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44-626: In 1389, Vytautas started a civil war against Skirgaila , Jogaila's unpopular regent in Lithuania. Skirgaila was appointed after Jogaila signed the Union of Krewo in 1385 and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. The Lithuanians were dissatisfied with the growing Polish influence in Lithuania. Vytautas promised Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights in reward for their military assistance. Their joint armies made frequent incursions into Lithuania;

88-580: A large state, inhabited by pagan Lithuanians and Orthodox Ruthenians . For the last century, Lithuanians defended themselves from the Teutonic Knights , a crusading military order dedicated to conversion of the Grand Duchy into Catholicism. Jogaila understood that the conversion was inevitable and searched for the best opportunities. The Treaty of Dubysa of 1382 with the Knights included provisions of Jogaila's conversion within four years. However,

132-520: A new civil war , but after an unsuccessful attack on Vilnius he had to seek help from the Teutonic Knights . In 1392 Jogaila and Vytautas signed the Ostrów Agreement , and Vytautas became his regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Duchy of Trakai was returned to Vytautas as his patrimony. As a compensation Skirgaila received a portion of Volhynia and Kiev since 1395. The circumstances surrounding his death are not entirely clear. He

176-584: The Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384) . Some historians speculate that Kęstutis' death after a week in prison was in fact assassination carried out by Skirgaila. As a reward for a job well done, Skirgaila received the Duchy of Trakai . When Jogaila was preparing for the Union of Kreva , Skirgaila was actively involved in the negotiations and even headed a diplomatic mission to Poland. The negotiations succeeded and Jogaila married Jadwiga of Poland and

220-594: The Treaty of Melno in 1422. Skirgaila Skirgaila ( Latin : Schirgalo ; Belarusian : Скіргайла ; Polish : Skirgiełło , also known as Ivan / Iwan ; ca. 1353 or 1354 – 11 January 1397 in Kiev ( Kyiv ); baptized 1383/1384 as Casimir ) was a regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for his brother Jogaila from 1386 to 1392. He was the son of Algirdas , Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver . After Algirdas' death in 1377, Jogaila became

264-416: The Treaty of Salynas in 1398. Simon Grunau spread a false rumor that Iwan and Georg, two young sons of Vytautas, were poisoned by a knight to revenge their father for the betrayal. No reliable historical sources know about such incident or any sons that Vytautas fathered. During the summer Jogaila met Vytautas in person in the place called Ostrowo . The exact location of the agreement is not known, due to

308-679: The Wawel Cathedral . Jogaila's new baptismal name Wladislaus was chosen in honor of Jadwiga's great-grandfather king Władysław I the Elbow-high , the penultimate Piast . Jogaila married Jadwiga on 18 February and was crowned jure uxoris as King of Poland on 4 March. Due to negative propaganda by William of Austria and the Teutonic Knights, the marriage was not confirmed by Pope Urban VI (1378–1389); only Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404) declared it legitimate. Right after

352-664: The Grand Duke. It is believed that the dynastic disputes that soon erupted between him and his uncle Kęstutis and his cousin Vytautas the Great were largely inspired by Skirgaila. It is known about his travels to the Teutonic Knights in 1379 just a year prior to the controversial Treaty of Dovydiškės . Skirgaila was the chief supporter of his brother Jogaila and helped him to imprison both Kęstutis and Vytautas in Kreva castle during

396-408: The Knights held many Vytautas' relatives as hostages. It took some time for him to receive permission from the Knights to transfer the relatives to relative safety. For example, his wife Anna was freed so that she could travel to Lithuania and spread pro-Lithuanian rumors and convert remaining pagans; many nobles were asked to take part in military campaigns. In July 1392 Vytautas openly turned against

440-494: The Neman River to Merkinė . One body of the invaders was left to plunder the countryside and secure route of retreat, another marched about sixty miles east of Hrodna, and the main force reached Navahrudak deep inside Lithuania. Later the same year another campaign was organized. The crusaders marched through Kernavė and on 29 August 1394 attacked Vilnius. While the siege failed it prompted Vytautas to start negotiations. He

484-521: The Polish delegation. Jogaila briefly described the mission of the Lithuanian delegation and, in exchange for marriage to Jadwiga, agreed to the following: It was guaranteed by the seals of Jogaila's brothers Skirgaila , Kaributas , Lengvenis and their cousin Vytautas . Because the document contained promises and guarantees only by one party, Lithuanian historian Jūratė Kiaupienė concluded that

