KESTUTIS - NOBLE WARRIOR
By Gloria O’Brien
Gediminas, the progenitor of
Historians differ as to
whether Kestutis was Gediminas’ fourth or fifth son, and there is no
record of the date of his birth (a reasonable guess would be ca 1300), nor the
details of his childhood, but it can be assumed that he spent that time at the
Gediminas hoped to ensure the
security and stability of his lands by positioning his sons in authority at
important parts of
The two main orders and most
of
Gediminas’ death left
his least-competent son, Jaunutis, in possession of
Algirdas was the acknowledged
Grand Prince, and all others, including Kestutis, swore obedience to him, but
Kestutis occupied a unique position among them, as Algirdas’ right hand
and alter ego. The two brothers here commenced a partnership that endured
through many years of constant battle, turmoil and hardship. For the next
thirty years, Algirdas and Kestutis ruled Lithuanian territory in amicable
tandem.
One Muscovite chronicler later
sought to cast a shadow over the well-known amity between the brothers, by
concocting a story about strife and battle between them, even claiming that
Kestutis had imprisoned Algirdas for a time. There is no basis whatsoever
for the story, an obvious, malicious fiction. Kestutis remained faithful
until Algirdas’ death, and beyond.
Almost immediately after Algirdas and Kestutis took control, ca 1345, they had
to defend
In 1348, the Black Death
visited
Kestutis was famed amongst
theTeutonic knights as a man of integrity and courtesy who always kept
his word and appreciated and honored bravery in his opponents. Today, he
would be called a “straight-arrow”. He was known to give
advance notice of his intentions to beseige a particular location, and then did
his best to arrive on time. An expert naturalist and well-acquainted with
the details and elements of the Prussian area’s terrain, he often made
good use during his raids of a particular shallow rivulet linking two
small lakes, which came to be known as “Kestutis’ Ford”.
In 1361, Kestutis was taken
by surprise and captured by the Kryžiuočiai while hunting in the
Augustavo forest, and imprisoned in the Marienburg fortress. Six or seven
months later, he was able, with the help of a servant, to disguise himself as a
German knight, and escape. It is said that he later sent a letter to
Marienburg, thanking the Grand Master of the Order for his
“hospitality”.
The Lithuanians suffered a
major blow, when the fortress of Kaunas fell in 1362, after a prolonged and
fierce seige. The “holy” knights slaughtered all who remained
within, except for Kestutis’ son, Vaidotas, who was taken captive, along
with a few attendants.
But it must have been
particularly difficult for Kestutis to absorb the blow dealt to him personally,
in 1365, when Algirdas and Kestutis were marching toward Volynia in aid of
their brother, Liubartas, in his quarrel with the Poles. Kestutis’s
son, Butautas, with a small number of followers, took advantage of their
absence in an attempt to take over Vilnius. The attempt proved unsuccessful,
however, and Butautas fled to the safety of Karaliaučius, where he was
christened Henry. He spent years as the dependent guest of Emperor
Charles IV and died in Prague in 1380.
Algirdas, weak and worn out
at 81 years of age, died in 1377, and was accorded the traditional ceremonial
pagan ruler’s funeral. His corpse was ritually cremated, along with his
eighteen war-horses and much valuable property, in the Kukovaičių
forest, near Maišiagala. His favorite son, Jogaila, with the firm
support of Kestutis, was installed as Grand Prince, in accordance with an
agreement that had been made long in advance between Algirdas and
Kestutis. The brothers planned and hoped to foster the same sort of
amicable arrangement for governance that had flourished between
themselves. They hoped that, eventually, the cousins Jogaila and Vytautas
would come to trust and depend on each other in the same way the brothers did,
and rule in the same shared manner.
For a short while, the
arrangement continued, with Jogaila ruling from Vilnius, and Kestutis in
Trakai, but Jogaila lost no time in asserting himself, often ignoring his
uncle’s advice and wishes. In 1381, Jogaila signed a treaty with
the Teutonic Knights, whereby he gained their friendship and support by
promising that his forces would not come to the aid of Kestutis’
Samogitians in any conflict with the Teutons. Kestutis, hearing of this,
marched on Vilnius and deposed Jogaila. His natural inclination to treat
the vanquished with mercy led him to take no revenge on his nephew.
Jogaila was forced to abdicate and to swear he would not take arms against
Kestutis, but restrict himself to rule of his ancestral lands, Kriavas and
Vitebsk. Kestutis was acknowledged Grand Prince of Lithuania.
