Administrative divisions of Lithuania 1784514 224545651 2008-07-09T10:02:35Z Rjwilmsi 203434 no 'of' between a month and a year per [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_%28dates_and_numbers%29#Longer_periods|MOS]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Politics of Lithuania}} This article is about the '''administrative divisions of Lithuania'''. ==Grand Duchy of Lithuania== :''See also: [[Administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]'' In the earliest stages of the [[History of Lithuania (1219–1295)|formation of the Lithuanian state]], there had been several lands (Lithuanian: plural – ''žemės'', singular – ''žemė''), such as [[Nalšia]], [[Deltuva]] and [[Duchy of Lithuania|Lietuva]], as well as others. They were ruled by regional dukes. When King [[Mindaugas]] (1251–1263) unified the state, he killed, expelled, or subjugated most of the regional dukes. The lands were either added to ruler's domain or granted to members of his family. As the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] expended into Slavic lands, acquired principalities were trusted to be ruled by Grand Duke's offspring or other relatives. For example, Mindaugas granted [[Black Ruthenia]] with center in [[Navahrudak]] to his son [[Vaišvilkas]]; [[Gediminas]] sent his brother [[Fiodor of Kiev|Fiodor]] to [[Kiev]].<ref>{{cite book | title=Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345 | first=C. S. | last=Rowell | pages=97 | year=1994 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | series=Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series| isbn=9780521450119 }}</ref> Such system had major disadvantages as principalities remained semi-independent with loose ties to the central government. Rulers of such principalities were powerful rivals to the Grand Duke; that led to frequent power struggles.<ref name=el/> In early 15th century [[Vytautas the Great]] initiated administrative reforms. He replaced regional dukes and princes with trustworthy nobles, who relied on the favors from the Grand Duke. This marked the rise of [[Lithuanian nobility]]. In 1413 [[Union of Horodło]] was signed; [[Vilnius Voivodeship|Vilnius]] and [[Trakai Voivodeship]]s were created in ethnic Lithuanian lands by copying Polish system. [[Eldership of Samogitia]] had a special semi-autonomous status. Former Slavic principalities and duchies largely preserved their old political, social, administrative features.<ref>{{cite book | last=Kiaupa | first=Zigmantas | coauthors=Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius | title=The History of Lithuania Before 1795 | origyear=1995 | edition=English | year=2000 | publisher=Lithuanian Institute of History | location=Vilnius | isbn=9986-810-13-2 | pages=163–164}}</ref> They were only slowly incorporated into administration of the Grand Duchy. [[Kiev Voivodeship]] was established in 1471, other five voivodeships were established between 1504 and 1514.<ref name=el/> [[Smolensk Voivodeship]], the largest of all, was established in 1508, but was lost to the [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] in 1514. [[Voivodeship]]s ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]: plural – ''vaivadijos'', singular – ''vaivadija''), ruled by appointed officials – [[voivode]]s, were further subdivided into [[powiat]]s (Lithuanian: plural – ''pavietai'', singular – ''pavietas''). Major administrative reforms took place in 1564–1566 in preparation for the second [[Statute of Lithuania]] and overhaul of judicial system.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite book |title=Lietuvos istorija 11–12 klasėms | first=Rūstis |last=Kamuntavičius |coauthors=Vaida Kamuntavičienė, Remigijus Civinskas, Kastytis Antanaitis |year=2001 |publisher=Vaga |location=Vilnius |isbn=5-415-01502-7 |pages=112}}</ref> The entire territory of the Grand Duchy, with exception of Samogitia, was divided into 12 voivodeships. After the [[Union of Lublin]] (1569), the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] transfered four voivodeships to Poland ([[Kiev Voivodeship|Kiev]], [[Podlachian Voivodeship|Podlachian]], [[Bracław Voivodeship|Bracław]], and [[Wołyń Voivodeship (1569–1795)|Wołyń]]) and [[Duchy of Livonia]], acquired in 1561, became [[condominium (international law)|condominium]] (joint domain) of both Lithuania and Poland.