Tverai is a small town in
Rietavas municipality,
Lithuania. It is situated on
Aitra River, tributary to
Jūra, about 17 km east from
Rietavas and 14 km from
Varniai. Tverai, with population of about 700, is a capital of an
elderate.
Tverai is identified with Tviriment Castle, mentioned in 1251 by the
Hypatian Codex. The castle was the fortress where
Vykintas, Duke of
Samogitia and victorious leader of the
Battle of Saule, defended himself against
Mindaugas, crowned as
King of Lithuania in 1253, during a civil war for power in the early
Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Vykintas was defeated and Mindaugas became the undisputeded monarch.