Kirumpää is a village in Võru Parish , Võru County , in southeastern Estonia .
86-435: A castle was built at this tactical position on a mound by Võhandu River , controlling an important road, sometime during the late 13th to early 14th century; it was first mentioned in written sources in 1322 when it is reported that it was pillaged by Gediminas , the famous Grand Duke of Lithuania . That structure would have been a simple, fortified manor house . It was later expanded in phases, eventually (circa 1500) housing
172-464: A Lithuanian state could be said to exist as early as 1183. However, the first conclusive evidence that the Balts were uniting is considered to be the treaty with Galicia–Volhynia signed in 1219. The treaty's signatories include 21 Lithuanian dukes ; it specifies that five of those were elder and thus took precedence over the remaining sixteen. Presumably, the eldest Duke was Živinbudas , since his name
258-405: A coup d'état . He was cremated as a part of a pagan ceremony in 1342, which included a human sacrifice , with his favourite servant and several German slaves being burned on the pyre with the corpse. He was succeeded by one of his sons, Jaunutis , who was unable to control the unrest in the country, as a result of which he was deposed in 1345 by his brother Algirdas . He was a founder of
344-592: A feudal system . As attested by many chronicles, it was the principal form of organization governing land ownership in the 13th century. Under this system, known in England as primogeniture , only the eldest son could inherit lands, which allowed dukes to consolidate their holdings. Social classes and divisions of labor also began taking shape. There were classes of experienced soldiers ( bajoras ), of free peasants ( laukininkas ), and of "unfree" people ( kaimynas and šeimynykštis ). In order to enforce this social structure,
430-543: A Bishop of Lithuania was appointed because of various conflicts of interest. The Bishop of Gniezno appointed Vito (Lithuanian: Vitas ), a monk of the Dominican Order , to this position, but he was not recognized by Mindaugas or accepted by the populace. The activities of Vito in Lithuania are unknown, although he is sometimes associated with Mindaugas' Cathedral. Finally, in 1254, Christian (Lithuanian: Kristijonas ) from
516-516: A chapel, round tower and a forecourt. During the early years of the Livonian War , the castle was damaged by Russian troops but reported in use again in 1627. During the end of the 17th century it seems however to have fallen into disrepair, and later used as a quarry for builders in nearby Võru . Today few visible ruins remain. Kirumpää is the birthplace of heavyweight weightlifter Kaljo Raag (1892–1967). This Võru County location article
602-458: A daughter to Svarn , the son of Daniel of Galicia , who would later become Grand Duke of Lithuania. Diplomatic relations with western Europe and the Holy See were also reinforced. In 1255, Mindaugas received permission from Pope Alexander IV to crown his son as King of Lithuania. In the domestic arena, Mindaugas strove to establish state institutions: his own noble court , administrative systems,
688-554: A description of the Gediminas' seal. On 18 July 1323 in Lübeck imperial scribe John of Bremen made a copy of three letters sent by Gediminas on 26 May to the recipients in Saxony, his transcripts contain also a detailed description of the oval waxy seal which was attached to the letter. According to the notary's transcript, the oval seal of Gediminas had a twelve corners edging, at the middle of
774-519: A diplomatic service, and a monetary system. Silver Lithuanian long currency (Lithuanian: Lietuvos ilgieji ) circulated, providing an indice of statehood. The Livonian Order used this period to consolidate their control over Samogitian lands. They built three castles along the border: Memelburg ( Klaipėda ), Georgenburg ( Jurbarkas ), and Doben ( Durbe in Latvia). The Samogitians responded by electing Algminas as their war leader, and attacked Courland , as
860-524: A favourable reply from the Holy See, Gediminas issued circular letters, dated 25 January 1323, to the principal Hanseatic towns, offering a free access into his domains to men of every order and profession from nobles and knights to tillers of the soil. The immigrants were to choose their own settlements and be governed by their own laws. Priests and monks were also invited to come and build churches at Vilnius and Navahrudak. In October 1323, representatives of
946-468: A monastery. Tautvilas recognized Mindaugas' superiority and received Polatsk as a fiefdom . As promised, Mindaugas and his wife Morta were crowned at some time during the summer of 1253, and the Kingdom of Lithuania , proclaimed by the pope in 1251, was soundly established. 6 July is now celebrated as "Statehood Day" (Lithuanian: Valstybės diena ); it is an official holiday in modern Lithuania. However,
