The Grand Duchy of Lithuania - military history and AAR

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The Grand Duchy of Lithuania- military history and AAR
The purpose of this thread is to present the history of Lithuania in the centuries before Europa Universalis II takes place, and with that give the players\readers insight into the previous history of the Grand Duchy we find in the game (Grand Campaign). I supplement this text with an After Action Report (1419-1820) to give an alternative history of Lithuania from where the true military history summary ends.
This is my first AAR – hope you`ll enjoy it!

 

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Military history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1009-1419)

 

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PART I – The Formation of a Lithuanian State (1009-ca.1300)

The earliest evidence of inhabitants in present-day Lithuania (not the 1419-Lithuania in EU II) dates back to 10,000 BC. Between 3,000-2,000 BC, the people living in the mentioned areas spread over a large region of Eastern Europe, between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula River in the west and the Moscow-Kursk line in the east. Merging with the indigenous population, they became the Balts.

The history of Lithuania, like that of other countries, begins when it is referred to in written sources for the first time. This event took place in the eleventh century, when descriptions of the life of St. Bruno recount that he was killed in 1009 while spreading Christianity at the frontier between Lithuania and Rus. Russian Chronicles also declared that the Kievan ruler Iaroslav marched towards Lithuania in 1040. Apart from this, there is nothing of interest (with that I mean it is nearly nothing at all - the writings just refer the name of the area, and that the people living here were pagans) in the sources until 1212. Then Lithuanian Prince Dangerutis signed a treaty with Novgorod against Livonia. The treaty isn’t awfully important itself, but clearly indicates that the Lithuanian Prince ruled a large territory – otherwise there would be no point for Novgorod making such agreement.
In the years that followed, Lithuania at last became a known and important part of Eastern Europe. And finally, when my short history summary ends – a glorious nation under a great Grand Duke, a mighty power in the East. A nation that has been worthy including in one of the best historical games ever – Europa Universalis II.

King Mindaugas of Lithuania.

In 1219, twenty-one senior princes of Lithuania signed a treaty with Volynia. Among them were Mindaugas - later the first (and last) King of Lithuania. Some thinks that the signing of this treaty proved Lithuania as a united country. Whether this is true or not, is hard to tell. The historians are still bickering about it. Gottwaldus reserve himself the right not to side with any of them in this thread…

However, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Lithuanians organised military campaigns in the land of Rus and the future state of Livonia (not just together with Novgorod, also alone). At the same time, German merchants and knights, morally supported by the empire of Holy Rome for their brave work in spreading Christianity, were arriving in the Baltic region, trying to conquer land from, and convert, the pagan population of different Baltic tribes. The Christians soon took over Livonia, and the Christian Livonians became the Lithuanians worst enemies – at least for a while. In 1226 Prince Conrad of Mazovia invited the Order of Knights Hospitaller of the German House of St Mary’s in Jerusalem, also known as Teutonic Order, to come to his aid. Mazovia and the German crusaders were at the time fighting a war against the Prussians, but did not succeed vanquishing them and conquer their land. Now they, and the popes, endowed the land belonging to the pagans – the Prussians, Yotvingians, and others – to the Order. In 1231 the Teutonic Order began conquering the Prussians, and quickly expanded their own territory.

Teutonic Knights.

The Order of the Knight of the Sword (the crusaders), who had renamed themselves the Livonian Order, now became a branch of the Teutonic Order - but was still a free nation, fighting its own wars.
With both the Livonian Order and large parts of the Prussian lands under its throne, Teutonic Order now made up a great threat to Lithuania - from 1228 mentioned as one of the pagan lands to be conquered by the Catholic Church – who desperately tried to unite the Lithuanian lands (according to the not-united-in-1219-historians) and establish a strong military power to resist the crusaders.

