Mindaugas

Unifier of the Lithuanian tribes, baptized and crowned as the only King of Lithuania.

Life

Unified the tribes

Mindaugas's year of birth is unknown (c. 1203). In the 1230s and 1240s he gradually overcame the other chiefs, unified the Lithuanian tribes, and resisted pressure from the Livonian Order and Rus'.

Baptized and crowned

To divide his enemies, he negotiated with the Livonian Order, was baptized in 1251, and in July 1253, with the Pope's approval, was crowned King of Lithuania; he also ceded part of Samogitia to the Order.

Assassinated

After the Battle of Durbe in 1260 he broke with the Order. In 1263 he was assassinated by relatives including Treniota; Lithuania reverted to paganism, and the royal title lapsed with him.

Legacy

Mindaugas was the founder of the Lithuanian state, and July 6, the day of his coronation, is today Lithuania's national holiday (Statehood Day).

Did you know? He is the only formally crowned king in Lithuanian history; all later rulers were styled "Grand Duke."

Key dates

• 1238Unified the Lithuanian tribes (approx.)
• 1251Baptized
• 1253Crowned King of Lithuania
• 1260Broke with the Order
• 1263Assassinated