Lithuanian Army to Mark 512th Anniversary of Victory at Battle of Orsha in Vilnius

Vilnius will mark the 512th anniversary of the Battle of Orsha victory with a procession, a battle reenactment and a public history program.

At midday, soldiers from the Honor Guard Company, the Lithuanian Army Orchestra and members of the Medieval Messengers club in historical costumes and on horseback will travel from the Gates of Dawn to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The procession will symbolically recall the triumphal march held in 1514 after the victory by Lithuanian Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski.

The battle itself will be reenacted near the monument to Gediminas in Cathedral Square. Afterward, Lithuania’s historical flag will be raised above the Palace of the Grand Dukes.

The ceremony will conclude with “A Different History Lesson,” presented by military historian Karolis Zikaras and comedian Kristoforas Vaidutis. They will discuss the significance and lesser-known details of the Battle of Orsha.

Historical sources say Vilnius held triumphal celebrations after the battle on September 8, 1514. Residents were shown prisoners, weapons, gold and other trophies, while captured enemy banners were hung in Vilnius Cathedral.