By 1245, Mindaugas was being called supreme king, and it was understood that all of the Lithuanian lands and those of certain neighbours – southern Selonia, Black Rus, possibly the Rus`ian castles of Breslav and Minsk – were in the hands of a single sovereign. His later documents indicate that his authority probably also was recognised by Nadruva, Skalva, and the Yotvingians in northern Sudavia. Now, when Lithuania finally was united, and the first stage of building a State of Lithuania was completed, it was forced to defend its right to exist. The first crusades into Lithuanian lands were a fact.

In seeking absolutely rule, Mindaugas attempted to expel his nephews Tautvilas and Edivydas – by sending them to conquer their own territory in Rus. He then occupied their lands, expanded his domain, and strengthened his own position within the state. He also provoked an internal war. To the side against Mindaugas stepped the Galich Prince Danilo, who had supported Tautvilas in his claim to rule Lithuania, as well as the Livonian Order, the Bishop of Riga, and others in Lithuania itself. This war became the first major international conflict in this region, and even attempted to involve the Poles and the Pope.
The strong anti-Mindaugas coalition was a great threat to the newly formed state – or perhaps only to Mindaugas authority. The country was in fact now a mighty regional power.
Taking advantage of discord among the Livonians, Mindaugas took on negotiations with the Master of the Livonian Order, Andreas von Stirland. Despite rules against cooperation with pagans, the Order recognised the state of Lithuania. The Master offered Mindaugas a crown and set Lithuania’s christianisation as a requisite condition. Mindaugas accepted, was baptised in 1251, and crowned in the summer of (July 6) 1253. (This summer [2003] Lithuania celebrated the 750 year-anniversary of the crowning ceremony, with several large arrangements in the most populated cities. Mindaugas is seen as the founder of the Lithuanian State.)
With the Livonian Order as an ally, Mindaugas won the war against Tautvilas and his coalition.
Lithuania was now a Christian kingdom, which meant that it was recognised by Europe. Lithuania’s prestige as a state grew, and the doors to Europe were opened. Teutonic Order had also lost one of their reasons to wage war against Lithuania, but that didn’t mean the warfare between the two countries ended. However, Lithuania now easily resisted the attacks, and could concentrate expanding their territory in the east.

But while Mindaugas had success as King of Lithuania, he was not very popular. His attempt to unite three worlds (pagan Lithuania, Catholic Western Europe and Orthodox Russia) in one country, had failed. The anti-Mindaugas coalition defeated him at last. A conspiracy was formed against him and he was assassinated in 1263 along with his two sons. Lithuania was again recognised as a pagan country, and Teutonic Order started grand crusades against her.
The following thirty years were characterized by civil wars and wars against the Order. In 1283 the Teutonic Order completed its conquest of the Prussians, and the Orders warfare in Lithuania were escalated further. Mindaugas successor, Traidenis, defended the Lithuanian lands, and consolidated the state, but was unable to end the Orders crusades, and restore peace to his country. Then a ruler named Vitenis defeated the Teutonic Knights and regained order.

 

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PART II – Military Expansion (ca. 1300-76)

The 1300s brought new agricultural technology, rapid social and economic development and some urban settlement. Within Lithuania proper, the old order of dukes was disappearing, a new class of nobles was forming and specialized artisans were growing in number. In the area of foreign relations, the joining of the lands of Rus to the Grand Duchy opened up new trade routes.

Grand Duke Gediminas.

From 1316-41 Grand Duke Gediminas, Vitenis brother, expanded the empire as far as Kiev after winning wars against the Tartars and Russians.
A lot of his captures was also done by political marriages. Gediminas son, Algirdas, inherited the throne of Vitebsk by marriage to the local Duchess. Another son, Liubartas, wed the Duchess of Vylonia, and sought access to Galich-Volynian land, while his daughter Maria married Dimitrii, Duke of Tver.
Gediminas twice attempted to adopt Christianity in order to end the GDL's (abbreviation for Grand Duchy of Lithuania) political and cultural isolation from Western Europe. To that purpose, he invited knights, merchants and artisans to settle in Lithuania and wrote letters to Pope John XXII and European cities maintaining that the Teutonic Order's purpose was to conquer lands rather than spread Christianity.
“Holy and honourable Father,” he wrote, “We are fighting with the Christians not so that we could destroy the Catholic faith, but in order to resist the harm done to us…” He further mentions the Franciscan and Dominican monks who had come to the GDL by invitation and were given the rights to preach, baptize and perform other religious services. The next year, he sent a letter to neighbouring cities announcing his acceptance of the Christian faith and his intent not to harm, but to, “solidify eternal peace, brotherhood and true love with all of Christ’s believers”. He also included an open invitation to artisans and farmers to come and live in the GDL, promising support and reduced taxes to those who would come.

