Kęstutis

where the wedding of Grand Duke Kęstutis and Birutė was held Kęstutis was the son of the Grand Duke Gediminas. His younger brother, Jaunutis, succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Lithuania. Together with his brother Algirdas, Kęstutis conspired to remove Jaunutis from power. They were successful in their efforts. They divided their holdings into an eastern and western sphere of influence. The Duchy of Trakai was established in 1337 as a result. 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. During Kęstutis's rule, Teutonic raids into Lithuania reached their peak. ==Co-ruler of Lithuania==

built by Kęstutis Kęstutis wielded significant influence during the reign of Algirdas, and it appears the two were officially co-rulers as Grand Dukes, with Algirdas being the dominant co-ruler. It is uncertain at what point Kęstutis started to use the title of the Grand Duke, but he is attested in the office in years 1349-1351. Kęstutis employed different military as well as diplomatic means in his struggle on the western borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1349, to avoid further clashes with the Teutonic Order, he started negotiations with Pope Clement VI for the Christianization of Lithuania, receiving promises for royal crowns for him and his sons. Algirdas willingly remained aside of the business and was concerned with the order in the Ruthenian part of the state. The intermediary in the negotiations, Polish King Casimir III, made an unexpected assault on Volhynia and Brest in October 1349, which ruined Kęstutis' plan. 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 for the royal crown. The agreement was approved with a pagan ritual by Kęstutis to convince the other side. In fact, Kęstutis had no intentions to comply with the agreement and ran away on the way to Buda. ==In crusaders' captivity==

, where Kęstutis was detained in 1361 In March 1361, Kęstutis, along with his son Patrikas and his brother Algirdas, destroyed and took over the Teutonic Eckersberg and Johannisburg castles. A small squad of Teutonic knights that were returning from this event attacked the camp of Kęstutis and Algirdas near the Ublik (Wobel) lake. After, a skirmish Kęstutis, who was captured by the crusaders, was detained in Malbork Castle. Kęstutis, being over 60 years old at the time, was only defeated by the third experienced knight who attacked him. Negotiations regarding Kęstutis's liberation were arranged two times but without results. The ransom the crusaders asked for in exchange for Kęstutis' freedom was most likely too high. Kęstutis managed to escape from captivity about half a year later. He, with the help of his servant Alfas, broke a hole in a three meter-thick wall and left the castle by horses dressed up as Teutonic knights. The escape was well planned and it is assumed that Algirdas and Birutė, Kęstutis's wife, greatly contributed to the planned escape. ==Civil war and death==

Algirdas died in 1377 and left the throne to Jogaila, his chosen son from his second marriage to Uliana of Tver. Kęstutis and Vytautas continued to recognize Jogaila's authority even when his right of inheritance was challenged by Andrei of Polotsk, Algirdas' eldest son from his first marriage to Maria of Vitebsk. The motives behind the treaty are not entirely clear. Some historians blamed Uliana, mother of Jogaila, or his adviser Vaidila, ==Legacy==

commemorative coin dedicated to Kęstutis Kęstutis is a popular male name in Lithuania. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis wrote a symphonic overture Kęstutis in 1902. Petras Tarasenka, Lithuanian historian and archeologist, wrote a short story Pabėgimas (The Escape) in 1957, depicting Kęstutis's escape from the Teutonic Order captivity in Marienburg Castle. A monument to commemorate Kęstutis was erected in Prienai in 1937, and was then restored in 1990. The "Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorized Infantry Battalion" of the Lithuanian Land Force was named after Kęstutis. A military district of Lithuanian partisans was named in honor of Kęstutis — Kęstutis military district. The Millennium of Russia monument has a sculpture for Kęstutis. ==Popular culture==

Kęstutis is featured in the 2021 video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dawn of the Dukes in a campaign detailing the exploits of himself and his brother Algirdas. == Family ==

Kęstutis married Birutė around 1344. Together, they had 9 children: • Vytautas the Great (Alexander; c. 1348 – 27 October 1430), Grand Duke of Lithuania (1401 – 1430) • Vaidotas (c. 1345 – after 1390), Duke of Navahrudak • Butautas • Tautvilas Kęstutaitis (Conrad; c. 1350 – September 1390), Prince of Black Ruthenia (1386–1390) • Žygimantas Kęstutaitis (after 1360 – murdered on 20 March 1440), Duke of Trakai, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1432–1440) • Mikova (Maria; died in 1404), Grand Princess of Tver (1375–1404?) • Danutė of Lithuania (Anna; 1362 – 25 May 1448), Princess of Warsaw (1376–1429) • Rimgailė (Anne; 1367/1369 – 1433), Princess of Masovia (4 February – 30 June 1392), Voivodess of Moldavia (1419–1421) • A daughter (c. 1347 – ?) ==See also==

• Kęstučio pabėgimo peripetijos ==Notes==