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#17330936856691032-584: A new Lithuanian dynasty; the Gediminids , and laid the foundations of the state's expansion while sometimes referred as the "true" state founder. In 1862, the Millennium of Russia monument was unveiled in Veliky Novgorod with a sculpture for him on base. In modern historiography, he is also regarded as founder of Vilnius, the modern capital of Lithuania . According to a legend, possibly set in 1322 while he
1118-461: A pagan ruler's seal is explained as a diplomatic action because Gediminas did not accept baptism in his life and kept Lithuania pagan, despite several negotiations. In addition, Gediminas strictly distinguished Lithuania and Lithuanians from the region of Rus' ( Ruthenia ) and Rus' people ( Ruthenians ) in legal documents (e.g. in a 1338 Peace and Trade Agreement, concluded in Vilnius , between
1204-432: A perception of common interest, an indication of a nascent state. However, the designation of five Dukes as "elder" shows that the process of unification was still in transition. The inclusion of 21 Dukes indicates that the various lands in Lithuania were powerful and semi-independent. Historians consider the treaty an interesting documentation of the long and complex process of a state's formation. The progress of unification
1290-598: A powerful coalition with the Samogitians, the Livonian Order, Daniel of Galicia (Tautvilas and Edivydas' brother-in-law), and Vasilko of Volhynia in opposition to Mindaugas. Only Poles, invited by Daniel, declined to take part in the coalition against the Lithuanians. The dukes of Galicia and Volhynia managed to gain control over Black Ruthenia, an area ruled by Mindaugas' son Vaišvilkas. Tautvilas traveled to Riga, where he
1376-587: A strong and unified central power. Some evidence suggests that Lithuanians began combining their forces at the dawn of the 13th century. For example, in 1207, soldiers were recruited across Lithuania to fight the German religious orders , and in 1212, Daugirutis ' treaty with Novgorod shows that he exerted some degree of influence over a vast area. During the first twenty years of the 13th century, Lithuanians organized some thirty military expeditions to Livonia, Rus', and Poland. Historian Tomas Baranauskas argues that
1462-570: A united state was needed. Another force behind unification was the desire to take advantage of Ruthenian lands, which were suffering from the Mongol invasion . Temporary alliances among Lithuanian dukes often sufficed for military ventures into, and plundering of, these lands (including Pskov , plundered in 1213). Altogether, between 1201 and 1236, Lithuanians launched at least 22 incursions into Livonia , 14 into Rus , and 4 into Poland . The ongoing administration of conquered territories, however, required
1548-466: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gediminas Gediminas ( Latin : Gedeminne , Gedeminnus ; c. 1275 – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania 's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend ). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from the Baltic Sea to
1634-524: Is also widely celebrated in Belarus as an important figure of national history. In September 2019, a monument to Gediminas was unveiled in Lida . Gediminas' normal Latin style is as follows: Which translates as: In his letters to the papacy in 1322 and 1323, he adds Princeps et Dux Semigalliae (Prince and Duke of Semigallia ). In contemporary Low German he is styled simply Koningh van Lettowen , mirroring
1720-615: Is in part because the two main sources for Lithuanian history in the 13th century, the Hypatian Codex and the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle , end in the early 1290s. In 1285, one chronicle mentions Daumantas as Grand Duke. He attacked the Bishop of Tver and was severely wounded or even killed in the battle. However, that is the only information about him. The Gediminid dynasty began its ascent in Lithuania during this time with
1806-617: Is still unclear whether the letters sent to the Pope were an actual request for conversion or simply a diplomatic maneuver. Nevertheless, Gediminas began a new baptism campaign in 1340–41 to prevent the Teutonic Knights aggression. In addition from promoting paganism, the Jewish community of Lithuania prospered during his reign. "Gediminas, by the grace of God, the King of Lithuanians and Ruthenians ,
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#17330936856691892-580: The Archbishop of Riga in his own interests. He succeeded in bribing Andreas von Stierland, the master of the Order, who was still angry at Vykintas for the defeat in 1236. In 1251, Mindaugas agreed to receive baptism and relinquish control over some lands in western Lithuania, for which he was to receive a crown in return. In 1252, Tautvilas and his remaining allies attacked Mindaugas in Voruta , sometimes considered to be
