Lithuanian Civil War (1432–1438)

The Lithuanian Civil War of 1431–1435 was a war between Švitrigaila and Poland-backed Sigismund Kęstutaitis for the throne of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania after Vytautas the Great died in 1430 without leaving an heir. Švitrigaila allied himself with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Paul von Rusdorf, against the Kingdom of Poland. Because of direct fighting between Poland and Teutonic Knights in 1431–1433, the war is known as the Polish–Teutonic War of 1431–1435 in Polish historiography. The war ended in the Battle of Pabaiskas. Livonian branch of the Knights suffered a major defeat, often compared the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.

Prelude

On October 27 1430 Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania, died suddenly without leaving an heir or a will. His only daughter Sophia of Lithuania was married to Vasily I of Moscow and had only one surviving son, Vasily II. He was Orthodox and could not lead the recently christianized Catholic Grand Duchy. Orthodox faith prevented many other Gediminids from becoming pretenders to the throne. There were two most suitable Catholic candidates, Vytautas' brother and technically the legal heir, Sigismund Kęstutaitis, and Vytautas' cousin Švitrigaila.

Lithuanian nobles unilaterally elected Švitrigaila as the Grand Duke. This violated the terms of the Union of Horodło of 1413, where Lithuanians promised not to elect a new Grand Duke without the approval of the Kingdom of Poland. In order to receive Ruthenian votes Švitrigaila granted equal rights to Catholic and Orthodox nobles – it was the lasting achievement of his brief reign. The Polish noblity, led by Zbigniew Oleśnicki, were outraged and demanded that Švitrigaila acknowledged his fealty to his brother Jogaila, King of Poland. Švitrigaila refused and professed full independence. The conflict was further complicated by territorial disputes in Podolia and Volhynia, that according to an agreement in 1411 were to be ruled by Lithuania only for the lifetime of Vytautas.

Teutonic invasion to Poland

Švitrigaila fought with the Polish–Lithuanian forces at Lutsk in Volhynia, and at the same time started organizing a wider anti-Polish coalition. He negotiated with the Teutonic Knights, Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, Moldavia, the Tatars, dukes of eastern lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The most promising ally was the Teutonic Knights, who sought to undo the Polish–Lithuanian union which led to its defeat in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. In June 1431 Treaty of Christmemel in Skirsnemunė was signed between the Teutonic Knights and Švitrigaila.

According to this agreement the Teutonic Knights invaded Poland, whose forces where engaging Švitrigaila in Volhynia. Finding little opposition, they ravaged Dobrzyń Land, taking the town of Nieszawa and tried to move to Kuyavia and Krajna regions. However, the Teutonic army was defeated at Dąbki and Nakel and a truce was signed. The Order, mostly its Livonian branch, continued secret support of Švitrigaila.

Hussite invasion to Prussia

In 1432 Poland allied itself with the Czech Hussites and Hussite forces under Jan Čapek ze Sán. Supported by Pomeranian prince Bogusław IX (from the Duchy of Stolp (Słupsk)), the Polish-Czech-Pomeranian army ravaged Teutonic territories in Neumark, Pomerania and Prussia, taking several towns and castles. Another truce was signed in 1433 in Jasiniec, and negotiations were continued in Brześć Kujawski and finally a peace treaty or truce (for 12 years) was signed between Poles and the Order in Łęczyca on December 15 1433 (this has also led some historians to bracket the wars with the years 1431-1433). The Teutonic Knights eventually agreed to all Polish demands: return of Nieszawa, abandoning the case of Švitrigaila, abandoning seeking the mediation of foreign powers, and signing the peace treaty.

Coup in Lithuania

Meanwhile in Lithuania, conspirators, led by Sigismund Kęstutaitis, attacked Švitrigaila and his escort, who were staying in Ašmena for the night of August 31 1432. Švitrigaila managed to escape to Polotsk. Sigismund became the Grand Duke and resumed policy of union with Poland. On October 15 1432 he signed the Union of Grodno, in essence confirming the Union of Vilnius and Radom (1401) and granting Sigismund the same rights as Vytautas enjoyed during his reign. After Sigismund's death, Lithuania was to return to King of Poland. To win support from the nobles, Sigismund granted several privileges. One to Duchy of Samogitia confirmed its autonomous status within the Grand Duchy. Another to both Catholic and Orthodox nobles, guaranteed their rights to dispose of their land.

Lithuania was divided into two camps: supporters of Sigismund (Lithuanian lands, Samogitia, Podlachia, Hrodna, Minks) and supporters of Švitrigaila (Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Kiev, Volhynia). Three years of devastating hostilities began. When Jogaila died in 1434, the Order resumed its support to Švitrigaila. The latter rallied his supporters, including numerous knights from the Livonian Order, and the final Battle of Pabaiskas was fought in September 1435. Švitrigaila lost and escaped to Polotsk. The Livonian Order suffered a great defeat, sometimes compared to defeat inflicted upon the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of Grunwald of 1410. The Teutonic Knights signed another peace treaty in Brześć Kujawski on December 31 1435.

Aftermath

Švitrigaila was losing his influence in the Slavic principalities. In September 1437 he reconciled with Poland: he would rule lands that still supported him (chiefly Kiev and Volhynia) and after his death the territories would pass to the King of Poland. The reign of Sigismund Kęstutaitis was short – he was assassinated in 1440.

References

• Kiaupa, Zigmantas (2000) [1995]. The History of Lithuania Before 1795 (English ed.). Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History. pp. 205–211. ISBN 9986-810-13-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 306–313. ISBN 0-929700-25-2.
• Roman Grodecki, Stanisław Zachorowski, Jan Dąbrowski, Dzieje Polski Średniowiecznej, tom 2, Wydawnictwo Platan, Kraków 1995 (wyd. pierwsze 1926), s. 103-125, ISBN 83-7052-230-0.
• Marian Biskup, Gerard Labuda, Dzieje zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach, Wydawnictwo Morskie, Gdańsk 1986