Imaginary portrait of Kęstutis.

Kęstutis seal from 1379

Vytautas and Kęstutis imprisoned by Jogaila. Painting by Wojciech Gerson

Litas commemorative coin dedicated to Kęstutis

Columns of Gediminas. The litas ( ISO currency code LTL symbolized as Lt plural litai or litų) is the currency of Lithuania. The Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminas (Gediminaičių stulpai are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms

Trakai Island Castle. Trakai Island Castle is located in Trakai, Lithuania on an island on the shores of Lake Galvė.

Kęstutis (pronounced /kæsˈtuːtıs/; born ca. 1297, died on August 3 or August 15, 1382 in Kreva) was monarch of medieval Lithuania. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Kreva (Крэва 'krɛva Krėva Krevas Krewo is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the He ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1381–82, with his brother Algirdas (until 1377); and was Prince of Trakai. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Algirdas, (ɑlgərdɑːs known as Olgierd Альгерд Ольгерд b Prince, from the Latin root Princeps, is a general term for a Monarch, for a member of a monarch's or former monarch's family and is a Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania He ruled over the Lithuanians and Ruthenians. Lithuanians are the Baltic Ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million The term Ruthenians (Русини Rusyny) is a culturally loaded term and has different meanings according to the context in which it is used

The name "Kęstutis" is a suffixed -utis- derivative from old form of name Kęstas or similar, which is shorten version of double theme Lithuanian names such as Kęstaras, Kęstautas (there kęs-ti means to cope). A Lithuanian personal name, like in most European cultures consists of two main elements the Given name ( vardas) followed by Family name ( Historic writing sources reflect different Lithuanian pronunciation. ^[1]

Life

Kęstutis was the son of the Grand Duke Gediminas. Gediminas (ca 1275 – winter 1341 was the Monarch of medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the title lt didysis kunigaikštis (вялікі князь His younger brother, Jaunutis, succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Lithuania. Jaunutis (literally young man, Ruthenian: Jewnut, Polish: Jawnuta, Belarusian: Jaunut (Яўнут baptized Together with his brother Algirdas, Kestutis conspired to remove Jaunutis from power. Algirdas, (ɑlgərdɑːs known as Olgierd Альгерд Ольгерд b They were successful in their efforts. They divided their holdings into an eastern and western sphere of influence. Kęstutis' efforts were concentrated in the west, while Algirdas' were concentrated in the eastern part of these territories. Kęstutis organized the defence of western Lithuania and Samogitia against the Teutonic Knights, and organized raids against the German Order. Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. Some historians claim, that this rule by two brothers has no precedent in European history. Kęstutis is sometimes credited (by the Teutonic Order) as being the last pagan with the nobility of a Knight. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.

Kęstutis employed different military as well as diplomatic means in his struggle on the western borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje In order to avoid the further clashes with the Teutonic Order, in 1349, as Lithuanian co-ruler, he started the negotiations with Pope Clement VI for the Christianization of Lithuania and had been promised royal crowns for him and his sons. Pope Clement VI (1291 &ndash December 6, 1352) born Pierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was Pope from May 1342 until his The Christianization of Lithuania (Lietuvos krikštas was the event that took place in 1387 initiated by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Algirdas willingly remained aside of the business and was concerned with the order in the Ruthenian part of the state. Algirdas, (ɑlgərdɑːs known as Olgierd Альгерд Ольгерд b The intermediary in the negotiations, Polish King Casimir III, made an unexpected assault on Volhynia and Brest in October 1349 that ruined the Kęstutis' plan. Casimir III the Great (Kazimierz Wielki April 30 1310 – November 5 1370 last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty (1333–1370 was the son of King Władysław During the Polish-Lithuanian war for Volhynia, King Louis I of Hungary made a peace agreement with Kęstutis on 15 August 1351, according to which Kęstutis obliged himself to accept Christianity and provide the Kingdom of Hungary with military aid, in exchange of the royal crown. Louis I the Great (I (Nagy Lajos Ludwik Węgierski Serbian: Lajoš I/Лајош I Croatian: Ludovik I Czech: Ludvík I Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Kingdom of Hungary (short form Hungary) was a considerable state in Central Europe that existed from 1001 to 1918 then from 1919 to 1946 The agreement was approved with a pagan ritual by Kęstutis in order to convince the other side. In fact, Kęstutis had no intentions to comply with the agreement and ran away on their road to Buda. Buda ( German: Ofen, Croatian: Budim, Slovak / Czech: Budín, Serbian: Будим or ^[2]

Kęstutis was perceived not only as a rival but also as a Knight by the German Order, and it was considered a honor to shake hands with him, although, the Duke did not reach his hand to everyone^[3].

In 1382 Jogaila, son of Algirdas and nephew of Kęstutis took control of Vilnius and then Trakai. Jogaila, later Władysław II Jagiełło (b about 1362 d 1 June 1434 was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania Kęstutis with his son Vytautas arrived at Trakai with an army. Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian:; Vitaŭt; Latin: Alexander Vitoldus; Witold Ruthenian: Vitovt; c They were to hold negotiations at the camp of Jogaila, but instead were taken prisoner there. Kęstutis was subsequently murdered at Kreva Castle. Kreva (Крэва 'krɛva Krėva Krevas Krewo is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus. His son Vytautas the Great was able to escape. Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian:; Vitaŭt; Latin: Alexander Vitoldus; Witold Ruthenian: Vitovt; c

See also

• House of Kęstutis – family tree of Kęstutis
• Gediminids

References