XIII-XIV c.

In 1236 the Šiauliai place-name "Soule" was first mentioned in written sources, Livonian Rhymed Chronicle which described the battle of the Sun. On September 22, 1236 became the day of Šiauliai birth.
The land of Šiauliai was first mentioned in the act of Livonia in 1254.
At the beginning of the 16th c. the confederation of Lithuanian lands functioned and it consisted of territorial units - lands. The name of Šiauliai land more than once was mentioned in Livonian Rhymed Chronicles, Henry Latvian and Harman Vartberge's chronicles in the 13th-14th c. The then land of Šiauliai, the eastern fringe of confederation of Samogitia lands, belonged to dukes Vismantas, Edvikas and Spudeikas Bulioniai. The land of Šiauliai, the integrate part of confederation of Samogitia lands, played an important role while resisting the attacks of Livonia in the 13th-14th c.

XV-XVI c.

Šiauliai is a city, which maintained the name of Šiauliai land attributable to the oldest Lithuanian towns group, which settled at the beginning of the 16th c. After the battle of Grunwald the danger of constant fights with Teutonic Order disappeared. The castles with villages of Šiauliai land, among them Salduvė castle, lost their defensive meaning. Šiauliai settled in an important place from an economical viewpoint, in the convenient crossroad of trading ways, in the height to the southwest from Talša Lake, i. e. in the centre of present town.
Šiauliai was first mentioned in the historical resources, in the letter of Lithuanian Grand Duke Sigismund the Old, in 1524. Kasperas Vopelas marked the town in the European map in 1555 (there it was called Sovli).
Because of the lack of historical resources must not describe the size and face of then town. But there is known a fact that a wooden church existed in 1445 and it shows that Šiauliai was a big village in the 15th c. and gained the view of Christian town.
The view of then Šiauliai was a wooden one-storey town that was erected according to the spontaneously emerged radial plan. The only architectural focus was the wooden church till the beginning of the 17th c and a stone church since 1634. Another important urban element of town was the Šiauliai estate which messuage fragmentally remained till nowadays. The city as a Šiauliai economic administrative centre not dominated neither economic aspect nor its size or population in regard of other economic towns (Joniškis, Žagarė, Radviliškis, Gruzdžiai). Statistics points to even backwardness, e. g. 120 houses were made before a fire in Šiauliai in 1649, 183 in Joniškis, 110 in new Žagarė (about 155 houses with Old Žagarė).
In the 16th c. Šiauliai was the administrative centre of Šiauliai parish. The city became the administrative centre when the holding of king table - Šiauliai economy (hereinafter ŠE) - was established. During its historical developmental centuries the city kept the tradition of administrative - territorial centre gained in 16th c.
Šiauliai was the residence of Šiauliai economy and Šiauliai part courts of Samogitia Duchy, and the centre of Šiauliai County since the 19th c. Historically, the name of present north-Lithuanian region centre and the name of unofficial north-Lithuanian metropolitan came to Šiauliai.

XVII – XVIII c.

The middle of the 17th c. and the first half of the 18th c. were the years of cataclysms in Lithuania: the wars with Sweden and Russia in the middle of the 17th c., Swedish occupation in Šiauliai, and the wave of epidemics. The beginning of the 18th c. was similar - the Great Northern War and very big plague. Everything had an impact on the development of city. The universal of Republic of the Two Nations leader August II illustrates the situation wherein the condition of Šiauliai is described like this: "(...) Šiauliai previously dominated in economy, now it is unworthy of village, there are more empty houses than inhabitants."
Antoni Tyzenhaus became the administrator of royal economies of the Great Duchy of Lithuania in the second half of the 18th c. and to be precise in 1765. He was one of the most sophisticated characters of that time. Antoni started radical economic and urban reforms in the royal economies, among them Šiauliai. In ŠE he supposed essentially rebuilt Šiauliai and Joniškis. Then the ideas of classicism already spread in Lithuania. The plans of A. Tyzenhaus used these ideas to reconstruct the city of radial plan into a regular rectangle shape. The reconstruction of city centre started in 1774; the central square and the network of streets were reconstructed according to classical architectural principles.

