Vytautas the Great 599923 224507715 2008-07-09T04:18:53Z Renata3 320236 /* 1377–1384 */ main [[Image:Vytautas the great.jpg|thumb|181 px|Vytautas the Great, 17th century painting]] [[Image:Trakai-Troki.jpg|thumb|right|181 px|[[Trakai Island Castle]]]] [[Image:Vytautas monument in Old Trakai.jpg|thumb|181 px|A statue in Vytautas' birthplace]] '''Vytautas the Great''' ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]: ''{{audio|Vytautas Didysis.ogg|Vytautas Didysis}}''; {{lang-be|''Vitaŭt''}}; [[Latin]]: ''Alexander Vitoldus''; {{lang-pl|Witold}}; [[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]]: ''Vitovt''; c. 1350 &ndash; [[October 27]] [[1430]]), was one of the most famous rulers of [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|medieval Lithuania]]. With the title ''Didysis [[Kunigaikštis]]'', the equivalent of [[Monarch|king]], he was the supreme ruler of his dominions and also a member of the [[Order of the Dragon]]. Vytautas was the ruler (1401&ndash;1430) of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] which chiefly encompassed the [[Lithuanians]] and [[Ruthenians]]. He was also the Prince of [[Hrodna]] (1370&ndash;1382) and the Prince of [[Lutsk]] (1387&ndash;1389), postulated king of [[Hussites]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Turnbull | first = Stephen | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Hussite Wars 1419-36 | publisher = Ospreypublishing | date = 2004 | location = | pages = p.11 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1841766658 }}</ref> In modern [[Lithuania]], Vytautas is revered as a [[national hero]] and was an important figure in the [[Lithuanian National Revival|national rebirth]] in the early 20th century. ''Vytautas'' is a popular male given [[Lithuanian name|name in Lithuania]]. [[Vytautas Magnus University]] was named after him. Monuments in his honor were built in many towns in the independent [[Republic of Lithuania]] during the [[History of Lithuania #Independent interwar Lithuania (1918–1940)|interwar period, 1918-1939]]. ==Struggle for power== ===Early life=== Born in 1350 in the [[Old Trakai Castle|castle]] of present-day [[Senieji Trakai]] ("Old Trakai"), Vytautas was the son of [[Kęstutis]] with his second wife [[Birutė]], cousin of [[Jogaila]], who became King of Poland as Władysław II, and grandfather of [[Vasili II of Russia]]. ===1377–1384=== {{main|Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)}} [[Image:Ukraine Lutsk.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Lutsk]] castle]] Vytautas' father, [[Kęstutis]], and his uncle [[Algirdas]], were brothers and did not compete for power. Algirdas was the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]], and Kęstutis was primarily responsible for defense against the [[Teutonic Knights]]. However, after Algirdas' death in 1377, his son [[Jogaila]], became Grand Duke. The harmonious relationship of his father and uncle ended, and a struggle for power between them ensued. In 1380, Jogaila signed the secret [[Treaty of Dovydiškės]] with the Teutonic Knights against Kęstutis. When Kęstutis discovered this in the following year, he seized [[Vilnius]], imprisoned Jogaila, and made himself Grand Duke. However, Jogaila managed to escape and raised an army against Kęstutis, and his son Vytautas. The two opposing sides confronted each other but never engaged in battle. Kęstutis was ready to negotiate, but he and Vytautas were arrested and transported to [[Kreva]] castle. One week later, Kęstutis was found dead. Whether he died of natural causes or was murdered is still a matter of debate amongst historians. [[Image:Wojciech-Gerson-Kiejstut i Witold.jpg|thumb|240px|left|Vytautas and Kęstutis imprisoned by Jogaila. Painting by [[Wojciech Gerson]]]] In 1382, Vytautas was able to escape from Kreva. The story of his escape is well-known. Vytautas' wife Anna was allowed to visit him in the castle. During one of these visits, Vytautas dressed in the clothes of one of Anna's female servants. After the escape, he sought help from the [[Teutonic Knights]]. At the time Jogaila was negotiating with the Teutonic Order. They formulated the [[Treaty of Dubysa]], by which Jogaila promised to accept Christianity, become an ally of the Order, and give the Order some territory of [[Samogitia]] up to the [[Dubysa River]]. However, the treaty was never ratified. In summer 1383, the war between Jogaila and the Order started up again. Vytautas was baptized in the [[Catholic]] rite, receiving the name of Wigand (Lithuanian: ''Vygandas''). Later, however, he drifted away from Christianity and back towards [[paganism]]. Vytautas participated in several raids against Jogaila. In January 1384, Vytautas again promised to cede part of Samogitia, to the Teutonic Order, up to the [[Nevėžis River]] in return for the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania. However, in