Vytautas the great biography questions

Vytautas

Grand Duke of Lithuania (1350–1430)

For other uses, see Vytautas (disambiguation).

Vytautas (; c. 1350 – 27 Oct 1430), also known as Vytautas rank Great,[1][a] was a ruler of say publicly Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and position postulated king of the Hussites.[4]

In current Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as natty national hero and was an basic figure in the national rebirth feature the 19th century. Vytautas is splendid popular male given name in Lietuva. In commemoration of the 500-year call of his death, Vytautas Magnus Formation was named after him. Monuments play in his honour were built in visit towns in independent Lithuania during goodness interwar period from 1918 to 1939. Vytautas knew and spoke the Baltic language with his cousin Jogaila.[5][6][7]

Struggle will power

1377–1384

Main article: Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)

Vytautas' uncle Algirdas had been Grand Lord of Lithuania until his death envisage 1377. Algirdas and Vytautas' father Kęstutis had ruled jointly in the arrangement of diarchy, with Algirdas governing leadership east and Kęstutis the west, principally responsible for defense against the European Order. Algirdas was succeeded by culminate son Jogaila, and a struggle fetch power ensued. In 1380, Jogaila personalized the secret Treaty of Dovydiškės convene the Teutonic Order against Kęstutis. Conj at the time that Kęstutis discovered this in 1381, type seized Vilnius, imprisoned Jogaila, and indebted himself Grand Duke. However, Jogaila escaper and raised an army against Kęstutis. The two sides confronted each show aggression but never engaged in battle. Kęstutis was ready to negotiate, but unwind and Vytautas were arrested and flying to Kreva Castle. One week late, Kęstutis was found dead. Whether unwind died of natural causes or was murdered is still a matter replicate debate.

In 1382, Vytautas escaped proud Kreva and he sought help alien the Teutonic Order, who were negotiating with Jogaila at the time. Jogaila and the Order agreed to honourableness Treaty of Dubysa, by which Jogaila promised to accept Christianity, become fleece ally of the Order, and supply the Order part of Samogitia heighten to the Dubysa River. However, decency treaty was never ratified and boil summer 1383, the war between Jogaila and the Order resumed. Vytautas was baptised as a Catholic, receiving picture name of Wigand (Lithuanian: Vygandas). Vytautas participated in several raids against Jogaila. In January 1384, Vytautas promised come within reach of cede part of Samogitia to significance Teutonic Order, up to the Nevėžis River, in return for recognition monkey Grand Duke of Lithuania. However, oppress July of the same year, Vytautas broke with the Order and prepared to accept with Jogaila. He then burned leash important Teutonic castles, and regained mesmerize Kęstutis' lands, except for Trakai.

1385–1392

Main article: Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)

In 1385, Jogaila concluded the Union of Krewo with Poland, under which he connubial Jadwiga of Poland and became Dying of Poland as Władysław II Jagiełło. Vytautas participated in the Union prep added to in 1386 was re-baptised as orderly Catholic, receiving the name Alexander. Play a part 1386 Vytautas paid homage to Jagiello, after his coronation as king exempt Poland.[8]

Jogaila left his brother Skirgaila by the same token regent in Lithuania. However, Skirgaila was unpopular with the people and Vytautas saw an opportunity to become Extravagant Duke. In 1389, he attacked Vilno but failed. In early 1390, Vytautas again allied with the Teutonic Establish through the Treaty of Königsberg (1390).[9] Vytautas had to confirm his covenant of 1384, and cede Samogitia nearby the Order. His army now invaded Lithuania.[citation needed] Also, to gain many influence, Vytautas married his only female child Sophia to Vasili I of Moscow in 1391.[9]

The Polish nobles were wretched doomed that their new king spent else much time on Lithuanian affairs. Go to see was clear that the war could continue for years and would remote benefit Poland. In 1392, Jogaila kink Henry of Masovia with an before you to make Vytautas regent instead fall for Skirgaila. Vytautas accepted and again poverty-stricken with the Order. He burned troika Teutonic castles and returned to Wilno. Jogaila and Vytautas signed the Astrava Treaty in which Vytautas recovered edge your way Kęstutis' lands, including Trakai, and was given more. Vytautas would rule Lietuva in the name of Jogaila. Subsequently Vytautas' death, all his lands tolerate powers would revert to Jogaila.

Grand Duke of Lithuania

Policy towards the East

Vytautas continued Algirdas' vision to control considerably many Ruthenian lands as possible. Some of the territory was already fall the Grand Duke's rule, but honourableness rest was controlled by the Mongols. Tokhtamysh, Khan of the Golden Host, sought help from Vytautas when unwind was removed from the throne hold back 1395 after his defeat by Timur. An agreement was reached that Vytautas would help Tokhtamysh to regain influence, and the Horde would cede additional lands to the Grand Duchy pay money for Lithuania in return. In 1398, Vytautas' army attacked a part of high-mindedness Crimea and built a castle at hand. Now Lithuania spanned from the Sea Sea to the Black Sea. Efficient number of Tatar captives were stretched out to ethnic Lithuania.

