User:M.K/Laikinas2

Lietuva

Lithuania state began to evolve form land confederation around twelfth century . The core was Baltic pagan Lithuanian tribes’ lands in Aukštaitija (Upper Lithuania). . While title Grand Duchy to Lithuania was constantly applied from the 14th century . Multi-national character of the state emerged only during Gediminas reign in the 14th century .

On 1009 February 14, name of Lithuania was first mentioned in writing.

In 1040 Lithuania name appeared in Rus chronicles as one of the few areas there Ruthenians attacked. In early XII century Lithuania is mentioned as paying tribute to Polack as well as Semigallians, Curonians and Lettigallians.

Collisions among Lithuanians and Ruthenians continued and during later years. In 1131 Lithuanians suffered attack of Mstislav, which tried to break alliance between Lithuania and Polack`s dukes. However, as the army of Mstislav was retreating back, the Lithuanians were able to beat the Kiev division, which had lagged behind. Though it was not a major victory to Lithuanians, but it did indicate that Lithuania was gaining strength.

At that time Lithuanians usually acted as part of one or other Ruthenian dukes’ allies and apparently did not initiated full scale attacks by themselves towards Ruthianian provinces. But around 1180-1183 situation changed, Lithuanians began to arrange sustainable military raids to the eastern Salvic provinces, plundering Polack duchy as well as Pskov. At that time Yaroslav, the Duke of Novogrudok had been unable to stop the Lithuanians, and he was driven out of the land by his own people in a few months. From 1198 raids towards Novogrudok were sustainable.

Without the doubt, to Lithuanians served and divided situation among Salvic provinces and also new common enemy – Danes.

After 1185 successful raid of Lithuanians towards Livonia, German missioners built several castles. During almost every year Lithuanians arrange extensive military campaigns towards their wrester or eastern neighbors. Such military activity served and to state consolidation process.

Another state formation progress marked and establishment of Riga city in 1201, at that time Lithuanians concluded the peace treaty with city on their own. It was the first survived international agreement involving Lithuanians.

In 1202 was established Brotherhood Order of Christ's Militia, also known as Livonian Order or the Order of Sword Bearers.

In the 1219 Lithuanian dukes concluded peace treaty with Holych - Volynia. This treaty is the earliest document, which involves large group of Lithuanian dukes. Among them there were named five senior Lithuanian dukes from Aukštaitija – Živindudas, Daujotas, Vilikaila, Dausprungas ir Mindaugas. Probably Živindudas was the superior among anthers. Treaty was concluded and by dukes from Somogotia also, which shows increasing cooperation alongside Lithuanians. This alliance was strengthen by fact that Lithuanians and Samogitians spoke similar dialect and faced common enemy. Despite that Samogitioans had their own rulers, they acknowledge the overlordship of dukes of Lithuania .

Establishing state

Reasons to unite

One of the main reasons for Balts to unite was aggressive German orders. In 1202 Livonian Brothers of the Sword was established by Albert, bishop of Riga, to aid Christianization and conquering Livonians, Latvians, Estonians, and other pagan nations situated along the Gulf of Riga. It was successful and posed a great danger to Lithuanian lands from the north until the Battle of the Sun in 1236. In 1226 Konrad I of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to defend his borders and subdue the Prussians, allowing the knights use of Chełmno Land as a base for their campaign. In 1230 they settled in, built a castle and started attacking Prussian lands. It took 44 years and two Prussian uprisings to conquer their territory. After that the knights spent nine years conquering Nadruvians, Skalvians, and Yotvingians. Therefore, only since 1283 the knights posed an immediate threat to the young Lithuanian state.<cd>

There were social changes too. There was private land ownership, allodiums (Lithuanian: atolas) which would later turn into feuds. As abundant chronicles show, that was the main form of land ownership in the 13th century[1]. Only the elder son would inherit land. This allowed dukes to consolidate their lands. Social classes and separation of duties also started to form. For example, there were classes of strong and experienced soldiers and of "unfree" people (likely, prisoners of war).<MG web> To enforce this social structure, a united state was needed. Another force behind unification was a desire to take advantage of Russian lands, suffering from Mongol invasion. It was enough to make temporary agreements between Lithuanian dukes in order to make one-time raids to steal valuables. However, to conquer and control the lands, a strong and unified force was needed.<cd>

