Lithuania proper (; , literally: "Genuine Lithuania"; , Lite) refers to a region which existed within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and where the Lithuanian language was spoken. The primary meaning is identical to the Duchy of Lithuania, a land around which the Grand Duchy of Lithuania evolved. The territory can be traced by Catholic Christian parishes established in pagan Baltic lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania subsequent to the Christianization of Lithuania in 1387. They were quite distinguishable, since Ruthenian parts of the Duchy were already baptised in an orthodox manner. The term in Latin was widely used during the Middle Ages and can be found in numerous historical [1]maps until World War I.