Grand Duke Of Lithuania Puns

Chronicles of House Gelgaudas

The entire story of a famous Gelgaudas family

Chapter I : The Life of Grand Duke Jovirdas 'The Trickster' of Lithuania

Early Life

Not much is known about the biography of a legendary man named Jovirdas Gelgaudas. There is no written documents or stories of him before his rule, only in his later life will he start to document things and amongst one of them is a document revealing he was born on exactly January 1st, 851. Grand Duke Jovirdas first time officially is heard of at the year of 867, the speculated date which stories, true or not, claim or not was the year when he celebrated his 16th birthday. The stories tell that the young man was a son of a hunter, fearsome and keen into training in martial ways. Celebrating his 16th birthday he got drunk from the strong ale and got into trouble with the High Chief of Lithuania, whose name or existance is unfound. The stories tell that in order to avoid a harsh punishment, Jovirdas challanged the High Chief of Lithuania to a duel to death. Influenced by the challange and Jovirdas mocking him for being a coward, the man accepted and ultimately lost the battle the next morning, passing his title onto the young man that stood above his body. That would be the only known and arguably true beginning of Gelgaudas dynasty.

High Chief of Lithuania

High Chief Jovirdas of Lithuania

*While Jovirdas never confirmed any of the stories of how he became High Chief of Lithuania's tribe, he did confirm he became chief in the year 867 on his 16 th birthday, January 1st. He immedeatly married polish woman Mojmira of the Slezanie. The marriage was unsuccessful as she quickly died from a bad case of flu on 23 March, 870 without producing a single child. Jovirdas did not was time and married her sister Gryzmislawa 'the Short-tempered' of the Slezanie, with which he would have a long lasting successful and actual love filled marriage, resulting in the birth of twins, his son Grand Duke Kesgaila and daugther Neringa, who would spend majority of her life in Ireland with her Irish husband. The marriage between Jovirdas and Grzymislawa will end on 14 February, 894 with her death. The first years of rule of High Chief of Jovirdas were calm and not many expected something spectacular from him. The peace lasted until somewhere around 868-870 w

He's a pretty big figure in Lithuanian history. I believe he's also very well known in Belarus. In short, he greatly expanded GDL's territory, along with his cousin, King of Poland Jogaila, he won the battle of Grunwald (Žalgirio mūšis) and almost became king of Lithuania. He had ruled over modern territories of Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. In Polish he's called Witold Kiejstutowicz, in Belarussian Вітаўт, and in Russian Витовт.

John Albert had become King of Poland in June 1492. Only one month later the Lithuanians elected his younger brother Alexander to be Grand Duke. Their father,Casimir IV, had ruled with both titles.

Why the desire to split the rulership?