Jump to content

Lithuanian Civil War (1432–1438)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wanwa (talk | contribs) at 23:31, 24 August 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lithuanian Civil War
File:Pabaiskas monument.JPG
Monument at the field of the Battle of Pabaiskas, which ended the war
Date1431–1435
Location
Lithuania, western Prussia, Volhynia
Result Teutonic defeat. Sigismund Kęstutaitis became Grand Duke of Lithuania
Belligerents

Eastern Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Kiev, Volhynia)
Teutonic Knights
Livonian Order

Golden Horde

Western Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Samogitian Eldership, Trakai Voivodeship, Vilnius Voivodeship, Podlasie)
File:PB Piast2 CoA.png Kingdom of Poland

Hussites
Commanders and leaders
Švitrigaila
Sigismund Korybut †
Paul von Rusdorf
Franco Kerskorff †		 Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Michael Žygimantaitis
Jogaila
Jan Čapek ze Sán

The Lithuanian Civil War of 1431–1435 was a conflict over the succession to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, after Vytautas the Great died in 1430 without leaving an heir.[1][2][3] The war was fought on the one side by Švitrigaila, and on the other by Sigismund Kęstutaitis, backed by Poland. Švitrigaila allied himself with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Paul von Rusdorf, against the Kingdom of Poland. Rusdorf's intervention in the Lithuanian succession dispute failed to secure victory for Švitrigaila.[4] The war threatened to dissever the personal union between Poland and Lithuania.[1]

When Sigismund captured power in Lithuania by staging a coup in 1432, Lithuania split into two opposing camps, and there began three years of devastating hostilities. To prevent the Knights from continuing their support of Švitrigaila, Poland backed a Hussite invasion of Prussia (1433).[5] The war ended in a decisive defeat for Švitrigaila and his ally, the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Knights, at the Battle of Pabaiskas (September 1435). Švitrigaila eventually surrendered in 1437; Sigismund Kęstutaitis ruled Lithuania for only eight years before he was assassinated in 1440.

Švitrigaila's alliance with the Christian crusading orders was also a factor in the Polish-Teutonic War (1431-1435).

Prelude

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland had created several tenuous unions in the decades preceding the conflict, including the 1392 Ostrów Agreement, the 1385 Union of Krewo, and the 1413 Union of Horodło. The two states had successfully joined forces against a common enemy, the Teutonic Knights, at the 1410 Battle of Grunwald. The Knights' defeat in the battle weakened but did not completely vanquish their military power and they continued to engage in lesser conflicts.[6] Internal tensions within the tentatively unified state persisted after the battle. While Jogaila and Vytautas had converted to Roman Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox elite, along with some Lithuanian magnates, opposed a closer union with Poland.

On 27 October 1430 Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania, suddenly died without leaving an heir or a will. His coronation as King of Lithuania had been scheduled for September 1430, but the Poles had prevented the crown from reaching Lithuania.[7] Vytautas' only daughter, Sophia of Lithuania, had married Vasily I of Moscow and had only one surviving son, Vasily II. He was Orthodox and could not lead the recently Christianized Catholic Grand Duchy.[8] Their adherence to the Orthodox faith also prevented many other Gediminids from becoming pretenders to the throne. There were two most suitable Catholic candidates: Vytautas' brother and legal heir, Sigismund Kęstutaitis, and Vytautas' cousin Švitrigaila.[8]

The Lithuanian nobles unilaterally elected Švitrigaila Grand Duke.[8] This violated the terms of the Union of Horodło of 1413, wherein the Lithuanians had pledged not to elect a new Grand Duke without the approval of the Kingdom of Poland.[8] In order to obtain Ruthenian votes, Švitrigaila had granted equal rights to Catholic and Orthodox nobles; this was to be the one lasting achievement of his brief reign.[9] Švitrigaila asked Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to send him the crown that had been intended for Vytautas.[10] The Polish nobility, led by Zbigniew Oleśnicki, were outraged and demanded that Švitrigaila acknowledge his fealty to his brother Jogaila, King of Poland.[8] Švitrigaila refused and professed full independence.[9]

The conflict was further complicated by territorial disputes in Podolia and Volhynia, which, under the terms of a 1411 agreement, were to have been ruled by Lithuania only during the lifetime of Vytautas.[8]

Teutonic invasion of Poland

Main article: Polish–Teutonic War (1431–1435)
Švitrigaila as portrayed by Alexander Guagnini