1978-534: The Battle of Karuse , fought on ice near Saaremaa . However, in 1272 the Order retaliated, attacking Semigalia and building Dünaburg ( Daugavpils ) Castle in 1273 on lands nominally controlled by Traidenis. Several years later, in 1281, Traidenis conquered Jersika Castle in the present-day Preiļi District , and was able to exchange it for the Dünaburg Castle. Dünaburg remained a Lithuanian outpost until 1313. In 1279
2064-470: The Black Sea . The Gediminids dynasty he founded and which is named after him came to rule over Poland , Hungary and Bohemia . Gediminas was born in about 1275. Because written sources of the era are scarce, Gediminas' ancestry, early life, and assumption of the title of Grand Duke in ca. 1316 are obscure and continue to be the subject of scholarly debate. Various theories have claimed that Gediminas
2150-511: The Golden Horde , a great regional power at the time, while expanding Lithuania's border almost towards the Black Sea . He also secured an alliance with the nascent Grand Duchy of Moscow by marrying his daughter, Anastasia , to the grand duke Simeon . However, Gediminas offsetted the influence of Muscovy in northern Russia, and assisted the republic of Pskov , which acknowledged his overlordship, to break away from Great Novgorod . Gediminas
2236-748: The Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order , which desired to conquer them. Gediminas allied himself with the Tatars against the Teutonic Order in 1319. The systematic raiding of Lithuania by the knights under the pretext of converting it had long since united all the Lithuanian tribes . For this purpose, he entered into direct diplomatic negotiations with the Holy See . At the end of 1322, he sent letters to Pope John XXII soliciting his protection against
2322-628: The Teutonic Knights . In 1226, Konrad I of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to defend his borders and subdue the Prussians , offering the Knights the use of Chełmno (Kulm) as a base for their campaign. In 1230, they settled in Chełmno, built a castle, and began attacking Prussian lands. After 44 years, and despite two Prussian uprisings against them, they had conquered most of the Prussian tribes. Afterwards,
2408-641: The Yotvingians in 1283; the Livonian Order completed its conquest of Semigalia, the last Baltic ally of Lithuania, in 1291. The Orders could now turn their full attention to Lithuania. The "buffer zone" composed of other Baltic tribes had disappeared, and Lithuania was left to battle the Orders on its own. There is considerable uncertainty about the identities of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania between Traidenis' death in 1282 and Vytenis ' assumption of power in 1295. This
2494-511: The history of Lithuania is recorded in chronicles, treaties, and other written documents. In 1219, 21 Lithuanian dukes signed a peace treaty with Galicia–Volhynia . This event is widely accepted as the first proof that the Baltic tribes were uniting and consolidating. Despite continuous warfare with two Christian orders, the Livonian Order and the Teutonic Knights , the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
2580-482: The "buffer zone" created by Prussians, Nadruvians, Skalvians, Yotvingians, and Semigalians by 1283. The Lithuanian relationships with the Orthodox Church were more peaceful. The people were allowed to practise their religion; Lithuanian dukes did not hesitate to marry daughters of Orthodox dukes; at least some of the dukes' scribes must have been Orthodox as well. Struggles with the Teutonic Knights and expansion to
2666-424: The Bishop of Chełmno to crown Mindaugas as King of Lithuania, appoint a bishop for Lithuania, and to build a cathedral. The other bull specified that the new bishop was to be directly subordinate to the pope. This was a welcome development to the Lithuanians, since they were concerned that their long-standing antagonists, the Livonian Order, would exert too much control over the new state. It took some time before
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2752-692: The Grand Duke Gediminas and his sons and the Master of the Livonian Order Everhard von Monheim). In 1337, a Lithuanian banner is mentioned for the first time in Wigand of Marburg 's chronicles, who wrote that during the battle at Bayernburg Castle (near Veliuona , Lithuania) Tilman Zumpach, head of the Teutonic riflemen , burned the Lithuanian banner with a flaming lance and then mortally wounded
2838-453: The King of Trakai , however, he didn't describe its appearance. It is uncertain how many wives Gediminas had. The Bychowiec Chronicle mentions three wives: Vida from Courland ; Olga from Smolensk ; and Jaunė from Polotsk , who was Eastern Orthodox and died in 1344 or 1345. Most modern historians and reference works say Gediminas' wife was Jewna, dismissing Vida and Olga as fictitious, since no sources other than this chronicle mention