Lithuania developed strong and warm relations with Pskov and Novgorod, and in 1325 they signed a treaty with Poland against the Order. The year after Gediminas supported a Polish attack against Brandenburg – an attack organised by the Pope. Lithuania`s support to the Popes campaign, resulted in increased tolerance from the Christian world.
In 1328 the Order attacked Lithuania, who by now had the Archbishop of Riga by its side. The Teutonic Order annexed Riga, and Lithuania was left without allies as Poland backed out.

Thirteen years later, Grand Duke Gediminas died. He had managed to establish a stable state comprised of peoples of varied ethnicity and religious confessions, and had established Vilnius as the capital of the GDL in 1323. He left the GDL viable and strong.
Before he died, he had invited Franciscan friars from Bohemia to be baptised. But the friars were assassinated, and he died as a pagan.

Gediminas had succeeded in repelling attacks by the crusaders without loss of Lithuanian lands, and had managed to defeat Lithuania’s political isolation for a period. He was well aware of the opportunities that christianisation offered, and sought to take advantage of them. But he did not succeed in being baptised (but was not far from), nor in modernising the state. But by expanding into Rus he had obtained more forces for Lithuania’s most important task in the 15th century – to once for all defeat the threat from the crusaders.

Grand Duke Algirdas.

Lithuanian annals note that Gediminas partitioned the state among his seven sons, and that Vilnius and the throne of the grand duke went to Jaunutis; little is known about his achievements. Jaunutis` brothers – Algirdas, Kestutis, Liubartas – were apparently much more active in Rus.
In the winter of 1344\45, the Order organised an attack, together with the kings of Bohemia and Hungary, against Lithuania. This threat motivated Kestutis to occupy Vilnius, arrest Jaunutis, and invite the more capable Algirdas to take over the throne.

During Algirdas first years as Grand Duke, Lithuania had taken the initiative in the war against the Order. Expeditions into the Teutonic Order were jointly organised by Algirdas and Kestutis. The two brothers cooperated well, a cooperation that of course was very important for the State.
Lithuania almost doubled in size during their rule and achieved major victories over the Teutonic and Livonian Orders at the Battles of Saule in 1336 and Durbe in 1360. They also marched against Muscowy, but weren’t able to capture the Kremlin. However, the warfare under Algirdas wasn’t just successful. In 1348 Lithuania suffered defeat against the crusaders in the Battle of Streva. Algiras lost his newly achieved influence in Pskov and Novgorod, was hampered by Muscowy in his attempts to establish good relations with the Tatars, and the King of Poland attacked his brother Liubartas. Lithuania was suddenly beset of catastrophes. They, however, soon recovered.
First Kestutis, then Algirdas, were offered a crown if they agreed to be baptised. Kestutis first accepted, and then suddenly changed his mind. Algirdas demanded lands from the Order and claims in Rus in exchange. The offer was refused, and the Order increased the assult against Lithuania. During the period 1362-80 the Teutonic Order attacked the Grand Duchy 56 times, while the Livonian Order attacked 22 times.

While the crusaders grand military campaign against the Grand Duchy still was ongoing, Algirdas died. He had been a highly energic military leader, able to take on the affairs of a huge state. Both he and Kestutis relied more on arms than diplomacy, and had had military success, although the Order and Muscowy put them on the defensive in the end. But apart from that he retained a strong united state and won new land, he did not do much. His rule was dominated by political and cultural conservatism, which led to isolation and blocked the country’s modernisation.