Švitrigaila fought the Polish–Lithuanian forces at Lutsk in Volhynia, and at the same time began organizing a wider anti-Polish coalition.[11] He negotiated with the Teutonic Knights, with Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, with Moldavia, with the Golden Horde, and with the dukes of the eastern lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[8] The most promising prospect as an ally was the Teutonic Order, which was seeking to undo the Polish–Lithuanian union that had led to the Order's defeat at the Battle of Grunwald (1410).[5] In June 1431 the Teutonic Knights and Švitrigaila signed the Treaty of Christmemel (modern Skirsnemunė).[8] Švitrigaila's cause was also aided by Moldavian forces led by Alexander the Good, who attacked Poland in the southeast.[11]

Pursuant to the Treaty of Christmemel, the Teutonic Knights declared war and invaded Poland,[9] whose forces where engaging Švitrigaila in Volhynia.[5] Finding little opposition, the Knights ravaged Dobrzyń Land, taking the town of Nieszawa, and tried to move on to the Kuyavia and Krajna regions. However, the Teutonic army was defeated on 13 September 1431 at Dąbki, near Nakel (now Nakło nad Notecią).[12] In September a two-year truce was signed among Poland, Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights at Staryi Chortoryisk.[10] It was more favorable to Poland, and it is not clear why Švitrigaila agreed to it.[8] The truce did not solve the underlying dispute, however. The war was transformed into a diplomatic struggle, as Poland sought to turn the Lithuanian nobles against Švitrigaila.[10]

Coup in Lithuania

Royal seal of Sigismund Kęstutaitis

On 31 August 1432, conspirators led by Sigismund Kęstutaitis attacked Švitrigaila and his escort at Ašmena, where they were staying the night.[10] Švitrigaila managed to escape to Polotsk. It is unclear what groups supported Sigismund or why. Possibly some Lithuanian nobles were displeased with favors that Švitrigaila had granted to the Orthodox dukes, but prior to the coup no opposition had manifested itself.[8] Sigismund, who had not played a major role in Lithuanian politics before the coup,[8] and who had initially supported Švitrigaila,[13] became Grand Duke and resumed the policy of union with Poland.[9] On 15 October 1432 he signed the Union of Grodno, which in essence confirmed the Union of Vilnius and Radom (1401) and granted Sigismund the same rights as Vytautas had enjoyed during his reign.[10] Following Sigismund's death, Lithuania was to return to the King of Poland. Sigismund also made territorial concessions to Poland in disputed Podolia and Volhynia.[13]

To win support from the nobles, in May 1434 Sigismund granted a privilege to both Catholic and Orthodox nobles.[13] The privilege guaranteed their right to buy, sell, exchange, gift, and inherit land. The Veldamas, a class of dependent peasants, were released from taxes and obligations to the state — all their earnings now belonged to the nobles.[14] No noble was to be punished or imprisoned for crimes without a court order.[13] Lithuania divided into two camps: supporters of Sigismund (the Lithuanian lands, Samogitia, Podlasie, Hrodna, and Minsk); and supporters of Švitrigaila (Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Kiev, Volhynia).[8] There began three years of devastating hostilities. On 8 December 1432 the armies of Švitrigaila and Sigismund met near Ašmena. Švitrigaila had enlisted the aid of Sayid Ahmad I, Khan of the Golden Horde, and had planned to attack the Grand Duchy's capital, Vilnius, and resume the throne.[15] Both sides suffered heavy losses, and final victory went to Sigismund.[11] The Teutonic Order officially observed the truce, but continued its secret support for Švitrigaila, mostly through its Livonian branch.[5]

Hussite invasion of Prussia

Main article: Hussite Wars

In June 1433 Poland allied itself with the Czech Hussites in order to stop the Teutonic Order from sending secret support to Švitrigaila via its Livonian branch.[5][16] The Teutonic Knights had supported the Pope and Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund against the heretic Hussites during the Hussite Wars. During their last and largest "beautiful ride",[5][17] the Czech forces under Jan Čapek of Sány were also supported by Pomeranian Duke Bogusław IX of the Duchy of Stolp (Słupsk).[18] For four months the Hussite army ravaged Teutonic territories in Neumark, Pomerania, and western Prussia.[4] They attacked Konitz (now Chojnice), Schwetz (now Świecie) and Danzig (now Gdańsk).[19] They captured several towns and castles, including Dirschau (now Tczew) on 29 August 1433.[16][20] Despite their failed siege of Danzig, the Hussites celebrated their "beautiful ride" by symbolically filing their bottles with water from the Baltic Sea.[20]

