Karaims

The Karaims a nation of Turkish origin

- is the smallest amongst Lithuania's

Ethnic minorities. Its language belongs to the western Kipchak group

of thc Turkish languages and is close to

The Karachay, the Balkar, the Kumyk and Crimean Tartar

Languages. The Karaim religion is

Based on the old testament (without additions) and

Decalogue.

The Karaims began their journey to the grand duchy

Of Lithuania from the banks of the back sea in the time

when Vytautas the Great was fighting with the golden

Horde. In 1397-1398 the grand duke Vytautas took over to

Lithuania 383 families. They were settled in Trakai.

Later on Karaims spread to other towns in Lithuania.

In trakai, The Karaims were settled peninsula

and the island castles. Initially The Karaims guareded

The two castles, later on they got involved in gardening,

trade and crafts. In 1441 the grand duke of Lithuana

and the king of Poland Kazimieras Jogailaitis granted

Magdeburg rights to the Trakai community, thus ensuring

their self-governance, and this lasted until 18th

Century. Karaims Elected a reeve who had administrative

and legal power was directly responsible

to the grand duke. In 1869, Hachan - the supreme religious

and secular authority, with a subordinate body- spritual

board, was set up in Trakai.It was a form of extension of The Karaim

independent hierarchical spritual authority in the

the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Done