Thread by @Arby_K

A non Christian ruler, who recreated a nation defeating Christian invaders. A nation that would be core to the largest Catholic nations in Europe.

Story in the evening...

Traidenis was born sometime in the 13th century Lithuania. It is believed that his father (or grandfather) was Živinbudas. Živinbudas was the leading ruler among 21 Lithuanian rulers, who signed a treaty with the Rus' state of Halych-Volynia in 1219. 1/10

With Livonian and Teutonic Orders harassing the Lithuanians, Mindaugas, another signatory for the treaty with the Rus', was able to unite Lithuania into a single nation. In 1251, Mindaugas accepted Christianity and allied with the Orders, causing friction within Lithuania. 2/10

Though Mindaugas disavowed Christianity in 1261, his nephew, Treniota, and Daumantas of Nalšia plotted for his death. The assassination led to a period of chaos, which saw Trenoita and Vaišvilkas, son of Mindaugas, both murdered. 3/10

They were followed by Shvarn Daniilovich, who was married to a daughter of Mindaugas. After his death in 1269, Traidenis, who appears to have been a popular noble from Aukštaitija, became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Since Shvarn was a Rus' prince, the Rus' staked a claim. 4/10

Traidenis soon defeated Halych-Volynia in battle. He also had to deal with the Livonian and Teutonic Orders. Both were Christian military orders seeking to protect and expand Christianity. But unlike his predecessor, Traidenis did not accept Christianity. 5/10

Traidenis was largely successful in his outings against the Livonian Order as well. After defeating them on the frozen Baltic Sea in 1270, he destroyed them in 1279 at Aizkraukle (Ascheraden), leading to Duke Nameisis of Semigalia switching to Lithuanian side. 6/10

He also maintained an alliance with Polish Masovia in the south. He may have married Ludmila, daughter of Konrad of Masovia and his daughter, Gaudamante, married Bolesław, Konrad's grandson. One of Gaudamante's two sons was named Trojden, after his grandfather. 7/10

When Traidenis died in 1282 of natural causes, he left behind a stronger Lithuania. He was succeeded by Daumantas, perhaps a relative of Mindaugas. After him came the brothers, Butigeidas and Pukuveras, and Lithuania reach newer heights under Gediminas, son of Pukuveras. 8/10

Lithuania continued to expand mainly at the cost of the Rus'. The former Rus' capital, Kiev, was conquered in 1363 by Algirdas, son of Gediminas. His nephew, Vytautas, brought Lithuania all the way to the Black Sea. 9/10

But it was Jogaila, son of Algirdas, that would effectively unite Lithuania with neighbouring Poland, with his marriage to the Polish Rex, Jadviga. This paved the way for the creation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, which reached its greatest extend in 1619. 10/10