Treaty with Halych-Volhynia

There are some hints that Lithuanians started to unite at the dawn of the 13th century. For example, in 1207 soldiers are recruited across Lithuania to fight the German religious orders and in 1212, Daugirutis' treaty with Navahradak shows he had some influence in vast lands.<cd> Historian Tomas Baranauskas argues that Lithuanian state could have formed as early as 1183.<voruta> However, the first proof that Balts started to unite is considered to be a treaty with Halych-Volhynia signed in 1219.<700> The treaty lists 21 Lithuanian dukes, specifying that five of those are elder and thus superior over the remaining 16. Mindaugas, despite his young age, and his brother Dausprungas are among the superior dukes. That would imply that he inherited the title.<cd> Presumably, the eldest duke is Živinbudas, because he is mentioned first.[2]

The treaty is important for several reasons. It shows that Lithuanian dukes are semi-united. The treaty lists some dukes that ruled lands (for example, Samogitia), which probably had no contacts with Halych-Volhynia. That shows they had common interests, which is a sign of a state. However, the five elder dukes show that the process of unification was not yet complete. The high number of dukes shows that different lands were powerful and semi-independent. Historians consider the treaty as a good indication of long and complex process of state formation.<cd>

Rise of Mindaugas

Mindaugas, duke of southern Lithuania between Neman and Neris Rivers<MG web>, eventually became the founder of the state. Mindaugas is mentioned as the ruler of the whole Lithuania in Livonian Rhymed Chronicle in 1236.<LV> How he managed to acquire this title is not exactly known. Russian chronicles mention that he used to murder or expel various dukes, including his relatives

In 1236 Vykintas led the Battle of the Sun where Livonian Order suffered a catastrophic defeat. It never regained its full power and was forced to become a branch of the Teutonic Knights. That meant that Samogitia became the main target of both orders, because only this land prevented them from physical union. Vykintas led Samogitian forces and, it seems, did not receive support from Mindaugas.<cd> Vykintas personal power grew. Ca. 1239 Mindaugas took over the Black Ruthenia and appointed his son Vaišvilkas to rule it.<LV> In 1248, Mindaugas sent his nephews Tautvilas and Edivydas, sons of Dausprungas, and Vykintas to conquer Smolensk. But they were unsuccessful.<MG web> In 1249, an internal war erupted as Mindaugas wanted to seize his nephews' and Vykintas lands.<LV>

The three men formed a powerful coalition with the Samogitians, Livonian Order, Daniel of Halych, and Vasilko of Volhynia against Mindaugas. Dukes of Halych and Volhynia managed to get control of Black Ruthenia, lands ruled by Vaišvilkas. Tautvilas went to Riga where he was baptized by the Archbishop. In 1250, the order organized two big raids, one to Nalša land and the other to Mindaugas domain and parts of Samogitia that still supported him.<MG web> Facing possible unrests elsewhere, Mindaugas was in an extremely difficult position, but managed to take advantage of Livonian Order and Archbishop of Riga conflicts. He managed to bribe Andreas von Stierland,<MG web> the master of the order, who was still angry on Vykintas for the defeat in 1236.<cd> In 1251, Mindaugas agreed to baptize, give the order some lands in the western part of Lithuania, and receive a crown in return. In 1252, Tautvila and the remaining allies attacked Mindaugas in Voruta, which is sometimes considered to be the first capital of Lithuania. The attack failed and the allies had to defend themselves in Tver Castle. Vykintas died in ca. 1253 and Tautvilas was forced to go back to Daniel of Halych. Daniel reconciled with Mindaugas in 1255 and Tautvilas recognized his superiority and received Polatsk as fief.<LV>

Kingdom of Lithuania

As promised, Mindaugas and his wife Morta were crowned on July 6, 1253 and Kingdom of Lithuania was established. This day is Day of the State (Lithuanian: Valstybės diena), a national holiday in modern Lithuania.[3] However, the date is not exactly known and was reconstructed by historian Edvardas Gudavičius, who is sometimes challenged.<voruta>

