Treaty of Dubysa
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Dubysa or Treaty of Dubissa consisted of three legal acts formulated on October 31, 1382 between Jogaila
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, with his brother Skirgaila
and Konrad von Wallenrode
, Marshal of the Teutonic Knights
. During the Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)
, Teutonic Knights helped Jogaila and Skirgaila to defeat his uncle Kęstutis
with his son Vytautas. Trying to realize promises given by Jogaila during the war, Teutonic Knights organized the negotiations for the treaty. The acts were signed after six days of negotiations on an island in the mouth of the Dubysa
River. The treaty was never ratified and never came into effect. The war resumed in summer 1383.
to Christianity within four years. Samogitia
, land that physically separated the Teutonic Knights in Prussia
from uniting with its branch
in Livonia
, was ceded to the Knights up to the Dubysa River by the second act. It was the first time that during the 100-year crusade Lithuania gave up Samogitia. The third act formed a sort of four-year military alliance – both sides promised to help each other against their enemies. Jogaila also agreed not to start a war without Order's approval. Such provisions were limiting Jogaila's sovereignty. Some historians even suggested that such agreement would establish lord–vassal relationship.
All three acts (only two originals survive, the third is known from a transcript made in 1410) were signed by all sons of Algirdas
and Uliana of Tver (Jogaila, Skirgaila, Kaributas, Lengvenis
, Kirigaila, Vygantas
, and Švitrigaila
) and by Hanul, merchant from Vilnius
who opened the city gates in June 1382 allowing Jogaila to depose Kęstutis. Uliana signed only the act granting Samogitia to the Order. Lithuanian historians Danilevičius and Jonynas raised doubts whether this act is authentic or forgery from 1410s, but their thesis is not widely accepted.
prison on August 15, 1382 while Vytautas managed to escape few months later and asked the Knights for help and protection. This gave another advantage for the Knights, who pushed for ratification (placing of official stamps) of the treaty. Five times the Grand Master proposed a date, but Jogaila continuously refused. The final meeting was scheduled to take place on July 19, 1383 on the same island as original negotiations. Jogaila arrived as agreed, but the Teutonic delegation, led by Grand Master Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein, got stuck near Christmemel
(Skirsnemunė), just a few miles away from their destination, due to shallow water in the Neman River
. Insulted Jogaila refused to move from his location and meet the Grand Master. The parties separated.
Teutonic Knights declared war on July 30. They baptized Vytautas and supported his struggle against Jogaila to reacquire his patrimony. Eventually Vytautas and Jogaila reconciled in summer 1384: Vytautas re-acquired his father's lands except for Trakai
and Jogaila was crowned as King of Poland in 1386. It is not entirely clear why diplomatic talks between Jogaila and the Knights broke down. Some suggested that Jogaila already knew about the opportunity to marry Jadwiga of Poland
and become Polish King. Others argued that Uliana, mother of Jogaila, disapproved of baptism in Catholic rite as she was an Orthodox
. Yet others pointed to Masovia where tensions rose as Jogaila started a war against Siemowit IV
, who supported Vytautas and was friendly with the Knights, and Order's attempt to play Vytautas against 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...
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, with his brother Skirgaila
Skirgaila
Skirgaila , also known as Ivan; ca. 1353 or 1354 – 11 January 1397 in Kiev; baptized 1383/1384 as Casimir) was a regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for his brother Jogaila from 1386 to 1392. He was son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver.-Biography:After...
and Konrad von Wallenrode
Konrad von Wallenrode
Konrad von Wallenrode was the 24th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1391 to 1393. Modern sources are friendly towards Konrad, although they claim he was hot-blooded, proud, and had tendencies to be cruel....
, Marshal of the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
. During the Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)
Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384)
The Lithuanian Civil War of 1381–1384 was the first struggle for power between the cousins Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania and later King of Poland, and Vytautas the Great. It began after Jogaila signed the Treaty of Dovydiškės with the Teutonic Knights which was aimed against his uncle Kęstutis,...
, Teutonic Knights helped Jogaila and Skirgaila to defeat his uncle Kęstutis
Kestutis
Kęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila...
with his son Vytautas. Trying to realize promises given by Jogaila during the war, Teutonic Knights organized the negotiations for the treaty. The acts were signed after six days of negotiations on an island in the mouth of the Dubysa
Dubysa
Dubysa, at 131 km, is the 15th longest river in Lithuania. It originates just a few kilometers from Lake Rėkyva near Šiauliai city. At first it flows south, but at Lyduvėnai turns southeast and near Ariogala - southwest. Dubysa is a Samogitian river...