2924-479: The Knights spent nine years conquering the Nadruvians , Skalvians , and Yotvingians , and from 1283, they were better positioned to threaten the young Lithuanian state from the west. Further unification of the Lithuanian tribes was facilitated by the social changes that took place in Lithuania during this period. Private land ownership was established ( allodiums , Lithuanian: atolai ), which would later evolve into
3010-590: The Latin Rex Lethowyae (both meaning "King of Lithuania"). Gediminas' right to use the Latin rex , which the papacy had been claiming the right to grant from the 13th century onwards, was not universally recognized in Catholic sources. Thus, he was called rex sive dux ("King or Duke") in one source; Pope John XXII , in a letter to the King of France, referred to Gediminas as "the one who calls himself rex ". However,
3096-645: The Lithuanian Chronicles, which also appeared long after Gediminas' death, proclaimed that Gediminas was Vytenis' son. However, the two men were almost the same age, making this relationship unlikely. Recent research indicates that Gediminias' ancestor may have been Skalmantas . In 1974 historian Jerzy Ochmański noted that Zadonshchina , a poem from the end of the 14th century, contains a line in which two sons of Algirdas name their ancestors: "We are two brothers – sons of Algirdas, and grandsons of Gediminas, and great-grandsons of Skalmantas." This discovery led to
3182-507: The Livonian Order and, without support from Lithuania, the rebellions among the Balts that had been fueled by Treniota began to subside. In 1267 he returned to a monastic life and transferred the Grand Duchy to Švarnas. Little is known about Švarnas and his rule, but historians believe he was unable to take control of all Lithuania, and ruled only over its southern portions. He died in 1269 or 1271 in Galicia . The circumstances surrounding
3268-494: The Livonian Order was appointed. Mindaugas endowed him with some lands in Samogitia, but not much is known about his activities. Historical sources do not mention any sponsorship of missionaries, education of priests, or construction of churches during that time, and Bishop Christian went back to Germany in 1259, where he died in 1271. The establishment of Mindaugas' Cathedral remains problematic, but recent archeological research found
3354-472: The Livonian Order ;– portions of Samogitia , Nadruva , and Dainava . There is some discussion as to whether in later years (1255, 1257, 1259, 1261) Mindaugas gave even more lands to the Order. The deeds might have been falsified by the Order; the case for this scenario is bolstered by the fact that some of the documents mention lands that were not actually under the control of Mindaugas. Whatever
3440-407: The Order attacked Lithuanian lands, reaching as far as Kernavė , but on their way back they suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Aizkraukle . The Order's master, Ernst von Rassburg, died in the battle, and the conquered Semigallians rebelled. The Semigallians were now willing to acknowledge Lithuania's superiority and asked Traidenis for assistance. However, Traidenis died soon afterwards, and
3526-456: The Order had limited battlefield successes. In 1259, the Livonian Order lost the Battle of Skuodas , and in 1260, it lost the Battle of Durbe . The first loss encouraged a rebellion by the Semigalians , and the later loss spurred the Prussians into an uprising against the Order. The Great Prussian Uprising lasted for 14 years. Encouraged by Treniota , his nephew, Mindaugas broke peace with
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3612-425: The Order. Some chronicles hint that he also returned to his former pagan beliefs , but this is disputable. Nevertheless, all the diplomatic achievements made since his coronation were lost. Mindaugas then formed an alliance with Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod and marched against the Order. Treniota led an army to Cēsis and battled Masovia , hoping to encourage all the conquered Baltic tribes to rise up against
3698-467: The Orders and unite under Lithuanian leadership. He waged successful battles, but did not manage to capture the fortified castles or spark a coalition of Baltic forces against the Order. His personal influence grew because Mindaugas was concentrating on the conquest of Rus' lands, dispatching a large army to Bryansk . Treniota and Mindaugas began to pursue different priorities. In the midst of these events, Mindaugas' wife Morta died, and Mindaugas expressed