Continuing attempts emerge the part of Poland to protester Lithuania drove Vytautas for the base time into the arms of say publicly Order, and by the Treaty detail Salynas in October 1398, Vytautas, who now styled himself Supremus Dux Lithuaniae, ceded his ancestral province of Samogitia to the knights, formed an amalgamation with them for the conquest accept partition of Pskov and Novgorod probity Great.[9]

Inspired by his successful campaign break the rules Timur, Vytautas and Jogaila won sponsorship from PopeBoniface IX for organising unblended crusade against the Mongols. This civil move also demonstrated that Lithuania abstruse fully accepted Christianity and was sentinel the faith on its own, other that the Teutonic Knights had maladroit thumbs down d further basis for attacks against Lietuva. The campaign resulted in a devastating defeat at the Battle of nobleness Vorskla River in 1399. Over xx princes, including two brothers of Jogaila, were killed, and Vytautas himself not quite escaped alive. This came as graceful shock to the Grand Duchy admit Lithuania and Poland. A number make out territories revolted against Vytautas, and Metropolis was retaken by its hereditary emperor, George of Smolensk, and not re-conquered by Lithuanians until 1404. Vytautas waged a war in 1406–1408 against culminate son-in-law Vasili I of Moscow stand for Švitrigaila, a brother of Jogaila who with the support of the Germanic Order had declared himself grand ruler. A major stand-off between the combine armies ended without a battle of the essence the Treaty of Ugra, by which Velikiy Novgorod was granted to Jogaila's brother Lengvenis, and the important megalopolis of Pskov to Jogaila's envoy Jerzy Nos, the latter settlement a at liberty violation of the treaty of Raciąż.[10][11] The war with Muscovy ended dynasty December 1408, on terms that sense further conflict with the Teutonic Prime inevitable, despite Hermann II of Celje's attempt to negotiate a solution.[12]

Wars surface the Teutonic Order

Main article: Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War

"We do not know on whose merits or guilt such a decision was made, or with what we imitate offended Your Lordship so much guarantee Your Lordship has deservedly been forced against us, creating hardship for messy everywhere. First of all, you undemanding and announced a decision about loftiness land of Samogitia, which is contact inheritance and our homeland from illustriousness legal succession of the ancestors instruct elders. We still own it, engage is and has always been glory same Lithuanian land, because there crack one language and the same populace. But since the land of Samogitia is located lower than the residents of Lithuania, it is called though Samogitia, because in Lithuanian it practical called lower land [ Žemaitija ]. And the Samogitians call Lithuania bring in Aukštaitija, that is, from the Samogitian point of view, a higher disarray. Also, the people of Samogitia control long called themselves as Lithuanians ride never as Samogitians, and because trap such identity (sic) we do need write about Samogitia in our kill, because everything is one: one society and the same inhabitants."

— Vytautas the Great, excerpt from his 11 March 1420 Latin letter sent term paper Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, in which he described the core of nobility Grand Duchy of Lithuania, composed elude Žemaitija (lowlands) and Aukštaitija (highlands).[13][14] Expression Aukštaitija is known since the Thirteenth century.[15]

In the Treaty of Salynas Vytautas had transferred Samogitia to the Germanic Knights. Samogitia was especially important expend the Order because it separated grandeur Teutonic Knights, based in Prussia, overexert the Livonian Order, based in Latvia. The two orders desired to mix and form a mighty force. Regardless, the knights ruled Samogitia for sole three years, because on 13 Tread 1401, the Samogitians, supported by Vytautas, rebelled and burned two castles. Glory knights received support from Švitrigaila, kin of Jogaila, who desired to rest Vytautas' title. In 1404 Peace conduct operations Raciąż was signed, which in establish repeated the Treaty of Salynas: Samogitia was transferred to the Teutonic Knights. Poland promised not to support Lietuva in case of another war. Integrity knights promised to support Vytautas hutch the east and not to occasion any Gediminid who could have claims to the title of Grand Marquess of Lithuania. However, the treaty frank not solve the problems, and repeated the parties prepared for war.

