Europe's Last Pagans?
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- The story of Europe's last officially pagan realms stretches over many centuries. Vikings and Crusaders, Germans and Ruthenians, kings and commoners. Everyone is involed and everyone has their part to play. Today we will learn about what Baltic pagans believed in, how they stayed pagan for so long, and why they finally became Christian.
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Sources
The Conversion of Lithuania: From Pagan Barbarians to Late Medieval Christians by Darius Baronus and S.C. Rowell
Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345 by S.C. Rowell
Photo Credits
The Funeral of the Gediminas by Kazimierz Alchimowicz
The Hand of Perkūnas by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
St Adalbert by Mihály Kovács
Bertold by Samuel Guichenon
Albert of Riga by Karl Hans Bernewitz (Artifex)
Mindaugas by Unknown
Gediminas by Unknown
Algirdas by Unknown
Kestutis by Unknown
Jogaila by Stanisław Durink
Królowa Jadwiga Andegaweńska by Aleksander Augustynowicz
Further Assets from Epidemic Sound, Storyblocks, Envato Elements and Provideofactory
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the pagan myths and beliefs have survived very well in the Baltics, most people are Christians nowadays but our cultures very well reflect the respect for and life with nature to this day. The Latvian folk songs preserved the old stories of the old gods, and many traditions we practice today, have pagan roots. I know that this is the case in many regions of Europe, but since Christianisation happened way later in the Baltics, I have the feeling that the Baltics have preserved them a lot more than in other places.
I am a practising catholic from Asia and I love my pagan Bro and sisters. Grace and light to you.
Pagan values still deep in lithuanian and latvian culture. Trees (and nature in general) are still considered sacred. There have been many scandals about builders or government environental agencies cutting down trees in cities illegaly. People are also very connected to their region.
Interesting to know. Thanks for the insight.
In Estonia there is probably the highest number of non believers all over Europe. My wife is Estonian and I know many people up there.
I think nowadays it’s better to call people simply atheists, as they don’t believe in anything at all.
But it’s true. In Estonia there’s many traditions still alive that are of pagan origin for sure. Like the Jaanipäev for sure is. As it’s at least as important for many as Christmas.
But even here in Germany (I’m German from the south), there’s a lot of auch thing. Carnaval for example is such a tradition, but we also burn large fires to some dates.
And I’d even say fireworks at new years is such a thing. 😊
German is still Christian, however many Christians don't attend Sunday mass in Germany. I am from Asia and I have lived in a small German village bear stuttgart for a year. I am a practising catholic.
Missionaries were not killed by a "mob". First they were warned to talk bad about the regional religion and to destroy sacred sites.
If they continued to do so, they received orders from priests and leaders to leave. When they ignored this, they were finally killed
by warriors.
Since the missionaries were under protection of kings it was a highly political matter how to deal with them.
The baltic lifestyle was the selfreliant farm of the extended family. The farms in considerable distance of each other, hidden behind trees or in small woods. As late as in the 1500s, villages developed, before this only a few houses assembled around wooden castels of landlords - populated by servants, soldiers and blacksmiths.
There were very few trading centers which one could call cities.
To these centers the Lithuanian rulers invited foreign traders and craftsmen from the countries around because Lithuanians stuck to rural life. Even at the beginning of the 1900s, Lithuanians were mostly a minority in the cities.
This illustrates how conservative, how much traditionalists the Lithuanians were and still are.
Jesuit priests travelling the country in the late 1600 complained that the average Lithuanian didn't understand the essentials of the christian faith but clung to pagan beliefs and rituals even when they visted churches on sundays, accepted christian baptising and burials. But sometimes the decedes were digged out by close relatives and secretly buried on top of small mounds, as was pagan tradition since 3000 years.
In Latvia, christianity was regarded and often secretly rejected as the religion of the occupiers, of the foreign landlords, mostly Germans, later also Swedes and Russians.
The modern Balts are very capable of adaptions but remain themselves.
01:06 Amber road, Balts traded with Romans, there is even Baltic amber found in Egypt.
01:38 Samogitians and Lithuanians and some other southern tribes were not ruled over.
01:59 Perkwūnos is god of thunder in Proto-Indo-European language, so Lithuanian Perkūnas is older than Thor as Germanic is also Proto-Indo-European language, so Germanic is the one who changed.