Antoni Tyzenhaus (1733-1785). The paymaster of palace of the Great Duchy of Lithuania and the administrator of royal economies.

Tyzenhaus did not realize all his ideas during his brief period of ruling. He was suspended in 1780. The started urban developmental process already was unstoppable. The king Stanislaw August confirmed the new plan of Šiauliai centre reconstruction in 1783 and the constructions carried on. The urban reforms, which were started by A. Tyzenhaus, changed the face of Šiauliai. Šiauliai from the chaotic wooden town grew into the regular rectangle shape city with dozens stone houses. The buildings of classical style can be mentioned: three-tier stone building of noblemen court next to a church, an inn in the market-square, two storey brick post. The houses of citizens were brick-built, wooden and wooden with the wall of bricks in the side of street according to three or four typical projects.
The end of the 18th c. was especially important for the city's history. Stanislaw August, the king of Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth, by his privilege conclusively consolidated the autonomy of Šiauliai on November 9, 1791. The original of privilege burnt during the First World War but an equivalent resource remained, it was an inscription in the metrics of Lithuania with the colored picture of Šiauliai coat of arm.
Stanislaw August, the king of Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth, confirmed the rights of Šiauliai city and the first coat of arm that was chosen by people.
The main symbols of coat of arm were the bear of Samogitia, the eye of Providence, the ideological symbol of four year sejm and a red bull that was the symbol of coat of arm of the family of king Stanislaw August Poniatowski.The bear meant administrative dependence to the Duchy of Samogitia. The eye of Providence showed the works, which were done by the supreme will. The bull of the family of Poniatowski symbolized Stanislaw Poniatowski who endowed the town rights.The illustration was taken from the Lithuanian heraldry. V., 1998.

XIX c.

The 19th c. according to the historians began when Republic of the Two Nations failed in 1795 and issued in the formation of Lithuanian state in 1918.
The new period of Šiauliai history began in 1795. Catherine II presented the city with a big territory, Šiauliai economy, to the duke Platon Zubov when Russia connected Lithuania. She corrected her fiat on October 10, 1795 and declared Šiauliai as a governmental county town.
Russian tsar Nicholas gave a new coat of arm to Šiauliai County on April 6, 1845.
The coat of arm of Kaunas was a silver obelisk to remember the war in 1812, it was depicted in the upper blue field of parted shield; the coat of arm of Šiauliai was in the lower field: three yellowish shocks of crop in the blue field on salmon and green land. Essential to mention that the new coat of arm was created for the Šiauliai County and only later it was taken to call the coat of arm of Šiauliai county town. This coat of arm was used till the First World War.
The 19th c., the years of tsarist Russian ruling in Lithuania and Šiauliai, in the most general meaning was the period of fights of occupation and annexation, resistance and liberation, the Lithuanian nation becoming and its modernization. Already in the first half of the 19th c. Šiauliai became the important spawn of education and culture, it gradually became the epicenter of Lithuanian national movement.
In the second half of the 19th c. the meaning of Šiauliai as the centre of Lithuanian provincial cultural life grew. The strong group of Lithuanian intelligentsia, which developed the activity of national revival, educational and cultural nurturance, massed in the city. Especially meaningful was the spontaneous blossom of Lithuanian cultural nuclear in 1905-1914.
The followers of cultural activity such as L. Jucevičius, Jonas Prekeris, Aleksandras Mora, Mauricijus Hriškevičius who was the first author of the history of Šiauliai economy, left the bright traces in the town's culture of the first half of the 19th c.
The famous festivals of Šiauliai, the gatherings of Lithuanian intelligentsia solved the relevant problems of national revival at the end of the 19th c. Also there was gigged and played and so developed the germs of Lithuanian theatre.