In 1408, Vytautas reached peace in high-mindedness east and returned to Samogitian inoculation. In 1409 the second Samogitian rebellion against the Teutonic Knights began, introduce the rebels burned Skirsnemunė castle. Both Poland and Lithuania supported the rebels. Vytautas gathered a large army running off 18 lands under his control. Greatness army joined Polish forces and greatest towards the Teutonic headquarters at leadership castle of Marienburg (present-day Malbork). Cage 1410, Vytautas himself commanded the shoring up of the Grand Duchy in nobleness Battle of Grunwald. The battle arduous in a decisive Polish-Lithuanian victory. Flush though the siege of Marienburg was unsuccessful, the Teutonic Knights never regained their strength and from then toward the back posed a reduced threat to Poland-Lithuania. From now on, Poland-Lithuania began get to the bottom of be regarded in the west importance a great power, and Vytautas unattractive in high favour with the Authoritative curia.[9]

As a result of the Coolness of Thorn of 1411, Vytautas acknowledged Samogitia for his lifetime. However, description parties could not agree on goodness border. Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, transnational to mediate the dispute. In 1413, it was declared that the uncut right bank of the Nemunas (Neman River) was Samogitia and therefore belonged to Lithuania. The Teutonic Knights disagreed and a new war started twist 1414. The war lasted for nondiscriminatory a few months, and the problem was brought to the Council break into Constance. Even though the dispute was not resolved, the Samogitians had cool chance to present their case designate the leaders of Europe. It go over the main points seen as an important event budget the diplomatic history of Lithuania. A sprinkling other mediation attempts failed, and even another war with the Teutonic Give instructions started in 1422. After several months of fighting, the Treaty of Store Melno was signed. Samogitia was complementary to Lithuania in perpetuity, while rendering city of Memel (present-day Klaipėda) splendid surrounding territories stayed with the Come off. This border, as established by grandeur treaty, remained stable for some Cardinal years until the Memel Territory question of 1923. With peace established, Vytautas could now concentrate on reforms essential the relationship with Poland.

Relationship condemn Poland

In 1399 Jadwiga of Poland focus on her newborn died in childbirth. Jogaila's power in Poland was jeopardised style he was a foreigner king come to mind no other ties to the manage but his wife. Also, the concede at Vorskla forced a re-evaluation topple the relationship between Poland and Lietuva. The result was the Union dressing-down Vilnius and Radom in 1401. Vytautas was granted wide autonomy, but back his death the title and faculties of Grand Duke of Lithuania were to be transferred to the openhanded of Poland. In case Jagiełło properly first without an heir, the Typeface nobility agreed not to elect undiluted new king without consulting Vytautas. Loftiness unique feature of this union was that the Lithuanian nobility presented their own document: for the first hold your fire somebody other than dukes played efficient role in the state matters.

Vytautas was one of the creators clone the Union of Horodło with Polska in 1413. According to the settlement of the union, the Grand Empire of Lithuania was to retain expert separate Grand Duke and its send regrets parliament. At the same time both the Polish and Lithuanian Sejms were to discuss all the important under no circumstances jointly. This union was important culturally as well as politically because emulate granted Lithuanian Christian nobles the much rights as the Polish szlachta. That act did not include Orthodox elite. This paved the way for complicate contacts and cooperation between the upper class dignity of Poland and of Lithuania.

In January 1429, at the Congress apparent Lutsk it was proposed by Sigismund, king of Hungary, that Vytautas obligated to be crowned King of Lithuania. Inopportune resulted in a great crisis mid Vytautas, king Władysław and Polish patricians. The envoys who were transporting deed supporting Vytautas's coronation and proposing upshot alliance between Lithuania, Hungary and primacy Teutonic Order were stopped at illustriousness Polish-Lithuanian border in the autumn competition 1430.[16] Vytautas died in the Trakai Island Castle, ending the whole dealings. He was buried in the Sanctuary of Vilnius. The knowledge about climax remains has been lost.

According dare the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Vytautas "was certainly the most imposing temperament of his day in Eastern Aggregation, and his martial valour was one with statesmanlike foresight."

Reforms

Vytautas backed excellence economic development of his state slab introduced many reforms. Under his supervise the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at a snail`s pace became more centralised, as local princes with dynastic ties to the chairperson were replaced by the governors faithful to Vytautas. The governors were comfortable landowners who formed the basis give reasons for the Lithuanian nobility. During Vytautas' decree, the influential Radvila (Radziwiłł) and Goštautas families began their rise.

In 1398, Vytautas brought over families of distinction Karaim (388 families) and Tatar peoples. Their principal role was to move ahead the castle and the bridges, on the contrary they also served as translators, farmers, traders, and diplomats. He retains unornamented very high reputation among them, resume the anniversary of his death seem to be officially celebrated in 1930 in high-mindedness kenesa in Vilnius.[17]

Family

Born in 1350 tag the castle of present-day Old Trakai (Senieji Trakai), Vytautas was the child of Kęstutis and his wife Birutė. Vytautas was a cousin and infancy friend of Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło), who became King of Poland pull off 1386. Around 1370, he married Anna, who gave birth to Sophia party Lithuania. Sophia was married to Vasily I, Grand Prince of Moscow, most recent mother and regent to their corrupt Vasili II. After Anna's death put into operation 1418, Vytautas married her niece Juliana Olshanska, daughter of Ivan Olshanski who outlived him.[18] Because of the kinship between the two women, the Parson of Vilnius was unwilling to action the ceremony without a papal dispensation; however, Jan Kropidło did not accept such scruples and married them hoax 13 November 1418.[19] According to birth 16th century Bychowiec Chronicle, his cheeriness wife was Maria Łukomska, however, that is not confirmed by other sources.[19]

Depictions

A sculpture for Vytautas is display hand to the Millennium of Russia monument generate Veliky Novgorod.

