title: Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series)
author:  S. C. Rowell 
description: "...[a] superb scholarly study....whose balanced narrative and analysis effectively portray the many vivid personalities and dramatic developments of this crucial period in the history of east central Europe. General and academic collections at all levels." Choice<br /><br />"English (and in some respects the first time in any language), the rise of pagan Lithuania during the rule of Grand Duke Gediminas, with attention given also to the reigns of his predecessor Vytenis and successor Jaunutis." Choice<br /><br />"It deserves careful attention from every serious student of medieval Russia and East Central Europe." Jean W. Sedlar, American Historical Review<br /><br />"He [Rowell] has utilized the archives of ten different countries and an astounding array of published primary sources, Quellenforschungen, and specialized studies. He carefully introduces and re-introduces his cast of geographic, ethnic, institutional, and human characters, so that the reader does not get lost...Rowell has written a splendid book and has done so with erudition and zest....There is nothing at all like this book in any western language." International History Review<br /><br />"This superb book is a major contribution to the history of east-central Europe in the Middle Ages, and to medieval history in general. It is an exceptionally welcome and original addition to a series of recent works about east-central Europe in the medieval period that are conceived in...English and that situate this region, and the countries and peoples that make it up, within a new and informed comparative perspective. In exceptionally clear and polished prose, it weaves together political, dynastic, economic, diplomatic, and ecclesiastical history to trace and explain the rise of the Jogaila dynasty to Christianity and the series of unions with Poland that followed in the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The book...is, above all else, astonishingly learned." Piotr Grecki, Speculum
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  **D A R I U S B A R O N A S , S . C . ROWELL**
  
  
  **The Conversion of Lithuania**
  
  
  **From Pagan Barbarians**
  
  
  **to Late Medieval Christians**
  
  
  **THE INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN LITERATURE AND FOLKLORE**
  
  
  V I L N I U S
  
  
  _**Creating the Future of Lithuania**_
  
  
  **Research was carried out and this monograph published on funds provided**
  **by the European Social Fund: Operational Programme for Human Resources**
  **Development for 2007-2013, Priority 3 ‘Strengthening of Capacities of**
  **Researchers and other Scientists’, Measure ‘Support to Research Activities**
  **of Scientists and Other Researchers (Global Grant)’, Project No.
  VP1-3.1-SMM-07-K-03-008.**
  
  
  **Peer-reviewed by Pawet Kras and Jonathan Shepard**
  
  
  **Cover illustration: Petras Repsys _The Baptism of Zemaitija_** **(200 6 -2 0
  0 8 ),** **silvered bronze antependium of the altar in the former cathedral
  church of** **Ss Peter and Paul, Varniai.**
  
  
  **Published by**
  
  
  **Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklo