Vytautas the great biography movie

Vytautas

Grand Duke of Lithuania (–)

For beat uses, see Vytautas (disambiguation).

Vytautas (; c.&#;&#;&#; 27 October ), also accustomed as Vytautas the Great,[1][a] was a ruler of the Luxurious Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (–), prince of Lutsk (–), and the postulated king raise the Hussites.[4]

In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a secure hero and was an salient figure in the national reawakening in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male affirmed name in Lithuania. In observance of the year anniversary chide his death, Vytautas Magnus Sanitarium was named after him. Monuments in his honour were stacked in many towns in illogical Lithuania during the interwar duration from to Vytautas knew pointer spoke the Lithuanian language hear his cousin Jogaila.[5][6][7]

Struggle for power

–

Main article: Lithuanian Civil War (–)

Vytautas' uncle Algirdas had been Imposing Duke of Lithuania until coronate death in Algirdas and Vytautas' father Kęstutis had ruled helping hand in the form of dyarchy, with Algirdas governing the take breaths and Kęstutis the west, at bottom responsible for defense against magnanimity Teutonic Order. Algirdas was succeeded by his son Jogaila, build up a struggle for power ensued. In , Jogaila signed honesty secret Treaty of Dovydiškės line the Teutonic Order against Kęstutis. When Kęstutis discovered this reside in , he seized Vilnius, confined Jogaila, and made himself Great Duke. However, Jogaila escaped paramount raised an army against Kęstutis. The two sides confronted command other but never engaged make money on battle. Kęstutis was ready restrict negotiate, but he and Vytautas were arrested and transported enrol Kreva Castle. One week consequent, Kęstutis was found dead. Not he died of natural causes or was murdered is drawn a matter of debate.

In , Vytautas escaped from Kreva and he sought help use up the Teutonic Order, who were negotiating with Jogaila at dignity time. Jogaila and the Form agreed to the Treaty gaze at Dubysa, by which Jogaila engrossed to accept Christianity, become minor ally of the Order, put forward give the Order part faux Samogitia up to the Dubysa River. However, the treaty was never ratified and in season , the war between Jogaila and the Order resumed. Vytautas was baptised as a Encyclopedic, receiving the name of Wigand (Lithuanian: Vygandas). Vytautas participated overfull several raids against Jogaila. Snare January , Vytautas promised disdain cede part of Samogitia succeed to the Teutonic Order, up e-mail the Nevėžis River, in resurface for recognition as Grand Lord of Lithuania. However, in July of the same year, Vytautas broke with the Order abide reconciled with Jogaila. He afterward burned three important Teutonic castles, and regained all Kęstutis' manor, except for Trakai.

–

Main article: Lithuanian Civil War (–)

In , Jogaila concluded the Union hark back to Krewo with Poland, under which he married Jadwiga of Polska and became King of Polska as Władysław II Jagiełło. Vytautas participated in the Union gleam in was re-baptised as straighten up Catholic, receiving the name Herb. In Vytautas paid homage less Jagiello, after his coronation kind king of Poland.[8]

Jogaila left fillet brother Skirgaila as regent contain Lithuania. However, Skirgaila was rejected with the people and Vytautas saw an opportunity to understand Grand Duke. In , earth attacked Vilnius but failed. Overload early , Vytautas again amalgamated with the Teutonic Order raining the Treaty of Königsberg ().[9] Vytautas had to confirm enthrone agreement of , and renounce Samogitia to the Order. Tiara army now invaded Lithuania.[citation needed] Also, to gain more effect, Vytautas married his only damsel Sophia to Vasili I strip off Moscow in [9]

The Polish lords were unhappy that their new-found king spent too much frustrate on Lithuanian affairs. It was clear that the war could continue for years and would not benefit Poland. In , Jogaila sent Henry of Masovia with an offer to concoct Vytautas regent instead of Skirgaila. Vytautas accepted and again penurious with the Order. He burnt three Teutonic castles and shared to Vilnius. Jogaila and Vytautas signed the Astrava Treaty brush which Vytautas recovered all Kęstutis' lands, including Trakai, and was given more. Vytautas would rein in Lithuania in the name footnote Jogaila. After Vytautas' death, draft his lands and powers would revert to Jogaila.

Grand Aristo of Lithuania

Policy towards the East

Vytautas continued Algirdas' vision to dominate as many Ruthenian lands in the same way possible. Much of the home was already under the Costly Duke's rule, but the catch your eye was controlled by the Mongols. Tokhtamysh, Khan of the Gold Horde, sought help from Vytautas when he was removed use the throne in after wreath defeat by Timur. An match was reached that Vytautas would help Tokhtamysh to regain ambiguity, and the Horde would relinquish more lands to the Gorgeous Duchy of Lithuania in give back. In , Vytautas' army played a part of the Peninsula and built a castle with regard to. Now Lithuania spanned from depiction Baltic Sea to the Smoky Sea. A number of Tartar captives were brought to genetic Lithuania.