On 13 September 1433 a truce was signed at Jasiniec. Polish–Teutonic negotiations continued at Brześć Kujawski, and Hussite–Catholic negotiations continued at the Council of Florence and at the Czech Diet in Prague.[19] The Polish-led invasion of Neumark and Pomerania had proven successful, cutting the Teutonic Order off from support from the Holy Roman Empire, and convincing the Order to sign a treaty with the Poles.[16] On 15 December 1433, twelve-year Truce of Łęczyca was signed between the Poles and the Order at Łęczyca[16] (leading some Polish historians to divide this Polish–Teutonic War into two wars: in 1431–1433; and in 1435).[21] The Teutonic Knights agreed to most of the Polish demands, including that the Order cease its support for Švitrigaila, each side would control the territories that it occupied until a peace was signed (uti possidetis), and no party would seek mediation by foreign powers in order to alter this truce.[22][23] This marked the end of the war on Polish soil; the struggle on Lithuanian lands would continue for two more years,[24] as the truce with Poland did not extend to the Livonian Order.[22]

Decisive battle

Main article: Battle of Pabaiskas

In July and August 1433, Švitrigaila and his Livonian allies raided Lida, Kreva and Eišiškės and devastated the suburbs of Vilnius, Trakai and Kaunas.[11] The hostilities were briefly stopped by horse plague.[11] When Jogaila died in May 1434, the Order resumed its backing for Švitrigaila,[25] who rallied his supporters, including knights from the Livonian Order, the Orthodox dukes, and his nephew Sigismund Korybut, a distinguished military commander of the Hussites.[26] The final battle, at Pabaiskas, was fought in September 1435 near Ukmergė (Vilkomir, Wiłkomierz), northwest of Vilnius. It is estimated to have involved 30,000 men on both sides.[27] Švitrigaila's army, led by Sigismund Korybut, was split by the attacking Lithuanian–Polish army, led by Michael Žygimantaitis, and soundly defeated.[27]

Švitrigaila, with a small group of followers, managed to escape to Polotsk. The Livonian Order had suffered a great defeat, sometimes compared to that which had been inflicted on the Teutonic Knights at Grunwald in 1410.[25][27] On 31 December 1435 the Teutonic Knights signed a peace treaty at Brześć Kujawski. They agreed to cease their support for Švitrigaila, and in the future to support only Grand Dukes who had been properly elected jointly by Poland and Lithuania. The treaty did not change the borders that had been set by the Treaty of Melno in 1422.[28] The Peace of Brześć Kujawski showed that the Teutonic Knights had lost their universal missionary status.[8] The Teutonic and Livonian Orders no longer interfered in Polish–Lithuanian affairs; instead, Poland and Lithuania would involve themselves in the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66), the civil war that would tear Prussia in half.[4]

Aftermath

Švitrigaila was losing his influence in the Slavic principalities and could no longer resist Poland and Sigismund. On 4 September 1437 he attempted to reconcile with Poland: he would rule the lands that still backed him (chiefly Kiev and Volhynia), and after his death these territories would pass to the King of Poland.[29] However, under strong protest from Sigismund, the Polish Senate declined to ratify the treaty .[11] In 1438 Švitrigaila withdrew to Moldavia.[30] The reign of Sigismund Kęstutaitis was brief — he was assassinated in 1440. Švitrigaila returned from exile in 1442 and ruled Lutsk until his death a decade later.[11]