<ref name=el/> Lithuania had eight voivodeships and one eldership remaining: [[Image:Lithuania in the 17th century.png|thumb|300px|Map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its administrative divisions in the 17th century]] {| class=wikitable |- ! Voivodeship after 1569 || Capital || Year established<ref name=el/> || Number of powiats || Area (km²) in 1590<ref> {{lt icon}} {{cite book | last=Vaitiekūnas | first=Stasys | title=Lietuvos gyventojai: Per du tūkstantmečius | year=2006 | publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas | location=Vilnius | isbn=5-420-01585-4 | pages=53}}</ref> |- | [[Brest Litovsk Voivodeship]] || [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]] || 1566 || 2 powiats || 40,600 |- | [[Minsk Voivodeship]] || [[Minsk]] || 1566 || 3 powiats ||55,500 |- | [[Mstsislaw Voivodeship]] || [[Mstsislaw]] || 1566 || 1 powiat || 22,600 |- | [[Nowogródek Voivodeship (1507–1795)|Nowogródek Voivodeship]] || [[Navahrudak]] || 1507 || 3 powiats || 33,200 |- | [[Polotsk Voivodeship]] || [[Polotsk]] || 1504 || 1 powiat || 21,800 |- | [[Samogitian Eldership]] || [[Raseiniai]] || 1411 || 1 powiat || 23,300 |- | [[Trakai Voivodeship]] || [[Trakai]] || 1413 || 4 powiats || 31,100 |- | [[Vilnius Voivodeship]] || [[Vilnius]] || 1413 || 5 powiats || 44,200 |- | [[Vitebsk Voivodeship]] || [[Vitebsk]] || 1511 || 2 powiats || 24,600 |} After the [[Livonian War]] (1558–1582), Lithuania acquired vassal state [[Duchy of Courland]] with capital in [[Jelgava]]. The administrative division remained without major changes up to the dissolution of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1795. ==Russian Empire (1795–1914)== [[Image:Lithuania-1795.svg|thumb|300px|Map of Vilna and Slonim Governorates in 1795]] [[Image:Lithuania-1867-1914-EN.svg|thumb|300px|Map of Lithuania in the Russian Empire (1867–1914)]] Under the [[Russian Empire]], the territory of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania was divided into governorates (Russian: ''[[guberniya]]'', Lithuanian: ''gubernija'') and districts (Russian: ''[[uyezd]]'', Lithuanian: ''apskritis''). Such system was introducing in Russia during the reforms of 1775.<ref name=el/> The first governorates, [[Vilna Governorate]] (consisting of eleven districts) and [[Slonim Governorate]], were established after [[Partitions of Poland|the third partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Just a year later, on [[December 12]] [[1796]], they were merged into one governorate, called [[Lithuania Governorate]], with capital in Vilnius.<ref name=cd911>{{lt icon}} {{cite book |last=Kulakauskas |first=Antanas |title=Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės |url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ |accessdate=2007-08-04 |edition= |year=2002 |publisher=Elektroninės leidybos namai |location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-9216-9-4 |chapter=Administracinės reformos |chapterurl=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/?id=911}}</ref> In 1801 Lithuania Governorate was split into [[Lithuania-Vilna Governorate]] and [[Lithuania-Grodno Governorate]]. Forty years later the word "Lithuania" was dropped from the two names and official maps of Europe. The territory of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania became known as the [[Northwestern Krai]].<ref name=el/> In 1843 another administrative reform took place, creating [[Kovno Governorate]] out of seven western districts of the Vilna Governorate. Vilna Governorate received three additional districts: [[Vileyka]] and [[Dzisna]] from [[Minsk Governorate]] and [[Lida]] from [[Grodno Governorate]].<ref name=el/> In 1837 [[Augustów Governorate]] was established in the territories of the [[Congress Poland]], a state in [[personal union]] with Russia. Lithuanian [[Suvalkija]] was included into this governorate. After the [[January Uprising]], Augustów Governorate was split into [[Suwałki Governorate]] and [[Łomża Governorate]] (see [[Administrative division of Congress Poland]]).<ref name=el/> This way most of the present-day territory of Lithuania fell into three governorates (Vilna, Kovno, and Suwałki). Two more governorates included some small Lithuanian territories. In 1819 a narrow coastal strip with [[Palanga]] and [[Šventoji, Lithuania|Šventoji]] was transferred to the [[Courland Governorate]]. This territory was acquired from [[Latvia]] after an international arbitration in 1920.<ref name=cd911/> Small areas in northernmost Grodno Governorate were given to Lithuania after it "joined" the Soviet Union in 1940.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite book | title=Lietuvos istorijos atlasas |publisher=Briedis | isbn=9955-408-67-7 |pages=23}}</ref> In 1861, after announcing the [[Emancipation reform of 1861|abolition of serfdom]], peasants acquired civil rights, among them a right to self-governmence. To facilitate such a right townships (Russian: ''[[volost]]'', Lithuanian: ''valsčius'') and elderates (Russian: ''[[Mir (social)|mir]]'', Lithuanian: ''seniūnija'') were established. By the end of 1861 there were 1,479 elderates in 181 townships of Vilna Governorate and 1,033 elderates in 153 townships of Kovno Governorate.