July of the same year, Vytautas decided to abandon the Teutonic Knights and reconciled with Jogaila. He then proceeded to burn three important Teutonic castles, and he redeemed all Kęstutis' lands, except for [[Trakai]]. ===1389–1392=== [[Image:Vitovt_grav_xvi.jpg|thumb|Vytautas the Great, as depicted on an engraving of the 16th century]] {{main|Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)}} Vytautas participated in the signing of [[Union of Kreva]] with [[Poland]] in 1385 and he was re-baptized in 1386 in the [[Catholic]] rite, receiving the name Alexander. This treaty provided for the marriage of Jogaila to [[Jadwiga of Poland]], and for him to become the King of Poland. He left his brother [[Skirgaila]] as a [[regent]] of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, he was unpopular with the people and Vytautas saw an opportunity to become the Grand Duke again. In 1389 he started a war and attacked [[Vilnius]] but failed. Vytautas was forced to ask the Teutonic Knights for help for the second time in the beginning of 1390. Vytautas had to promise to keep the original agreement of 1384, and turn over [[Samogitia]] to the Order. His army now attacked Lithuanian lands. To further advance his influence, Vytautas married his only daughter [[Sophia of Lithuania|Sophia]] to [[Vasili I of Russia]] in 1391. The Polish nobility was unhappy that Jogaila, their new king, now Władysław II Jagiełło, spent too much time on the affairs of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was clear that the war could continue for years and would not bring any benefit to the country. In 1392, Wladyslaw II Jagiełło's envoy, [[Henry of Masovia]], offered Vytautas to become his regent instead of Skirgaila. Vytautas accepted and once again burned three Teutonic castles and returned to Vilnius. Jagiełło and Vytautas signed the [[Astrava Treaty]] in which Vytautas redeemed all Kęstutis' lands, including Trakai, and was given more. He could rule Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the name of Wladyslaw II Jagiełło. After Vytautas death all lands and powers were to be returned to the King of Poland. ==Grand Duke of Lithuania== [[Image:Edict of Vytautas the Great. Issued 1410- 02-16 .jpg|thumb|left|200px|Vytautas the Great privilege to [[Vilnius Cathedral]]. Issued in [[Vilnius]] 1410-02-16. [[Latin language]].]] ===Policy towards the East=== Vytautas continued [[Algirdas]]' vision to control as many [[Muscovy]] lands as possible. Many lands were already under the Grand Duke's rule, but the rest were controlled by the [[Golden Horde|Mongols]]. [[Tokhtamysh]], [[Khan (title)|Khan]] of the [[Golden Horde]], sought Vytautas' help when he was removed from the throne in 1395 after his defeat by [[Timur]]. An agreement was reached that Vytautas would help Tokhtamysh to regain power, and the Horde would cede more lands to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in return. In 1398, Vytautas' army attacked a part of the [[Crimea]] and built a castle there. Now Lithuania spanned from the [[Baltic Sea]] to the [[Black Sea]]. A number of [[tatars|Tatar]] captives were brought to the [[ethnic]] Lithuania. [[Image:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.png|thumb|right|150px|[[Columns of Gediminids]], a sign of Vytautas and his state]] Inspired by this successful campaign, Vytautas and Wladyslaw II Jagiełło won support from [[Pope]] [[Boniface IX]] for organizing a [[crusade]] against the Mongols. This political move also demonstrated that Grand Duchy of Lithuania had fully accepted Christianity and was defending the faith on its own, and that the [[Teutonic Knights]] had no further basis for attacks against Lithuania. The campaign resulted in total defeat at the [[Battle of the Vorskla River]] in 1399. Over twenty princes, including two brothers of Wladyslaw II Jagiełło, were killed, and Vytautas himself barely escaped alive. This came as a shock to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland. A number of territories revolted against Vytautas, and [[Smolensk]] was retaken by its hereditary ruler, [[George of Smolensk]] and not re-conquered by Lithuanians until 1404. Vytautas waged a war in 1406-1408 against his son-in-law [[Vasili I of Moscow]] and [[Švitrigaila]], a brother of Jogaila who with the support of the Teutonic Order had declared himself grand prince. A major stand-off between the two armies ended without a battle in the Treaty of [[Ugra River (Oka)|Ugra]], by which [[Velikiy Novgorod]] was granted to Jogaila's brother [[Simeon Lingwen]], and the important city of [[Pskov]] to Jogaila's envoy [[Jerzy Nos]], the latter settlement a clear violation of the treaty of Raciąż.