Karigaila
Encyclopedia
Karigaila was a son of Algirdas
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver. He became the ruler of Mstsislaw
after he captured it from the Principality of Smolensk
. He is sometimes mistaken for his brother Constantine, who was the founder of the House of Czartoryski. After his older brother Jogaila
signed the Union of Krewo
, Karigaila was baptized as Casimir in Kraków
in March 1386. He then left Poland for the eastern part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
in order to subdue his half-brother Andrei of Polotsk
, who had renewed his struggle for power against Jogaila. On April 18, 1386 he and his other brother soundly defeated Sviatoslav of Smolensk, who had allied himself with Andrei and attacked Mstsislaw, during the Battle of the Vekhra River. During the Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)
Karigaila commanded the defense of the Crooked Castle
in Vilnius. The castle fell and he was killed. His brother, Jogaila, now king of Poland, charged that Karigaila was taken captive and brutally executed
by the Teutonic Knights
; the Knights denied this and claimed that Karigaila was killed during the battle. Karigaila was buried at Vilnius Cathedral
.
Algirdas
Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver. He became the ruler of Mstsislaw
Mstsislaw
Mstsislaw is a town in Mahilyow Voblast, Eastern Belarus. As of 2004, its population is 11,700.Mstsislaw was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle under 1156. It was initially included within the Principality of Smolensk, but had become the capital of the Principality of Mstsislaw by 1180. In...
after he captured it from the Principality of Smolensk
Principality of Smolensk
The Principality of Smolensk was a Kievan Rus' lordship from the eleventh to the fifteenth century...
. He is sometimes mistaken for his brother Constantine, who was the founder of the House of Czartoryski. After his older brother Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
signed the Union of Krewo
Union of Krewo
In a strict sense, the Union of Krewo or Act of Krėva was a set of prenuptial promises made in the Kreva Castle on 14 August 1385 by Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in exchange for marriage to the underage reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland...
, Karigaila was baptized as Casimir in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
in March 1386. He then left Poland for the eastern part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
in order to subdue his half-brother Andrei of Polotsk
Andrei of Polotsk
Andrei of Polotsk was the eldest son Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his first wife Maria of Vitebsk. He was Duke of Pskov and Polotsk . As the eldest son of the Grand Duke, Andrei claimed his right to the throne after his father's death in 1377...
, who had renewed his struggle for power against Jogaila. On April 18, 1386 he and his other brother soundly defeated Sviatoslav of Smolensk, who had allied himself with Andrei and attacked Mstsislaw, during the Battle of the Vekhra River. During the Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)
Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)
The Lithuanian Civil War of 1389–1392 was the second civil conflict between Jogaila, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his cousin Vytautas the Great. At issue was control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then the largest state in Europe. Jogaila had been crowned King of Poland in...
Karigaila commanded the defense of the Crooked Castle
Vilnius Castle Complex
The Vilnius Castle Complex , is a group of cultural, and historic structures on the left bank of the Neris River, near its confluence with the Vilnia River, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The buildings, which evolved between the 10th and 18th centuries, were one of Lithuania's major defensive...
in Vilnius. The castle fell and he was killed. His brother, Jogaila, now king of Poland, charged that Karigaila was taken captive and brutally executed
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
by the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
; the Knights denied this and claimed that Karigaila was killed during the battle. Karigaila was buried at Vilnius Cathedral
Vilnius Cathedral
The Cathedral of Vilnius is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania.It is situated in Vilnius Old Town, just off of Cathedral Square. It is the heart of Lithuania's Catholic spiritual life....
.