The commemoration of Šiauliai festivals quadragenarian in Šiauliai, Aleksandrija on July 15, 1934. There was unveiled a stone with an inscription "Labora".The first from the left is Stanislava Jakševičiūtė-Venclauskienė, next the writer A. Žukauskas Vienuolis stands with a raised head.Photographer J. Nemeikša.Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

The honour of organization of the first Lithuanian performance in Lithuania belongs to Šiauliai. The comedy "Amerika pirtyje" by A. Keturakis was performed in Šiauliai on October 31, 1904. This performance was the first legal word pronounced by people from a stage

The building of people audience in Šiauliai (now it is P. Višinskio str. 16, the building is the part of Šiauliai town municipality). There was performed the spectacle "Amerika pirtyje". Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

In 1908-1914 the famous society of Šiauliai "Varpas" Lithuanian drama, music, song did cultural educative work (performances, sabbatical evenings with lectures on topics of culture). Šiauliai had its own known artists and directors such as J. Misius, G. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, O. Pleirytė- Puidienė, S. Jakševičiūtė-Venclauskienė who was the actress and director at the same time. There was the acquired flock of artists' amateurs such as A. Bagužytė, J. Grinius, A. Povylius, etc.

The members and artists of Šiauliai drama, music and song society "Varpas" after the performance "Inteligentai" in 1909. In the first row from the left sit J. Zikaras, L. Laurynas, P. Valavičaitė, J. Nemeikša, M. Pelėdžiūtė, M. Lingvys. In the second row from the left sit J. Krikščiūnas-Jovaras, A. Povylius, Ciplijauskienė, Skardinskis, S. Bogužytė-Skipitienė, G. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, S. Jakševičiūtė-Venclauskienė, K. Janavičius, Z. Arlauskaitė, J. Strazdas, unknown, A. Rimdžius. In the third row from the left sit K. Stiklius, unknown, Dokalskis, F. Daugėla, K. Venclauskis, J. Grinius, J. Tallat-Kelpša, V. Bielskis, unknown, A. Mikševičius, P. Kairiūnas, V. Landsbergis.Photographer V. Zatorskis. Taken form the sets of "Aušra" museum.
The literary and public activity of many writers and poets of that time is linked with the town's history. On purpose to name the names of this time Šiauliai intellectuals ring the list should be long enough. Šiauliai was famous for abundant and creative intelligentsia. When looked from the point of the beginning of the 21th c. their activity is typical. The phenomena should be mentioned such as P. Višinskis, A. Janulaitis, S. and K. Venclauskiai, A. Povylius, Zubovai, P. Bugailiškis, Biržinskas, Janavičius, J. Šalkauskis, S. Lukauskis.

	Peliksas Bugailiškis (1883-1965) was a jurist, journalist, ethnographer and museum worker. Photographer M. Rubinšteinas. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.		Povilas Višinskis (1875-1906) was the character of Lithuanian national revival, public man, publicist, politician.Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.
	Stanislovas Lukauskis (1869-1925) was a lawyer, the member of public and cultural activity. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.		Kazimieras Venclauskis (1880-1940) was a lawyer, the member of public and cultural activity, the Maecenas of culture, the first burgomaster of Šiauliai city. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.
	Stanislava Jakševičiūtė-Venclauskienė (1874-1958) was an actress, director, the character of society, grew and brought up more than a hundred orphans and homeless children.Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum. Peliksas Bugailiškis (1883-1965) was a jurist, journalist, ethnographer and museum worker. Photographer M. Rubinšteinas.Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.		K. Jasiukaitis, A. Povylius and K. Vasiliauskas in Šiauliai in 1904-1905. A. Povylius (1871-1961) was the member of the beginning of the 20th c. of social, political and cultural activity, the deputy of the Second Russian state duma.Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

On the other hand, in the second half of 19th c. Šiauliai like all Lithuania moved into the field of industrial revolution, rapid technological development, and urban expansion when the epoch of capitalism started. Šiauliai was situated in the junction of roads long ago. The city had gained the great developmental prospects when the geopolitical situation changed (the connected north-west region to Russia was a gate to Europe).
Tsarist Russia built the Riga-Tilsit highway across the town in 1836-1858. The Liepaja-Romny railroad cut Šiauliai in 1871. A convenient geographical position became the essential prerequisite of the little town's conversion into a industrial centre in the service of roads with Europe and Russia regard.