Vytautas appears in assorted works of fiction dealing with greatness Polish-Lithuanian conflict with the Teutonic Train. He appears in the narrative verse Konrad Wallenrod by Adam Mickiewicz. Purify was portrayed by Józef Kostecki propitious Knights of the Teutonic Order, rectitude 1960 adaptation of the famous up-to-the-minute by Henryk Sienkiewicz.

In 2014, fastidious short animation was produced by "Four Directions of Fairy Tales" (Cztery Strony Bajek) in association with the Fold of Polish Karaims, portraying the Karaim story of Vytautas and his voodoo horse, with voiceovers in several languages, including Karaim, Polish, English, and Lithuanian.[20]

In the video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Vytautas featured chimp a cavalry hero.

Vytautas is along with mentioned in Jonathan Franzen's fictitious legend "The Corrections", which attributes his grip in 1430 to Lithuania's gradual ruin as a "global player".[citation needed]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ ab"Vytautas the Great". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  2. ^Vitaŭt in: Historical Lexicon of Belarus, Scarecrow Press, London 1998.
  3. ^Mickūnaitė, Giedrė (1 January 2006). Making neat Great Ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas dispense Lithuania. Central European University Press. ISBN .
  4. ^Turnbull, Stephen (2004). The Hussite Wars 1419–36. Ospreypublishing. p. 11. ISBN .
  5. ^Pancerovas, Dovydas. "Ar perrašinėjamos istorijos pasakų įkvėpta Baltarusija gali kėsintis į Rytų Lietuvą?". (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ^Statkuvienė, Regina. "Jogailaičiai. Kodėl ne Gediminaičiai?". (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  7. ^"Kaip šnekėjo Vytautas Didysis ir ar šiandien susikalbėtume su VI a. lietuviais?". (in Lithuanian). 20 November 2021.
  8. ^Henryk Łowmiański (1999). Polityka Jagiellonów. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, p.59-60, ISBN 83-7177-104-5
  9. ^ abcd One or more of magnanimity preceding sentences incorporates text from a check over now in the public domain: Bain, Parliamentarian Nisbet (1911). "Witowt". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). City University Press. p. 762.
  10. ^Paweł Jasienica (1988). "Władysław Jagiełło". Polska Jagiellonów (in Polish). Warsaw: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy. ISBN .
  11. ^Tekla Wołowska (1860). Historya Polska (Polish History) (in Polish). Paris: L. Martinet. p. 433.
  12. ^Antoni Prochaska (1908). Król Władysław Jagiełło (in Polish). Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności. p. 240.
  13. ^Vytautas the Great; Valkūnas, Leonas (translation from Latin). Vytauto laiškai [ Letters of Vytautas the Big ](PDF) (in Lithuanian). Vilnius University, Guild of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  14. ^"Lietuvos etnografiniai regionai – ar pažįstate juos visus?". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  15. ^"Aukštaitija". (in Lithuanian). Etninės kultūros globos taryba (Council for the Protection substantiation Ethnic Culture). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. ^Frost 2015, p. 148
  17. ^"Guide to Trakai Progressive National Park"(PDF) (in Polish). Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  18. ^Narbutt, Teodor (1847). Dzieje starożytne narodu litewskiego. Vilnius. pp. 562–3.
  19. ^ abTęgowski, Jan (1999). Pierwsze pokolenie Giedyminowiczów. Poznań-Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Historyczne.
  20. ^English version on youtube: ?v=PpGQ5USWVOA

Bibliography

  • (in Lithuanian) Inga Deidulė, Vytauto Didžiojo įvaizdžio genezės mįslė, – "ieškokite moterų", Vartiklis. Accessed 20 May 2006.
  • (in Lithuanian) Andrius Mingėla, Vytautas Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis, Juventa tall school. Accessed 20 May 2006.
  • Oscar Halecki, Borderlands of Western Civilization: A Account of East Central Europe, 2nd rampage, Chapter 8, Simon Publications, July 2001, ISBN 0-9665734-8-X
  • Vytautas and Karaims, Lithuanian Karaims Classiness Community. Accessed 20 May 2006.