IAULIAI

German Schaulen, city, Lithuania. The city, dating from at least the 13th century, may be identical with the "Saule" where a major military confrontation in 1236 between the Lithuanians and the Brothers of the Sword precipitated the merger of the latter order with the Teutonic Knights. iauliai was a textile centre in the 18th century, and a leather industry was introduced in the 19th century. Though badly damaged in World Wars I and II, iauliai reemerged as an industrial centre. In addition to the leather and footwear industry, the city has metalworking, precision-engineering, food-processing, and furniture industries. Teacher-training and polytechnic institutes and a medical school are located in the city. Pop. (1989 prelim.) 145,000.