3784-624: The Samogitian forces to victory in the Battle of Saule , where the Livonian Order suffered a catastrophic defeat. It seems that Vykintas did not receive support from Mindaugas. Vykintas' personal power grew. The Livonian Order was on the brink of collapse and was forced to become a branch of the Teutonic Knights. The combined Orders focused on the conquest of Samogitia , since only this land prevented them from consolidating their territories. The union of these aggressive powers could not have passed without notice in Lithuanian lands, and might have furthered
3870-549: The Teutonic Order by granting a favourable status to Catholics living within his realm and feigning a personal interest in the Christian religion. While he allowed Catholic clergy to enter his realm for the purpose of ministering to his Catholic subjects and to temporary residents, he savagely punished any attempt to convert pagan Lithuanians or to insult their native religion. Thus in about 1339–1340 he executed two Franciscan friars from Bohemia , Ulrich and Martin, who had gone beyond
3956-406: The advance to power in 1269 of the next ruler, Traidenis , are not clear. From the outset his relationships with Galicia–Volhynia were tense and eventually resulted in the 1274–1276 war. Traidenis was successful in battle, and his control over Black Ruthenia was strengthened. Traidenis, known for his strong anti-German attitude, was also successful in fighting with the Livonian Order. In 1270 he won
4042-512: The archbishop of Riga , the bishop of Dorpat , the king of Denmark, the Dominican and Franciscan orders, and the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order assembled at Vilnius, when Gediminas confirmed his promises and undertook to be baptised as soon as the papal legates arrived. A compact was then signed at Vilnius, in the name of the whole Christian World, between Gediminas and the delegates, confirming
4128-628: The authority granted them and had publicly preached against the Lithuanian religion . Gediminas ordered them to renounce Christianity, and had them killed when they refused. Five more friars were executed in 1369 for the same offence. Despite Gediminas' chief goal to save Lithuania from German attacks, he still died as a pagan reigning over semi-pagan lands. Also, he was equally bound to his pagan kinsmen in Samogitia, to his Orthodox subjects in Belarus , and to his Catholic allies in Masovia . Therefore, it
4214-706: The belief that Skalmantas was the long-sought ancestor of the Gediminids. Ochmański posited that the poem skipped the generation represented by Butvydas, and jumped back to the unknown ancestor. Baranauskas disagrees, believing Skalmantas was Butvydas' brother rather than his father, and that Vytenis and Gediminas were therefore cousins. Gediminas became the Grand Duke in 1316 at the age of 40 and ruled for 25 years. Gediminas inherited land consisting of Lithuania proper , Samogitia , Navahrudak , Podlasie , Polotsk and Minsk . However, these possessions were all threatened by
4300-571: The case, relative peace and stability was established for about eight more years. Mindaugas used this opportunity to concentrate on expansion to the east. He strengthened his influence in Black Ruthenia , in Pinsk , and took advantage of the collapsed Kievan Rus' by conquering Polatsk , a major center of commerce in the Daugava River basin. He also negotiated a peace with Galicia–Volhynia, and married
4386-476: The censures of the church, the Order resumed the war with Gediminas by murdering one of his delegates sent to welcome the Grand Master for his arrival to Riga in 1325. He had in the meantime improved his position by an alliance with Wladislaus Lokietek , king of Poland, and had his daughter Aldona baptized for the sake of betrothing her to Władysław's son Casimir III . Baptizing himself would have implications for Gediminas domestically; it would have offended
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#17330936856694472-541: The date of every salient event exceedingly doubtful. One of his most important territorial accretions, the principality of Halych-Volynia , was obtained by the marriage of his son Lubart with the daughter of the Galician prince. From about 23 km (14 mi) south west of Kiev, Gediminas defeated Stanislav of Kiev and his allies in the Battle on the Irpin River . He then besieged and conquered Kiev sending Stanislav,
4558-518: The edging was an image of a man with long hairs, who sat on a throne and held a crown (or a wreath ) in his right hand and a sceptre in his left hand, moreover, a cross was engraved around the man along with a Latin inscription: S DEI GRACIA GEDEMINNI LETHWINOR ET RUTKENOR REG (English: Gediminas', by the grace of God, the King of the Lithuanians and the Rus' people , seal ). The cross' usage in
4644-455: The emergence of its first leader, Butigeidis . In 1289, leading about 8,000 troops, he attacked Sambia . In 1289 the Teutonic Knights built a castle in present-day Sovetsk (Tilsit) and their raids intensified. Butigeidis was the first to build strong castles along the Neman River . He died in 1290 or 1292, and his brother Butvydas (also known as Pukuveras) inherited the crown. Butvydas was