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite book |last=Kulakauskas |first=Antanas |title=Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės |url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ |accessdate=2007-08-04 |edition= |year=2002 |publisher=Elektroninės leidybos namai |location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-9216-9-4 |chapter=1861 m. žemės reforma ir baudžiavos panaikinimas |chapterurl=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/?id=926}}</ref> The elderates would elect an elder (Russian: ''[[starosta]]'', Lithuanian: ''seniūnas'') and representatives to a township council (Lithuanian: ''valsčiaus sueiga''). However, these institutions had very little power and were dependent on the local nobles. The power was concentrated in the hands of governors, all of whom were appointed by the [[tsar]]. ==Soviet system (1940–1994)== Lithuania was occupied by the [[Soviet Union]] on [[June 15]] [[1940]]. However due to ensuring World War II the authorities did not introduce major changes to the administrative divisions, just elderates were renamed to ''apylinkė''.<ref name=apyl>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Apylinkė | year=1988 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=1 | location=Vilnius, Lithuania | pages=86}}</ref> After the second occupation in 1944, the number of counties grew from 26 to 41: eleven counties were added in 1946–47 and four more were introduced in 1949.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Apskritis | year=1985 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=1 | location=Vilnius, Lithuania | pages=91–92}}</ref> At the end of 1947 there were 37 counties subdivided into 320 townships that were further subdivided into approximately 2,900 apylinkės.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite book |editor=Arvydas Anušauskas, et al. |title=Lietuva, 1940–1990 |year=2005 |publisher=Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras |location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-757-65-7 |pages=271}}</ref> The entire interwar system was scraped for the 10th anniversary of the first occupation. The new system matched that of other [[Republics of the Soviet Union|Soviet Republics]]. On [[July 20]] [[1950]] [[Lithuanian SSR]] was divided into four provinces (Russian: ''[[oblast]]'', Lithuanian: ''sritis'').<ref name=el/> The provinces were further subdivided into 87 districts (Russian: ''[[raion]]'', Lithuanian: ''rajonas''): Kaunas Province with 23 districts, Klaipėda Province with 16 districts, Šiauliai Province with 24 districts, and Vilnius Province with 24 districts.<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Sritis | year=1988 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=4 | location=Vilnius, Lithuania | pages=84}}</ref> The townships were abolished and the districts were further subdivided into apylinkės. As of 1984, there were 527 apylinkės in Lithuania.<ref name=apyl/> Both provinces and districts were named after their capitals. Three exceptions were: [[Smėliai]] district had its capital in [[Ukmergė]] (also capital of Ukmergė district), [[Panemunė]] district – capital [[Garliava]], and [[Klaipėda district]] – capital [[Gargždai]]. In addition to districts, there were five (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys) province-administered cities (Lithuanian: ''srities pavaldumo miestas'').<ref name=miestai>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Miestai | year=1987 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=3 | location=Vilnius, Lithuania | pages=71–72}}</ref> They had similar rights as a district. The provinces were short-lived and on [[May 28]] [[1953]] they were abolished, leaving the districts as the first-level administrative division. The number of districts was reduced several times, and in 1962 it settled at 44.<ref name=el/> The province-administered cities were renamed to ''republic-administered cities'' (Lithuanian: ''respublikinio pavaldumo miestas''). The number of such cities grew to eleven in 1979.<ref name=miestai/> These cities became the city municipalities after the reform in 1994. ==Interwar (1918–1940)== During the interwar, Lithuania regained independence. The first law on administrative sub-units was passed on [[July 1]] [[1919]]. It declared that Lithuania was divided into twenty counties (Lithuanian: singular – ''apskritis'', plural – ''apskritys''). Several more counties (including [[Zarasai]], [[Švenčionėliai|Naujieji Švenčionys]], [[Vilnius]], [[Eišiškės]], [[Lida]], [[Ashmyany]] and [[Hrodna]]) were reserved for territories in the [[Vilnius Region]], that Lithuania had claims to, but were under Polish or Russian control.