Duchy of Lithuania
Encyclopedia
Duchy of Lithuania was a state-territorial formation of ethnic Lithuanians
, that existed from the 12th century until 1413. Most of the time it was a constituent part and a nucleus of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. Other alternative names of the territorial formation, used in different periods, were Aukštaitija
or Land of Lithuania (11th – 13th centuries), Duchy of Vilnius
(14th – early 15th centuries), Lithuania Propria or simply Lithuania
(in a narrow sense).
, as the Lietuva Land . It is supposed to have formed in the central Lithuania on the left bank of the Neris River and swiftly expanded eastwards. This very land was mentioned in 1009 as Litua (see Name of Lithuania
). The territory was ruled by senior dukes of an ethnic Lithuanian tribe, Aukštaitijans or "Lithuanians", in the initial meaning of the name.
After the expansion of the Lithuanian state in the 12th or 13th centuries, when it became known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Lithuania
(1251–1263), the Duchy of Lithuania became an administrative unit, governed by dukes and inherited by dynastic links. The main administrative center of the Duchy until the late 13th century might have been Kernavė
.
It is plausible that the Duchy of Lithuania, that became known as the Duchy of Vilnius since the 14th century, was formed of the eastern part of the original Duchy of Lithuania under the rule of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytenis
at the end of the 13th century; its southwestern part was transformed to a separate Duchy of Trakai
, under the dominion of Gediminas, who had established himself in the newly constructed Senieji Trakai Castle. It is known for certain that the Duchy of Trakai existed at the beginning of Kęstutis' rule in 1337 as his domain. It was a progenitor of the future Trakai Voivodeship
.
The last Duke of Lithuania was Vytautas the Great
, who received it in 1392 from Jogaila
as a result of the Astrava Treaty, who in turn had inherited it from his father Algirdas
. Since 1397, the Duchy had the status of an Eldership, comparable to that of the Eldership of Samogitia
. After the administrative reform of 1413 by Vytautas, based on the Union of Horodło, the Duchy ceased to exist, becoming a part of the newly established Vilnius Voivodeship
.
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
, that existed from the 12th century until 1413. Most of the time it was a constituent part and a nucleus of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. Other alternative names of the territorial formation, used in different periods, were Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The name comes from the relatively high elevation of the region, particularly the eastern parts.-Geography:...
or Land of Lithuania (11th – 13th centuries), Duchy of Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(14th – early 15th centuries), Lithuania Propria or simply Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
(in a narrow sense).
History
The formation emerged in the central and eastern part of the present-day Lithuania, known as AukštaitijaAukštaitija
Aukštaitija is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The name comes from the relatively high elevation of the region, particularly the eastern parts.-Geography:...
, as the Lietuva Land . It is supposed to have formed in the central Lithuania on the left bank of the Neris River and swiftly expanded eastwards. This very land was mentioned in 1009 as Litua (see Name of Lithuania
Name of Lithuania
The first known record of the name of Lithuania is in a 9 March 1009 story of Saint Bruno recorded in the Quedlinburg Chronicle . The Chronicle recorded a Latinized Slavic form of the name Lietuva: Litua pronounced [litvā]...
). The territory was ruled by senior dukes of an ethnic Lithuanian tribe, Aukštaitijans or "Lithuanians", in the initial meaning of the name.
After the expansion of the Lithuanian state in the 12th or 13th centuries, when it became known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Lithuania
Kingdom of Lithuania
The Kingdom of Lithuania was a Lithuanian monarchy which existed from 1251 to roughly 1263. King Mindaugas was the first and only crowned king of Lithuania. The status of a kingdom was lost after Mindaugas' assassination in 1263. Other monarchs of Lithuania are referred to as Grand Dukes, even...
(1251–1263), the Duchy of Lithuania became an administrative unit, governed by dukes and inherited by dynastic links. The main administrative center of the Duchy until the late 13th century might have been Kernavė
Kernave
Kernavė was a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and today is a tourist attraction and an archeological site . It is located in the Širvintos district municipality located in southeast Lithuania...
.
It is plausible that the Duchy of Lithuania, that became known as the Duchy of Vilnius since the 14th century, was formed of the eastern part of the original Duchy of Lithuania under the rule of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytenis
Vytenis
Vytenis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from c. 1295 to c. 1316. He became the first of the Gediminid dynasty to rule for a considerable amount of time. In the early 14th century his reputation outshone that of Gediminas, who is regarded by modern historians as one of the greatest Lithuanian rulers...
at the end of the 13th century; its southwestern part was transformed to a separate Duchy of Trakai
Duchy of Trakai
Duchy of Trakai was a subdivision of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the 14th and early 15th centuries. The Duke of Trakai was an important position held either by the Grand Duke of Lithuania himself or his second-in-command.-History:...
, under the dominion of Gediminas, who had established himself in the newly constructed Senieji Trakai Castle. It is known for certain that the Duchy of Trakai existed at the beginning of Kęstutis' rule in 1337 as his domain. It was a progenitor of the future Trakai Voivodeship
Trakai Voivodeship
Trakai Voivodeship, Trakai Palatinate, or Troki Voivodeship , was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1413 until 1795.-History:...
.
The last Duke of Lithuania was Vytautas the Great
Vytautas the Great
Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
, who received it in 1392 from Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
as a result of the Astrava Treaty, who in turn had inherited it from his father Algirdas
Algirdas
Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
. Since 1397, the Duchy had the status of an Eldership, comparable to that of the Eldership of Samogitia
Eldership of Samogitia
The Duchy of Samogitia had been the administrative unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1422 . Between 1422 to 1441 it was known as the Eldership of Samogitia...
. After the administrative reform of 1413 by Vytautas, based on the Union of Horodło, the Duchy ceased to exist, becoming a part of the newly established Vilnius Voivodeship
Vilnius Voivodeship
The Vilnius Voivodeship was one of voivodeships in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, created in 1413, from the Duchy of Lithuania and neighbouring lands.- Geography and administrative division :...
.
See also
- History of Lithuania (1219–1295)History of Lithuania (1219–1295)The history of Lithuania between 1219 and 1295 deals with the establishment and early history of the first Lithuanian state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The beginning of the 13th century marks the end of the prehistory of Lithuania. From this point on the history of Lithuania is recorded in...
- History of VilniusHistory of VilniusThis article is about the history of Vilnius, the capital and largest city of Lithuania.-Middle Ages:The earliest settlements in the area of present day Vilnius appear to be of mesolithic origin. Numerous archaeological findings in different parts of the city prove that the area has been inhabited...
- History of LithuaniaHistory of LithuaniaThe history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term. Lithuanians, a branch of the Baltic peoples, later conquered neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and in the 13th century the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania. The Grand Duchy...
- Lithuania properLithuania properLithuania proper refers to a region which existed within Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and spoke Lithuanian language. The primary meaning is identical to the Duchy of Lithuania, a land around which Grand Duchy of Lithuania evolved...