European Kingdoms

Samogitia (Zemaitija)

The Samogitians were Lithuanian lowlanders who lived in what is now the centre and west of the country. They were neighboured by the equally tough Semigallians, both lying between the Lithuanians and the Lats in what is now southern Latvia and western Lithuania. The Couronians lay to the immediate west, occupying the coastal area.

The territory became a duchy and retained a high level of autonomy until the Union of Poland-Lithuania, Ruthenia, Livonia, and Samogitia was effected in 1569. Samogitia is now a region in north-western Lithuania.

1205

Vetseka of Koknese gives half of his territory to Bishop Albert of Riga in return for protection against the duchy of Samogitia and the principality of Polotsk. The ruler of the Samogitians is presumed to be Dangeruther at this time, a relative of Mindaugas of Lithuania, although there are no firm dates at all for the state until 1214.

? - 1214

Dangeruther

fl 1230s

Erdvilas

Possibly shared power for a time with Vykintas.

c.1236 - 1251

Vykintas / Vykynt

Died 1261.

1236 - 1238

The Livonian Knights are decimated by the Samogitians and Semigallians at the Battle of Schaulen (Saule), thereby allowing the Lithuanians to consolidate their territories and form a single state.

Early Samogitia is shown on this old map, clearly differentiated from Lithuania proper and resting on the shores of Mare Sarmaticum (the Baltic Sea)

c.1240

The Samogitians become vassals of the all-powerful creator of the Lithuanian state, King Mindaugas.

c.1240 - 1248

Dausprungas / Dovsprynk

Vassal of Lithuania.

1248 - 1250?

Erdzivil

In Brest, Grodno & Smolensk.

c.1248 - 1263

Tautvila / Tovtivil

In Polotsk.

1253

Mindaugas is crowned king of Lithuania, and he transfers part of the Samogitian territories to the Livonian Knights as a means of ensuring peace.

1259

At the end of a two year truce, the eager Samogitians inflict a defeat on the Livonian Knights at the Battle of Skuodas under the leadership of Treniota, nephew of the Lithuanian king, Mindaugas. Their success encourages the Semigallians to rebel against the rule of the Knights.

1260 - 1263

The Samogitians inflict a severe defeat on a joint army of Livonian Knights and Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Durbe in 1260 (now in south-western Latvia). Mindaugas is encouraged by Treniota to support the resulting rebellions against Teutonic rule, and Treniota organises military campaigns into Livonia until his own position has been strengthened. Then in 1263 he assassinates his uncle, returns the Lithuanians to paganism and takes over their governance.

1263 - 1264

Treniota

Son of Vykintas. Usurped the Lithuanian throne in 1263.

c.1265 - 1267

Gerden

In Nalse.

1267 - 1270

Sviendorog

1270 - 1275

Giemund

c.1280 - 1294

Pukuveras / Butvydas

in Eiragola. Became ruler of Lithuania (1291-1294).

1294 - 1341

Pukuveras' accession to the Lithuanian throne unites Samogitia to the crown on a permanent basis. The son of Pukuveras rules both as a single political entity.

1341 - 1382

Kestutis / Kiejstut

Brother of Algirdas of Lithuania. Usurped the throne in 1381.

1381

While Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania is away, attempting to reinforce his brother's rule in Polotsk, his uncle, Kestutis, removes him from the throne, triggering the Lithuanian Civil War (1381-1384). Jogaila manages to win back control over the country.

1382 - 1390

Skirgaila

Governor.

1387

With King Jogaila's conversion to Christianity, as part of his accession to the Polish throne, Lithuania becomes the last state in Europe to end its pre-Christian paganism, although the Samogitians are not converted until after the battle of Tannenberg in 1410.

1390 - 1398

Vytautas / Witold the Great

Governor. Became grand duke of Lithuania (1401-1430).

1398 - 1411

The duchy is briefly conquered by the Teutonic Knights, but the Samogitians refuse to surrender. The duchy is recovered by Lithuania after the Knights are defeated at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1410.

The Battle of Tannenberg destroyed the authority of the Teutonic Knights in the Baltics

Elders of Samogitia
AD 1411 - 1795

Following the recovery of Samogitia by the Lithuanians in 1411, the title of duke was held by the grand prince of Lithuania himself. The duchy was ruled by local government which was placed under the control of an elective elder (zhemaitija), who was elected by the Samogitian nobility and was under Lithuanian suzerainty. His seat of power was at Raseniai. The 'eldership' was much smaller than the previous Samogitian territory. It now formed the westernmost third or so of traditional Samogitia, but now with access to the Baltic Sea between the bishopric of Courland and Prussia.

