Gediminas

Grand Duke of Lithuania who made Vilnius his capital and opened the door to Western Europe.

Life

Prince

Gediminas became Grand Duke of Lithuania c. 1316; during his reign the Grand Duchy expanded eastward over many Rus' principalities, becoming a major power in Eastern Europe.

Vilnius

Though a pagan, in 1323 he wrote letters to Lübeck, Rostock and other cities and to the Pope, inviting merchants, artisans and monks to come and granting them freedom of religion; these letters are the first to mention Vilnius as the capital. He also allied with Livonia and Poland against the Teutonic Order.

Gediminid dynasty

He died c. 1341, leaving many children and grandchildren; his descendants (the Gediminid dynasty) went on to rule Lithuania and Poland for centuries.

Legacy

Gediminas is regarded as the founder of Vilnius, and his family gave rise to the later Jagiellonian dynasty.

Major works & achievements

• Letters to Western European cities

Did you know? Legend has it that he dreamed of an iron wolf howling on a hill; a soothsayer said this foretold that a great city would be built there, so he made it his capital.

Key dates

• 1316Became Grand Duke of Lithuania (approx.)
• 1323Wrote letters inviting Western European merchants; Vilnius first appears in the records
• 1325Married his daughter to a Polish prince, allying with Poland
• 1341Died