a town of European Russia, capital of a circle in the government of Kovno, stands on the Kubiza, 100 miles W.N.W. of Vilna. It has two churches, a Piarist college, two schools, and two benevolent institutions. It was formerly the capital of the principality of Samogitia, which up to 1408 belonged to the Teutonic order, but was then joined to Lithuania. Pop. 6300.