Gediminas

Gediminas (also Gedimin; * 1275, † December 1341 ) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1316. In addition to Mindaugas and Vytautas he is one of the great rulers in the Lithuanian history. Lithuania rose under him finally to Eastern European great power on and Gediminas considered himself "King of the Lithuanians and Ruthenians ."

Life

To 1293 entered into Lithuania after decades of extensive clutter with Vytenis, son of Pukuwer, again a powerful Grand Duke on the plan. After his death in 1316 his cousin Gediminas succeeds.

Gediminas proved more successful tactician who could ascend through a well-planned marriage and alliance and domestic policies Lithuania into a great power and at the same time founded the dynasty of the Gediminiden. So he declared 1323/24 to the pope intends to be baptized. The baptism was doing as Mindaugas to ward off attacks of the Teutonic Order. When his domestic situation was difficult, he pulled his Taufabsicht back.

At the same time Vilnius was capital of Lithuania, immigrants ( including Germany ) enlivened the city. It close economic relations with the Hanseatic city of Riga and Poland were built to Western Europe.

Gediminas forced several Ruthenian principalities of the former Kievan Rus 1325 its protectorate on: Smolensk, Pskov and Kiev. Other feudal Ruthenian ( Vitebsk, Turau, Pinsk ) were incorporated his state altogether. Shortly before his death in 1340 Gediminas was still the Ruthenian principality of Halych - Volhynia incorporated to inheritance of his son Liubartas his state (though Halych had to be ceded in 1349 Poland). Looting of the Tatar Golden Horde (eg 1340 /41) the state could not weaken in the longer term there.

In the north and southwest, Gediminas constant attacks of the Teutonic Order had to fight off, the target under the pretext of Christian missionary after owning Schemaitens.

Severity incursions were made especially 1329/30 and 1336 /37. He did so with varying degrees of success. When fighting with the heavily supported by aristocratic Prussia riders like King John of Luxembourg Order of Knights Gediminas beginning in December 1341 was mortally wounded in front of the Bavarian castle. According to tradition, Gediminas met near existing today " Gediminaseiche " one shot off the corner tower of the besieged castle crossbow bolts.

In the Grand Duke office by his son Jaunutis followed after.