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528-628: The Polish nobles in Kraków and then before Queen Elizabeth, Jadwiga's mother, in Buda . A Polish delegation – two Elizabeth's envoys and three Polish nobles – was sent to Lithuania. Upon return of the Lithuanian delegation, Jogaila confirmed in writing all the promises, made on his behalf in Poland. This confirmation is known today as the Union of Krewo. The 560-word document is addressed to Queen Elizabeth and

572-613: The Polish throne. By the time Lithuanian envoys participated in Jadwiga's coronation in fall 1384, Jogaila's candidacy was widely known. In mid-1385, Jogaila sent an official delegation to Poland. It included his brother Skirgaila , Duke Boris (possibly his cousin and son of Karijotas ), and merchant Hanul of Riga . Hanul helped Jogaila to recapture Vilnius during the Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384) and represented interests of merchants, who saw great trade potential between Poland and Lithuania. The representatives first appeared before

616-532: The Teutonic Knights delivering a crushing defeat in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The Ostrów Agreement ended the civil war and over decade of power struggle, but not the war with the Teutonic Knights. They sought Samogitia , which was promised to them by Vytautas. In January 1393 Hrodna fell; in 1394 a large army assembled in Prussia. Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen led crusaders to Kaunas and then south along

660-403: The Teutonic Knights. He spread false rumors that the army of Jogaila and Skirgaila was moving towards Hrodna and organized his forces for a campaign against them. However, instead of marching to Hrodna, Vytautas attacked Ritterswerder and two other understaffed Teutonic castles on the Neman River before returning to Vilnius. His brother Sigismund Kęstutaitis remained in Prussia as prisoner until

704-532: The Union of Krewo did not bring the expected results. In such situation Jogaila decided to seek a compromise with Vytautas. Jogaila sent a secret envoy, Henry of Masovia , Bishop of Płock , to negotiate with Vytautas and convince him to accept Jogaila's compromise. The negotiations were started in the Ritterswerder Castle on an island the Neman River near Kaunas , where Vytautas resided at

748-588: The Vikhra River near Mstislavl on 29 April 1386, during which Sviatoslav lost his life. Sviatoslav son Yury of Smolensk was forced to accept Lithuanian suzerainty in exchange of princely throne. Later Skirgaila attacked Polatsk; his first expedition in October was unsuccessful, but the next on March 1387 resulted in Andrei's capture and death of his son Simeon, who was killed in a battle. Next month Skirgaila

792-629: The beginning of four centuries of shared history of the two polities. By 1569 the Polish–Lithuanian union had developed into a new state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , which lasted until the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. Louis I of Hungary died on 10 September 1382. Since he had only two surviving daughters, Mary (born ca. 1371) and Jadwiga (born ca. 1373), Poland faced a succession crisis. Candidates for

836-406: The decades-long Galicia–Volhynia Wars , but also saw opportunities to regain lands lost to Hungary and regarded the Teutonic Knights as the common enemy. It is unknown who and when proposed Jogaila as the groom for Jadwiga. Some hints show that planning and negotiations might have started as early as 1383. For example, Jogaila attacked Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia , when he advanced his claims for

880-827: The discovery of the original document in 1835 in a register in the Archives of the Cracow Cathedral Chapter, the Union of Krewo was unknown. Usually, important state documents were archived at the Crown Archive. It was neither referenced in any contemporary documents nor cited by medieval historians. No chronicles or other written sources mentioned the August 1385 meeting in Kreva. That led the Lithuanian American lawyer Jonas Dainauskas to question

924-668: The federal state Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was established. Finally, the Constitution of 3 May 1791 declared that both states were one, albeit that this was denounced in 20 October amendments (the Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations ). Soon after, they were separated in form, spending most of the 19th century under Russian control but kept administratively separate. In the early 20th century, both states established their independence and since then, they have had no ties with each other in any formal sense. Up until

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968-880: The haste was later criticized at the Council of Constance . On 17 February 1387 Jogaila decreed that he would build Vilnius Cathedral and petition the pope to establish the Diocese of Vilnius , which he awarded with land possessions in Tauragnai , Labanoras , Molėtai . Two other privileges, issues on 20 February and 4 March 1387, awarded nobles who would convert to Christianity with new rights and granted Magdeburg rights to Vilnius. This served not only as an incentive for conversion but also equalized nobility rights in Poland and Lithuania. Jogaila left his brother Skirgaila as his regent in Lithuania. He proved to be unpopular and Lithuanian nobility resented growing Polish influence in

