Historical character in region's identity transformations: Prussian Lithuania - Lithuania Minor - Western Lithuania ; Istorinis regiono identiteto transformacijos pobūdis: Prūsų Lietuva – Mažoji Lietuva – Vakarų Lietuva

Abstract

The concept of contemporary identity guides to exclusiveness of culture's role and history as well. Queen Luisa is not only an attractive symbol while talking about fatal period for Europe and Prussia in the years 1806-1815, but also interesting is her personality while looking for parallels between identities of Memel (Klaipėda), the small province town of the German empire, and Klaipėda, the largest contemporary Western Lithuanian city. Present inhabitants of Klaipėda pay a lot of attention to Queen Luisa's merits for development of education and culture in the city and in the region. The fact that in newest discussions about Klaipeda's vision of cultural politics, the need to integrate cultural heritage into consciousness of citizens and formation of identity is highlighted, testifies about signs of new quality in region's identity structure of Western Lithuania. Research is based on historical sources and literature.