<ref name=vb/> Later on [[Suwałki]] county was lost to Poland, but Zarasai (also known as Ežerėnai) county was acquired. Two of the designated counties, [[Trakai]] and [[Sejny]], had their proclaimed capitals outside the ''de facto'' borders of Lithuania and had their temporary capitals established at [[Kaišiadorys]] and [[Lazdijai]]. After the [[Klaipėda Region]] was acquired in 1923, it was divided into three counties ([[Klaipėda]], [[Šilutė]] and [[Pagėgiai]]).<ref name=vb/> That way the number of counties increased to twenty three and remained stable until 1939. According to a law passed in 1931 eleven first-class cities became independent of county administration and had their own government.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]] | title=City or Town | year=1970-1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=I | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id={{LCC|74-114275}} | pages=536–539}}</ref> In March 1939, after [[1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania|an ultimatum from Hitler]], Lithuania lost the Klaipėda Region with its three counties. In October Soviet Union returned one fifth of the Vilnius Region in exchange for Red Army stations in Lithuania. Acquired Vilnius Region was divided into three counties (Vilnius, Eišiškės, and Naujieji Švenčionys).<ref name=el>{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]] | title=Administration | year=1970-1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=I | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id={{LCC|74-114275}} | pages=17–21}}</ref> Therefore, at the end of 1939 Lithuania again had twenty three counties. Counties were further subdivided into townships (Lithuanian: singular – ''[[valsčius]]'', plural – ''valsčiai''). In 1933 there were 365 townships.<ref name=vb>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | last=Biržiška | first=Vaclovas | editor=Vaclovas Biržiška | encyclopedia=Lietuviškoji enciklopedija | title=Apskritis | year=1933 | publisher=Spaudos Fondas | volume=I | location=Kaunas | pages=866–867}}</ref> The townships were further subdivided into [[elderate]]s (Lithuanian: ''seniūnija''). The counties were governed by a [[county governor]] (Lithuanian: ''apskrities viršininkas''), appointed by the Minister of Interior. Being almost the only link between the central government and the local population, governors were first responsible for a wide range of duties. They were to collect all property left by the retreating German army, organize local government, recruit local army groups, ensure security and stability in the county, etc.<ref name=av>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Vaclovas Biržiška | encyclopedia=Lietuviškoji enciklopedija | title=Apskrities viršininkas | year=1933 | publisher=Spaudos Fondas | volume=I | location=Kaunas | pages=864–865}}</ref> In 1920 they were also entrusted to preside over county police. In 1931, in an effort to centralize the government, county governors also became the chairmen of a three-member county governing body (Lithuanian: ''apskrities valdyba''), an executive institution of a county council.<ref name=av/> That way power in a county became centralized in the hands of a governor. County councils (Lithuanian: ''apskrities taryba'') were elected by local population for a three-year term. The number of representatives from a township depended upon the number of residents in that township.<ref name=at>{{lt icon}} {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Vaclovas Biržiška | encyclopedia=Lietuviškoji enciklopedija | title=Apskrities taryba | year=1933 | publisher=Spaudos Fondas | volume=I | location=Kaunas | pages=863–864}}</ref> These were the counties, their territory and residents according to the 1923 census:<ref>{{lt icon}} {{cite book | last=Vaitiekūnas | first=Stasys | title=Lietuvos gyventojai: Per du tūkstantmečius | year=2006 | publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas | location=Vilnius | isbn=5-420-01585-4 | pages=134 | chapter=Lietuvos gyventojai XX amžiuje}}</ref> {| class=wikitable |- ! # !! County !! Area (km²) !! Residents !! Notes |- | 1 || [[Alytus]] county || 2,849 || 116,000 || Part of this county was inside the Polish-controlled Vilnius Region; it was expanded in 1939 |- | 2 || [[Biržai]]–[[Pasvalys]] county || 3,268 || 115,186 || Originally it was named just Biržai county |- | 3 || [[Kaunas]] county || 2,618 || 191,364 || |- | 4 || [[Kėdainiai]] county || 2,403 || 93,514 |- | 5 || [[Klaipėda]] county || 823 || 66,213 || This county was in the Klaipėda Region, therefore administered by Lithuania in 1923–1939 |- | 6 || [[Kretinga]] county || 2,579 || 93,875 || |- | 7 || [[Marijampolė]] county || 2,199 || 103,749 || |- | 8 || [[Mažeikiai]] county || 2,070 || 75,404 || |- | 9 || [[Pagėgiai]] county || 938 || 38,613 || This county was in the Klaipėda Region, therefore administered by