Michael Boleslaw
Encyclopedia
Michael Žygimantaitis was the last male descendant of Kęstutis
, Grand Duke of Lithuania. He supported his father Sigismund Kęstutaitis
in power struggles with Švitrigaila
. In 1435 he led his father's army to victory in the Battle of Pabaiskas
. After his father's assassination in 1440, Michael unsuccessfully fought against Casimir IV Jagiellon
for the title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. At first Michael was supported by Samogitia
, but in 1441 Casimir issued a privilege confirming Samogitia's semi-autonomous status and thus avoiding a civil war
. Until 1447 he was supported by Dukes of Masovia
. In 1448 Michael asked help from the Crimean Khanate
. With their help he attacked and shortly took control of Kiev
, Starodub
, Novhorod-Siversky. Soon he was captured and transported to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
where he died under unclear circumstances (possibly poisoned). He was buried in Vilnius Cathedral
.
At different times Michael was married to two daughters of Alexandra of Lithuania
and Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
. In total he had three wives, all from Masovia: Anna (died in 1435), Eufemia (died in 1436), and Catherine (died in 1476).
Kestutis
Kęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila...
, Grand Duke of Lithuania. He supported his father Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Sigismund Kestutaitis
Sigismund Kęstutaitis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1432 to 1440. Sigismund was his baptismal name; Sigismund's pagan Lithuanian birth name is unknown. He was son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis and his wife Birutė....
in power struggles with Švitrigaila
Švitrigaila
Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila (ca 1370 – 10 February 1452; was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1430 to 1432. He spent most of his life in largely unsuccessful dynastic struggles against his cousins Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis.-Struggle against Vytautas:...
. In 1435 he led his father's army to victory in the Battle of Pabaiskas
Battle of Pabaiskas
The Battle of Pabaiskas took place on September 1, 1435 near Ukmergė , by the Šventoji River in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
. After his father's assassination in 1440, Michael unsuccessfully fought against Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
for the title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. At first Michael was supported by Samogitia
Samogitia
Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. It is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai/Šiaulē. The region has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian dialect...
, but in 1441 Casimir issued a privilege confirming Samogitia's semi-autonomous status and thus avoiding a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
. Until 1447 he was supported by Dukes of Masovia
Dukes of Masovia
The Dukes of Masovia were a line of the Piast dynasty who ruled in Masovia. The following is a list of all rulers of the Duchy of Masovia and its parts...
. In 1448 Michael asked help from the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
. With their help he attacked and shortly took control of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Starodub
Starodub
Starodub is a town and the administrative center of Starodubsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Babinets River , southwest of Bryansk. Population: 16,000 .-History:...
, Novhorod-Siversky. Soon he was captured and transported to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
where he died under unclear circumstances (possibly poisoned). He was buried in 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....
.
At different times Michael was married to two daughters of Alexandra of Lithuania
Alexandra of Lithuania
Alexandra was the youngest daughter of Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas and his second wife Uliana of Tver. In 1387 Alexandra married Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia...
and Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit IV was one of the Dukes of Masovia of the old Polish Piast royal family. His domain included the lands of Czersk, Rawa, Sochaczew, Płock and Gostynin. In 1381 he inherited Wisz and in 1387 Bełz.-Life:Siemowit IV was a son of Siemowit III...
. In total he had three wives, all from Masovia: Anna (died in 1435), Eufemia (died in 1436), and Catherine (died in 1476).