| Kęstutis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Grand Duke of Lithuania | |
| Reign | 1381–1382 |
| Predecessor | Jogaila |
| Successor | Jogaila |
| Born | c. 1297 Senieji Trakai,Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
| Died | 1382 (aged 84–85) Kreva, Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
| Spouse | Birutė |
| Issue | Vytautas Sigismund Kęstutaitis Danutė of Lithuania |
| Dynasty | Gediminids |
| Father | Gediminas |
| Mother | Jaunė |
| Religion | Baltic religion |
Kęstutis[a] (c. 1297 – 3 or 15 August 1382) was soleDuke of Trakai[2] from 1342 to 1382 andGrand Duke of Lithuania from 1342 to 1382, together with his brotherAlgirdas (until 1377), and with his nephewJogaila (from 1377 to 1381).[3]
Thename "Kęstutis" is a derivative from the old form of the nameKęstas, which is a shortened version of such Lithuanian names asKęstaras,Kęstautas (therekęs-ti meansto cope).[citation needed] Historic writing sources reflect different Lithuanian pronunciation.[4]
Kęstutis was the son of the Grand DukeGediminas. His younger brother,Jaunutis, succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Lithuania. Together with his brotherAlgirdas, Kestutis conspired to remove Jaunutis from power. They were successful in their efforts. They divided their holdings into an eastern and western sphere of influence. TheDuchy of Trakai was established in 1337 as a result. Kęstutis's efforts were concentrated in the west, while Algirdas' were concentrated in the eastern part of these territories. Kęstutis organized the defence of western Lithuania andSamogitia against theTeutonic Knights, and organized raids against the German Order. During Kęstutis's rule Teutonic raids into Lithuania reached the peak.[citation needed]
Kęstutis employed differentmilitary as well as diplomatic means in his struggle on the western borders of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1349, to avoid further clashes with the Teutonic Order, he started negotiations with PopeClement VI for theChristianization of Lithuania, receiving promises for royal crowns for him and his sons.Algirdas willingly remained aside of the business and was concerned with the order in the Ruthenian part of the state. The intermediary in the negotiations, Polish KingCasimir III, made an unexpected assault onVolhynia andBrest in October 1349 that ruined Kęstutis's plan. During thePolish-Lithuanian war for Volhynia, KingLouis I of Hungary made a peace agreement with Kęstutis on 15 August 1351, according to which Kęstutis obliged himself to acceptChristianity and provide theKingdom of Hungary with military aid, in exchange for the royalcrown. The agreement was approved with a pagan ritual by Kęstutis to convince the other side. In fact, Kęstutis had no intentions to comply with the agreement and ran away on their road toBuda.[5]
In March 1361, Kęstutis along with his son Patrikas and his brotherAlgirdas destroyed and took over the TeutonicEckersberg andJohannisburg castles. A small squad of Teutonic knights which was returning from the failed, attacked the camp of Kęstutis and Algirdas near the Ublik (Wobel) lake. After a skirmish Kęstutis, who was captured by the crusaders, was detained inMalbork Castle. Kęstutis, being over 60 years old at the time, was only defeated by a third experienced knight who attacked him. Negotiations regarding Kęstutis's liberation were arranged two times but without results. The ransom, which the crusaders asked for Kęstutis, was most likely too high. Kęstutis managed to escape from captivity about half a year later. He, with the help of his servant Alfas, broke a hole in a three meter-thick wall and left the castle by horses dressed up as Teutonic knights. The escape was well planned and it is assumed that Algirdas and Birutė, Kęstutis's wife, greatly contributed to the planned escape.[6]
Algirdas died in 1377 and left the throne toJogaila, his eldest son from the second marriage withUliana of Tver. Kęstutis and Vytautas continued to recognize Jogaila's authority even when his right of inheritance was challenged byAndrei of Polotsk, Algirdas' eldest son from the first marriage withMaria of Vitebsk.[7] The Teutonic Knights continued their crusade against pagan Lithuania and both Jogaila and Kęstutis looked for opportunities to establish a truce. On September 29, 1379, a ten-year truce was signed inTrakai.[8] It was the last treaty that Kęstutis and Jogaila signed jointly.[8] In February 1380, Jogaila, without Kęstutis, made a five-month truce with the Livonian Order to protect his Lithuanian domains and Polotsk.[7]