Pope Innocent IV supported Mindaugas because he hoped the new state could stop the raids of the Golden Horde, a state of Mongols-Tatars.<LV> On July 17, 1251 the pope signed two important papal bulls. One of them ordered Bishop of Chełm to crown Mindaugas as King of Lithuania, make sure Bishop for Lithuania is appointed and a cathedral is built. Another one spelled out that the new bishop is to be a direct subordinate to the pope.<MG web> This was an important step in ensuring Lithuania's sovereignty because the Livonian Order obviously tried to have strong influence in the new state.<700> It took a while before the Bishop of Lithuania was appointed because of conflicts of interest. Bishop of Gniezno appointed Dominican Vitas, but he was not recognized by Mindaugas or accepted by locals. Finally in 1254, Kristijonas from the Livonian Order was appointed.<cd> Mindaugas gave him Samogitian lands. However, as later events showed, Lithuanians were not prepared to accept Christianity.<cd>

Right after coronation, Mindaugas transferred the Livonian Order some western lands (portions of Samogitia, Nadruva, Dainava).<voruta> There are many discussions whether in later years (1255, 1257, 1259, 1261) Mindaugas gave even more lands to the order. It might be just falsifications by the order<LV> because Mindaugas awarded lands not really under his control.<700> Whatever the case, relative peace and stability was established for about 8 years. Mindaugas used this time to concentrate on the east.<700> He expanded his influence in the Black Ruthenia, Polatsk, a major center of commerce in the Daugava River basin, and Pinsk.<LV> He also arranged peace with Halych-Volhynia, and married his daugther to Svarn, son of Daniel of Volhynia and future Grand Duke of Lithuania. In 1255, Mindaugas got permission from Pope Alexander IV to crown his son as King of Lithuania.<MG web>

The order used this period to gain control over Samogitian lands. They built three castles along the border: Klaipėda (Memelburg), Jurbarkas (Georgenburg), and Durbe (Doben) in Latvia.<700> However, the order was not so successful in the open battle. In 1259 it lost the Battle of Skuodas and the Battle of Durbe in 1260. The later one encouraged the Prussians, conquered by the order, to rebel against the Teutonic Knights. The rebellion lasted for 14 years. Encouraged by Treniota, his nephew, Mindaugas broke the peace with the order. Chronicles hint that he also relapsed into his old beliefs, but some historians doubt it.<LV><700> Mindaugas made a deal with Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod and marched against the order. Treniota led the army to Cesis and against Masovia hoping to encourage all conquered Baltic tribes to rebel against the orders. Even though he failed, his personal influence grew because his raids were highly profitable and Mindaugas paid a lot of attention to Russian lands. Treniota and Mindaugas started to have different priorities.<cd> In the midst of these events, Morta died and Mindaugas wanted to marry Daumantas' wife.<MG web> Mindaugas turned on against Treniota, who together with Daumantas assassinated Mindaugas and two his sons, Ruklys and Rupeikis.<700> Lithuania lapsed into years of internal fights.

Vitas pic: http://www.catholic.lt/paveldas2000_relig/pic/pic127.htm

Civil war

After Mindaugas death, the state did not disintegrate and Treniota took over the title of Grand Duke. However, his power was fragile and just a year later, in 1264, he was killed by Mindaugas son Vaišvilkas and his ally from Volhynia, Svarn. Daumantas ran away to Pskov, was baptized as Timofei and ruled successfully in 1266-1299.[4] Vaišvilkas ruled Black Ruthenia lands and was a devoted orthodox. In 1265 he reconciled with the orders and, without support from Lithuania, rebellions among the Balts fuelled by Treniota started to calm down.<cd> In 1267 he returned to monastic life and transferred the Grand Duke title to Svarn.

