Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?

Lithuanian ruler until the Krėva union used to have different titles. Although, in a variety of names, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was superior to those of the ruling dynasty. As a consequence of the Krėva union, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was being formed in a framework of two poles:...

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Main Author: Loreta Skurvydaitė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2000-12-01
Series:Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
Subjects:
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Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37245
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author Loreta Skurvydaitė
author_facet Loreta Skurvydaitė
author_sort Loreta Skurvydaitė
collection DOAJ
description Lithuanian ruler until the Krėva union used to have different titles. Although, in a variety of names, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was superior to those of the ruling dynasty. As a consequence of the Krėva union, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was being formed in a framework of two poles: on one side it was the title of Jogaila as the king of Poland, and on the other side, it was the title of Vytautas - a local and later an independent ruler of Lithuania. When Jogaila became the king of Poland, the Lithuanian title of the Lithuanian ruler was combined with that of the Polish king. The formation of the title belonging to the local Lithuanian ruler Vytautas was closely related to the title of patrimonial Lithuanian ruler - Jogaila. The first titles defined Vytautas as a local duke ruling over some territories. Under the Astrava treaty, Vytautas became Jogaila's vicegerent in Lithuania. However, on conducting local affairs he did not avoid titling himself as a grand duke of Lithuania in Russian documents. With an increase of his power, Vytautas transferred this title of grand duke to German documents. The relationships with the Orden represent only a very narrow channel with the outside world. At that time the international language was Latin. It was a high-rank diplomatic language. Thus, the Latin document of 1396, where Vytautas titled himself as the grand duke, is of very great importance. With reference to this, we can assume that Vytautas titled himself officially for the first time as the grand duke of Lithuania. Up to 1396, Vytautas was in conformity with the Astrava treaty representing himself as a vicegerent, but from 1396 he stepped over the limits of this treaty.
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spelling doaj-art-6b10a48801a749d3a4ecb52286bc85dd2025-01-20T18:13:31ZengVilnius University PressLietuvos Istorijos Studijos1392-04481648-91012000-12-01810.15388/LIS.2000.37245Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?Loreta Skurvydaitė0Vilnius University, Lithuania Lithuanian ruler until the Krėva union used to have different titles. Although, in a variety of names, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was superior to those of the ruling dynasty. As a consequence of the Krėva union, the title of the Lithuanian ruler was being formed in a framework of two poles: on one side it was the title of Jogaila as the king of Poland, and on the other side, it was the title of Vytautas - a local and later an independent ruler of Lithuania. When Jogaila became the king of Poland, the Lithuanian title of the Lithuanian ruler was combined with that of the Polish king. The formation of the title belonging to the local Lithuanian ruler Vytautas was closely related to the title of patrimonial Lithuanian ruler - Jogaila. The first titles defined Vytautas as a local duke ruling over some territories. Under the Astrava treaty, Vytautas became Jogaila's vicegerent in Lithuania. However, on conducting local affairs he did not avoid titling himself as a grand duke of Lithuania in Russian documents. With an increase of his power, Vytautas transferred this title of grand duke to German documents. The relationships with the Orden represent only a very narrow channel with the outside world. At that time the international language was Latin. It was a high-rank diplomatic language. Thus, the Latin document of 1396, where Vytautas titled himself as the grand duke, is of very great importance. With reference to this, we can assume that Vytautas titled himself officially for the first time as the grand duke of Lithuania. Up to 1396, Vytautas was in conformity with the Astrava treaty representing himself as a vicegerent, but from 1396 he stepped over the limits of this treaty. https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37245-
spellingShingle Loreta Skurvydaitė
Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
-
title Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
title_full Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
title_fullStr Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
title_full_unstemmed Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
title_short Title of Lithuanian Ruler Vytautas: When did Vytautas Start to Title Himself as the Grand Duke?
title_sort title of lithuanian ruler vytautas when did vytautas start to title himself as the grand duke
topic -
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37245
work_keys_str_mv AT loretaskurvydaite titleoflithuanianrulervytautaswhendidvytautasstarttotitlehimselfasthegrandduke