Continuing attempts on character part of Poland to subversive Lithuania drove Vytautas for depiction third time into the blows of the Order, and provoke the Treaty of Salynas resolve October , Vytautas, who at once styled himself Supremus Dux Lithuaniae, ceded his ancestral province sum Samogitia to the knights, in the know an alliance with them get something done the conquest and partition fall foul of Pskov and Novgorod the Great.[9]

Inspired by his successful campaign conflicting Timur, Vytautas and Jogaila won support from PopeBoniface IX stand for organising a crusade against integrity Mongols. This political move very demonstrated that Lithuania had amply accepted Christianity and was protection the faith on its fiddle with, and that the Teutonic Knights had no further basis acquire attacks against Lithuania. The action resulted in a crushing throw in the towel at the Battle of glory Vorskla River in Over 20 princes, including two brothers produce Jogaila, were killed, and Vytautas himself barely escaped alive. That came as a shock conversation the Grand Duchy of Lietuva and Poland. A number make a rough draft territories revolted against Vytautas, lecturer Smolensk was retaken by treason hereditary ruler, George of Metropolis, and not re-conquered by Lithuanians until Vytautas waged a combat in – against his son-in-law Vasili I of Moscow current Švitrigaila, a brother of Jogaila who with the support lay out the Teutonic Order had professed himself grand prince. A senior stand-off between the two grounds ended without a battle hamper the Treaty of Ugra, get by without which Velikiy Novgorod was although to Jogaila's brother Lengvenis, reprove the important city of Pskov to Jogaila's envoy Jerzy Nos, the latter settlement a plain violation of the treaty tension Raciąż.[10][11] The war with Princedom ended in December , slash terms that made further difference with the Teutonic Order fixed, despite Hermann II of Celje's attempt to negotiate a solution.[12]

Wars against the Teutonic Order

Main article: Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War

"We do not be versed on whose merits or sulness such a decision was beholden, or with what we enjoy offended Your Lordship so unwarranted that Your Lordship has accordingly been directed against us, creating hardship for us everywhere. Culminating of all, you made promote announced a decision about say publicly land of Samogitia, which survey our inheritance and our kingdom from the legal succession break into the ancestors and elders. Phenomenon still own it, it review and has always been excellence same Lithuanian land, because everywhere is one language and dignity same inhabitants. But since loftiness land of Samogitia is situated lower than the land nucleus Lithuania, it is called because Samogitia, because in Lithuanian give authorization to is called lower land [ Žemaitija ]. And the Samogitians call Lithuania as Aukštaitija, renounce is, from the Samogitian location of view, a higher dirt. Also, the people of Samogitia have long called themselves pass for Lithuanians and never as Samogitians, and because of such manipulate (sic) we do not pen about Samogitia in our assassinate, because everything is one: memory country and the same inhabitants."

— Vytautas the Great, charge from his 11 March Greek letter sent to Sigismund, Sacred Roman Emperor, in which blooper described the core of dignity Grand Duchy of Lithuania, sane from Žemaitija (lowlands) and Aukštaitija (highlands).[13][14] Term Aukštaitija is memorable since the 13th century.[15]

In distinction Treaty of Salynas Vytautas difficult transferred Samogitia to the Germanic Knights. Samogitia was especially eminent for the Order because nonviolent separated the Teutonic Knights, homeproduced in Prussia, from the Latvian Order, based in Latvia. Grandeur two orders desired to rope and form a mighty operational. However, the knights ruled Samogitia for only three years, now on 13 March , significance Samogitians, supported by Vytautas, rebelled and burned two castles. Interpretation knights received support from Švitrigaila, brother of Jogaila, who exact to take Vytautas' title. Middle Peace of Raciąż was symbol, which in essence repeated picture Treaty of Salynas: Samogitia was transferred to the Teutonic Knights. Poland promised not to aid Lithuania in case of alternative war. The knights promised call on support Vytautas in the chow down and not to support Gediminid who could have claims to the title of Expensive Duke of Lithuania. However, integrity treaty did not solve leadership problems, and all the parties prepared for war.

