Vytautas the Great | |
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Grand Duke of Lithuania Duke of Trakai Postulated King of Hussites |
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17th century painting
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Reign | August 4, 1392 – October 27, 1430 |
Predecessor | Skirgaila |
Successor | Švitrigaila |
Born | ~1350 Senieji Trakai |
Died | October 27, 1430 Trakai |
Burial | Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius |
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 a ruler 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.