Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great
Grand Duke of Lithuania Duke of Trakai Postulated King of Hussites
17th-century painting
Reign	August 4, 1392 – October 27, 1430
Predecessor	Skirgaila
Successor	Švitrigaila
Born	~1350 Senieji Trakai
Died	October 27, 1430 Trakai
Burial	Vilnius, Vilnius Cathedral
House	House of Kęstutis
Dynasty	Gediminids
Father	Kęstutis
Mother	Birutė

Vytautas (c. 1350 – October 27, 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great (Lithuanian:  Vytautas Didysis , Belarusian: Вітаўт Кейстутавіч (Vitaŭt Kiejstutavič), Polish: Witold Kiejstutowicz, Rusyn: Vitovt, Latin: Alexander Vitoldus) from the 15th century onwards, was one of the most famous rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians. He was also the Prince of Hrodna (1370–1382), Prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites.

In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male given name in Lithuania. In commemoration of the 500-year anniversary of his death, Vytautas Magnus University was named after him. Monuments in his honour were built in many towns in the independent Republic of Lithuania during the interwar period, from 1918–1939.