Gediminas of Lithuania
The Grand Duke of the Duchy of medieval Lithuania was torn between building and empire and staying faithful to paganism.
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was ruled by Grand Duke Gediminas who sought help from the Pope, but remained pagan in the end.
Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania was ruler of the medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1316- 1341. Already forty years of age by the time he became leader of the pagan Lithuanians, Gediminas’ lineage is uncertain. However, Gediminas was fiercely loyal to his pagan subjects, giving them rights to religious practice, just as he gave rights to others to practice the Christian faith.
When Gediminas became Grand Duke, or High King, he inherited a region that includes what is now Lithuania as well as parts of Belarus. He was also considered leader of the Rusyns, or Ruthenians.
In order to build a strong empire, Gediminas sought help from the pope, John XXII. He promised to become Christian himself and invited members of different Christian orders to build churches in Lithuania. However, enemies denounced his sincerity, and the pagan subjects were uneasy with his plans to convert. To cover his own hide, he eventually strengthened his relationship with his pagan followers and disengaged himself from the process of Christianization. It is unclear whether Gediminas actually intended to become Christian, so strong was his personal faith in the pagan beliefs of medieval Lithuania.
Gediminas made Vilnius the capital of Lithuania. The castle that stood there before he was crowned Grand Duke was made of wood; he reinforced its walls with brick. He also added the Lower Castle to the already existing castle grounds, which became the private residence of the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Gediminas died in 1341 of battle wounds. His funeral, complete with pyre and human sacrifices, was in the pagan tradition that he had been faithful to throughout his reign.