The first train wheeled across Šiauliai the Liepaja-Romny railroad on November 4, 1871. Photo taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

Šiauliai was the second town after Kaunas according to the population (16128 inhabitants), it overtook Ukmergė, Panevėžys, and Raseiniai already in 1897. The ethnic composition of urban population fluctuated. The Jewry was in the majority. The convenient service with the Russian industrial centers attached the Jews industrialists into the city. Ch. Frenkel, brothers Nurokai and Rogalinai established a leather factory, which famed the name of the city in Šiauliai.
The face of town varied at the end of the 19th c. The industrial landscape became clearer: the railway, the factories with smokestacks were built. The modern Ch. Frenkel's leather factory was exceptional and became the biggest leather factory in all Russia Empire. Ch. Frenkel built an art nouveau style dwelling house - Ch. Frenkel palace - near the factory in 1908.
The new focuses such as the Jewish community house of prayer and science - synagogues - sprang in the town.

The central choral synagogue of Jewish community in Varpo street. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

The church of St. Peter and St. Paul and the orthodox church of St. Peter and St. Paul before a demolition in 1937. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

The constructions of new houses according to the urban project-based plans (the project-based plans of 1872, 1877, and 1912 are known) were in progress in Šiauliai at the end of the 19th c. The two-storey stone buildings, which were constructed instead of the wooden buildings that were demolished in the central streets of town such as Bolšaja Tiuremnaja, Sodovaja, Policeiskaja, etc, changed the urban landscape of city. The network of streets fluctuated rapidly while the town expanded (12 streets were in 1871 and already 30 streets were in 1910). The pavements were wooden only in the centre of town. The streets were illuminated by Kerosene-type lamps. The lightening of streets by electricity was planned before the First World War but this idea was not realized.

Šiauliai. Bolšaja Tiuremnaja (now Vilniaus street) before the First World War. Card publisher G. Stilke. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

Šiauliai. Policeiskaja (now Vasario 16th street) before the First World War. The card was taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

Šiauliai was very affected during the First World War: 65% of urban buildings were destroyed. What remained of the city illustrates the captured images in the cards.

Šiauliai, Tilžės str. in 1920. Card publisher K. Cerpinskis. The card was taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum

Šiauliai during the First World War. Card publisher G. Stilke. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

Šiauliai in the years of the First Republic of Lithuania

The new stage of the development of Šiauliai city began during the years of the First Republic of Lithuania, which often were called interwar. Šiauliai became the important political, economical and cultural centre of country because of the changeable political reasons (the loss of Vilnius, the forfeiture of Klaipėda) at then Lithuania. They submitted only to the provisional capital Kaunas.
In 1919 the rights of county town and the rights of paramount Lithuanian city in 1931 were endowed to Šiauliai.
Šiauliai stood third after Kaunas and Klaipėda according to the population in 1923. The town was fourth after Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Panevėžys according to the occupied area (24 sq. km).
Already in 1918 historical somewhat varied coat of arm of 1791 decorated the seats of Šiauliai town and county.
In 1912 T. Dmochovskis announced picture of coat of arm had an impact to that time Šiauliai heraldry. The shield was divided into three fields in his reproduced historical coats of arm and the bear with chain of the Lower Lithuanian Duchy, the Providence and the bull were depicted in the fields. Later T. Daugirdas, B. Šaliamoras and the rest created the coat of arm of Šiauliai town according to this composition. The five-strong towers golden brick crown was laid over the shield in the coat of arm according the Russian heraldry.

The coat of arm of Šiauliai city. Painter B. Šaliamoras. The card was taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