17:20 Mongols did deep raids in to Lithuania but they did not hold on to the towns they raided.
35:34 If we look at battle numbers and especially intensity of fighting we could even say it was bigger crusade then in to Middle East.
36:33 Lithuanian way of life worked well, before Christians came, when they came Lithuanians adapted fast without converting to survive while surrounded by Christians.
In general Baltic's were not some cavemen, they had very advanced knowledge of agriculture.
Tacitus Roman historian who lived in 1st century was even impressed with Balts compared to Germanic tribes in craftsmanship and agriculture.
37:00 Religion has not played a role for Balts, they did not care about it. It was just a tradition, just like it was for Ancient Greeks. I don't think Lithuanians would have ever "converted" if it didn't bring any benefits to them.
Vilnius had churches of many religions and branches to to bring more trade, it was never about religion.
Very well summarized ... There were so many false statements in this video!!
That was good. I like your even-handed approach to the subject and the level of detail you provided. It would have been nice for your text description to contain references to the books you cited, but I'll go back to the video and find them.
That first book, the one for which Baronas is the first author, is sure hard to find here in the U.S. It doesn't seem to be for sale from any of the usual new or used booksellers, and WorldCat knows of only three library copies in the U.S., none of them easily accessible, and perhaps not even through inter-library loan. How much will I miss if I just read the other book, on which Rowell is the sole author?
The book by Baronas is a more up to date source with a larger scope. I would really suggest reading that one. I found a free copy of it online. You can download it from academia.edu, I just had to create a free account.
As a Latvian American and yes Pagan. My family only came to the USA in 1951 following the Soviet Occupation. Western historians have it wrong that Paganism died out in Baltic. It’s STLL alive in well in the numerous of villages and small town and in daily lives. Though nationally the 3 Baltic States are secluar government. There isn’t Latvian alive Christian, Secular or Pagan that doesn’t attend. The numerous of Baltic festivals which have their bases in our proud Pagan past. The Old Beliefs have blended into our National and Cultural Identity.
For example, in my Grandparents Day in their Latvian village. Your newborn would undergo a Baltic Pagan baptism with the whole village taking part and then be handed over to Catholic Priest for a Christian Baptism. His very own Mother was the Priestess of the Baltic Pagan Mother Goddess! The village had their own Sorceress / Witch and I’m not talking about Neo-Paganism either. But a Midwife and unoffical Woman’s Health Doctor. Who also made and sold Love Potions, Spells and Hexes and was feared by local farmer a**holes in that she could actually wipe out a dairy cow or blight a crop. If you got on her bad side.
So no the Pagan traditions were not wiped by Christian Crusaders. What really happened was that after 400 years of Crusades. Both side got tired of warfare and revolts and a Truce was struck back then. That went basically like this. “We’ll sign your bloody paperwork. And you can claim We converted to Christ. You get to leave and return to your families. And you ignore we’re not actually fully converted.”
And that’s how Paganism is still alive and well in Latvia. It’s not the type of our proud ancestors practiced. It’s now a mix or blending of Secularism, Christianity and Paganism. But it’s STILL alive and well in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to this day.
Baltic Pagan (or a we like to call it “Old Believer as in Old Beliefs”) and Cultural Anthropologist 57
We lithuanians/Curonians were the original Vikings and no one ruled over us. The Norse Vikings got defeated on the Baltic shores long ago and our people still talk about it till this day.
Norse Vikings also had a pray askin to preserve them of fire, storms and Coronians(Baltic tribe)
Yes, and there is still existing runa stone with mention of Curonians.
02:08 actually perkonas were far nearer to the slavic pagan god "Perun" rather than to norse Thor.
Perkwūnos is god of thunder in Proto-Indo-European language, so Lithuanian Perkūnas comes from that just like Perun and Thor came even later as its name changed most.
I read from somewhere that our Finnish curse word "Perkele" might come from "Perkonas".
@@riverside6836 I've heard the same. In Lithuania saying "po perkūnu" would be similar to "Perkele", In a way.
"Po šimts Perkūnu" (after hundred thunders!) or "kad tave Perkūnas nutrenktų!" (may Perkūnas/thunder strike you down!"). All of them are mean words meant to express immense frustration. :D
I love Finnish swearing, tho. Once I've heard an expression asking why someone is sad like ... a "haggard" elephant's pu**y. :D Just lovely. :D
First! 😊
It's always exciting to see a new video from you Ivan. Looking forward to delve into it.
