Pilenai

Pilėnai was a castle, most likely in Southern Lithuania. It is well known in Lithuania due to the heroical defence of it when it was surrounded by knights of the Order of the Cross . When people of Pilėnai understood that it is impossible to put up a considerable defence against a much larger number of enemies, they decided to burn themselves together with the castle and all their belongings, so the knights would take over over only empty ruins. At first the precious things as well as women and children were burned, and then men burned themselves.

An opera is made about this event by composer Klova. ( Opera "Pilėnai" ).