Lithuania in 1923–1939 |- | 10 || [[Panevėžys]] county || 3,972 || 138,917 || |- | 11 || [[Raseiniai]] county || 3,087 || 113,294 || |- | 12 || [[Rokiškis]] county || 2,255 || 87,545 || |- | 13 || [[Sejny]] county || 1,263 || 38,207 || Part of this county, including its capital, was under Polish control as part of the [[Suvalkai Region]]; a temporary capital of the county was in [[Lazdijai]] |- | 14 || [[Šakiai]] county || 1,773 || 69,518 || |- | 15 || [[Šiauliai]] county || 5,714 || 198,015 || |- | 16 || [[Šilutė]] county || 643 || 36,099 || This county was in the Klaipėda Region, therefore administered by Lithuania in 1923v1939 |- | 17 || [[Tauragė]] county || 3,351 || 116,435 || |- | 18 || [[Telšiai]] county || 2,601 || 85,233 || |- | 19 || [[Trakai]] county || 2,191 || 78,636 || Part of this county, including its capital, was under Polish control as part of the Vilnius Region; a temporary capital of the county was in [[Kaišiadorys]] until 1939 |- | 20 || [[Ukmergė]] county || 3,199 || 126,309 || Part of this county was inside the Polish-controlled Vilnius Region; it was expanded in 1939 |- | 21 || [[Utena, Lithuania|Utena]] county || 3,090 || 108,960 || |- | 22 || [[Vilkaviškis]] county || 1,412 || 86,909 || |- | 23 || [[Zarasai]] county || 1,314 || 46,442 || Part of this county was inside the Polish-controlled Vilnius Region; it was expanded in 1939. It is also known as Ežerėnai county after an old name for Zarasai |} ==Current division (1994– )== :''See: [[Counties of Lithuania]], [[List of municipalities of Lithuania]], [[Eldership]]s''. [[Image:Municipalities in Lithuania.png|thumb|300px|Current administrative division of Lithuania. Click the map for higher resolution.]] The current administrative division was created in 1994 and modified in 2000. [[Lithuania]] is divided into: *10 counties ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]: plural – ''apskritys'', singular – ''apskritis''), each named after their principal city (see: [[Counties of Lithuania]]). These ''apskritys'' should not be confused with ''apskritys'' that existed in the [[interwar period]]. *the counties are subdivided into [[List of municipalities of Lithuania|60 municipalities]] (Lithuanian: plural – ''savivaldybės'', singular – ''savivaldybė''). There are three types of municipalities: **43 district municipalities (Lithuanian: ''rajono savivaldybė''). They roughly correspond to districts that existed under the Soviet rule. Before 1994 they were known just as districts and still are commonly referred to as districts. The word "municipality" was added in effort to diminish the Soviet heritage (districts were created as [[raion]]s throughout the [[Soviet Union]]); **8 city municipalities (Lithuanian: ''miesto savivaldybė''). They are situated around major or important cities. In common language they are referred to as just cities or as just municipalities (because word "municipality" in Lithuanian language is associated more with cities and city rights than with districts); **9 municipalities. They were all established after 1994 and they do not have the word "district" associated with them. *municipalities consist of over 500 [[eldership]]s (Lithuanian: plural – ''seniūnijos'', singular – ''seniūnija''). Each municipality's government is elected in democratic elections of municipality councils. The elections used to take place every three years, but now they are held every four years. The municipality [[mayor]]s are elected by municipality councils. Also, municipality councils appoint [[elder (administrative title)|elders]] to be in charge of an [[eldership]]. Currently it is proposed that both mayors and elders should be elected in [[direct election]]s. Counties are ruled by ''apskrities viršininkas'' (officially translated as "governor") who is appointed by the central government in [[Vilnius]]. Their primary duty is to ensure that the municipalities obey the laws of Lithuania and the constitution. They do not have great powers vested in them, and so it is suggested that 10 counties are too much for Lithuania (the smallest county has only four municipalities). It is proposed to replace the counties with four or five ''lands'', a new administrative unit, that would be decided according to the [[Regions of Lithuania|ethnographic regions of Lithuania]] and based on the five major cities. ==References== {{reflist|2}} [[Category:Subdivisions of Lithuania| ]] [[Category:Subdivisions by country|Lithuania]] [[af:Provinsies van Litaue]] [[be-x-old:Адміністрацыйна-тэрытарыяльны падзел Летувы]] [[bg:Административно деление на Литва]] [[it:Suddivisioni della Lituania]] [[lt:Lietuvos administracinis suskirstymas]] [[hu:Litvánia közigazgatása]] [[nl:Bestuurlijke indeling van Litouwen]] [[pl:Podział administracyjny Litwy]] [[ru:Административное деление Литвы]]