The Pagan culture of the Balts was not in fact the longest to exists as there is a Pagan culture that still exists today in Europe , I am referring to the Mari and Udmurt peoples of Russia's Volga region . The republic of Mari El has 3 official religions Islam of its Tatars Christianity of its ethnic Russians and Chi Mari Yula of its native Pagan Mari . The Mari traditional religion complete with its ancient priesthood known as the Kharts survived Islam , Christianity and communism .The neighboring Udmurt's have also preserved their traditional Pagan religion , although it has less practitioners than the Mari do .
I agree that I should not have been quite so categorical with my use of the term "last pagans of europe". There are the examples of pagan beliefs persevering for centuries, up until the modern day with the case of Mari El and Udmurtia that you mention. Even in the Baltic states today, as well as in other Northern European countries you see examples of pagan practices like Midsummer festivals. I decided to call them "the last" because, to the best of my knowledge, they were the last major, self-governing pagan state to exist in Europe. I do not wish to promote any erasure, especially of lesser known cultures and societies.
@@RetrospectHistory thanks for your reply , many people miss the fact that Volga Finns are Europe's last Pagan society and the only surviving traditional religion complete with sacred groves Pagan priesthood and even holy mountains which czarist authorities tried to blow to pieces in their vain effort to Christianize them .Survive the jive even tried to tell me they were not Europeans because their religion comes from Siberia and not Europe , which is total trash as their 4000 + year history on European soil prove.
Last pagans of europe means last pagan states of europe, not some small tribe or group of people deep within a christian state.
@@mignas according to u only , any survival of tradition counts for everyone else
There also asian pagans. Respublic of Sakha (Russia). They re pagan celebrating summer solstice 23rd of June as Lithuanians and Latvians do.
The death of St Brunon actually signifies the first mention of Lithuania in written records. Yeah...we didn't like what he was saying... And it's inscribed in annals of Quedlinburg.
What about Baltic Finnic tribes (ancestors of nowadays Estonians, Finns, Setos, Livonians etc) that lived in nowadays Estonian and Northern Latvian ares back then. As I've understood Baltic tribes didnt get to those areas.
From what I understand, the finnic tribes have a relatively similar history to their southern baltic neighbours during this time. They are also targetted in the crusades. For them, the war lasted between 1208 and 1227. The crusaders from the Livonian Order were unable to win in Estonia by themselves, so they called on Denmark to help them. As a result, the territory of modern Estonia ended up being partitioned between a Livonian south and a Danish north. The Estonians had tried to resist, even in defeat, and there was a major uprising in 1223. The Estonians also enjoyed the (often unreliable and periodic) support of the Rus' during the war, who had been active in the area prior to the arrival of the crusaders. After the uprising, Estonian resistance was centred on Tartu, but that came to an end in 1224 after a devastating battle that saw all the defenders killed or executed.
1236, Battle of the Sun. thats epic :)
But it was a very interesting video for me because I know about the German Ordens only from the German point of view.
So this gave me some
New inside and helped me to improve my knowledge and view about what was happening back then.
And that even helps to understand some things on the closer past better and even what is going on nowadays. Also it’s more like confirming what I anyway believe nie just a bit
more detailed. 😊
labas
Good. Very good.
Vikings never rules Balts, they’re the Norse crazy cousins. Vikings ruled the Slavs.
In my research I read that in the 9th century, both the Danes and Swedes were rather interested in Baltic lands and established outposts in Prussia and Curonia. They even fought each other for supremacy in the area. It seems these leaders became assimilated in the 10th century.
another victim of Jesuit training tries to tell his truth .Merovingi laiv you are funny 🌛🌞🌍
Thank you best comment yet
Thanks for touching the topic, however, more research is needed. Some of the things said are pretty obviously false.
What exactly do you disagree with? I would genuinely like to know.
Where are you looking…. pagens are everywhere….
Yeah plenty of people still identify as pagan, but being a pagan in 1200 is not really the same as being a pagan in 2024. Being a pagan was more about your lifestyle and how society was organised rather than religious beliefs. The baltics were basically the last region in Europe where people lived in a pagan society.
@@RetrospectHistory So the Mari and Udmurt are not European peoples according to u , ??? U need to do proper research before making stupid easily disprovable claims like u did here .