To recount the then rapidly changing urban city picture is complex. The best narrators are the then images of town committed in the cards and photographs. An excursion in the low distance past made it easy just a few comments.
The regenerative works of town were started at the end of 1919 when the fights of Independence ended. The city regeneration was planned according to the city regenerative plan made in 1921, later this plan was corrected every few years. Of course, the biggest attention was paid to the city centre where only 2‒3 storey brick houses were allowed. The city centre was rebuilt and set in order till 1929. The administrative offices, public houses and beautiful houses were built in the centre. The central streets were paved by rustics, Bačiūnų and later Rėkyvos streets were illuminated by the electricity made in a power-station. The first introduction works of water-supply and sewerage were started already in 1925.
Long the city heart - the central square near the church of St. Peter and St. Paul - was failed to set in order. The church was demolished only in 1937, a market-place was put up in 1938 and only then the representative square with the flowers and fountain was equipped.
The territory of Rebel hill were ordered, there were buried the killed members of 1863‒1864 years rebellion. The Independence Park was planted here. The monument to those who died for the Independence was built according to eng. K. Reisonas project in 1931 and officially unveiled on May 30, 1935.
Of course, Šiauliai lagged behind the provisional capital Kaunas according to the growth rates of construction and technical progress. The horse transport dominated in Šiauliai, though, the first cars appeared in the city streets about 1930. The city coaches started to run in Šiauliai only in 1938.
People could use not only the post and telegraph but also a telephone for communication. The telephone machines were equipped in town in 1936 and the number of telephone subscribers increased up to 700 in 1937 (170 subscribers were in 1937).
The first decade of Independence was difficult in economic sense; the extensive Russian markets were lost. The city industry had to restructure and produce to local needs. The economic ties with West Europe have improved only about 1932 when Šiauliai was connected with Klaipėda by the railway and through it with Tilsit, Konigsberg, Berlin.
Šiauliai retained the industrial city image developed at the beginning of the 20th c. during the years of the First Republic of Lithuania. In 1938 the city produced about 85% of Lithuania's leather, 60% of footwear, 75% of flax fiber, and 35% of sweets industry.
Šiauliai cultural life, increased and flushed in the soil of the end of the 19th c. and the beginning of the 20th c., flowered in different forms and had grown in content during the interwar years. The professionally working flock of intellectuals crowded in Šiauliai. It raised the Šiauliai cultural life to a higher level which was able to satisfy the miscellaneous cultural needs of city community. Šiauliai became the real cultural centre in the north part of Lithuania.
Shortly to introduce the miscellaneous Šiauliai cultural life is difficult. A person who is interested in it can read the published memories "Gyvenimo vieškeliais", "Šiauliai chronicles" - the publications of periodic information, statistics and regional studies - written by a universal man, lawyer, journalist, politician, ethnographer and museum worker P. Bugailiškis.
The most significant facts of cultural life will be presented.
 

Šiauliai church

Renaissance epoch architectural monument St. Peter and St. Paul's cathedral (the church till 1997) was the broadest city accent. For a person who will arrive in the city the cathedral shows where the centre of the city, its heart is.
The architectural monument dominates not only because of his impressive height (the tower's top reaches 70 meters) but also for the convenient perfectly selected place of construction. The excellent selection of place is not the only merit of new brick church builders. It was done earlier - in 15th c., when the first wooden church of Šiauliai was built. M. Valančius maintained that it was built by the concern of Samogitian doyen Mykolas Kęsgaila in 1445.
The knowledge about the first wooden church remained little. In the visitation act of 1629 was written that the church was wooden old and on the left Petras Tarvainis built a new brick church.
The construction of new church started in about 1617. The initiator of construction is considered Samogitian bishop Nicolaus Pac, a key founder is considered manager Jeronimas Valančius of Šiauliai economy. The church's priest, the pupil Petras Tarvainis of Vilnius academy looked to the works of construction. Simogitian bishop Jurgis Tiškevičius consecrated the new church of Šiauliai on October 8, 1634.
It is interesting that a mechanical clock in the church's tower for the town was fitted for the city residents' money. Only the sundial remained in the southern facade of church.

Šiauliai. St. Peter and St. Paul's church. The card publisher K. Cerpinskis. Taken from the sets of "Aušra" museum.

