User:M.K/Laikinas2
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The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė, Belarusian: Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае, Ukrainian: Велике Князівство Литовське, Polish: Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie) was an Eastern European state of the 12th[1] /13th century untill the18th century. Founded by Lithuanians, one of the pagan Baltic tribes, whose initial lands extended in northeast part of Lithuania Aukštaitija. [2][3] Later on territory expanded beyond the boundaries of the initial area, acquiring large parts of former Kievan Rus. Grand Duchy of Lithuania covered the territory of present-day Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Transnistria and parts of Poland and Russia during the period of its greatest extent in the 15th century and was the largest state in Europe.[4]
Consolidation of Lithuanian lands started in the 12th century, as marked by extensive raids of Lithuanians towards wealthy cities such as Novgorod and Pskov. Lithuanians plundered territories of other Baltic tribes as well. The 13th century signified begining of the wars with Teutonic Knights, Livonian Order and rise of Mindaugas, who was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253.
The title Grand Duchy to Lithuania was consistently applied from the 14th century on,[5] multi-ethnic and multi-confessional shape of the state emerged only at late reign of Gediminas.[6] Gediminas not only continued to expanding state lands, but also tried to neutralize Christians military orders by diplomatic means negotiating with Holy See. During his reign state capital became Vilnius in 1323. After death of Gediminas and short reign of Jaunutis, Grand Duke title captured Algirdas, but shared his power with Kęstutis. Algirdas continued his father’s policy in East, trying to gain more influence in Slavic regions, which lead to military conflicts with Moscow. [7]
Algirdas` successor was Jogaila and according to Krewo agreement, which was signed in 1386, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania made a personal union with the Kingdom of Poland as Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila married Queen Jadwiga.Jogaila started Christianization of Lithuania in 1387, which marked conversion of Lithuanians, last pagans in Europe, [8] to the Catholic faith. Soon afterwards supreme power in Grand Duchy of Lithuania was acquired by Vytautas the Great. Vytautas lead army of Grand Duchy of Lithuania into the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, which signified downfall of the Teutonic Order. After Vytautas death, relationship with Kingdom of Poland greatly deterioated. In 1432 internal fights erupted as two pretenders, Švitrigaila and Žygimantas Kęstutaitis, rivaled for the throne. Žygimantas Kęstutaitis emerged as victorious after the Battle of Pabaiskas.[9]
After assassination of Drand Duke Žygimantas Kęstutaitis noblemen of Grand Duchy of Lithuania tried to break the personal union with Kingdom of Poland [10] and only unsuccessful wars with Muscovy forced to revive the union, despite the opposition from some noble families like Radvilos. Several attempts were made to restore and strengthen broken union ties in the 16th century, but only under the Lublin Union in 1569, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania federated into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In this federation, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had a separate government, laws, army, and treasury.[11] Death of Sigismund II Augustus, who mediated creation of Liublin Union, marked an end of Gediminids era, which representatives ruled Lithuania from the late 13th century.
During Commonwealth times, Grand Duchy of Lithuania was involved in continues and new wars, like Livonian War, Northern War and others. Despite military gains and loses cultural life flourished in Grand Duchy of Lithuania, signified by opening of Vilnius University, increased publishing of books, construction of new palaces and churches.
Union with Kingdom of Poland did not prevent from territorial loses of the state to the rising Muscovy power and finnaly in 1795, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was destroyed by the partitions among Imperial Russia, Prussia and Austria.