Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: troki | trakener | cross | trakai | vilnius |
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image by Anon., 26 February 2010
See also:
This flag-like image is
in a Polish website, which uses 'herb' (CoA) for it at <www.malbork.pl>.
To me it looks like a banner of Arms. Trakai is the center of a
rayon, with 7200 inhabitants, some 30 km west of Vilnius. It was
the old capital of the Lithuanian Empire and seat of the
Grandprince. The foundation date is unknown, but it was already
the center of the Trakaian Principality in the 12/13th century -
that is: Old Trakai (Lit. Senieji Trakai). New Trakai (Lit.
Naujieji Trakai was built c. 1323 , 4 Km to the north. It played
an important part in the battles of the Lithuanians against the
teutonic Order. Part of the city is occupied by descendants of
Karaites (Lit. Karaimai), who settled here on the invitation of
Grandprince Vytautas in the 14th century from the Crimean
Peninsula, to become his palace guard, together with Tartars.
They became famous vegetable-growers. The Karaites adhere to a
Jewish sect, which does not recognize the 'oral Thora', that is
the Rabbinic doctrine; they only live by Old Testamentic rules.
It was formed at the end of the 8th century AD in the Persian
part of the Khaliph's Empire under Anan ben David and they called
themself 'Ananites'; later they were named 'Karaites' (Hebrew:
People of the Scripture). In the 11th century ther were
hard-pressed by the Jews and fled to Constantinople, from where
they spread around the Black Sea to the Crimea. Karaites can also
be found in Panevezys, Lithuania. To this day they exist in
Israel, Egypt and Lithuania.
Source: Baedekers 'Baltikum' (1994)
Jarig Bakker, 12 September 2000
The name "Troki" is a Polish variant of the origina
Lithuanian name "Trakai".
Virginijus Misiunas, 15 May 2001
The flag and the coat of arms of Trakai city (Vilnius county,
Trakai district - Vilniaus apskritis, Traku rajonas). The flag is
drawn by me according to my personal observation. The coat of
arms I drew according to the picture from the book: The Heraldry
of Lithuania. There is different flag and coat of arms for Trakai
district - a warrior in silver armour, holding a silver lance
with a golden point in his right hand, and leaning with his left
on a golden framed red shield bearing golden Columns of the
Gediminas family, on a field of red.
Anon., 4 July 2003
Trakai - On a blue field with a white cross the arms of
Trakai: John the Baptist's head. Flag proportions 5:6, free edges
bordered with a narrow silver stripe, fringe is golden, finial is
a golden knob with two rings, staff is dark grey. The exact time
of the granting of arms is not known, but they were obviously
granted by Grand Duke Vytautas the Great (also Duke of Trakai)
between 1398 and 1430, the most probable date is considered 1409.
The arms should symbolize Christianization and Vytautas as the
most meritorious baptist of Lithuania. By the way, he didn't
pretend to be the first one, as Jogaila baptised Lithuania
already, but most of early parishes (till mid 15th century) were
established by Vytautas.
Anon., 26 February 2010
image by Anon., 4 July 2003
vltrt.gif)
image by Anon., 4 July 2003