Sorry but within 1st min already you told so many things wrong that I lost interest.
What exactly? Open to listening
I highly disagree with a take that it was impossible to reach higher state of civilization bevause thwy were pagans. It's clear that they had been uniting in cases of great danger and kept advancing at least in warfare. But that's pretry much it. I womder what kind of paganism it truly was. Im Lithuanian and sadly i have no idea what it means to be Lithuanian our culture was completely wiped out during ww2 and soviet rule, we're currently sad mix of stalinism withiut violence, but culturally as dull and libertarianism that comes from USA. But there's nothing besides language that I could say is Lithuanian
I do actually agree that a civilization can reach a more developed state when it is pagan, I mean Lithuania developed quite a lot before it converted to christianity. Its just that when European countries converted to christianity in the middle ages, there was often real progress associated with that. Organised religion gave kings the necessary infrastructure to control and shape society. It would have been possible for Lithuania to remain pagan, but they still would have to implement many of the same changes that christianity brought about. But many kings in different countries did not see the point of doing that because why would they want to go through all the effort of reforming the indigenous pagan beliefs into an organised religion when they could just accept Christianity, which would also open up more opportunities in influencing other Christian countries?
@@RetrospectHistoryWell my problem as I said is that you used word impossible, with which I completely disagree. It's clear that development was happening and was constant, be it slow. I think conversion was just Jogaila's personal ambition and nothing more. Today spread of Christianity is understood, in Europe as spread of word of jesus , while in reality it was brute force, greed and personal ambition that spread Christianity more then anything. This blind believe in "lore" of Christianity's spread is why I take huge problem which such statements as yours or similar like them being savages, violent etc etc. Same was said about American Indians and as it appears now, there have been all kinds of tribes, yet only the violent tribes with such traits were focus of attention.
And just to finally nail it into the coffin weren't plenty of large civilizations including Greeks, Etruscans and Romans pagan and organized?
Your point IMO is invalid , but yet again my only problem is use of word impossible, if instead "near impossible" was used then I'd have no problem.
I was wrong to say impossible and I should have said very difficult. The spread of Christianity was absolutely anything but peaceful, and many people's lives did actually get worse, I mean one of the main reasons why Lithuanians converted to Christianity at all was because they were constantly being harrassed and just wanted these wars to end. It does seem like conversion to organised religion was a major factor in state formation in central and eastern Europe, if you look at the history of countries such as Poland, Hungary, etc. in the 10th and 11th centuries. Obviously they, and Lithuania, could have reformed their own pagan traditions and enjoyed basically the same benefits. I was trying to say that doing that would simply require far more effort than just copy pasting Christianity into the country.
@@RetrospectHistory I get it all man, I'm not historian, just a professional practitionator and in that I've listen to bunch of related stuff and from all that I've listened it appears that it's not religion that matters in state formation but adversaries and technology. To put simply, speaking about Europe. Friendly climate with less harsh winter coupled with various harvests around southern coast propelled development of civilizations. Fight for those lands in south among those civs increase advance in technology. Then fight moved to politics, that's where Christianity gets hold of things since it promises freedom from slavery, but that's not enough since servdom for church is the same, so crusades gives ex slaves a chance to be rich. That's when Christianity starts truly becoming dominant and that's why it spreads to north east where winters are harsh and nor very livable drive to loot. Then mongols and Ottomans shows up and cycle begins again like in the south land grabs to technology. What solidifies Christianity as completely dominant was Bible and scribes spreading the word and only way to study or learn was to be a priest and when printing press shows up then Christianity starts dying out in Europe (relative term). So Christianity itself has nothing special about it in any of the social economic structures of history. Same went for Muslim world and their nation building.
Cannot agree with you. Many things about ancient Baltic culture should be studied more. In Latvia, we still had that adapted pagan church-Dievturi, as I've been readed-there are Lithuanian too. So many things we Balts do so diferent(they look strange to aliens), many of them are influenced by our pagan culture, like planting oak in rural house for wealthy of family, or tradition of sitting on the naked ground only after 7th thunder in spring. Or celebrating of 4 solice fest in year-in Latvia they are called-Jāņi(summer solice), Màrtiņi, winter solice and Meteņi. We still do that.
I am pagan
I am happy for you
All relates to the Vedas.