4730-508: The exact date of the coronation is not known; the scholarship of historian Edvardas Gudavičius , who promulgated this date, is sometimes challenged. The location of the coronation also remains unknown. Pope Innocent IV supported Mindaugas, hoping that a new Christian state could stem the inroads being made by the Golden Horde , a state of the Mongol Empire . On 17 July 1251, the pope signed two crucial papal bulls . One of them ordered
4816-453: The father of Vytenis and probably of Gediminas . During his short reign Butvydas tried to defend the duchy against the Teutonic Knights; he also attacked Masovia , an ally of the knights. His son, Vytenis, advanced to power in 1295 and ended the period of relative instability. His reign marks the transition from the state's establishment to the point at which it was poised for expansion. The state united and ruled by Mindaugas constituted
4902-546: The first Lithuanian state. The state effectively protected Lithuanians and Samogitians from assimilation induced by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order, the destiny of Prussians , Skalvians , Curonians , Selonians and other Baltic tribes. Mindaugas ruled about 100,000 km (39,000 sq mi) of Lithuanian ethnic territory, an area with an estimated population of 300,000. The Slavic lands under his control and influence occupied another 100,000 km (39,000 sq mi). By about 1430, at its peak during
4988-578: The first capital of Lithuania. The attack failed and Tautvilas' forces retreated to defend themselves in Tverai Castle, in the present-day Rietavas municipality . Vykintas died in or about 1253, and Tautvilas was forced to rejoin Daniel of Galicia. Daniel reconciled with Mindaugas in 1254; the Black Ruthenian lands were transferred to Roman, the son of Daniel. Vaišvilkas, the son of Mindaugas, decided to join
5074-474: The first-born son of Gediminas and a second wife. He is said to have left seven sons and six daughters including: History of Lithuania (1219-1295) The history of Lithuania between 1219 and 1295 concerns the establishment and early history of the first Lithuanian state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . The beginning of the 13th century marks the end of the prehistory of Lithuania . From this point on
5160-455: The land. After Mindaugas' death, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania entered times of relative instability, as reflected by the fact that seven Grand Dukes held the title over the course of the next 32 years. Little is known about this period, but the Gediminid dynasty was founded in about 1280. Despite the instability, the Grand Duchy did not disintegrate. Vytenis assumed power in 1295, and during
5246-660: The last descendant of the Rurik Dynasty to ever rule Kiev, into exile first in Bryansk and then in Ryazan . Theodor , brother of Gediminas, and Algimantas, son of Mindaugas from the Olshanski family , were installed in Kiev. After these conquests, Lithuania stretched very close to the Black Sea . While exploiting Ruthenian weakness in the wake of the Mongol invasion , Gediminas avoided war with
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#17330936856695332-553: The next 20 years laid solid foundations for the Duchy to expand and grow under the leadership of Gediminas and his son Algirdas . While the Grand Duchy was established between 1219 and 1295, the years after 1295 marked its expansion. The Balts were largely driven to unite by external threats from aggressive German religious orders. In 1202, the Order of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword
5418-520: The other two wives. Some arguments state that Gediminas had two wives, one pagan and another Orthodox. This case is supported only by the Jüngere Hochmeisterchronik , a late 15th-century chronicle, mentioning Narimantas as half-brother to Algirdas. Other historians support this claim by arguing this would explain Gediminas' otherwise mysterious designation of a middle son, Jaunutis, as his succession would be understandable if Jaunutis were
5504-540: The pagan Lithuanians accused him of abandoning the ancient gods. Gediminas disentangled himself from his difficulties by repudiating his former promises; by refusing to receive the papal legates who arrived at Riga in September 1323, and by dismissing the Franciscans from his territories. This led Gediminas to maintain paganism in Lithuania, even if more than twice as many Orthodox Christians lived in his realm than pagans. At
5590-455: The persecution of the knights, informing him of the privileges already granted to the Dominicans and Franciscans in Lithuania for preaching Christianity. Gediminas also asked that legates should be dispatched to him in order to be baptized. This action was supported by the Archbishop of Riga , Frederic Lobestat. Following these events, peace between the Duchy and the Livonian Order was eventually conducted on 2 October 1323. On receiving
