Gediminas

Gediminas (known under the names of Giedymin or Gedymin in Ruthénie and Poland, Hiedymin ( Гедымін ) or Hiedzimin ( Гедзімін ) in Bielorussia) was born towards 1275 and deceased in 1341. It becomes large-duke of Lithuania in 1316 and a very powerful State.

Gediminas goes up on the throne of Lithuania after the death of his/her brother Vytenis. In 1320, it annexes the Duché Loutsk, founds the town of Białystok and obtains a first victory over the teutonic Chevaliers. The following year, it begins negotiations with the papacy of Avignon on a possible conversion of Lithuania to the Christianisme. In 1323, it makes town of Vilnius, which it founded, the capital of Lithuania.

He writes with the Pape to announce his will to him to adopt the Catholicisme. He invites monks, craftsmen, tradesmen and farmers to come to be established in Lithuania. For Teutoniques, this apparent will of conversion is only one trick of Gediminas to increase its supremacy and to get rid of them. In 1324, Gediminas gives up being made baptize following the rumors propagated in Europe by Teutoniques on its support for the pagan and the orthodoxe .

In war against the Order teutonic, he concludes an alliance with Ladislas I {{er}} the Brief in 1325. His/her daughter marries Casimir III Large the, the son of Ladislas. This alliance and marriage bring peace on the border between Poland and Lithuania. The February 10th 1326, the armies Polish and Lithuanian launch an offensive against the Brandebourg (Nouvelle Walk) and seize the Fortified town of Międzyrzecz. In 1327, Teutoniques ransack the Cujavie (Poland) and the Samogitie (Lithuania). To the beginning of the year 1329, the armies of Bohemia and Order teutonic leave in Croisade, attack and seize the fortified towns most important of the Lithuanian area of Samogitie. At the same time, king Ladislas the Brief starts to invade the grounds controlled by the Order in Prussia what obliges the crusaders to be folded up on Poland.

In 1331, Gediminas Marie one of her daughters with Georges II of Galicie-Volhynie. Alliance with Poland is broken following a personal quarrel between Gediminas and Ladislas the Brief.

The November 15th 1337, the emperor Louis IV of Bavaria offers Lithuania to Teutoniques but Gediminas manages to drive out them.

In 1340, after the death of Georges II of Galicie-Volhynie, Gediminas and Casimir III the Large one clash to control the Rus' de Halych-Volodymyr.

Gediminas dies in December 1341. During its reign, it increased considerably the territory of its state while becoming the Master of the duchies of Minsk, Pinsk, Tourov and Vitebsk. It also annexed the Eastern Podlachie and part of the Volhynie. It extended the influence of Lithuania on the Russian grounds (Kiev, Pskov, Novgorod, Tver). It prevented the Order teutonic from taking the control of Lithuania. It established commercial relations with towns of Livonie pertaining to the Hanse, like Rīga. It founded many cities.

After its death, Lithuania is divided between its sons which were entredéchirent. Lithuania weakens following the dismemberment Féodal.

Be-X-old: Гедзімін

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