Butigeidis (Budikid; Belarusian: Будзікід; died 1290 or 1291) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1285 to 1290 or 1291.[1] He assumed power after the death of Daumantas.[2] He is the first known and undisputed member of the Gediminids.[2]

Butigeidis
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign1285–1290/1291
PredecessorDaumantas
SuccessorButvydas
Born1240
Died1290/1291
HouseGediminids

He started his rule when the Livonian Order and the Teutonic Knights were finalizing their conquest of the Baltic tribes.[2] In 1289, leading about 8,000 troops, Butigeidis attacked Sambia.[2] In 1289 the Teutonic Knights built a castle in Tilsit and their raids intensified. Lithuanians were forced to abandon Kolainių Castle located on the other bank of the Neman River.[2] Butigeidis was the first to build strong castles along the Neman River.[2] The castle system was further developed after his death and helped to resist the raids until the second half of the 14th century.[2]

Butigeidis transferred Vawkavysk to Galicia-Volhynia in exchange for peace.[2] He died in 1290 or 1292, and his brother Butvydas (also known as Pukuveras) inherited the crown.[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Galeotti, Mark (17 January 2023). Teutonic Knight Vs Lithuanian Warrior: The Lithuanian Crusade 1283–1435. Bloomsbury USA. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4728-5150-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Butigeidis". vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  • Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas (in Lithuanian). Vytautas Spečiūnas (compiler). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 2004. p. 29. ISBN 5-420-01535-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Preceded by Grand Duke of Lithuania
1285–1291
Succeeded by