in Alytus I and 2010 in Alytus II according to census in Russian Empire.
Because of its strategic position in the end of the 19th Century by the decision of the Czarist government Alytus was transformed into Bastille of the 3rd Category. There were 3 cantonments built on both sides of Nemunas. 4 forts and 2 batteries and roads, railways, 3 bridges through Nemunas were built on the left bank of Nemunas. All of these constructions were useful to the city as well: the population increased, trades, the construction of houses expanded. Small industrial firms started to build up.
Cantonment of Infantry Regiment in the 1st Alytus. Postcard is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
During the First World War Alytus was occupied by German troops. German war administration joined Alytus into one administrational unit, and from Kalvarija transferred the center of the district . Germans built a power-station in the city.
St. Ludwicks Church during the 1st World War. Postcard is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
Wooden Railway Bridge rebuilt by Germans. Postcard is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
Lithuanias nation which was just establishing had to defend its freedom in battles. Alytus had significant role in these battles. From December of 1918 the 1st infantry regiment was starting to form. This regiment along with German volunteers in February 12th-15th of 1919 suspended the attack of the Red Army outfit. In 1919-1920 when combats with Poland proceeded, a significant role fell upon Alytus again. Lithuanian military regiments were based in the cantonments of Alytus.
In the interwar years Alytus became the center of Dzūkija. In 1931 it became recognized as a first rank city, in 1932 – a resort city. A gymnasium, couple of primary schools, higher forestry, lower agricultural schools were established. Trades were developing. Wood and agriculture processing factories dominated in the industry. The city's government paid a lot of attention to the management of the city: paving of the streets, establishing of the city park, constructions. Various cultural, religious and national organizations actively functioned in the city's cultural and social life. Lithuanian military regiments played an important role in the city. The 2nd uhlan Regiment of Duchess Birutė became a concurrent symbol of Alytus.
Market Square (now Rotušė (City hall) square) 20th century 1933. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
Post Palace. Further - Alytus District Board building. 20th century, 4th decade. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
The political upheavals of The Second World War affected Alytus as well. At the end of 1939 the largest military outfit of the Soviet Union was established in Lithuania. During the first Soviet occupation (1940-1941) many citizens were arrested and expatriated, industry and trade firms were nationalized.
Vilnius Street in 1940. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
In 1941 when Germany occupied the Soviet Union, Alytus was severely demolished. During the German Occupation many citizens died, others were ferried away to work in Germany. At the end of war some emigrated to the West.
Girl Gymnasium students in Vilnius Street in 1943. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
Vilnius, Church, Darius and Girėnas streets in 1944. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
The Second Soviet Occupation started in July of 1944. The citizens of Alytus suffered from repressions and expatriations. Some citizens integrated into rezistencial movements. By the decision of the Soviet Lithuanian government Alytus became a center of industry. Over several decades large industrial firms were constructed. The city grew fast: population increased, new catchment areas were constructed. Alytus became a city of republic jurisdiction.
Komjaunimas Square (now Rotušė (City hall) square) in 1971. picture of Z. Bugakovas. From The Alytus Museum selection.
V. Kapsukas Street (now Jotvingiai Street) in 1973. Z. Bugakovas. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
Vidzgiris Catchment area construction in 1975. Z. Bugakovas. Picture is taken from The Alytus Museum of Regional Studies selection.
After the restoration of independence in 1990, Alytus City Municipality Board had to solve new problems. When economic reforms were being started to carry out many industrial companies bankrupted. Light industry, wood processing, food industry companies dominated in the city. A considerable amount of attention was paid to the citys image: order was brought to the streets, parks, education was taken care of, school renovations. A non-university school was established – Alytus College. Youth, social, cultural, national organizations are actively working. Now Alytus is the political, economical, cultural and educational center of South Lithuania.
Museologist Dunderis Vilmantas
