Ethnic Minorities and Communities in Lithuania, Tatars

Tatars setting in Lithuania is associated with the Grand Duke Vytautas (early 15th century). They were brought to Lithuania to serve as soldiers, their villages established at the Grand Duchy boundaries and around the capital city Vilnius. Tatars formed a personal guardhouse of Vytautas, together with him participated in the Battle of Grunwald. Most of Tatars living in Lithuania are Sunni Muslims. Surviving Tatar villages are Raižiai (Alytus district municipality), Keturiasdešimt totorių and Nemėžis (both in Vilnius district municipality).