Saint Vladimir University (1846–1849) Antanas Mackevičius (Polish: Antoni Mackiewicz; 26 June 1828 – 28 December 1863) was a Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest who was one of the leaders and initiators of the January Uprising in Lithuania.

[3] Mackevičius, dressed in the priest's Cassock coat himself, being bi-lingual,[4] commanded his troops in the Lithuanian[3][5] and Polish language.

[12] Couple of days before he was nominated a representative of the Lithuanian Provincial Committee [pl] (Komitet Prowincjonalny Litewski) of the Reds for Samogitia.

Father Mackevičius was gathering weapons, supported by Józef Mickiewicz, Bolesław Dłuski and peasant Adomas Bitė.

[13] Because of the lack of arms and money Lithuanian Provincial Committee decided to postpone the start of the uprising for a couple of weeks and to limit it to only Vilnius, Kaunas and Grodno governorates.

[13] The committee was soon transformed into the Administrative Department of the Provinces of Lithuania (Polish: Wydział Zarządzający Prowincjami Litwy), where the authorities were held by the Whites, headed by Jakub Gieysztor [pl].

[14] Mackevičius ordered the priests of Liauda and Samogitia to read the National Government's manifesto and its decrees.

[14] He called upon the people to rise up and restore independence, and promised to reorganize society by granting greater rights and land to peasants.

[19] The priests organised celebrations, sang Te Deum in the churches and read the rebel's manifesto from their pulpits about freeing the fatherland and giving land to the peasants.

[15] On March 27, the units led by Mackevičius fought against four Russian infantry companies and one cavalry squadron near Naujaberžė.

[3] On April 26, Mackevičius fought in the battle of Karsakiškis [lt], located in the forests of Karpis and Komaras, in the Panevėžys County.

[20] They joined forces and created a strong unit of about 1000 partisans,[20] which was on 16 May strengthened by Mamert Giedgowd' soldiers, near Paberžė.

Throughout summer and autumn of 1863, Mackevičius fought many battles against the Russian Army, e.g. near Tytuvėnai, Šilalė, Rietavas, Tverai, Šiluva, Krakės, Josvainiai and others.

In the next battle, at Buda on August 20, the Russians had a six-fold advantage over the 120 partisans and, despite fierce defence, forced them to retreat.

[23] On November 3 Mackevičius succeeded in breaking up a Russian detachment near Kėdainiai and captured a considerable amount of ammunition.

The troops that were still active gathered in the forests near Gaižuvėlė [lt]; besides Mackevičius, these were the parties of Aleksander Domaszewicz, Jurewicz and Jagiełłowicz.

[15][24] After the battle, Antanas Mackevičius announced his departure and his intention to go to France to acquire firearms and start fighting again in the spring of 1864.

[15] After Mackevičius was captured, he was transported and shown throughout the country by the occupying Russian authorities to convince Lithuanians that further resistance was pointless.

[3] By the direct order of Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky his interrogations were expedited and after only a week he was brought before the court which sentenced him to death.

[25] According to Jurgis Želvys, following the unsuccessful 1831 Uprising, Mackevičius, like most of the Lithuanian nobility, did not lose hope of restoring Lithuania's independence.

He goes on to say that the aim of the uprising was to force Russia to carry out reforms "or else cede Lithuania to Poland as one of its parts".

[25] On the other hand, he also says that the aim of the uprising was to give the Lithuanian people the opportunity to express themselves freely whether they would rather join Poland or Russia.

According to Darius Staliūnas, his statements could be a real testimony of deep separatism, but also a last attempt to improve the conditions of the Lithuanian people in the face of the defeat of the uprising ― a promise of loyalty in exchange for reforms.

[26] However, according to Timothy Snyder, although now seen as a "proto-Lithuanian nationalist", Mackevičius' goal was indeed to recreate the Grand Duchy - but "in a provisional association with Poland".

[27] Source of another type is a manuscript found in 2007 by a Lithuanian researcher Ieva Šenavičienė entitled: Ksiądz Mackiewicz jako postać dziejowa.

[28] The actual author of relation was identified by Šenavičienė as an officer named Rutkowski, a native of Kupiškis, who fought in Mackiewicz's unit and commanded infantry.

[29] Šenavičienė claims that the account faithfully reflects the thoughts of Mackevičius himself, more than his testimonies written after his imprisonment, facing the death penalty.

[30] In the manuscript Mackevičius' main goal is the rebirth of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which is explicitly referred to as "Poland" and its inhabitants, without distinction of ethnic origins, as "Poles".

[31] The author of the account criticises the nobility and the existing social relations, and sees the peasantry as the essence of the society.

[15] In the spring of 1864, there was a rumour that Mackevičius had reappeared in the Kaunas area with his troop, in the regions where he had previously been active, the situation was still unstable.