 

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PART III – Christianisation and Alliance with Poland (1377-1417)

”The struggle for freedom against the Teutons was a long and bloody one that lasted from the 13th century to the early 15th century. The struggle showed both the cruelty of the Christian crusaders fighting for the Lord to “civilize” these pagan lands and the Polish and Lithuanian people’s cruelty, born a hatred and revenge against people whom would enslave them. These wars and struggles against the Order produced many Polish and Lithuanian heroes. The greatest of them where the Grand Duke of Poland, Wladyslaw Jagiello, and his cousin the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Vytautas the Great.”
From MichOrion`s AAR, called “The History of Lithuania.” (Absolutely recommended!)

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Europe’s last non-Christian country, had no stable allies. Not until they began an alliance with Poland in the last quarter of the fourteenth century.

Jogaila (Jagiello in Polish) - the eldest son from Algirdas second marriage - succeeded to the Lithuanian throne in 1377. However, he didn’t govern the country alone, as Kestutis helped him the first five years. When Jogaila was elected, two mighty Lithuanian dukes left the country for Muscowy in protest.
Jogaila ruled over a time of continuing interference from Christianity and the Teutons as well as territorial expansion for the Grand Duchy.

In 1379 Jogaila sent his brother, Skirgaila, to the West in order to discuss christianisation. The year after, he could sign a truce with the Order. Jogaila then attempted to take advantage of tense relations between the Golden Horde and Muscowy. He marched to assist the Tatars, but did not reach the decisive Battle of Kulikovo Pole in time; with the result that the victorious Muscovite Duke Dimitrii strengthened hid own authority as unifier of Rus.

Grand Duke Vytautas the Great

These new relations between Jogaila and the Order, as well as his failure in Rus, laid the foundation for internal conflicts between Kestutis and Jogaila. The conflict between the two dukes was many-sided. They struggled both for authority, and for political direction. Kestutis sought to fight the crusaders to the death, rejected christianisation and refused to consider compromises, regardless of the losses. Jogaila understood the advantage of christianisation, and began striving for peace with the Teutonic Order. He also considered Rus an important ally for the dynasty.
In 1381, Kestutis conquered Vilnius and the throne of Grand Duke. Jogaila were given rule of Kreva and Vitebsk. Kestutis renewed the struggle against the Order, which wasn’t very popular. Jogaila quickly gained support, and in 1382 the people of Vilnius allowed Jogaila`s soldiers to enter the city. Jogaila retrieved the throne as Grand Duke, and arrested Kestutis and his son Vytautas. Kestutis was imprisoned and later found dead in the Castle of Kreva, while Vytautas escaped and surrendered to the Order in 1382.

At the same time, King Louis of Poland and Hungary died. The union between these to states had ended. His daughter Jadwiga was declared heir to the Polish throne. The nobles who held the authority in the county, started searching for a useful husband, to improve the situation for a Poland left without allies.

In October the same year, Jogaila promised the Order that he, together with all of Lithuania, would become Christian. He ceded, at the same time, some land to the Teutonic Knights. But he broke his promise, and in 1383 the Order again declared Lithuania war.
Later the following winter, Jogaila got more trouble, when Vytautas - who by now had been baptised - rallied his supporters and marched, supported by the Order, against Lithuania.
Vytautas won back some of his land in 1384, but Jogaila was still the strong part in the country. But the situation soon changed.