<ref name="Jasienica">{{pl icon}} {{cite book | author =[[Paweł Jasienica]] | title =Polska Jagiellonów | year =1988 | chapter =Władysław Jagiełło | publisher =Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy | location =Warsaw | id =ISBN 83-06-01796-X }}</ref><ref name="Wołowska">{{pl icon}} {{cite book | author =Tekla Wołowska | title =Historya Polska (Polish History) | year =1860 | pages =433 | publisher =L. Martinet | location =Paris | url =http://books.google.com/books?vid=0M4twVP-4wcULxFPgixkP9T&id=JCsLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA433&lpg=PA432&dq=Jagiello+1408 }}</ref>The war with Muscovy ended in December 1408, on terms which made further conflict with the Teutonic Order inevitable, despite [[Hermann II of Celje]]'s attempt to negotiate a solution.<ref name="Prochaska">{{pl icon}} {{cite book | author =Antoni Prochaska | coauthors = | title =Król Władysław Jagiełło | year =1908 | pages =240 | publisher =[[Polish Academy of Skills|Akademia Umiejętności]] | location =Kraków | url =http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC13016756&id=5vIKAAAAIAAJ&q=Jagiello+1408&dq=Jagiello+1408&pgis=1 }}</ref> ===Wars against the Teutonic Order=== {{main|Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War}} [[Image:Vytautas_dydysis.jpg|thumb|200px|right|<center>Vytautas the Great as shown on [[Jan Matejko]]'s oil painting of the [[Battle of Grunwald]]]] In 1398 in preparation for the crusade against the Golden Horde, Vytautas had signed the [[Treaty of Salynas]] with the Teutonic Knights and transferred [[Samogitia]] to them. Samogitia was especially important for the order because it separated Teutonic Knights, based in [[Prussia]], from the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Livonian Order]], based in [[Latvia]]. The two orders desired to unite and form a mighty force. However, the knights ruled Samogitia only for three years, because in 1401 the Samogitians, supported by Vytautas, rebelled and burned two castles. The knights received support from [[Švitrigaila]], brother of Jagiełło, who desired to take Vytautas' title. In 1404 another treaty was signed which, in essence, repeated the Salynas treaty: Samogitia was transferred to the Teutonic Knights. Poland promised not to support Lithuania in case of another war. The knights promised to support Vytautas in the east and not to support any [[Gediminids|Gediminid]] who could have claims to the Grand Duke of Lithuania title. However, the treaty did not solve the problems, and all the parties prepared for a war. In 1408 Vytautas reached peace in the east and returned to Samogitia matters. In 1409 a second rebellion, backed by Vytautas, against the Teutonic Knights started. The rebels burned [[Skirsnemunė]] castle. Since both Poland and Lithuania supported the rebels, the war started. Vytautas gathered a large army from 18 lands under his control. The army joined Polish forces and advanced towards the Teutonic headquarters at the castle of Marienburg (present-day [[Malbork]]). In 1410 Vytautas himself commanded the forces of the Grand Duchy in the [[Battle of Grunwald]] (also called the Battle of Tannenberg or Žalgirio mūšis). The battle ended in a decisive Polish-Lithuanian victory. Even though the siege of Marienburg was unsuccessful, the Teutonic Knights never regained their strength and from then on posed a reduced threat to Poland-Lithuania. [[Image:Vytauto Didžiojo antspaudas.Royal seal of Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great.jpg|thumb|240 px|left|the Royal Seal, with the only survived original depiction of Vytautas]] As a result of the [[Peace of Thorn (1411)|Peace of Thorn]] of 1411, Vytautas received Samogitia for his lifetime. However, the parties could not agree on the border. [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]], agreed to mediate the dispute. In 1413, it was declared that the whole right bank of the [[Neman River]] was Samogitia and therefore belonged to Lithuania. The Teutonic Knights disagreed and a new war started in 1414. The war lasted for just a couple of months and the dispute was brought to the [[Council of Constance]]. Even though the dispute was not resolved, the Samogitians had a chance to present their case to the leaders of Europe. It is seen as an important event in the diplomatic history of Lithuania. Several other mediation attempts failed and yet another war with the Teutonic Order started in 1422. After a couple of months of fighting, the [[Treaty of Lake Melno]] was signed. Samogitia was returned to Lithuania in perpetuity, while the city of Memel (present-day [[Klaipėda]]) and surrounding territories stayed with the Order. This border, as established by the treaty, remained stable for some 500 years until the [[Memel Territory]] dispute of 1923. With peace established, Vytautas could now concentrate on reforms and the relationship with Poland. ===Relationship with Poland=== [[Image:Kaunas_Vytautas.jpg|thumb|right|Vytautas the Great monument in [[Kaunas]]]] In 1399 [[Jadwiga of Poland]] and her newborn died in [[childbirth]]. [[Jogaila]]'s