Republic of Central Lithuania

Republic of Central Lithuania
Republika Litwy Środkowej (Polish) Vidurio Lietuvos Respublika (Lithuanian) Рэспубліка Сярэдняе Літвы (Belarusian)
Puppet state of the Second Polish Republic
1920–1922
Flag Coat of arms
Territory of the Republic of Central Lithuania (green).
Capital		Vilna (Wilno, Vilnius)
Government		Republic
President		Lucjan Żeligowski
Historical era		Interwar period
•	Żeligowski's Mutiny	October 12, 1920
•	General election	March 24, 1922
Preceded by Succeeded by Lithuania Second Polish Republic Second Polish Republic
Today part of		Lithuania  Belarus

Coordinates: 54°30′N 25°45′E / 54.500°N 25.750°E / 54.500; 25.750

The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania (Polish: Republika Litwy Środkowej, Lithuanian: Vidurio Lietuvos Respublika, Belarusian: Рэспубліка Сярэдняе Літвы / Respublika Siaredniaje Litvy), or Central Lithuania (Polish: Litwa Środkowa, Lithuanian: Vidurio Lietuva or Vidurinė Lietuva, Belarusian: Сярэдняя Літва / Siaredniaja Litva), was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition. The republic was created in 1920 following the staged rebellion of soldiers of the 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Infantry Division of the Polish Army under Lucjan Żeligowski, supported by the Polish air force, cavalry and artillery. Centered on the historical capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilna (Lithuanian: Vilnius, Polish: Wilno), for eighteen months the entity served as a buffer state between Poland, upon which it depended, and Lithuania, which claimed the area. After a variety of delays, a disputed election took place on January 8, 1922, and the territory was annexed to Poland.