However, in June, 1382, while
Kestutis was occupied in battle near Novgorod, Jogaila, with the support of his
brother Skirgaila and the Teutonic Knights, recaptured Vilnius and took
Trakai. Kestutis and his son Vytautas combined
their armies and prepared to lay seige to Trakai. Jogaila invited
Kestutis and Vytautas to engage in negotiations, giving his solemn word for
their safety and freedom to return to their encampment. In a
shameful, infamous act of betrayal, Jogaila announced that an agreement
had been made, releasing Kestutis’ troops, who were dispersed.
Jogaila’s uncle and cousin were arrested, and Kestutis was taken to
Krėva, where, on August 14, the valiant hero was foully murdered,
strangled by Jogaila’s henchmen.
To placate the citizenry, the
body of Kestutis was brought to Vilnius, where the last pagan ruler of
Lithuania was accorded a traditional funeral cremation in the Šventaragis
Valley.
While his whole life seems to
have been spent in battle and heroic deeds, the story of Kestutis’
family life is equally important and steeped in historical legend.
Kestutis’s first wife, whose name and family origins have unfortunately
been lost to history, was the mother of his three eldest sons, Patirgas,
Vaidotas and Butautas. His second wife, mother of the great Vytautas, was
the legendary Birutė, who gave birth to two other sons -- Tautvilas and
Žygimantas, and three daughters – Miklausė, Danutė and
Ringailė. Birutė’s name has resounded through the
centuries, inspiring romances, poetry, folk songs, and opera. Countless
Lithuanian girls have been given this beautiful name throughout the years. The
story of Birutė and Kestutis is Lithuania’s most beloved and
romantic legend, and rare is the Lithuanian who cannot recite the story:
“Kestutis,
ruler of Trakai and Zemaitija, heard of a young vaidilutė named
Birutė, who had promised the pagan gods that she would maintain her
innocence throughout her life, and tended the sacred fire in Palanga. She
was said to be beautiful and very wise, and the people honored her as a
goddess. The Grand Duke Kestutis went to Palanga to see her, and was so
pleased and taken with her beauty and wisdom, that he asked for her hand in
marriage. Birutė declined, saying that she had sworn to the gods to
remain chaste all her lfe. But Kestutis carried her away from
Palanga by force, and with great honor escorted her to his castle in
Trakai. He invited all his brothers to a great feast, at which he took
Birutė to wife. And their son Vytautas was born in Old
Trakai”.
There is no historical
corroboration for this story, and no way to confirm that Birutė had in
truth been a vaidilutė in Palanga, but neither is there any evidence to
the contrary. This lovely legend is so deeply rooted in the Lithuanian national
historical psyche, that not one of Lithuania’s many talented historians
have ever shown the least inclination to investigate.
Birutė’s name is first found in written sources, in copies of
Lithuanian chronicles of the sixteenth century. Some scholars have
speculated that the story was originally written down much earlier, in
Vytautas’ time, and then inserted into the so-called Bychovec chronicle
during the second half of the sixteenth century.
History has not definitely
confirmed Birutė’s eventual fate following Kestutis’
death. Some sources claim she was drowned, murdered by Jogaila’s
adherents; others say she returned to her childhood home in Palanga to live out
her days in retirement. Folk legend says her burial place is that area
known as Birute’s Hill in Palanga; that may be so, as the place has been
honored for centuries.
Whatever her fate, and his,
Birute and Kestutis hold a significant and special place in Lithuania’s
history. Their story is entwined with fact and legend, heroism, romance
and treachery. Their eldest son, Vytautas, would be Lithuania’s
greatest ruler.
Kestutis was, first and
foremost, a warrior, of outstanding ability and courage, whose reputation and
fame rested almost equally on his chivalrous nature as on his exploits in
battle. Lithuanian chroniclers praise him as an exemplary leader who
spent most of his life in battle, defending Lithuanian lands against enemies of
one stamp or another. The chronicles of Western Europe speak with
amazement and admiration about Lithuania’s hero, who surprised and
impressed his opponents with his unfailing regard for civility even during open
hostilities. In contrast to most of those he fought, he was the
embodiment of the “perfect knight” – fierce in battle,
merciful in victory, courteous, humane, straightforward, learned and
wise. He survived a lifetime of fierce combat with his mortal foe, the
Teutonic Knights, only to be cruelly murdered, betrayed by his own nephew, son
of the brother to whom he had given his unswerving fidelity.
© Gloria
O’Brien 2006
This article was published in Lithuanian Heritage
Jan./Feb. 2006