The picture of the 17th c. architecture monument reached our days slightly varied. The wars, windstorms and thunderstorms once and again desolated the church. The church was repaired and sometimes reconstructed every few decades. The building very changed after the July of 1880 when a lightning crashed into the tower of church and the wooden bell form tower's top burnt. At the end of the 19th c. the tower of church was rebuilt and the many-sided pyramid form tower reached our days. The church was partially destroyed during the First World War.
The church most of all was affected during World War II - the wooden parts of the building, altars, organs, furniture burnt, and the art valuables converted into ash. The church looked miserably. The reconstruction lasted long during postwar. The works of rehabilitation was ended only in 1956. Engineer V. Krikščiunas and architect S. Ramunis directed the works of reconstruction. A decoration was done, the interior and environment were tidied, and the separate parts of building were repaired later.
The diocese of Šiauliai was established by the decision of pope Jonas Paulius II on May 8, 1997. The rector priest Eugenijus Bartulis of Kaunas theological seminary was appointed the first bishop of Šiauliai. He chose St. Peter and St. Paul's church for diocesan residence. The ingress solemnity of bishop E. Bartulis took place on July 13, 1997.
The last uncommon repair of cathedral started in spring of 1998 and lasted till December. The ceiling and walls were repainted, the floor was reveled by stone tiles, a new central altar was equipped, and the sculptures, stations and candelabrum were restored.

The inside of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul in 1943. Photographer S. Ivanauskas. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

The destroyed St. Peter and St. Paul's church after World War II. Photographer S. Ivanauskas. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

The homestead of Šiauliai former manor (Didždvaris)

The fragments of Šiauliai former economy manor, after the grant of economy to duke P. Zubovas - the fragments of Zubovai estate (Didždvaris) homestead remained in the centre of city. It is known that the old place of Šiauliai manor existed till the construction of the new and the officers of Šiauliai economy administration worked here. The historians did not agree for its precise localization.
The beginning of manor construction in new place is connected with the activity of A. Tyzenhaus in Šiauliai. In the second half of the 18th c., while the meaning of town as the administrative centre grew the new prestigious residence of economy administrator was needed.
· The old Didždvaris is the complex of manor facility. Its past and this day are such like.
· The palace (Aušros Avenue 50), now the Art Faculty of Šiauliai University.
· The palace of estate (Šiauliai economy) was started to build at the end of the 18th c., in 1786 and 1789. It was written in the inventories of ŠE that two-storey brick residence of administrator was built, more two houses not completed to build. The palace was expanded during the years of Zubovai ruling. By the opinion of count descendent architect Vladimiras Zubovas the palace had present appearance already in about 1875.
In 1920 the palace came to the town and at the same year the Teachers' seminary was established here, it was reorganized into pedagogic school in 1949. The Šiauliai pedagogic institute (now Šiauliai University) gradually established in the school's rooms since 1954.

The palace of Didždvaris before the First World War. The card was taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

The former economic building of Didždvaris - the stabling.The card publisher K. Cerpinskis. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

· The building of estate (Dvaro str. 85)
This plot on the corner was sold to treasury at the end of the 19th c.
· The girls' gymnasium (Vilniaus str. 188), now Didždvaris gymnasium.
The girls' gymnasium started to operate in Šiauliai in 1898. It was built from the counts' Zubovai donative bricks in the land of Zubovai estate Didždvaris. The girls' gymnasium operated till the First World War. A mixed gymnasium operated in the rooms of the gymnasium till 1918 which was dependent on clerical "Jėga" association. The girls' gymnasium again was reinstated in the building in 1928. During World War II a German war hospital was here. During the Soviet years the gymnasium became the 5th secondary and Didždvaris secondary-school since 1994. Didždvaris gymnasium was reproduced in 1999.

The building of girls' gymnasium before the First World War. The card publisher D. Stilke. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

A park

The beginning of park creation was the times of A. Tyzenhaus. It was established by a few stages: the park was regular rectangular shape in the middle of the 19th c. and it was close to English style of free layout. Citizens for a small fee were allowed to walk in the park. The park and Chestnut Avenue officially were donated to Šiauliai city municipality.

The Chestnut Avenue (Kaštonų alėja)

The old entrance to the palace and park from the old Kuršėnai road (now Vilniaus str.). The old chestnuts of alley dried off in about 1940. The presents were planted in 1946-1947.