River. The treaty was never ratified and never came into effect. The war resumed in summer 1383.
Terms
In the first act Jogaila promised to baptize himself and convert the Grand Duchy of LithuaniaGrand 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...
to Christianity within four years. Samogitia
Samogitia
Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. It is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai/Šiaulē. The region has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian dialect...
, land that physically separated the Teutonic Knights in Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
from uniting with its branch
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
in Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
, was ceded to the Knights up to the Dubysa River by the second act. It was the first time that during the 100-year crusade Lithuania gave up Samogitia. The third act formed a sort of four-year military alliance – both sides promised to help each other against their enemies. Jogaila also agreed not to start a war without Order's approval. Such provisions were limiting Jogaila's sovereignty. Some historians even suggested that such agreement would establish lord–vassal relationship.
All three acts (only two originals survive, the third is known from a transcript made in 1410) were signed by all sons of 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...
and Uliana of Tver (Jogaila, Skirgaila, Kaributas, Lengvenis
Lengvenis
Lengvenis was one of the sons of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and the ruler of Great Novgorod Republic . He was known for his skills as a military leader....
, Kirigaila, Vygantas
Vygantas
Vygantas was Duke of Kernavė. He was one of the sons of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania , and his second wife Uliana Alexandrovna of Tver....
, and Švitrigaila
Švitrigaila
Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila (ca 1370 – 10 February 1452; was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1430 to 1432. He spent most of his life in largely unsuccessful dynastic struggles against his cousins Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis.-Struggle against Vytautas:...
) and by Hanul, merchant from 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...
who opened the city gates in June 1382 allowing Jogaila to depose Kęstutis. Uliana signed only the act granting Samogitia to the Order. Lithuanian historians Danilevičius and Jonynas raised doubts whether this act is authentic or forgery from 1410s, but their thesis is not widely accepted.
Ratification and aftermath
Kęstutis died in KrevaKreva
Kreva is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus.-History:The Kreva Castle, constructed of brick, was built by the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania at the borderland of Lithuanian ethnic lands. After his death in 1341, Kreva became the patrimony of his son and successor, Algirdas...
prison on August 15, 1382 while Vytautas managed to escape few months later and asked the Knights for help and protection. This gave another advantage for the Knights, who pushed for ratification (placing of official stamps) of the treaty. Five times the Grand Master proposed a date, but Jogaila continuously refused. The final meeting was scheduled to take place on July 19, 1383 on the same island as original negotiations. Jogaila arrived as agreed, but the Teutonic delegation, led by Grand Master Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein, got stuck near Christmemel
Christmemel
Christmemel was a frontier fortress of the Teutonic Knights on the banks of the Neman River. It was constructed of wood and earth between April 8 and 22, 1313, by Grand Master Karl von Trier...
(Skirsnemunė), just a few miles away from their destination, due to shallow water in the Neman River
Neman River
Neman or Niemen or Nemunas, is a major Eastern European river rising in Belarus and flowing through Lithuania before draining into the Curonian Lagoon and then into the Baltic Sea at Klaipėda. It is the northern border between Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast in its lower reaches...
. Insulted Jogaila refused to move from his location and meet the Grand Master. The parties separated.
Teutonic Knights declared war on July 30. They baptized Vytautas and supported his struggle against Jogaila to reacquire his patrimony. Eventually Vytautas and Jogaila reconciled in summer 1384: Vytautas re-acquired his father's lands except for Trakai
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
and Jogaila was crowned as King of Poland in 1386. It is not entirely clear why diplomatic talks between Jogaila and the Knights broke down. Some suggested that Jogaila already knew about the opportunity to marry Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
and become Polish King. Others argued that Uliana, mother of Jogaila, disapproved of baptism in Catholic rite as she was an Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. Yet others pointed to Masovia where tensions rose as Jogaila started a war against Siemowit IV
Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit IV was one of the Dukes of Masovia of the old Polish Piast royal family. His domain included the lands of Czersk, Rawa, Sochaczew, Płock and Gostynin. In 1381 he inherited Wisz and in 1387 Bełz.-Life:Siemowit IV was a son of Siemowit III...
, who supported Vytautas and was friendly with the Knights, and Order's attempt to play Vytautas against Jogaila.