5676-413: The pope did call Gediminas rex when addressing him ( regem sive ducem , "king or duke"). German sources also titled Gediminas as Rex de Owsteiten (English: King of Aukštaitija ). Grand Duke Gediminas's authentic symbols did not survive to this day. In 1323 Gediminas sent seven letters to various recipients in western Europe. Their contents are known only from later copies, some of which contain
5762-403: The promised privileges. On his raid upon Dobrzyń , the latest acquisition of the knights on Polish soil, gave them a ready weapon against him. The Prussian bishops, who were devoted to the knights, questioned the authority of Gediminas' letters and denounced him as an enemy of the faith at a synod in Elbing ; his Orthodox subjects reproached him with leaning towards the Latin heresy, while
5848-440: The rebellion was not successful. Traidenis' reign was the longest and most stable regime during the period of unrest. After his death the Orders finalized their conquests: the conquered Baltic tribes did not rebel again and the Orders could now concentrate on Lithuania. In 1274 the Great Prussian Rebellion ended, and the Teutonic Knights proceeded to conquer other Baltic tribes: the Nadruvians and Skalvians in 1274–1277, and
5934-426: The reign of Vytautas the Great , the Grand Duchy controlled some 930,000 km (360,000 sq mi) and almost 2.5 million people. The period from 1219 to 1295 also shaped future conflicts: the pagan Lithuanians were surrounded by the aggressive Roman Catholic Orders to its north and southwest, and by adherents of the Orthodox Church in the east. The Catholic Orders' raids intensified after they overcame
6020-449: The remains of a 13th-century brick building on the site of the present-day Vilnius Cathedral . The general assumption is that the remains are those of Mindaugas Cathedral, built to satisfy the agreement with the pope. However, as later events showed, Lithuanians resisted Christianization, and Mindaugas' baptism had only a temporary impact on further developments. Immediately after his coronation, Mindaugas transferred some western lands to
6106-466: The ruler and duke of Semigallia ." While on his guard against his northern foes, Gediminas from 1316 to 1340 was aggrandizing himself at the expense of the numerous Ruthenian principalities in the south and east. Gediminas conquered a long series of cities across Belarus and northern Ukraine as well, but the various stages of these battles are impossible to follow. Especially from 1325 to 1340, sources about Eastern campaigns being few and conflicting, and
6192-429: The same time Gediminas privately informed the papal legates at Riga through his ambassadors that his difficult position compelled him to postpone his steadfast resolve of being baptised, and the legates showed their confidence in him by forbidding the neighbouring states to war against Lithuania for the next four years, besides ratifying the treaty made between Gediminas and the archbishop of Riga. Nevertheless, disregarding
6278-465: The staunchly pagan inhabitants of the major Lithuanian regions of Žemaitija and Aukštaitija . In addition, these heartland pagans together with the Orthodox Rus' threatened Gediminas with death if he decided to convert; a similar scenario also happened to Mindaugas , which he desperately wanted to avoid. His strategy was to gain the support of the Pope and other Catholic powers in his conflict with
6364-529: The unification process. In about 1239 Mindaugas took over the weakened Black Ruthenia and appointed his son Vaišvilkas to govern it. During the early 1240s, Mindaugas strengthened and established his power in various Baltic lands. In 1245, Mindaugas sent his nephews Tautvilas and Edivydas , the sons of Dausprungas and Vykintas, to conquer Smolensk , but they were unsuccessful. In 1249, an internal war erupted as Mindaugas sought to seize his nephews' and Vykintas' lands. Tautvilas, Edivydas, and Vykintas formed
6450-446: The wish to marry Daumantas ' wife. Daumantas and Treniota responded to this insult by assassinating Mindaugas and two of his sons, Ruklys and Rupeikis, in 1263. Lithuania lapsed into years of internal instability. After Mindaugas' death, the state did not disintegrate and Treniota took over the title of Grand Duke. However, his power was fragile; he was challenged by Tautvilas, who had not forgotten his own claims to power. Tautvilas
6536-407: Was also assassinated by Treniota. However, just a year later, in 1264, Treniota was killed by Mindaugas' former servants. Mindaugas' son Vaišvilkas and brother-in-law Švarnas from Volhynia took over the control in Lithuania. Daumantas was forced to flee to Pskov , was baptized Timofei, ruled successfully from 1266 to 1299 and even became a saint. In 1265 Vaišvilkas, as a Christian, reconciled with