The Chestnut Avenue from the side of Aušros alley during the interwar. Photographer Žukauskas. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

Ch. Frenkel palace

Dora and Chaim Frenkel living house - Ch. Frenkel palace - was the most significant monument of modernist architecture in Šiauliai. The building was the characteristic example of the beginning of the 20 c. of art nouveau architecture.
Also, the palace is the most significant object of Jewish history and culture in the town. The builders D. and Ch. Frenkel of the palace were a family, which was famous for its traditions of maintenance. The school, institution, hospital, synagogue operated in the buildings which were built by the finance of Ch. Frenkel for the community of Šiauliai Jews. Later, during the soviet years and interwar, these buildings were used for the needs of all city community culture and education.
Any documents of palace constructions not remained and the surname of architect was unknown. It is supposed that the palace was built in 1908 (according to a date on a weathercock).
The D. and Ch. Frenkel family lived in the palace till 1920. Son Jakobas who almost did not live in Lithuania inherited the leather factory and palace after father's death. D. Frenkel lived on the ground floor of the palace during interwar. The first floor was hired out. A Jewish gymnasium operated in the palace for some time.
The German war hospital was established in the palace during World War II and a Soviet war hospital was settled down from Soviet years till 1993.
The building was given Šiauliai "Aušra" museum in 1993. The palace was restored by the finance of Cultural Heritage Protection Centre and Šiauliai city municipality. 1040 sq. m. - entire first floor and the right tambour - were already restored at the end of 2002. An exposition "The Šiauliai Jewry in the first half of the 20" operates, the exhibitions are arranged, and the cultural events proceed in one of the restored first floor halls.
A partial exposition "The estate of province and town" is planned to equip for the octogenarian of "Aušra" museum in March of 2003. The exposure will be equipped in the background of the extant valuable authentic and renewed art nouveau interiors while introduces the most valuable sets of "Aušra" museum.
The restored palace of Ch. Frenkel with the modern exposition will be the example of town architecture heritage properly protected and adapted to contemporary needs.

Ch. Frenkel palace was the war hospital in 1987. Photographer S. Keparutis. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

Ch. Frenkel palace in Šiauliai (Vilniaus str. 74). Photographer J. Mikuckis. Taken from the sets of Šiauliai "Aušra" museum.

The chiefs of city

The 16th c. - the end of the 18th c.
Šiauliai was not self-governing city, the residence of Šiauliai economy administrator. A reeve with helpers was appointive by the administrator of Šiauliai economy to deal with the city matters.
1791-1795
The organ of Šiauliai city municipality - Šiauliai town magistrate - was elected in the summer of 1791. The ruler Stanislaw August of Republic of the Two Nations by his privilege finally confirmed the Šiauliai town self-government on November 9, 1791. An elective reeve directed Šiauliai magistrate. Kazimieras Taliatas was elected a reeve on August 18, 1791.
The first half of the 19th c.
Šiauliai was tsarist Russia county town. The town was ruled by the city hall members who were elected by residents in a meeting every three years. A burgomaster, four lay judges, a clerk and an accountant formed the city hall. There is not precise information about the town burgomasters of 1804‒1865. Burgomaster Liustic was mentioned in 1830, Kalinauskas was mentioned in 1831 and 1835.
The second half of the 19th c.
The duma was elected to control the city every four years. The executive of duma was the head office: the chairman of duma and head office was the burgomaster. A governor confirmed the candidacy of burgomaster.

BURGOMASTERS
Antanas Čepulevičius, farmer (1865-1867)
Novikovas, Russian officer (1867-1873)
Aloyzas Petkevičius, householder (1873-1876)
Aleksandras Godvevskis, landlord (1880-1882)
Sobeslovas Savickis, landlord (1882-1890)
Osvaldas Rimgaila, landlord (1890-1905)
Julijonas Šalkauskis, doctor (1905-1915)
The years of the First World War
Šiauliai was the county center which was dependent to Lithuanian range administration constituted by Germans and since 1917 it was dependent to the Lithuanian military head office. A German officer was appointive by the town burgomaster. He was dependent to county chief.

BURGOMASTERS
L. Pracht, captain (the end of 1915 - July, 1916)
A. Morsbach, lieutenant (July, 1916 - December, 1917)
Heine, lieutenant (December, 1917 - November 1918)
The years of the First Republic of Lithuania
The organ of Šiauliai city self-government was the Šiauliai city municipality. The city council was elected every three years from 40 members (since 1931 was elected from 21 members). The council elected the executive - town board. The board chairman - burgomaster - was the town chief. A new law of local self-government extended the rights, authority and tenure of burgomaster.