1012-515: The largest attack was launched in the early fall of 1390 when Vilnius was besieged for five weeks. Invaders managed to capture the Crooked Castle and turn much of the suburbs into ruins, but failed to take the city. Both sides realized that a quick victory would be impossible and raids were devastating the same country which they sought to rule. Polish nobles were dissatisfied that Jogaila spent so much attention on Lithuanian matters and that

1056-530: The marriage and coronation, Jadwiga and Vytautas marched to Galicia where they defeated Hungarian forces and secured some 97,000 square kilometres (37,000 sq mi) in western Podolia . Andrei of Polotsk , Jogaila's eldest brother, used his absence to renew struggle for the throne of Lithuania. Andrei attacked southeast of Polotsk , the Livonian Order attacked Duchy of Lithuania , and Sviatoslav of Smolensk attacked Mstsislaw . The rebellion

1100-449: The popularity of such toponym in the region. The most likely place where the two rulers met is Ostrów Lubelski , close to the border of both countries. Another possbile location is Ostrovo mansion near Lida in modern Belarus . Its exact location is not known, but one suggested site is near Dzitva River to the east of the village of Yantsavichy . Jogaila handed over the government of Lithuania to his cousin in exchange for peace. Vytautas

1144-476: The state. Vytautas seized the opportunity to renew his struggle for power and the Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392) broke out. This was resolved with the Ostrów Agreement – Vytautas became the Grand Duke of Lithuania while Jogaila retained rights of an overlord. Vytautas conducted independent internal and foreign affairs, but cooperated with Jogaila. A celebrated example of the Polish–Lithuanian cooperation

1188-552: The throne included Mary's fiancé Sigismund of Luxembourg , Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia , and Vladislaus II of Opole . Mary and her fiancé were rejected by the Polish nobles, who did not wish to continue a personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary . Polish nobles competed with each other and a brief civil war broke out in Greater Poland . Eventually, after long negotiations with Jadwiga's mother Elizabeth of Bosnia , who

1232-464: The time. To avoid arousing the suspicion of the Teutonic Knights, Henry proposed to Vytautas' sister Rymgajla and they soon married. The quick marriage of a Catholic official (though he had not received the Holy Orders of priesthood) and his sudden death within a year were scandalous and sparked many rumors and speculations. Vytautas accepted Jogaila's proposal, but could not act immediately, as

1276-480: The treaty was never ratified. Accepting Christianity from a long-standing enemy was dangerous, unpopular, and could push Lithuania into dependence of the Knights. In 1384, Jogaila explored another option, presented by the Grand Duchy of Moscow and brokered by his Orthodox mother Uliana of Tver : converting to Orthodoxy and marrying Sophia, daughter of Dmitry Donskoy . However, in the eyes of Catholics, Orthodoxy

1320-432: The underage reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland . Though very limited in scope, the "Union of Krewo", in historiography, often refers not only to the particular document but to events of 1385–1386 as a whole. After the 1385 negotiations, Jogaila converted to Christianity , married Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. The union proved a decisive moment in the histories of Poland and Lithuania ; it marked

1364-619: The union could not have been a final international treaty and that there should have been another document finalizing the agreement. On 11 January 1386 a Polish delegation met Jogaila in Vawkavysk and presented him with a pre-election pact, declaring that the Polish nobility agreed to elect him as their new king. The election was concluded on 1 February in Lublin . On 12 February Jogaila and his relatives arrived in Kraków and were baptized by Bodzanta , Bishop of Gniezno , three days later in

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1408-399: Was crowned as King of Poland in 1386. He appointed Skirgaila on 13 March 1386 as governor in Lithuania, not only on his behalf but also on behalf of queen Jadwiga and Polish Crown. As ruler of Lithuania, Skirgaila had to deal with his oldest brother Andrei , who still was refusing to accept Jogaila as a Grand Duke. First he defeated Andrei's ally Sviatoslav II of Smolensk in a battle of

1452-625: Was drifting away from Poland, but the defeat of Vytautas army in the Battle of the Vorskla River against the Golden Horde in 1399 forced to renew the union and conclude the Union of Vilnius and Radom in 1401. It legalized Vytautas independence in the Grand Duchy giving him all the powers of sovereign ruler. However, after his death all lands and powers were to return to the King of Poland. The two countries turned their joint forces against

