Prienai is a town in Lithuania situated on Neman River. In 2001 the town had 11,353 inhabitants. In historical documents Prienai is first mentioned in 1502 when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Aleksandras gave this land as a present to the noble Mykolas Glinskis . The Magdeburg rights granted in 1609 began a period of growth in Prienai that continued through the 17th and 18th century. During the years of occupation in World War II, Prienai lost many of its inhabitants. People emigrated or were expelled, while the nazis killed the Jews.