Silvestras Teofilis Valiūnas

Silvestras Teofilis Valiūnas (; 11 July 1789 – 1831) was a Lithuanian poet. He is best known as the author of poem ''Birutė'' which became a popular Lithuanian folk song.

Born to a family of peasants, Valiūnas was educated as a Catholic priest at the Supreme Theological Seminary of Vilnius University where education was free. In 1812, he graduated with a master's in theology, but instead of joining the clergy he joined the 3rd Light Cavalry Lancers Regiment of the Imperial Guard in support of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. He then returned to Samogitia where he socialized with the nobility, particularly with the (Billewicz). In 1831, he was mobilized to serve in the November Uprising. He died later that year under unknown circumstances.

Valiūnas wrote poetry in Lithuanian and Polish. His most important Lithuanian works are the poem ''Birutė'' (published in 1828) and verse letter to Dionizas Poška (published in 1850). ''Birutė'' is based on the legend recorded in the Lithuanian Chronicles about the marriage between Birutė (a pagan priestess according to the legend) and Grand Duke Kęstutis. It was written like a Lithuanian folk song and became very popular, with more than 200 known variations. The verse letter discussed the Lithuanian dictionary that Poška started compiling as well as the issue of standardizing the Lithuanian language. It is valued as an important document of the early Lithuanian National Revival. In Polish, Valiūnas wrote several satirical poems about a partying and drunken group of local officials and nobles. Later, he wrote four poems expressing his disillusionment with the society. His is considered one of the first poets of Romanticism in Lithuania. Provided by Wikipedia