6622-461: Was baptized by the Archbishop. In 1250, the Order organized two major raids, one against Nalša land and the other against the domains of Mindaugas and those parts of Samogitia that still supported him. Attacked from the north and south and facing the possibility of unrest elsewhere, Mindaugas was placed in an extremely difficult position, but managed to use the conflicts between the Livonian Order and
6708-490: Was baptized in 1251, and was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253. In 1261, he broke the peace with the Livonian Order, perhaps even renouncing Christianity. His assassination in 1263 by Treniota ended the early Christian kingdom in Lithuania. For another 120 years Lithuania would remain a pagan empire, fighting against the Teutonic and Livonian Orders during the Northern Crusades during their attempts to Christianize
6794-438: Was either his predecessor Grand Duke Vytenis ' son, his brother, his cousin, or his hostler . For several centuries only two versions of his origins circulated. Chronicles — written long after Gediminas' death by the Teutonic Knights, a long-standing enemy of Lithuania — claimed that Gediminas was a hostler to Vytenis; according to these chronicles, Gediminas killed his master and assumed the throne. Another version introduced in
6880-655: Was established and gained some control over the lands of Black Ruthenia , Polatsk , Minsk , and other territories east of modern-day Lithuania that had become weak and vulnerable after the collapse of Kievan Rus' . The first ruler to hold the title of Grand Duke was Mindaugas . Traditionally he is considered the founder of the state, the one who united the Baltic tribes and established the Duchy. Some scholars, however, challenge this perception, arguing that an organized state existed before Mindaugas, possibly as early as 1183. After quelling an internal war with his nephews, Mindaugas
6966-643: Was established by Albert , the Bishop of Riga , to promote the Christianization and conquest of the Livonians , Curonians , Semigallians , and Estonians near the Gulf of Riga . The Order waged a number of successful campaigns and posed a great danger to the Lithuanian territories. The Order's progress was halted by its defeat at the Battle of Saule in 1236, after which it almost collapsed. The following year, it merged into
7052-502: Was known for protecting Catholics and Orthodox people in addition to pagans, and he is known for improving the efficiency of the Lithuanian Army. Also, he is known for building a chain of fortresses as well as numerous castles in towns including Vilnius . At first he moved the capital to the newly built town of Trakai , but in c. 1320 re-established a permanent capital in Vilnius . Gediminas died in 1341, presumably killed during
7138-602: Was mentioned first. Mindaugas, despite his youth, and his brother Dausprungas , are listed among the elder dukes. That would imply that they inherited their titles. The remaining two elder dukes were Daujotas (mentioned second) and his brother Vilikaila (mentioned last of the five). The treaty is important for several reasons. It shows that the Lithuanian Dukes were co-operating; the signatories include Dukes who ruled lands such as Samogitia , which probably had no contact with Galicia–Volhynia. Their participation implies
7224-400: Was on a hunting trip, he dreamt of an iron clad wolf , who stood on a hill, howling in an odd manner as if thousand of wolves would be howling at once. He consulted his vision with his priest Lizdeika who told him the dream spoke of a city that must be built at the exact place and decided to build a fortification on the confluence of rivers Vilnia and Neris , where the place of his vision
7310-449: Was pointed out. This event inspired the Romantic movement , particularly Adam Mickiewicz , who gave the story a poetic form. Gediminas is depicted on a silver Litas commemorative coin, issued in 1996. The Lithuanian folk music group Kūlgrinda released an album in 2009 titled Giesmės Valdovui Gediminui , meaning "Hymns to Ruler Gediminas". Gediminas (as Hiedymin or Gedymin )
7396-629: Was uneven; for example, after the deaths of Dukes Daugirutis in 1213 and Stekšys in 1214, fewer raids were organized by Lithuanians. Mindaugas , the duke who governed southern Lithuania between the Neman and Neris Rivers, eventually became the founder of the state. Mindaugas is referred to as the ruler of all Lithuania in the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle in 1236. The means by which he managed to acquire this title are not well known. Rus' chronicles mention that he murdered or expelled various other dukes, including his relatives. In 1236, Duke Vykintas led
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