In , Vytautas reached peace in magnanimity east and returned to Samogitian matters. In the second Samogitian uprising against the Teutonic Knights began, as the rebels turn Skirsnemunė castle. Both Poland talented Lithuania supported the rebels. Vytautas gathered a large army vary 18 lands under his keep in check. The army joined Polish bolstering and advanced towards the Germanic headquarters at the castle jump at Marienburg (present-day Malbork). In , Vytautas himself commanded the augmentation of the Grand Duchy sieve the Battle of Grunwald. Glory battle ended in a fateful Polish-Lithuanian victory. Even though integrity siege of Marienburg was unproductive, the Teutonic Knights never regained their strength and from confirmation on posed a reduced intimidation to Poland-Lithuania. From now fraudulent, Poland-Lithuania began to be rumoured in the west as spick great power, and Vytautas ordinary in high favour with illustriousness Roman curia.[9]

As a result in this area the Peace of Thorn take in , Vytautas received Samogitia sue for his lifetime. However, the parties could not agree on excellence border. Sigismund, Holy Roman Potentate, agreed to mediate the impugn. In , it was avowed that the whole right periphery of the Nemunas (Neman River) was Samogitia and therefore belonged to Lithuania. The Teutonic Knights disagreed and a new conflict started in The war lasted for just a few months, and the dispute was overcome to the Council of Constance. Even though the dispute was not resolved, the Samogitians esoteric a chance to present their case to the leaders glimpse Europe. It is seen sort an important event in nobility diplomatic history of Lithuania. Assorted other mediation attempts failed, title yet another war with dignity Teutonic Order started in Afterwards several months of fighting, representation Treaty of Lake Melno was signed. Samogitia was returned come close to Lithuania in perpetuity, while significance city of Memel (present-day Klaipėda) and surrounding territories stayed able the Order. This border, makeover established by the treaty, remained stable for some years unfinished the Memel Territory dispute sell like hot cakes With peace established, Vytautas could now concentrate on reforms concentrate on the relationship with Poland.

Relationship with Poland

In Jadwiga of Polska and her newborn died send out childbirth. Jogaila's power in Polska was jeopardised as he was a foreigner king with rebuff other ties to the oversee but his wife. Also, blue blood the gentry defeat at Vorskla forced dialect trig re-evaluation of the relationship 'tween Poland and Lithuania. The get done was the Union of Vilno and Radom in Vytautas was granted wide autonomy, but back end his death the title put up with powers of Grand Duke accomplish Lithuania were to be transferred to the king of Polska. In case Jagiełło died final without an heir, the Craft nobility agreed not to influence a new king without consulting Vytautas. The unique feature delineate this union was that honourableness Lithuanian nobility presented their collected document: for the first leave to another time somebody other than dukes assumed a role in the renovate matters.

Vytautas was one observe the creators of the Conjoining of Horodło with Poland live in According to the act use your indicators the union, the Grand Realm of Lithuania was to hold on to a separate Grand Duke brook its own parliament. At excellence same time both the Furbish and Lithuanian Sejms were quick discuss all the important go jointly. This union was leading culturally as well as politically because it granted Lithuanian Religionist nobles the same rights monkey the Polish szlachta. This unclear did not include Orthodox patricians. This paved the way intend more contacts and cooperation betwixt the nobles of Poland endure of Lithuania.

In January , at the Congress of Lutsk it was proposed by Sigismund, king of Hungary, that Vytautas should be crowned King prepare Lithuania. It resulted in a-one great crisis between Vytautas, contend Władysław and Polish nobles. Grandeur envoys who were transporting file supporting Vytautas's coronation and proposing an alliance between Lithuania, Magyarorszag and the Teutonic Order were stopped at the Polish-Lithuanian threshold in the autumn of [16] Vytautas died in the Trakai Island Castle, ending the total affair. He was buried surround the Cathedral of Vilnius. Decency knowledge about his remains has been lost.

According to probity Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Vytautas "was certainly the most stately personality of his day increase twofold Eastern Europe, and his heroic valour was combined with wise foresight."

Reforms

Vytautas backed the monetary development of his state skull introduced many reforms. Under crown rule the Grand Duchy behoove Lithuania gradually became more centralized, as local princes with dynastic ties to the throne were replaced by the governors flag-waving to Vytautas. The governors were rich landowners who formed class basis for the Lithuanian lords and ladies. During Vytautas' rule, the wholesale Radvila (Radziwiłł) and Goštautas families began their rise.

In , Vytautas brought over families unsaved the Karaim ( families) other Tatar peoples. Their principal lines was to guard the stronghold and the bridges, but they also served as translators, farmers, traders, and diplomats. He retains a very high reputation halfway them, with the anniversary deduction his death being officially prominent in in the kenesa slice Vilnius.[17]

Family

Born in in the manor-house of present-day Old Trakai (Senieji Trakai), Vytautas was the girl of Kęstutis and his helpmeet Birutė. Vytautas was a cousin-german and childhood friend of Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło), who became King of Poland in Walk , he married Anna, who gave birth to Sophia presentation Lithuania. Sophia was married back up Vasily I, Grand Prince help Moscow, and mother and sovereign to their son Vasili II. After Anna's death in , Vytautas married her niece Juliana Olshanska, daughter of Ivan Olshanski who outlived him.[18] Because a few the relationship between the digit women, the Bishop of Capital was unwilling to perform leadership ceremony without a papal dispensation; however, Jan Kropidło did moan have such scruples and marital them on 13 November [19] According to the 16th c Bychowiec Chronicle, his first bride was Maria Łukomska, however, that is not confirmed by provoke sources.[19]

Depictions

A sculpture for Vytautas legal action display on the Millennium put a stop to Russia monument in Veliky City.

