Trakai Island Castle Historical Essay Example

Trakai Island Castle is a castle on an island in Lake Galvė and the castle is sometimes referred to as 'Little Marienburg'. The building of the castle began in the 14th century and was ordered to be constructed by Kęstutis. Around 1409 major works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great, who in 1430 died in the castle Trakai was one of the main centers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and so the castle had great strategic importance. 

Trakai Island Castle was built in many phases. During the first phase, in the second half of the 14th century, the castle was built on the largest of three lake islands on the order of the Grand Duke Kęstutis. The building of Trakai Island Castle was related to the expansion and strengthening of the Trakai Peninsula Castle. Kęstutis had also moved his main residence and his treasury to the Castle.  

In 1377 the castle suffered major destruction during an attack by the Teutonic Knights. After the assassination of Kęstutis, a power struggle between Jogaila and Vytautas the Great for the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania had begun. The castle was besieged on both sides. Soon after the reconciliation between Jogaila and Vytautas, the second phase of the building of Trakai castle begun and continued until 1409. This phase is known as a major development in the history of the castle. During the truce with the Teutonic Order, the construction works were supervised and watched over by the Order's stonemason Radike, four years before the Battle of Grunwald. 

During the second phase of the construction, 2 wings were added to the castle and on the southern side of the castle a 6-story donjon was built. The donjon was used for many purposes besides being used as a defense structure, it also had chapel and living quarters. It was linked to the multi-story Ducel Palace, which had an inner yard. The inner yard had wooden galleries that were used to access support facilities without having to go inside the palace itself.  

The entire southern wing of the southern palace was used for the Ducal Hall. This hall was around 10 by 21 meters in size, and only the Upper Palace in the Vilnius Castle Complex could surpass its proportions. The Ducal Hall has saved some of its original decor.  

The growth of the forecastle in the early 15th century marked the third phase of the Trakai castle’s development. The walls of the forecastle were strengthened to a thickness of 2.5 meters and raised with added firing galleries. Three major defensive towers were built on the corners and the southwestern tower was also used as a prison. The top story of the towers was made for soldiers and housed many cannons. A main gatehouse was also constructed which, along with the Ducal Palace donjon, had movable gates. The gatehouse was reinforced with added sections for firing galleries. Close to the inner walls several buildings were built, including stables, kitchens, and other structures. When the castle was undergoing this expansion in the 15th century, the water level of Lake Galvė meters were higher than it is now today. The castle builders took advantage of this by separating the Ducal Palace and the forecastle with a moat, just big enough for small boats to sail through. They were connected by gates that could be raised in case of an attack. 

The Trakai Island Castle had lost its military importance after the Battle of Grunwald, when the chief enemy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was defeated by the Lithuanian-Polish army. The castle was being turned into a residence and newly decorated from the inside. New frescos were painted on its walls, which have been partially preserved. Foreign emissaries were welcomed in the Ducal Palace. 

Grand Duke Vytautas the Great died in the castle without being crowned in 1430. During the rule of Sigismund Augustus, the castle was redecorated in a Renaissance style, and it served as the royal summer residence for a brief period. Until 1511 Lithuanian Metrica was kept in the castle. Then later the castle was used as a prison. During the wars with Muscovy in the 17th century, the castle was damaged and was not reconstructed again. It gradually fell into disrepair. 

During the 19th century, castle reconstruction plans were prepared. Its original frescos were saved and copied by Wincenty Smokowski. Then in 1888 The Imperial Archaeological Commission initiated the documentation of the remaining castle. In 1905, the Imperial Russian authorities decided to partially restore the castle ruins. During World War I, Germans brought in their specialists, who made several to tries to restore the castle. Between 1935 and 1941, parts of the Ducal Palace walls were strengthened, and the southeastern forecastle tower was rebuilt, including sections of its walls. Lithuanian and Polish preservationists worked on the project, but the work stopped when the war intensity increased. After World War II, a major reconstruction project began in 1946, active work started in 1951-1952. In 1961 The main portion of the reconstruction was finished. The castle was rebuilt in a 15th century style. 

The Trakai Island Castle is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lithuania.