Baisogala Explained

Baisogala
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Lithuania
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Baisogala
Coordinates:55.6389°N 23.7222°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Ethnographic region
Subdivision Name1:Aukštaitija
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Šiauliai County
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Radviliškis district municipality
Subdivision Type4:Eldership
Subdivision Name4:Baisogala eldership
Subdivision Type6:Capital of
Subdivision Name6:Baisogala eldership
Established Date:1539
Established Title:First mentioned
Population Total:2,034
Population As Of:2011
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3

Baisogala is a small town in Lithuania. It is situated on the crossroads of KėdainiaiŠeduva and RaseiniaiŠeduva roads.[1] According to the 2011 census, it had 2,034 residents.[2]

History

Baisogala is first mentioned in written sources in 1539 when King Sigismund I the Old established a parish with seat in the town.[3] Archeologists discovered cemeteries from the 5th and 6th centuries near the town suggesting the people inhabited the area well before the 16th century.[4] In the 17th century, the town was granted to the Radvila family and changed hands a few times. In 1791 the town was granted city privileges according to the Magdeburg law.[4] Eventually, the town was bought in 1830 by Joseph Komar, a former colonel of Napoleon Bonaparte.[3] The Komar family remained in Baisogala until 1940 when the Soviets arrested and deported the family to Kazakhstan.[3] Their large and decorated manor is quite well preserved and surrounded by of park.

Religion

The first church was built by King Sigismund II Augustus, but it did not survive. The church in the present location was built in 1781 and rebuilt in 1882 with financial support from the Komar family.[3]

Notable people from Baisogala

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jankevičiūtė, Giedrė . Lietuva . R. Paknio leidykla . 2006 . 141 . 9986-830-97-4. lt.
  2. Web site: 2011 census. Statistikos Departamentas (Lithuania). August 16, 2017.
  3. Book: Semaška, Algimantas . Kelionių vadovas po Lietuvą: 1000 lankytinų vietovių norintiems geriau pažinti gimtąjį kraštą . 4th . 2006 . Algimantas . Vilnius . 9986-509-90-4 . 220. lt.
  4. Encyclopedia: Simas Sužiedėlis . . Baisogala . 1970–1978 . Juozas Kapočius . I . Boston, Massachusetts . 241–242. 74-114275 .