Lithuanian Civil War (1381–84)

Lithuanian Civil War of 1381–1384
Part of Vytautas–Jogaila power struggle
The apparent cause of the civil war: Treaty of Dovydiškės
Date August 1381 – July 1384 Location Grand Duchy of Lithuania Result Temporary Vytautas and Jogaila reconciliation
Belligerents
Teutonic Knights Samogitia	Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Commanders and leaders
Kęstutis Vytautas Winrich von Kniprode Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein	Jogaila Skirgaila

Teutonic Knights

The Lithuanian Civil War of 1381–1384 was the first struggle for power between the cousins Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania and later King of Poland, and Vytautas the Great. It began after Jogaila signed the Treaty of Dovydiškės with the Teutonic Knights which was aimed against his uncle Kęstutis, father of Vytautas. Kęstutis briefly seized power in the Grand Duchy, but was betrayed by adherents of Jogaila primarily from Vilnius. During negotiations for a truce Kęstutis and Vytautas were arrested and transported to the Kreva Castle. Kęstutis died there a week later but Vytautas managed to escape and then sought an alliance with the Teutonic Knights. Subsequently their joint forces raided Lithuanian lands. Eventually the cousins were reconciled as Jogaila needed internal stability in anticipation of negotiations with the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Kingdom of Poland regarding the possible Christianization of Lithuania. The war did not settle the power struggle; it continued during the next Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392) which was resolved by the signing of the Ostrów Agreement. After more than ten years of struggle, Vytautas finally became the Grand Duke of Lithuania and ruled the country for thirty-eight years.

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