1411 - 1412

Rumbaudas Valimantaitis Kesgaila

Died 1432.

1413

Following incorporation into the Lithuanian state, the pagan Samogitians finally accept Christianity, becoming the last Europeans to do so.

1412 - 1451

Mykolas Valimantaitis Kesgaila

1422

The Teutonic Knights officially cede Samogitia to Lithuania under the terms of the Treaty of Melno.

1451 - 1485

Jonas Kesgaila

Son.

c.1451

The election of Jonas is opposed by Daumantas.

c.1451

Daumantas

Rival for the eldership.

1486 - 1526

Stanislovas Janavicius

Son of Jonas.

1494

Stanislovas signs a peace agreement with Ivan III of Moscow, and marries his daughter, Helen.

1500

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

1527 - 1532

Stanislovas Stanislovaitis Janavicius

Son.

1532 - 1534

Petras Kiska

1535 - 1542

Jan / Jonas Radvila

1542 - 1543

Motiejus Vaitkevicius-Janavicius

1543 - 1544

Jurgis Bilevicius

1545 - 1561

Jeronimas Kotkevicius

1561 - 1564

Grzegorz Kotkevicius

Died 1572.

1564 - 1579

Jan / Jonas Kotkevicius

1569

The Union of Poland-Lithuania, Ruthenia, Livonia, and Samogitia is effected, establishing the Commonwealth of Poland. King Sigismund becomes king of a united Poland and Lithuania. From this point forward, Lithuania's fate is tied to that of Poland.

The 1409 Lithuanian uprising in Teutonic-held Samogitia was a thing of the past by this time, when the region was firmly integrated into the new union which covered a huge area

1579

Mikolaj Talwosz

Died 1598.

1579 - 1588

Jan / Jonas Kiska

Died 1592.

1589 - 1590

Mykolas Narusevicius

Died 1603.

1590 - 1595

Jurgis Kotkevicius

1595 - 1599

Stanislovas Radvila

1599 - 1615

Jan / Jonas Karolis Kotkevicius

Son of Jonas Kotkevicius. Died 1621.

1615 - 1619

Adomas Tolvaisas

Died 1628.

1619 - 1636

Jeronimas Valavicius

Died 1641.

1621

The Polish Commonwealth defeats a major attempt by the Ottoman empire to enter and conquer its territory when former elder of Samogitia, Jonas Karolis Kotkevicius, holds the fortress of Chocim in the path of the advancing 200,000-strong Turkish army. The first snows of winter force the Ottomans to withdraw in defeat.

1636 - 1646

Jan / Jonas Alfonsas Lackis

1646 - 1647

Aleksandras Narusevicius

Died 1653.

1647 - 1653

Jan / Jonas Radvila

Died 1655.

1653 - 1668

Jurgis Karolis Glebavicius

Died 1669.

1668 - 1669

Aleksandras Hiliaris Palubinski

Died 1679.

1669 - 1670

Stanislovas Vincentas Orda

1670 - 1678

Viktorinas Konstantas Mlecka

1678 - 1681

Stanislovas Vincentas Orda

Restored.

1681 - 1682

Kazimieras Jonas Povilas Sapiega

Died 1720.

1682 - 1684

Stanislovas Vincentas Orda

Restored for a second time. Died 1689.

1684 - 1696

Petras Mykolas Pacas

1696 - 1698

Vilhelmas Eustachijus Grotuzas

Died 1708.

1698 - 1709

Grigalius Antanas Oginski

1709 - 1710

Aleksandras Juozas Unikovski

Died 1722.

1710 - 1729

Kazimieras Zareneckas-Horbovski

1729 - 1736

Jurgis Kryspinas-Kirsensteinas

1736 - 1754

Juozas Tiskevicius

1754 - 1765

Juozas Pacas

1765 - 1781

Jan / Jonas Mikalojus Kotkevicius

1781 - 1795

Antanas Gelgudas Kotkevicius

1795

The joint kingdom of Poland-Lithuania is extinguished and Lithuania (and Samogitia as a part of the Lithuanian state) is taken entirely by the Russian empire. Today the former duchy forms the southern-central region of Latvia, while portions of its southern territory are now part of Lithuania.