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Valkininkai ((ポーランド語:Olkieniki)) is a historic town in (Valkininkai) eldership, Varėna district municipality, Alytus County, Lithuania, located about northeast from Varėna and about southwest from Vilnius. At the 2001 census its population was 238〔 and at the 2011 census it was 229. The town is situated on the confluence of Merkys River with its tributaries Šalčia and Geluža. About east of Valkininkai there is Valkininkų Geležinkelio Stotis, a settlement that grew around a train station on the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway and now has more residents. ==History== It is believed that Valkininkai was first mentioned in a letter from Grand Duke Jogaila to his brother Skirgaila in 1387. The settlement developed on a large island (since then disappeared) in Merkys River.〔 Situated near the Hrodna–Varėna–Vilnius route, the settlement had a royal estate that Grand Dukes used as a hunting lodge.〔 The route further grew in importance after the 1385 Union of Krewo as it connected the Lithuanian capital in Vilnius with the Polish capital in Kraków.〔 In 1418, Grand Duke Vytautas the Great gifted the estate to his wife Juliana Olshanska. In 1503, the town was mentioned as a seat of a volost. In 1516, King Sigismund I the Old accepted envoys of Charles, King of Spain and future Holy Roman Emperor in Valkininkai.〔 A royal cannon foundry, established in 1551 and powered by a watermill, is credited for the growth of the town.〔 Needed iron ore was collected in local swamps and imported from abroad. During the Wallach reform, craftsmen were given land and relocated from the town to nearby villages, which were often named after their craft. Such villages included Čebatoriai (shoemakers), Puodžiai (kettle makers), Kaniūkai (hostlers), Juodieji Kalviai (blacksmiths), Strielčiai (bowmen).〔 In 1571, Valkininkai was granted city rights under Magdeburg law (the privilege was later renewed in 1723 and 1792).〔 According to 1601 register, the town had 150 families (900–1050 people), 19 butchers, 89 pubs, and 157 craftsmen.〔 The town grew as a trade and craft center and attracted the first Jewish settlers. Valkininkai suffered from a series of wars. The town was devastated during the Second Northern War (1655–1660) and lost 75–80% of the population.〔 The royal cannon foundry was looted and closed. In 1701, during the Lithuanian Civil War between Sapieha family and other magnates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a major battle was fought near the town. The town somewhat recovered, and its population reached about 800 residents in 1749 and 949 residents (including 273 Jews) in 1790.〔 In 1812, the town was ravaged by Napoleon I armies during the French invasion of Russia. Instances of famine, caused by the war, were recorded as late as 1822.〔 Completion of the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway in 1862 and increased demand for local timber helped the town to recover and grow: the population increased from 1516 in 1841 to 2619 (including 1126 Jews) in 1897.〔 However, industrialization was slow: a large paper and cardboard factory, employing some 100 people, was established in the last decade of the 19th century and a turpentine factory (10–14 employees) was established in 1923.〔 The population decreased to 1244 in 1919. Around 400 Jews from Valkininkai were executed in Eišiškės in September 1941 by Rollkommando Hamann and only five Jews (four of them hidden by friendly Lithuanians) survived World War II.〔 After the war the population decreased to 769 in 1959, 410 in 1970, and 277 in 1987.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Valkininkai」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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