On 31 May 1380, Jogaila andGrand MasterWinrich von Kniprode signed the secretTreaty of Dovydiškės. Based on the terms of the accord, Jogaila agreed not to intervene during attacks by the Teutonic Knights against Kęstutis or his children. However, if providing aid to Kęstutis would be necessary to help to avoid any suspicions, it would not be a violation of the treaty.[9] The motives behind the treaty are not entirely clear. Some historians[who?] blamed Uliana, mother of Jogaila, or his adviserVaidila,[10] while others[who?] pointed out generational differences: Kęstutis was about 80 years old and determined not to accept Christianity while Jogaila was about 30 years old and was looking for ways to convert and modernize the country.[11] Still others[who?] suggested that the treaty was primarily directed against Andrei and his allies – brotherDmitry of Bryansk and Grand Duke of MoscowDmitri Donskoi.[12] Jogaila, having secured his western front, allied himself with theGolden Horde against theGrand Duchy of Moscow for the upcomingBattle of Kulikovo.[7]
Without violating the Treaty of Dovydiškės, the Teutonic Knights raided theDuchy of Trakai andSamogitia twice.[7] In August 1381,Komtur ofOsterode informed Kęstutis about the secret treaty.[12] In the same month Kęstutis took advantage ofPolotsk's rebellion againstSkirgaila. Jogaila was away to subdue the rebellion and his absence provided a good opportunity to captureVilnius, capital of the Grand Duchy.[10] Kęstutis became the Grand Duke while Jogaila was taken prisoner on his way back to Vilnius.[10][11] Jogaila pledged his loyalty to Kęstutis and was released. He received his patrimony,Kreva andVitebsk.[7] Kęstutis resumed war with the Teutonic Knights: his army raidedWarmia and attempted to capture Georgenburg (Jurbarkas).[8]
On 12 June 1382, while Kęstutis was away to fightDymitr Korybut ofNovhorod-Siversky and Vytautas was away in Trakai,[13] residents of Vilnius, led by merchantHanul of Riga, let Jogaila's army into the city.[7] The merchants were dissatisfied with Kęstutis's policies as they were hurting the economy, especially trade withLivonia.[7] Jogaila recaptured the throne and allied with the Teutonic Knights.[8] In the meantime Kęstutis rallied his supporters inSamogitia, his son Vytautas sought soldiers inHrodna, and his brotherLiubartas recruited inGalicia–Volhynia.[12] In August 1382 the armies of Kęstutis and Jogaila met near Trakai for a decisive battle, but it never began.[7] Both sides agreed to negotiate. Kęstutis and Vytautas arrived to Jogaila's camp, but were arrested and sent to a prison in theKreva Castle.[10] Their army was disbanded. On 15 August, five days after imprisonment, Kęstutis was found dead by Skirgaila.[11] Jogaila claimed that he hanged himself, but few believed him.[13] Jogaila organized a large pagan funeral to Kęstutis: his body was burned with horses, weapons, and other treasures in Vilnius,[13] presumably inŠventaragis' Valley. Vytautas managed to escape and continued to fight Jogaila to become Grand Duke in 1392.
Kęstutis is a popular male name in Lithuania.Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis wrote a symphonic overtureKęstutis in 1902.Petras Tarasenka, Lithuanian historian and archeologist, wrote a short storyPabėgimas (The Escape) in 1957, depicting Kęstutis's escape from the Teutonic Order captivity inMarienburg Castle. The monument to Kęstutis was erected inPrienai in 1937, and was then restored in 1990. The "Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorized Infantry Battalion" of theLithuanian Land Force was named after Kęstutis. Military district of Lithuanian partisans was named in honor of Kęstutis —Kęstutis military district.[citation needed]
TheMillennium of Russia monument has a sculpture for Kęstutis.
Kęstutis is featured in the 2021 video gameAge of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dawn of the Dukes in a campaign detailing the exploits of himself and his brother Algirdas.[14]
Kęstutis Born: c. 1296 Died: May 1382 | ||
| New title | Duke of Trakai 1345–1382 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Grand Duke of Lithuania 1381–1382 | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
