European Kingdoms

Lithuania
AD 1236 - 1795

The Lithuanians were a native Baltic people, and were not Slavic at all. Baltic people have lived around the shores of Mare Suebicum, the Baltic Sea, and as far east as Moscow for several thousand years, pre-dating the arrival of the Indo-Europeans.

Lithuanian rulers held the title of "kunigaikshtis", which can translate equally into "duke" or "king". Later, however, the word "karalius" was used to specifically denote a king. This is a Slavic derivative of "Carolus", better known as Charles the Great / Charlemagne (the German/Russian use of Kaiser/Czar descends in much the same way from "Caesar"). Lithuania at that time was situated slightly further towards the south than it is today, and occupied the southern area of modern Lithuania and centre of Belarus, between Minsk and Navahradak.

(Corrections by Gediminas Kiveris and Yury Kanavalau. Some names have varied spellings.)

Kingdom of Lithuania

1236 - 1263

Mindaugas / Mindouh

Converted to Christianity.

1236 - 1263

Mindouh consolidates eastern Lithuanian and western Belarusian territories into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Ruthenia, with the capital based at Navahradak.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania (& Ruthenia)

1263 - 1264

Treniota

Reverted to paganism.

1264 - 1267

Vaisvilkas

1267 - 1270

Svarnas

1270 - 1281/2

Traidenis

c.1283 - 1294

Pukuveras

1295 - 1316

Viten / Vytenis

1316 - 1341

Gediminas / Hedymin

1323

Hedymin transfers the capital to Vilnius.

1341/2 - 1345

Jaunutis

Son.

1341 - 1377

Algirdas / Olgierd / Alhierd

Brother.

1341 - 1377

Alhierd expands Lithuanian territory eastwards, bringing it into conflict with the grand duchy of Moscow State.

1377 - 1381

Jogaila / Jagiello

Son. Converted. m.Jadwiga. Became Wladyslaw V of Poland.

1381 - 1382

Kestutis

Brother of Algirdas.

1382 - 1401

Jogaila / Jagiello

1385

Union of Kreva. It later becomes a personal union between Lithuania and Poland, when Jogaila has to marry Queen Jadvyga of Poland, and accept Catholic Christianity.

1387

With Jogaila's conversion to Christianity, Lithuania becomes the last state in Europe to end its pre-Christian paganism (although the Lithuanian Zemaitija - the Samogitians - are not converted until after the battle of Tannenberg in 1410).

1401 - 1430

Vytautas / Witold the Great

Regent (1392-1401). Grand Duke (1401).

1410

Lithuania and Poland defeat the Teutonic Knights at Tannenberg, becoming dominant for a time over Eastern Europe. Under Vytautas, Lithuania reaches the height of its territorial expansion, the equivalent size of fifteen modern Lithuanias.

1429

At the assembly of East and Central European leaders, held in Lutsk, Ukraine, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund von Luxembourg offers Lithuania a crown.

1430

Protests are made by the Polish Royal Council in their efforts to deny Lithuania crown status. Poland refuses passage to the Emperor's envoys and their offering of a crown to Lithuania. The coronation of Vytautas in Vilnius fails. On 27 October, Vytautas dies (or is killed). His remains are entombed at the Vilnius Cathedral (then known as St Stanislaus' Church).

1430 - 1432

Swidrygiello / Svitrigaila

1430 - 1432

Grand Duke Svitrigaila attempts to implement Vytautas' goal of achieving a coronation. However, he is removed from power due to the efforts of Polish politicians.

1432 - 1440

Zygmunt

1440 - 1492

Kazimierz / Casimir

Also king of Poland (1446-1492).

1446

Grand Duke Casimir gains the throne of Poland and becomes Casimir IV, king of Poland, as well as retaining command of the grand duchy.

1492 - 1501

John I Albert

Also king of Poland.

1500

Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia begin their defensive wars again the grand duchy of Moscow.

1501 - 1506

Alexander

Also king of Poland.

1506 - 1544

Sigismund I

Also king of Poland.

1529

The first Lithuanian Statute. The state system, governmental and administrative organs, and the status of the privileged nobility are legally formulated by virtue of the Statute.

1544 - 1569

Sigismund II Augustus

Also king of Poland.

1548

Upon his father's death, Sigismund II assumes the crown of Poland.

1561

Lithuania gains Livonia (which includes modern Latvia and southern Estonia).

1569

Union of Poland & Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia, establishing the Commonwealth of Poland. Sigismund becomes king of a united Poland & Lithuania.