Vilnius first was mentioned as the city and the Capital of the Lithuania in 1323. The Great Duke of Lithuania Gediminas sent letters to the European Countries and invited the highly skilled persons to make investments in Lithuania, to come with their families and settle down in Lithuania. At that time Vilnius had fortifications to stand against the enemies surrounding our country. Especially the Crusaders who twice a year or more frequent times  fled fighting Lithuanian forces. We are the only country in Europe whom took the Christianity the last of all others (but not the least). Another big enemy were the mongols who attacked Europe. So we had three Castles. Crusaders didn't manage to conquer our city though the sedge of the Castles were as long as five weeks. Crusaders managed to destroy one of the Castle (named KREIVOJI (in Lithuanian that means it was as the wooden and not straight in form). We as country gained the gifts from the Almighty in the very good situation as the geographic and geological position. Two rivers surround our castles positions. In ancient times one of the rivers named as Vilnele surrounded our Castle hills. This name of the river gave the name to City - Vilnius.