The Grand Duke Gediminas, Ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania 1316 to 1341. Too often, when we talk or read about medieval history, we tend to only think of England, France, and 100 Years War. We are well versed in the Holy Crusades to Christendom and the Saracens of religious wars, we know who Richard the Lionheart is, and the Sacking of Holy City, and many people can say something of the French revolution. But we rarely, if ever look to the outer regions of Europe, Scandinavia or the Baltic, unless it either suits our purpose, or a personal passion. And yet it is in the Baltic that the last great Religious Order, the Teutonic Knights took the word of God to people they considered Pagan, Heathen, and evil. The Teutonic Order was seen at the time, as the lesser of all of the Military orders, and in its infancy, even untrustworthy. The early campaigns in Transylvania resulted in their expulsion from Western Europe, and for a time greatly weakened their reputation. Later when they started their Crusade in the Baltic, they were barely able to do much more than raid into Lithuania like common cattle thieves, and brigands. Finally when they mounted a successful campaign led by Winrich von Kniprode, the arrival of the plague, meant their all of their success was in vain, and they were unable to capitalize on this poignant success. And as a result, it would take many more years to finally defeat the Pagans of Lithuania, and even then only by an act deception. Lithuania only ever had one king, Mindaugas – 1263, and a victim of assassination, Lithuania fell into chaos for nearly seventy years, as a result of his death. But during the final years of civil unrest, Gediminas, slowly gained control over the civil war, assuming total control and the title of Grand Duke in about 1316. He founded a dynasty that would rule Lithuania for the next seven decades. Gediminas, a true Pagan, would follow the practices of his ancestors, and practice the old faith, and even take several wives, and many slave concubines. His first wife Vida would give him two sons called, Montvydas and Narimantas, his second wife, Olga, sons called, Algridas and Kestutis. His third wife, Jieva, would give him sons called, Liubartas, Karijotas and finally Jaunutis. Gediminas had several daughters, Aldona, Elzbieta, Maria, Eufermia, and finally Aigusta, sometimes called, Anastasia. Legend has it that Olga may have been a Christian of the Orthodox Church, but even so, her sons, and daughters would have been brought up Pagan, according to Gediminas’s faith and traditions. Gediminas had a policy of having his sons rule over strategic regions of Lithuania, and combining the long held tradition of marital alliances, enabled him to maintain a strong Grand Duchy. Montvydas ruled Kernave, Narimantas (sometimes referred to as Gleb) was married to a woman called Maria, the daughter of the Tartar Kahn, and as a result later ruled over the region of Pskov. His son, Algridas, was also married for territorial gains to, Marija, the only daughter and sole heir of Prince Jaroslav of Vitebsk, therefore he became its next ruler upon his death. Algridas also ruled over his father’s territories of Borisov, holding his father’s strategic territories in the east. Kestutis was lord for Trakai, and for the frontier regions of Samogitia to Palenke. Liubartas was married to a princess, of Volynia, and he based himself in Lutsk. His son, Karijotas, ruled Naugardukas, known as Novgorod. By sheer luck, or by default his son Jaunutis, is with him in Vilinus at the time of his death and with the help of his mother Jieva succeeds his father as Grand Duke. Some sources claim his mother Jieva, had been the High Priestess, of the Pagan faith at the time his father had decided to marry her, and as a result held great sway over Lithuania’s politics. During his life Gediminas pursued many policies that allowed him to control his country effectively. Even though there was a long held practice of slavery, amongst Lithuanian Pagans, Gediminas, allowed conquered people to retain their native languages and Religious Faiths, retaining some local Lords and customs, and even recognizing ownership of land and livestock. In reaction, to the increasing attacks and raids, by the Teutonic knights, the Grand Duke, entered into diplomatic discussions with the Pope in Avignon. In part these entreaties only served to confuse the situation, because in one breath the Christians were talking of treaties, and in the next breath, the Teutonic Order was raiding into Lithuania, converting people at the tip of a sword, or killing entire villages, and burning them to the ground. Confusing, isn’t it, when you fully consider it. He married off all of his daughters into marriages of political and territorial alliances, furthering his ambitions for Lithuania. He started a policy of expansion that was later followed vigorously by his sons, Algridas, and Kestutis. The medieval world considered Lithuania to be “terra nullis’ and therefore vacant, this lead to Ludwig IV of Bavaria, Holy Roman Emperor, awarding Lithuania to the Teutonic Order in 1337, this in spite of the ongoing diplomatic missions between the Grand Duke and the Holy father. Gediminas resisted the Teutonic Order successfully until his death, when sadly, a weak Jaunutis with the help of his mother seized the Dukedom. Three years passed before Jieva’s death, and finally Jaunutis’s half brothers Algridas and Kestutis to mounted a coup, forcing Jaunutis to step down as Grand Duke. Sending him to rule a minor Dukedom in the territory of Zaslavi, where he remained, and never challenging his brothers again. The remaining brothers swore loyalty to the new Grand Duke Algridas, where upon he and his brother ruled Lithuania almost as a Dual-duchy. Their combined skills allowed them to successfully repel the advance of the Teutonic Order, and further add to their father’s territories. No matter what our personal views are on religion, slavery, and fourteenth century history, we must recognize the simple fact that Gediminas founded a successful ruling dynasty that would, in their minds protect Pagan Lithuania from the scourge of Christendom. Throughout Gediminas’s reign, he had maintained trade agreements with Denmark, and other European kingdoms, sending the finest Amber and furs across the known world. Even today the finest Amber still comes from the Baltic. Should anyone be able to correct, or further my knowledge, I would be most grateful for the corrections, and help. Author; Warwick Hill (Jnr) 7th October 2012.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:57:23 +0000
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