Not much is know about Svarn and his rule, but historians believe he was unable to take control of the entire Lithuania and ruled only southern parts.<LV> He died in 1269 or 1271 in Halych. The circumstances surrounding Traidenis advance to power in 1269 are not clear. For the very beginning his relationships with Halych-Volhynia were tense and eventually resulted in 1274-1276 war. Traidenis was successful, and his control over the Black Ruthenia only strengthened.<cd> Traidenis was also successful in fighting with the Livonian Order. In 1270 he won Battle of Karuse, fought on ice near Saaremaa. In 1279 the order attacked Lithuanian lands and even reached Kernavė, but on the way back they suffered a great defeat in the Battle of Aizkraukle. The master, Ernst von Rassburg, died in the battle and conquered Semigallians rebelled. This time they acknowledged Lithuania's superiority and asked Traidenis for help.<LV> In 1281, Traidenis took Jersika Castle in present-day Preiļi District and traded it with the order for Daugavpils Castle, built in 1273 on the border with Lithuanian lands.<cd> Daugvpils remained Lithuanian outpost till 1313. During Traidenis reign, the longest and most stable reigns during the "unrest" period, or right after that the orders finalized their conquests: the conquered Baltic tribes did not rebel again and the orders could now concentrate on Lithuania.<cd>

There is a lot uncerntainty who were the Grand Dukes of Lithuania after Traidenis' death in 1282. In 1285, chronicles mention Daumantas as Grand Duke. He attacked Bishop of Tver and was severely wounded or even killed.<LV> The first Gediminid to rule Lithuania was Butigeidis. In 1289, he, together with about 8,000 people, attacked Sambia. In 1289 the Teutonic Knights built a castle in present-day Sovietsk (Tilsit) and their raids intensified. Butigeidis was the first one to build strong castles along the Neman River.<LV> He died in 1290 or 1292, and his brother and sub-monarch Butvydas (also known as Pukuveras) inherited the crown. He is the father of Vytenis and, probably, Gediminas.

Vytenis and Gediminas

In 1316, Gediminas, with the aid of colonists from Germany, began restoration of the land. The brothers Vytenis and Gediminas united various groups into one Lithuania.

Gediminas extended Lithuania to the east by challenging the Mongols who, at that time, controlled Russia. Through alliances and conquest the Lithuanians gained control of significant parts of the territory of Rus. This area included most of modern Belarus and the Ukraine and created a massive Lithuanian empire that stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

Vytenis was the first ruler which was from the Gediminids dynasty who ruled Lithuania for considerably long time . He was first mentioned in

Teutonic Order referred to him as great leader and warrior, his deed was praised by Gediminas himself also. Under his reign the construction of castles network alongside Nemunas begun in end of the 13th of beginning of the 14th century. Later this network of castles developed into the main outpost and defensive structures against Teutonic Order. Vytenis also organized military campaigns against Poland, Livonia, Prussia. Especially Warmia, Mozavia, Ruthianian provinces suffered from his raids too. Vytenis also turned his sight to Poland, which at that time was divided and disintegrated, intervening into struggle for Polish crown, supporting _____________. After duke of Mazovia Boleslaw II married Lithuanian princes Gaudemaitė, he also supported and Mozavian dukes affairs. During these years state importance in the region grew considerably. Grand Duke offered even aid to citizens of Riga city by sending to it Lithuanian garrison, which had duty to protect city from Teutonic Knights in 1298, and garrison remained until 1313 . This affair was very important to state development because was opened consistent trade route, which could compensate unstable trade with Ruthenian lands and other western sates. From Riga city grand duke office hired messengers, which were used for communication with western word, goldsmiths and others. Lithuanian forces were involved in Livonian civil war, inflicting sustainable damage to Order . Around 1307, Polatsk was annexed by military force . Annexation of Polatsk lead to securing important trade route which enabled consistent trade in the region and also increased Lithuania influence on remaining Ruthenian provinces.

During Vytenis reign Gediminas probably ruled over Trakai area, having his main residence there, which was exchanged to Vilnius later on. . Around 1316 Gediminas taken supreme power in state after his, brother, Vytenis, death. His rign as Grand Duke from 1316-1341 marked____________

Gediminas also constructed castles and Catholic churches in Vilnius, he initiated building projects and in other cities. After issuing so called Letters of Gediminas Grand Duke invited squires, merchants, doctors, smiths, wheelwrights, cobblers, skinners, millers, and others to come to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and practice their trade and faith without any restrictions.

Algirdas and Kęstutis

When Gediminas was slain, his son Algirdas suppressed the monasteries, but Algirdas’s son, Jogaila, again made overtures to the Teutonic Order and concluded a secret treaty with them. His uncle Kęstutis took him prisoner and a civil war ensued. Kęstutis was eventually captured, imprisoned and put to death, but Kęstutis's son Vytautas escaped.