Depiction of Treniota from chronicles of Alexander Guagnini, published in 1578

Treniota (Troniata; ca. Alexander Guagnini or Alessandro Guagnini (1538 – 1614 was an Italian Chronicler from Verona. 1210–1264) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1263–1264). The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje

Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. Mindaugas (ˈmındoʊgʌs ca 1203 – 12 September 1263) was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania, a title he gained ca King of Lithuania, the title of rulers of Lithuanian state recognised by the Pope. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourage Livonian Order and Teutonic Knights attacks on Lithuania, becoming king in the process, Treniota remained a staunch pagan. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world It is believed that Treniota was trusted to rule Samogitia. Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania.

Despite Mindaugas's conversion, the Teutonic Knights regularly made incursions in Lithuanian territory. After the Battle of Durbe in 1260, Treniota convinced Mindaugas to relapse from Christianity and attack the Teutonic Order, though the attack was ineffective and the Teutonic Knights were barely weakened. The Battle of Durbe (Durbes kauja Durbės mūšis was a medieval Battle fought near Durbe, 23 km east of Liepāja, in present-day Mindaugas began to question his alliance with Treniota. However, before he was able act against his pagan nephew, Treniota together with Daumantas assassinated Mindaugas and two of his sons in 1263. Daumantas, later Dovmont ( Russian: Довмонт Ruthenian: Dowmont, Belarusian: Daǔmont) Christian name Timothy Treniota usurped the throne and reverted the nation back to paganism. However, he only ruled for a year before being deposed by Vaišvilkas, the younger son of Mindaugas. Vaišelga or Vaišvilkas (also spelled as Vojszalak, Vojšalk, Vaišalgas, killed on December 9 1268) was the Prince

References

• (Lithuanian) Gudavičius, Edvardas (2004). Edvardas Gudavičius (born on September 6, 1929 in Kaunas) is one of the best known historians in modern Lithuania specializing in history of "Treniota". Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a. ): enciklopedinis žinynas. Ed. Vytautas Spečiūnas. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 23. ISBN 5-420-01535-8.  

See also

• House of Mindaugas – family tree of Treniota
• List of Belarusian rulers
• List of Lithuanian rulers