1496-429: Was enacted in several phases, adjusting the equivocal points stated in the Union of Krewo . The treaty strengthened Lithuania's central government as well. Vytautas began his reign as the Grand Duke. It is not entirely known what powers were given to him by Jogaila, but he had considerable independence. He replaced some of Jogaila's brothers and supporters with trusted viceroys appointed from Lithuanian nobles: Skirgaila

1540-428: Was forcibly removed by Polish nobles. It is unclear whether he succeeded in consummating the marriage, but biased Austrian sources continued to accuse Jadwiga of bigamy . Nobles from Lesser Poland , including Spytek of Melsztyn , Jan of Tarnów , and Jan Tęczyński, proposed that Jadwiga marry Jogaila , Grand Duke of Lithuania . Grand Duke Algirdas died in 1377 and left the throne to his son Jogaila . He inherited

1584-563: Was interred in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra . [REDACTED] Media related to Skirgaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania at Wikimedia Commons Union of Krewo In a strict sense, the Union of Krewo or Act of Krėva (also spelled Union of Krevo , Act of Kreva ; Polish : unia w Krewie ; Lithuanian : Krėvos sutartis ) comprised a set of prenuptial promises made at Kreva Castle on 14 August 1385 by Jogaila , Grand Duke of Lithuania , in regard to his prospective marriage to

1628-485: Was invested in Polatsk and once again pledged his loyalty to Jogaila, Jadwiga and Polish Crown, promising return of his land in case of his heirless death. Skirgaila was now directly ruling over large portion of Lithuania, including duchy of Vilnius, ruled on behalf of Jogaila. February 20, 1387 Jogaila elevated his brother above other Lithuanian princes and extended his authority over Ruthenian lands. In 1389 he started

1672-510: Was not any better than paganism. Therefore, such conversion would not protect from the Teutonic attacks. A third option, presented by Polish nobles, avoided major pitfalls of the Teutonic or Muscovite proposals. The relations between Poland and Lithuania were not particularly friendly. The two states were allies before, when Jogaila's aunt Aldona of Lithuania was Queen of Poland between 1325 and 1339. Poland and Lithuania battled each other in

1716-492: Was quickly subdued. At the end of 1386 Jogaila returned to Vilnius to carry out his other promise – to convert the Grand Duchy to Catholicism. He brought some priests, established the first seven parishes, and, according to Jan Długosz , even personally translated Lord's Prayer and Apostles' Creed into the Lithuanian language . New converts were baptized en masse , with little teaching, and were awarded wool shirts;

1760-423: Was regent of Hungary, Jadwiga arrived in Kraków and was crowned as King of Poland (not as Queen of Poland , to emphasize her rights to the throne) on 15 October 1384. The new monarch still needed a suitable husband. She was betrothed to William of Austria , who in summer 1385 traveled to Poland in an attempt to consummate the proposed marriage and present a fait accompli . He succeeded in reaching Wawel , but

1804-415: Was removed from Polotsk , Švitrigaila from Vitebsk , Kaributas from Severian Novgorod , Vladimir from Kiev , Fyodor Koriatovych from Podolia , and Fyodor Lubartovich from Volhynia . He also made territorial secession in 1398 without approval from Jogaila. While Skirgaila always signed documents first in the name of Jogaila and only then in his own name, Vytautas used only his own name. Lithuania

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1848-602: Was still busy establishing his newly acquired power in the east. The Knights contemplated expedition against the Victual Brothers in Gotland as their piratical activities interfered with trade of the Hanseatic League . A preliminary truce was signed in 1396 and final Treaty of Salynas in 1398. It was only a temporary peace and hostilities would lead to the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and would drag until

1892-425: Was the decisive victory in the Battle of Grunwald (1410) against the Teutonic Knights . Vytautas's independence and Polish–Lithuanian relations were formalized by the Union of Vilnius and Radom (1401) and Union of Horodło (1413). Thus the Grand Duchy of Lithuania retained its sovereignty. Only the Union of Lublin (1569) created a permanent union between Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, after which

1936-568: Was to rule Lithuania as its Grand Duke ( Magnus Dux ), while Jogaila adopted the higher title Supreme Prince ( Prince Supremus ). Thus Vytautas recognized that he was Jogaila's vassal whose lands upon his death would pass to the King of Poland. Skirgaila was removed from the Duchy of Trakai to become Duke of Kiev . The treaty was ratified in separate documents of the Polish and Lithuanian states as well as in separate documents signed by Anna , wife of Vytautas, and Jadwiga , wife of Jogaila. The treaty

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