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
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Europe had seen many wars after the collapse of Roman Empire in the West in 476, but they were mostly bilateral and local. It was only in the 1500s that Europe saw multi national alliances fight it out, with France, Holy Roman Empire, Spain and England fighting over Italy. 2/20
But the fighting was limited to Italy.
The event in 1618 Prague was a story that was 200 years in making. It started with Jan Hus and his move to reform the Catholic Church in Bohemia.
With the Church unhappy about it, he was summoned to the Council of Constance in 1414. 3/20
The year was 1415. Portugal had been reborn as a nation under João de Aviz and was looking to expand. With Iberia out of question, it set its sights on Ceuta in North Africa, then ruled by the Marinid Sultans of Morocco. 1/17
Henrique, a younger son of João de Aviz, then funded the explorations further down the Atlantic. This led to the rediscovery and settlement of the Atlantic islands – Madeira (1418), Azores (1427) and Cabo Verde (1444). From there they tried to go around Africa to India. 2/17
With the rest of Europe busy, Portugal spent the century exploring the seas. They reached River Senegal in 1445, Gambia in 1456, mouth of River Congo in 1482 and by 1487, Bartolomeu Dias had reached the Cape of Good Hope. 3/17
2,500 to 3,500 years ago, an ancient tribe settled on an island. Centuries later, they were overrun by foreign invaders. Centuries later, another wave and more later.
But 500 years ago, one of the tribe won a great victory in battle and became King.
Henry Tudor was born in 1457 to Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort. Edmund Tudor was a half brother of King Henry VI of England, while Margaret was the granddaughter of John Beaufort, legitimized half brother of King Henry IV, grandfather of Henry VI. 1/10
The Tudors were a Welsh aristocratic family, descended from a Gwynedd warrior, Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig, who was related to the Welsh Kingdoms of Deheubarth and Powys. The Welsh were descended from the Celtic tribes that settled in Britain before 500 BC. 2/10
Anne Neville was born in 1456 to Richard Neville and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick. Richard Neville's aunt, Cecily Neville, was married to Richard of York, who was earlier the Lord Protector of England. 1/10
England was edging towards a civil war when Anne was born. King Henry VI was not seen fit for rule and his opponents rallied around the King's nearest adult male relative, Richard of York, dividing England into Lancastrian (Ruling) and Yorkist camps. 2/10
Petr Alekseivich was born in 1672 to Aleksei Mikhailovich, Tsar of Russia, and Natalia Narishkina. Aleksei died in 1676 and Petr's elder half brother, Feodor, became the Tsar. But Feodor was physically weak and was dominated by the Miloslaskys, his maternal family. 1/10
Feodor's death in 1682 brought Petr and his other elder half brother, Ivan, as joint Tsars. Since Ivan was also weak, their elder sister, Sofia became Regent. But by 1689, Petr had dismissed Sofia and taken over the rule. Ivan's death in 1696 gave Petr solo rule. 2/10