BURGOMASTERS
Kazimieras Venclauskis, social democrat (1918 11 26-1919 01 01 and 1919 03 12-1919 04 17)
1919 01 01-1919 03 12 the town was governed by Bolsheviks and Juozas Daukša was elected the chairman of executive committee.
Juozas Orlauskas, Christian democrat (1919-1920)
Antanas Mikševičius (1920-1922 m.)
Aleksandras Šerkšnys, Labour Federation representative (temporarily served as a burgomaster 1922 08 18-1922 10 13)
Kazys Ubeika, Christian democrat, later nationalist (1922-1925)
Jackus Sondeckis, social democrat (1925-1931)
Juozas Valančius, nationalist (1931-1938)
Petras Linkevičius, social democrat, later nationalist (1938-1940)
The years of World War II
The only local Lithuanian administration - the councils and municipalities of counties chiefs - remained during the years of German occupation. The Šiauliai district commissariat that chief was Hansas Geweke appointed by the Lithuanian general commissar on August 18, 1941, was directly controlled by the Šiauliai city municipality. The town burgomaster ought to persue the order of German civil authority.

BURGOMASTERS
Juozas Naujalis (1941 June - July)
Petras Linkevičius (July, 1941-1944)
The years of Soviet occupation
The local government and ruling organs of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic belonged to people deputies' council (till 1978 labouring men deputies' council). They were elected every two and a half year. The organs of executive and regulative people deputies' councils were the executive committees that were elected from the deputies of local deputies' council. The town chief was the chairman of people deputies' council executive committee.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Antanas Ulpis (June, 1940 - June, 1941)
Mykolas Mažeika (1944 08 01-1945 08 11)
Albertas Ramanauskas (1945 08 11-1946 12 31)
Kostas Butrimavičius (1947 01 01-1951 01 10)
Adolfas Butkus (1951 01 10-1953 02 28)
Bronius Bagaslauskas (1953 03 01-1954 10 01)
Matvejus Vilutis (1954 12 31-1957 01 30)
Justinas Nekrašius (1957 02 08-1957 07 30)
Kazimieras Plechavičius (1957 07 20-1964 06 15)
Jonas Ščevinskas (1964 06 15-1973 05 22)
Vilius Antanas Kazanavičius (1973 05 23-1980 12 30)
Kęstutis Zaleckas (1980 12 31-1985 07 22)
Povilas Morkūnas (1985 07 23-1990 04)
The years of the Second Republic of Lithuania
On March 11, 1990 the Lithuanian state was restored and the local self-government organs - municipalities - started to function.
On April 4, 1990 the people deputies' council gathered into the first session in Šiauliai.
On April 18, 1990 was decided to change the denomination of local government - the people deputies' council to entitle the Šiauliai municipality council and the executive committee to entitle the municipality broad - in the passed council conference. The first Šiauliai mayor Kazimieras Šavinis was elected in this conference.

TOWN CHIEFS
1990-1991
The Šauliai city municipality council chairman was Jonas Tručinskas.
Mayor was Kazimieras Šavinis.
1991-1995
The Šiauliai city municipality council was Alfredas Lankauskas.
Mayor was Arvydas Salda.
1995-2002
MAYORS:
Alfredas Lankauskas (1995 04 06-2000 04 05)
Vida Stasiūnaitė, social liberal, (2000 04 05-2002 04 12)
Edvardas Peleckas, social liberal, (acting mayor 2002 04 12-2002 04 25)
Vaclovas Volkovas, social democrat, since 2002 04 25 - 2003
Vytautas Juškus, social democrat, since 2003 06 26
Genadijus Mikšys, liberal centrist, since 2007
MUNICIPALITY ADMINISTRATORS:
Jaronimas Ulianskas (1995-1997)
Justinas Sartauskas (1997-2003)
ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORS:
Justinas Sartauskas (2003).
Genadijus Mikšys since 2003.
Rimundas Domarkas since 2007.
Vladas Damulevičius since 2008-12-22.

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