Caught between Catholic Poland, Vytautas and the Teutonic Knights, Jogaila chose union with the Poles. He now began announcing his interest for the Polish throne. Poland needed, as I wrote before, a king and allies, as well as the honour of initiating Lithuanias christianisation. Polish nobles began making contact in the autumn 1384, and Jadwiga`s mother, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary, supported Jogaila.
In the 1385 Act of Kreva the two countries started planning their forthcoming alliance. With the Polish princess Jadwiga as witness, Jogaila promised to convert to Roman Catholicism.
Early in 1386 he was recognised as the King of Poland. Jogaila entered Cracow with his escort, was baptised, acquired the name of Wladislaw, married Jadwiga, was crowned King of Poland on March 4, 1386, and signed a personal union between Lithuania and Poland.
Now it was time for the christianisation of Lithuania. Early in 1387, Jogaila, together with Vytautas and other Lithuanian noblemen, undertook the christianisation. The Catholic faith was invested in Lithuania within a very brief time, only Zemaitija remained unbaptised. Lithuania had formally become a Christian country, and its religious differences vis-à-vis the rest of Europe were erased. The baptism was recognised by Pope Urban VI, but declared invalid by the Order, which felt justification for attacking Lithuania again to be slipping out of its hands.

When Jogaila became King of Poland, the dukes were dragged into a power struggle over who would rule Lithuania. Jogaila spent much time in Poland, which created problems governing Lithuania. He therefore appointed his brother, Skirgaila, as lieutenant in the country. This dissatisfied the nobles increasing their support to Vytautas, who had led an unsuccessful attempt to take Vilnius by force in 1389.
The same year, Vytautas allied with the Order again, and marched against Lithuania`s capital. They fought Jogaila`s Polish-Lithuanian forces. The struggle had victories and losses on both sides, and the land of Lithuania were ravaged.
In 1392 Jogaila offered Vytautas the role as his lieutenant in Lithuania, and the Dukedom of Trakai. Vytautas accepted the offer.

Despite all the changes, Lithuania, now under Vytautas, continued its warfare at separate fronts, and in 1395 they annexed Smolensk.
At the same time, he sought to implement diplomatic measures in dealing with the Order, and then became involved in affairs in Livonia, where he took part in organising a coalition – supported by the Emperor, Wenceslas of Luxemburg and Pope Boniface IX – of Livonian Bishops and the dukes of Mecklenburg against the Order.
In 1398 he finally could sign, but had to hand Zemaitija over to the crusaders. Unfortunately the peace didn’t last long, and was broken just three years later.

In 1398 it was the Tatars turn to be attacked by crusaders. This time it wasn’t the Order who attacked (alone); When the Pope heard about Vytautas planned military expedition to the “pagan word”, he called it a crusade. The newly convert country had already became a defender of the faith.
Vytautas marched with the army of Lithuania, Poland and the Teutonic Order to the Vorksla River, where he faced the Tartar army. Vytautas was totally defeated at the battle on August 12, barely escaped himself, and left almost two thirds of his army dead on the field. The plans of Vytautas for becoming the King of Lithuania and ruler of all Ruthenia were tossed asunder.

The same year, after thirteen years of marriage, Jogailas wife, Jadwiga, gave birth to a girl. Unfortunately, mother and daughter died soon afterwards. After this, Jogaila wanted to give up his Polish crown and return to Lithuania, but the Poles asked him to remain. He did so, and made way for Vytautas to rule Lithuania alone.

In 1401, in the Acts of Vilnius and Radom, Vytautas finally became the independent ruler of the GDL. He could now rule alone. Yet, it was established that after his death his lands would be returned to the kingdom of Poland, and the tie between the two nations was again reinforced.

