Traidenis

<h2 id="biography">Biography</h2>
<p>The circumstances surrounding Traidenis' advance to power are not clear. While his ancestors are unknown, it is known that he came from <a href="/facts/Auk%25C5%25A1taitija/1JcxpJg2">Aukštaitija</a>, as he was Duke of <a href="/facts/Kernav%25C4%2597/PI36StCp">Kernavė</a>. From the outset his relationships with <a href="/facts/Galicia%25E2%2580%2593Volhynia/2Qsy0jYR">Galicia–Volhynia</a> were tense as he replaced <a href="/facts/Shvarn/XfgeFlGH">Shvarn</a>, Duke of Galicia–Volhynia and Lithuania. The tension eventually resulted in the 1274–1276 war. Despite <a href="/facts/Mongol_Empire/cfddtfIK">Mongol</a> support to Galicia–Volhynia, Traidenis was successful in battle and his control over Black Ruthenia (<a href="/facts/Novogrudok/vtfLnyRD">Novogrudok</a>, <a href="/facts/Grodno/HhjMkQlR">Grodno</a>, <a href="/facts/Slonim/VBXCEuSM">Slonim</a>, and other cities) was strengthened. Traidenis also made incursions into <a href="/facts/Poland/eXJ7fd0D">Poland</a>, especially surroundings of <a href="/facts/Lublin/MIuLH9pa">Lublin</a> and <a href="/facts/%25C5%2581%25C4%2599czyca/neSmTluJ">Łęczyca</a>, that continued to about 1306. However, these raids did not affect <a href="/facts/Masovia/hf1wkNea">Masovia</a> as Traidenis established a dynastic link through his daughter <a href="/facts/Gaudemunda_of_Lithuania/bTGq7HBy">Gaudemunda</a> with <a href="/facts/Dukes_of_Masovia/2bvs54sk">its dukes</a>. This dynastic relationship was further developed by <a href="/facts/Gediminas/IVuCEWFz">Gediminas</a>.
</p><p>Traidenis, known for his devotion to <a href="/facts/Lithuanian_mythology/RmPx0Lkv">paganism</a> and <a href="/facts/Germanophobia/3KMNnKyr">anti-German</a> attitude, was also successful in fighting with the <a href="/facts/Livonian_Order/CBl9DIVY">Livonian Order</a>. In 1270 he won the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Karuse/CExMpcBI">Battle of Karuse</a>, fought on ice near <a href="/facts/Saaremaa/UWMqkdRL">Saaremaa</a>, and killed <a href="/facts/Otto_von_Lutterberg/M2f0x78p">Otto von Lutterberg</a>, master of the Order. A new master, Andreas von Westfalen, sought a quick revenge, but was also killed by Traidenis. However, by 1272 the Order retaliated, attacking <a href="/facts/Semigalia/BIGlM0LX">Semigalia</a> and building <a href="/facts/Dinaburga_Castle/4skzAtAh">Dinaburg</a> Castle in 1273 on lands nominally controlled by Traidenis. Despite four <a href="/facts/Siege_engines/r2PkepBD">siege engines</a> used to throw stones, he was unable to capture the new fortress and had to retreat in 1278. In 1279 the order attacked Lithuanian lands, reaching as far as Kernavė, but on their way back they suffered a great defeat in the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Aizkraukle/sjSMxk3o">Battle of Aizkraukle</a>. The Order's master, Ernst von Rassburg, became the third master to be killed by Traidenis. The defeat encouraged conquered <a href="/facts/Semigallians/LQlBJXGk">Semigallians</a> to rebel. The Semigalians, led by <a href="/facts/Nameisis/7Ql6HztC">Nameisis</a>, were now willing to acknowledge Lithuania's superiority and asked Traidenis for assistance. In 1281, Traidenis conquered <a href="/facts/Jersika/XksTPquU">Jersika</a> Castle in the present-day <a href="/facts/Prei%25C4%25BCi_district/cPtJs0xk">Preiļi district</a>, and was able to exchange it for Dinaburg Castle. However, Traidenis died soon afterwards, and assistance to Semigalians, exhausted by constant warfare, diminished. Traidenis is the first known Lithuanian duke to have died a natural death. All others before him were assassinated or killed in battle.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p>

<h2 id="family">Family</h2>
Brothers
<ul><li>Bardis, Liesis, and Svalkenis were <a href="/facts/Eastern_Orthodox/5n20Akh5">Eastern Orthodox</a> and died in fights with Galicia–Volhynia</li>
<li>Sirputis assisted his brother in military campaigns</li></ul>
Daughter
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Gaudemunda_of_Lithuania/bTGq7HBy">Gaudemunda</a>, married <a href="/facts/Boleslaus_II_of_Masovia/s7Pk1AwS">Bolesław II</a>, <a href="/facts/Duke_of_Masovia/2bvs54sk">Duke of Masovia</a>, becoming Duchess of Masovia</li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li><i>Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas</i> (in Lithuanian). Vytautas Spečiūnas (compiler). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 2004. pp. 26–27. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 5-420-01535-8.{{cite book}}:  CS1 maint: others (link)</li>
<li>Ivinskis, Zenonas (1978). <i>Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties</i> (in Lithuanian). Rome: Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija. pp. 200–206.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Galeotti, Mark (17 January 2023). Teutonic Knight Vs Lithuanian Warrior: The Lithuanian Crusade 1283–1435. Bloomsbury USA. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4728-5150-5. <a href="978-1-4728-5150-5" target="_blank">978-1-4728-5150-5</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Dubonis, Artūras. "Lietuva po karaliaus Mindaugo mirties: kova dėl sosto 1264 - 1268 m. - Panevėžio Elenos Mezginaitės viešoji biblioteka". panbiblioteka.lt. Retrieved 27 March 2021. <a href="http://www.panbiblioteka.lt/lt/parodos/8-nenurodyta/1653-arturas-dubonis-lietuva-po-karaliaus-mindaugo-mirties-kova-del-sosto-1264-1268-m" target="_blank">http://www.panbiblioteka.lt/lt/parodos/8-nenurodyta/1653-arturas-dubonis-lietuva-po-karaliaus-mindaugo-mirties-kova-del-sosto-1264-1268-m</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Jasas, Rimantas. "Nameisis". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 3 November 2023. <a href="https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/nameisis/" target="_blank">https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/nameisis/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Traidenis open-in-new

Traidenis