Jogaila's son Casimir IV Jagiellon, born in 1426, received approval as a hereditary hospodar from Lithuania's ruling families in 1440.[31] This event is seen by the historians Jerzy Lukowski and Hubert Zawadzki as marking the end of the succession dispute.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b S. C. Rowell (1994). Lithuania ascending: a pagan empire within east-central Europe, 1295-1345. Cambridge University Press. p. 69. On the civil war in Lithuania between Švitrigaila and Jogaila Algirdaičiai and Žygimantas Kestutaitis which almost destroyed the union of Lithuania with Poland, see...
  2. ^ Vauchez, André (2000). Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, Volume 1. Routledge. p. 163. After the death in 1430 of Vitold (Vytautas), who had governed the Grand Duchy under the nominal sovereignity of Jagiello, discrimination against the Ruthenians led to a civil war. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Greenbaum, Masha (1995). The Jews of Lithuania: a history of a remarkable community, 1316-1945. Gefen Publishing House. p. 10. One year before his death in 1430, Vytautas reconfirmed the union with Poland. His death triggered a civil war...
  4. ^ a b c Christiansen, Eric (1997). The Northern Crusades. London: Penguin Books. pp. 242–243. ISBN 0-14-026653-4.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 306–308. ISBN 0-929700-25-2.
  6. ^ France, John (2005). The Crusades and the expansion of Catholic Christendom, 1000-1714. Routledge. p. 265. ISBN 9780415371285. The costs of these troops and the nagging wars with Poland, which ended indecisively in 1435, bore heavily upon the cities, merchants, and knightly settlers in Prussia, with the result that the Grand Master found ever more resistance to his central and despotic control.
  7. ^ Koncius, Joseph B. (1964). Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania. Miami: Franklin Press. pp. 182–184. LCC 66089704.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kiaupa, Zigmantas (2000) [1995]. The History of Lithuania Before 1795 (English ed.). Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History. pp. 205–211. ISBN 9986-810-13-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c d Gieysztor, Aleksander (1998). "The kingdom of Poland and the grand duchy of Lithuania, 1370–1506". The New Cambridge Medieval History, c.1415–c.1500. Vol. 7. Cambridge University Press. pp. 734–735. ISBN 0521382963.
  10. ^ a b c d e Template:Lt icon Kiaupienė, Jūratė (2002). "Gediminaičiai ir Jogailaičiai prie Vytauto palikimo". Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės. Vilnius: Elektroninės leidybos namai. ISBN 9986-9216-9-4. Retrieved 2008-07-02. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Švitrigaila". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. V. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 348–350. LCC 74-114275.
  12. ^ Template:Pl icon Biskup, Marian (1967). "Najazd krzyżacki na Polskę i bitwa pod Dąbkami 1431". Zeszyty Naukowe Wojskowej Akademii Politycznej. Historia (15).
  13. ^ a b c d Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Žygimantas". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. VI. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 361–363. LCC 74-114275.
  14. ^ Template:Lt icon Tarvydienė, Marytė Elena (2007). Žemėtvarkos pagrindai (PDF). Lithuanian University of Agriculture. pp. 22–24.
  15. ^ Template:Lt icon Jonas Zinkus; et al., eds. (1985–1988). "Ašmenos mūšis". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija. Vol. I. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 115. LCC 86232954. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |editor= (help)
  16. ^ a b c d Rynarzewski, Maciej. "Polish – Bohemian expedition to Nowa Marchia and Pomorze Gdańskie in year 1433" (PDF). Polskie Towarzystwo Historyczne Oddział w Olsztynie. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  17. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (2004). The Hussite Wars 1419–36. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 1841766658. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Template:Pl icon Prochaska, Antoni (1908). Król Władysław Jagiełło. Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności. p. 265. OCLC 13016756.
  19. ^ a b Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 347–350. ISBN 0-929700-25-2.
  20. ^ a b Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 84–85. ISBN 1-84176-561-9.
  21. ^ Giertych, Jędrzej (1958). Poland and Germany: A Reply to Congressman B. Carrol Reece of Tennessee. Jędrzej Giertych. p. 37. OCLC 4169234. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b Template:Pl icon Koneczny, Feliks (1903). Dzieje polski za Jagiellonow. Kraków: Nakładem Krakowskiego Towarzystwa Oświaty Ludowej. p. 123. OCLC 123147077.
  23. ^ Template:Pl icon Rogalski, Leon (1846). Dzieje Krzyżaków: oraz ich stosunki z Polska̜, Litwa̜ i Prussami. Vol. II. Warsaw: Nakł. i drukiem S. Orgelbranda. p. 210. OCLC 38718035.
  24. ^ Template:Pl icon "Wojny polsko-krzyżackie". Encyklopedia WIEM. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  25. ^ a b Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. p. 311. ISBN 0-929700-25-2.
  26. ^ Template:Lt icon Piročkinas, Arnoldas (1999). "Žygimantas Kaributaitis – tragiško likimo asmenybė". Mokslas ir gyvenimas. 10 (502). ISSN 0134-3084.
  27. ^ a b c Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Pabaiskas, Battle of". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. IV. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 140–141. LCC 74-114275.
  28. ^ Template:Lt icon Kamuntavičius, Rūstis (2001). Lietuvos istorija 11–12 klasėms. Vilnius: Vaga. p. 92. ISBN 5-415-01502-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Template:Lt icon Dundulis, Bronius (2004). "Švitrigaila". In Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.). Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. pp. 91–93. ISBN 5-420-01535-8.
  30. ^ Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. p. 313. ISBN 0-929700-25-2.
  31. ^ a b Jerzy Lukowski, Hubert Zawadzki (2001). A concise history of Poland. Cambridge University Press. p. 38. ISBN 9780521559171.

Further reading

  • Template:Pl icon Grodecki, Roman (1995) [1926]. Dzieje Polski Średniowiecznej. Vol. 2. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Platan. pp. 103–125. ISBN 83-7052-230-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Template:Pl icon Biskup, Marian (1986). Dzieje zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Morskie. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Lithuanian_Civil_War_(1432–1438)&oldid=380812913"