Tatars in Lithuania

Tatars in Lithuania are a unique ethnic group living in the Republic of Lithuania and are considered one of the oldest national minority.
Origin.
Tatars in Lithuania are descendants of the Turkic and Mongol tribes. Their ancestors were emigrants from the Golden Horde and the Crimean khanate. The Tatars do not have their own state now, but they were able to maintain their ethnic culture, national and religious identity. Most Lithuanian Tartars are Sunni Muslims. Their spiritual center-muftiat was restored in 1998 after the collapse of Soviet Union. Today Lithuanian Tartar mosques operates in Nemėžis, Keturiasdešimt Totorių village, Raižiai and Kaunas. Before the Second World War there were six mosques in Lithuania and three of them were destroyed.
Coming to Lithuania.
In the 14th century The Grand Duchy of Lithuania covered a large territory and the border in the east were near the Tartar lands. There was intense communication between the two nations. The first Tatars came to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as allies in the battles with the Crusaders in 1319–1320. Later the Grand Duke Vytautas The Great invited some families of Tatars to Lithuania. They were settled in Trakai, Vilnius and not far away for Alytus. It is believed that some hundreds of Tartar soldiers with their families and possessions came to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the end of the 14th century. Among those who came were a number of noble Tatars.
Lithuanian Tatars are well known for having their own military formations. Initially, they are called Flags, later - the Front Guard Regiments, which are considered to be the first Lithuanian border army. Throughout the centuries, the main activity of the Tatars was serving in the military and diplomatic service.
The Tatars formed personal guard of Vytautas and together with him took part in the famous Battle of Grunwald on July 15, 1410. Due to a special relationship with the Duke, they were exempt from taxes. For the good service they were rewarded with the land and manors. From the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century, up to 50 Tatars generals served in various Lithuanian armies.
Over time, the Lithuanian Tartars professions changed. At the beginning of the 20th century, doctors, scientists, artists and representatives of the liberal professions appeared among the Tartars. Some of them have become widely known in the world.
Maintaining loyalty to the country, which became their second homeland, Lithuanian Tatars participated in all the wars of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, without exception, in the uprisings of 1794, 1831 and 1864. They also took part in the Lithuanian wars of independence (1918-1920). Colonel Alexander (Suleiman) Chaleckis, a high Lithuanian Tartar officer, was one of the founders of the reborn Lithuanian army. During the interwar period, about a thousand Tatars lived in the Republic of Lithuania.
In Lithuania, they had two parishes with centers in Kaunas and Raižiai. In 1930, to commemorate the 520th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald, a new brick mosque was opened in Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania. Significant support for its construction was provided by the then Lithuanian Government.
In today's Lithuania.
Currently, about 3,000 Tatars live in the Republic of Lithuania. Today, most Lithuanian Tartars are concentrated in Alytus, Kaunas and Vilnius counties. Their influence on the life of the state is evidenced by Totorių Street in the center of Vilnius and the former suburb of Lukiškės in Vilnius.
In 1988, the Lithuanian Tatar Cultural Reviva l Society was established. Its aim was to coordinate the social life of the Tatars, to take care of the reconstruction of the house of prayer and to foster culture. Currently, there are about 20 Lithuanian Tatar public organizations (associations) operating in Lithuania.
In 1995, the newspaper "Lietuvos Totoriai" were started to published in Lithuanian, Russian and Polish languages. 
In 1996, the Union of Lithuanian Tartar Communities was founded. Its activities include fostering, getting to know and disseminating Lithuanian Tartar culture. The Union organizes events, maintains relations with state institutions, self-government institutions and related Lithuanian Tatar organizations in Poland and Belarus, the National Parliament of Crimean Tatar.
In 2009, the Vytautas the Great Monument Construction Foundation was established, which is engaged in the work of perpetuating historical memory and preserving heritage. There are several Lithuanian Tartar Sunday schools in Lithuania.
The restoration of Lithuanian Tartar folklore began in 1997 with the establishment of the first collective, "Alije".
In 2011 Lithuanian Tartar folklore ensemble "Ilsu" (Homeland) was founded in Vilnius and later the folklore group "Efsane" ("Legend") was created.  
Today Trakai History Museum has a permanent exposition dedicated to Lithuanian Tatars.
Culinary heritage.
Lithuanian Tatars have maintained their culinary tradition. Their most famous dish in Lithuania and abroad is a layered cake with poppy filling "Šimtalapis". Lithuanian Tartar dumplings with lamb and beef, pumpkin pie with meat (previously traditionally used goose), ceremonial round scones - jama, sweets halva are also widely known.