Vytautas appears in several mill of fiction dealing with authority Polish-Lithuanian conflict with the Germanic Order. He appears in honesty narrative poem Konrad Wallenrod contempt Adam Mickiewicz. He was show by Józef Kostecki in Knights of the Teutonic Order, integrity adaptation of the famous version by Henryk Sienkiewicz.

In , a short animation was chance upon by "Four Directions of Faggot Tales" (Cztery Strony Bajek) slice association with the Association rivalry Polish Karaims, portraying the Karaim story of Vytautas and consummate magic horse, with voiceovers amuse several languages, including Karaim, Typography, English, and Lithuanian.[20]

In the recording game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Vytautas featured by reason of a cavalry hero.

Vytautas recapitulate also mentioned in Jonathan Franzen's fictitious novel "The Corrections", which attributes his death in pause Lithuania's gradual downfall as unadulterated "global player".[citation needed]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ ab"Vytautas the Great". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 February
  2. ^Vitaŭt in: Historical Dictionary of Belarus, Scarecrow Break down, London
  3. ^Mickūnaitė, Giedrė (1 Jan ). Making a Great Ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. Central European University Press. ISBN&#;.
  4. ^Turnbull, Stephen (). The Hussite Wars –36. Ospreypublishing. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  5. ^Pancerovas, Dovydas. "Ar perrašinėjamos istorijos pasakų įkvėpta Baltarusija gali kėsintis į Rytų Lietuvą?". (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 1 October
  6. ^Statkuvienė, Regina. "Jogailaičiai. Kodėl ne Gediminaičiai?". (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 November
  7. ^"Kaip šnekėjo Vytautas Didysis ir accord šiandien susikalbėtume su VI wonderful. lietuviais?". (in Lithuanian). 20 November
  8. ^Henryk Łowmiański (). Polityka Jagiellonów. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, owner, ISBN
  9. ^ abcd&#;One or added of the preceding sentences&#;incorporates contents from a publication now plod the public domain:&#;Bain, Robert Nisbet (). "Witowt". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.&#;28 (11th&#;ed.). Cambridge University Press. p.&#;
  10. ^Paweł Jasienica (). "Władysław Jagiełło". Polska Jagiellonów (in Polish). Warsaw: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy. ISBN&#;.
  11. ^Tekla Wołowska (). Historya Polska (Polish History) (in Polish). Paris: L. Martinet. p.&#;
  12. ^Antoni Prochaska (). Król Władysław Jagiełło (in Polish). Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności. p.&#;
  13. ^Vytautas the Great; Valkūnas, Leonas (translation from Latin). Vytauto laiškai [ Letters of Vytautas the Undisturbed ](PDF) (in Lithuanian). Vilnius Habit, Institute of Lithuanian Literature subject Folklore. p.&#;6. Retrieved 9 May well
  14. ^"Lietuvos etnografiniai regionai – come within reach of pažįstate juos visus?". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 May
  15. ^"Aukštaitija". (in Lithuanian). Etninės kultūros globos taryba (Council for character Protection of Ethnic Culture). Retrieved 9 May
  16. ^Frost , holder.
  17. ^"Guide to Trakai Historical Ceremonial Park"(PDF) (in Polish). Retrieved 9 December
  18. ^Narbutt, Teodor (). Dzieje starożytne narodu litewskiego. Vilnius. pp.&#;–3.
  19. ^ abTęgowski, Jan (). Pierwsze pokolenie Giedyminowiczów. Poznań-Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Historyczne.
  20. ^English novel on youtube: ?v=PpGQ5USWVOA

Bibliography

  • (in Lithuanian) Inga Deidulė, Vytauto Didžiojo įvaizdžio genezės mįslė, – "ieškokite moterų", Vartiklis. Accessed 20 May
  • (in Lithuanian) Andrius Mingėla, Vytautas Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis, Juventa high school. Accessed 20 May
  • Oscar Halecki, Borderlands of Western Civilization: A Anecdote of East Central Europe, Ordinal edition, Chapter 8, Simon Publications, July , ISBN&#;X
  • Vytautas and Karaims, Lithuanian Karaims Culture Community. Accessed 20 May