power in Poland was jeopardized as he was a foreigner king with no other ties to the throne but his wife. Also, the defeat at Vorskla forced a re-evaluation of the relationship between Poland and Lithuania. The result was the [[Union of Vilnius and Radom]] in 1401. Vytautas was granted wide autonomy, but after his death the title and powers of Grand Duke of Lithuania were to be transferred to the king of Poland. In case Jagiełło died first without an heir, the Polish nobility agreed not to elect a new king without consulting Vytautas. The unique feature of this union was that the Lithuanian nobility presented their own document: for the first time somebody other than dukes played a role in the state matters. [[Image:Church of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Church of Vytautas the Great]]. Built around 1400 in [[Kaunas]]]] Vytautas was one of the creators of the [[Union of Horodło]] with Poland in 1413. This union was more important culturally than politically because Lithuanian [[Christian]] nobles received the same rights as Polish [[szlachta]]. This act did not include [[orthodox]] nobles. This paved the way for more contacts and cooperation between the nobles and for the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. In January of 1429 Vytautas already had received the title of King of Lithuania with the backing of [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]], but the envoys who were transporting the crown were stopped by Polish [[magnate]]s in autumn of 1430. Another crown was sent, but Vytautas died in the [[Trakai Island Castle]] several days before it reached Lithuania. He was buried in the [[Cathedral of Vilnius]]. The knowledge about his remains has been lost. According to [[1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica]], Vytautas "was certainly the most imposing personality of his day in Eastern Europe, and his martial valour was combined with statesmanlike foresight." [[Image:Vytautas the Grand Duke of Lithuania Reversum.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Litas]] commemorative coin dedicated to Vytaytas the Great]] ===Reforms=== Vytautas backed the economic development of his state and introduced many reforms. Under his rule the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually became more centralized, as local princes with dynastic ties to the throne were replaced by the governors loyal to Vytautas. The governors were rich landowners who formed the basis for the Lithuanian nobility. During Vytautas' rule, the influential [[Radziwiłł]] and [[Goštautai]] families began their rise. ==Title== * Latin: ''magnus dux Lithuanie terrarumque Russie etc'' * English translation: ''Grand duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia etc'' (Breviary excerpt from a document in 1422: ''Nos Alexander alias Witoldus eadem < Dei > gracia, magnus dux Lithwanie terrarumque Russie etc''.) Observe: Technically, Vytautas was most of his reign a nominal vassal of his cousin [[Jogaila]], then king of Poland, who used an additional title ''Supreme Prince of Lithuania''. == See also == {{commonscat|Vytautas the Great}} *[[Gediminids]] *[[House of Kęstutis]] – family tree of Vytautas *[[Order of Vytautas the Great]] {{Monarchs of Lithuania}} ==Notes== <references/> ==References== * {{lt icon}} Inga Deidulė, [http://www.spauda.lt/history/vytautas/pirma.htm Vytauto Didžiojo įvaizdžio genezės mįslė, - "ieškokite moterų"], Vartiklis. Accessed May 20, 2006. * {{lt icon}} Andrius Mingėla, [http://siauliai.mok.lt/juventa/mokdarbai/darbai2002/mingela_istorija/ Vytautas Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis], Juventa high school. Accessed May 20, 2006. * Oscar Halecki, [http://historicaltextarchive.com//books.php?op=viewbook&bookid=1&cid=8 Borderlands of Western Civilization: A History of East Central Europe], 2nd edition, Chapter 8, Simon Publications, July 2001, ISBN 0-9665734-8-X * [http://daugenis.mch.mii.lt/karaimai/karaims.htm Vytautas and Karaims], Lithuanian Karaims Culture Community. Accessed May 20, 2006. {{start box}} {{succession box | before=[[Skirgaila]] | title=[[List of Lithuanian rulers|Grand Duke of Lithuania]] | years=1392-1430| after=[[Švitrigaila]]}} {{end box}} [[Category:1350 births]] [[Category:1430 deaths]] [[Category:Lithuanian nobility]] [[Category:Belarusian rulers]] [[Category:Gediminids]] [[Category:People of the Hussite Wars]] [[Category:Grand Dukes of Lithuania]] [[Category:Kings of Lithuania]] [[Category:Pretenders to the Bohemian throne]] [[Category:Burials at Vilnius Cathedral]] [[be:Вітаўт Кейстутавіч]] [[be-x-old:Вітаўт]] [[de:Vytautas]] [[et:Vytautas]] [[eo:Vytautas]] [[fr:Vytautas le Grand]] [[it:Vytautas il Grande]] [[la:Witold Wielki]] [[lt:Vytautas]] [[hu:Nagy Witold]] [[ja:ヴィータウタス]] [[pl:Witold Kiejstutowicz]] [[ru:Витовт]] [[fi:Vytautas Suuri]] [[uk:Вітовт]] [[bat-smg:Vītauts Dėdlīsės]]