The battle of Grunwald\Tannenberg

In 1403 the Pope forbade the Order to attack Lithuania. This finally indicated the end of the crusades. But the warfare between the two countries continued. The two countries now began fighting for the areas of Zemaitians.
Early in July 1410, the united forces of Poland and Lithuania marched into the state of the Teutonic Order. The conflicting armies met on July 15 between the villages of Tannenberg and Ludwigsdorf. Probably the Polish-Lithuanian forces had 30,000-39,000 soldiers, which was a lot more than the 20-25,000 sent by the Order. Vytautas and the Orders Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen were prepared for a bloody battle, and Jogaila`s apprehensions had no bearing. After being delayed for several hours, fighting erupted on Lithuanian ground. An hour later, with all forces engaged, the Lithuanians began to withdraw. Their withdrawal had the appearance of a retreat, but if it really was, or just a tactical manoeuvre, is up to the historians to decide. Gottwaldus will again reserve himself the right not to side with anyone.
But still the Polish army and some Lithuanian divisions remained at the battlefield. The battle moved back and forth, and at one point the crusaders appeared to be winning. Then Vytautas re-grouped his Lithuanian army, and returned to attack the Orders soldiers. They began to crush them, and the soldier of the Order began to flee. The Grand Master and more than 200 other military leaders, in addition to half of the soldiers, were killed, and several thousands soldiers were taken to prison. The victory was decisive, and the military power of the Order was effectively destroyed.
The battle became known as the Battle of Tannenberg in Western European history, and the Battle of Grunwald in Eastern Europe.
The peace treaty was signed January 1, 1411. The conditions for peace were inappropriative for the scale of the victory; Poland acquired Dobrzyn, the Order had to pay 100,000 grosz, and Lithuania recovered Zemaitija. But Lithuania had, in alliance with Poland, shaken of the expansionist crusaders, who for several centuries had been a concrete threat – that was the most important.

From 1411 to 1419 Lithuania and the Order quarrelled about borders, but did not fight grand wars. Vytautas discharged his duties well, and is later called the best head of state in Lithuania ever. I’m happy to have him on my side for nearly twelve years into my game – he died in October 1430.


Sources:
Main: Zigmas Kiaupa: “The History of Lithuania” (baltos lankos, 2002 [English edition]).
Others: Several web pages (unknown names).
(A few paragraphs include some transcript sentences.)

Corrections and additional information will be gratefully accepted. Send me a private message or post a reply in this thread.

 

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Coming soon …
probably August 13 or 14, 2003

After Action Report:
Game: GRAND EUROPE - visit us here
Part A

 

[Judge]

Nice start, seems like we have picked two mortal enemies for our AARs. Good luck

 

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Thanks, Judge. Always nice with comments like this ...

 

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Especially from capable and experienced AAR writers as you ...

I`ve just read one of your AAR`s: GREAT!

 

[Judge]

Thanks though I am still not near many other writers here when it comes to experience.

I have only one recommendation because otherwise I find your story excellent. Maybe you should not post too many chapters on the same day because you will probably get more attention if you post them on different occasions and also you will give the readers time to take in the story.

Cheers

 

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Thanks

 

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Nice country, and a nice AAR. I like Lithuania a lot for my nation. So many opportunities for expansion... And no one can really invade you, given the winter. I did an AAR way back, but it wasn't nearly as detailed as yours.

 

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Fantastic, Gottwaldus! I am proud of having you as a member of "Grand Europe"!!!!!!

 

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Yeah, Lithuania`s just great

It`s a great benefit to have such a strong ally as Poland.

Thanks ...

 

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Coming soon ...
probably August 4-6, 2003

After Action Report:
Game: GRAND EUROPE - visit us here
Pre-Game Report

 

[MichOrion]

Great job, what sources did you use? You also used some of the same pics as I did. When is the AAR going to start?

 

[Alexandru H.]

Lithuania is a great nation...too bad about its defeat in the moldavian war of 1428-1429

sorry, thought this was my AAR

 

[Amric]

Alexandru, when is the next update of that AAR of yours?

Gottwaldus- Very nice installment!

 

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Originally posted by MichOrion
Great job, what sources did you use? You also used some of the same pics as I did. When is the AAR going to start?

The first part of my AAR will probably be out August 13 or 14, but I will release a Pre-Game report August 4, 5 or 6.

My main source is "The history of Lithuania"" by Zigmas Kiaupa. (look at the bottom of part III), in adition to some web pages which I don`t remember the name of ... (sorry ...)

BTW; When can I read the next part of your stunning AAR?

 

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Originally posted by Alexandru H.
Lithuania is a great nation...too bad about its defeat in the moldavian war of 1428-1429

sorry, thought this was my AAR

Oh, your bastard! I`ll go for Moldovia soon ...