Editing Traidenis

{{Short description|Grand Duke of Lithuania from c. 1270 to 1282}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Traidenis
| image = Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis.JPG
| caption = Imaginative depiction of Traidenis by [[Alexander Guagnini]], 16th-century
| succession = [[List of Lithuanian monarchs|Grand Duke of Lithuania]]
| reign = 1269–1282
| predecessor = [[Shvarn]]
| successor = [[Daumantas of Lithuania|Daumantas]]
| succession1 = [[Kernavė|Duke of Kernavė]]
| reign1 = until 1269
| birth_date = {{circa|1220}}
| death_date = Spring 1282<br/>[[Kernavė]]
| spouse = Anna of [[Mazovia]]
| issue = [[Gaudemunda of Lithuania]]
| house = [[House of Mindaugas|Mindaugas]]
}}

'''Traidenis''' ({{langx|pl|Trojden}}; {{langx|be|Трайдзень}}; died 1282) was [[List of Lithuanian monarchs|Grand Duke of Lithuania]] from around late 1267 to 1268 until 1282.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Galeotti |first1=Mark |title=Teutonic Knight Vs Lithuanian Warrior: The Lithuanian Crusade 1283–1435 |date=17 January 2023 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |page=78 |isbn=978-1-4728-5150-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_FuoEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> He is the second most prominent grand duke of Lithuania in the 13th century after [[Mindaugas]]. His reign ended a seven-year unrest period after Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and firmly established the Grand Duchy as a [[Lithuanian mythology|pagan]] state for another hundred years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dubonis |first1=Artūras |title=Lietuva po karaliaus Mindaugo mirties: kova dėl sosto 1264 - 1268 m. - Panevėžio Elenos Mezginaitės viešoji biblioteka |url=http://www.panbiblioteka.lt/lt/parodos/8-nenurodyta/1653-arturas-dubonis-lietuva-po-karaliaus-mindaugo-mirties-kova-del-sosto-1264-1268-m |website=panbiblioteka.lt |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>

Traidenis expanded the Grand Duchy into the territories of [[Sudovians]] and [[Semigalians]] and strengthened its presence in [[Black Ruthenia]]. Unlike Mindaugas, Traidenis did not concentrate on expansion into the east.

==Biography==
The circumstances surrounding Traidenis' advance to power are not clear. While his ancestors are unknown, it is known that he came from [[Aukštaitija]], as he was Duke of [[Kernavė]]. From the outset his relationships with [[Galicia–Volhynia]] were tense as he replaced [[Shvarn]], Duke of Galicia–Volhynia and Lithuania. The exact date of his rise to power is not known as according to the chronicle of Galicia-Volhynia [[Shvarn]] died before his uncle [[Vasilko]] (Who died between 1268 and 1269). The same source says Traidenis ruled for 12 years, and yet he was certainly alive in late 1281. Moreover, [[Shvarn]] disappears after 1267 meaning he either died or became politically incapable. At the same time [[Daumantas of Pskov]] stopped attacking Lithuania and Traidenis' enemy the noble Stuksė fled the country, meaning Traidenis likely seized power right after the death of [[Vaišvilkas]] in late 1267. At first Traidenis had relatively cordial relations with [[Galicia-Volhynia]], but eventually tensions rose and led to the 1274–1276 war which began when Lithuania seized [[Drohiczyn]]. Despite [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] support to Galicia–Volhynia, Traidenis was successful in battle and his control over Black Ruthenia ([[Novogrudok]], [[Grodno]], [[Slonim]], and other cities) was strengthened, although he did write of [[Slonim]] and [[Volkovysk]] to Volhynia. Traidenis also made incursions into [[Poland]], especially the surroundings of [[Lublin]] and [[Łęczyca]], that continued to about 1306. However, these raids did not affect [[Masovia]] as Traidenis established a dynastic link through his daughter [[Gaudemunda of Lithuania|Gaudemunda]] with [[Dukes of Masovia|its dukes]]. This dynastic relationship was further developed by [[Gediminas]].{{No source|date=January 2025}}

Traidenis, known for his devotion to [[Lithuanian mythology|paganism]] and [[Germanophobia|anti-German]] attitude, was also successful in fighting with the [[Livonian Order]]. In 1270 he won the [[Battle of Karuse]], fought on ice near [[Saaremaa]], and killed [[Otto von Lutterberg]], master of the Order. A new master, Andreas von Westfalen, sought a quick revenge, but was also killed by Traidenis. However, by 1272 the Order retaliated, attacking [[Semigalia]] and building [[Dinaburga Castle|Dinaburg]] Castle in 1273 on lands nominally controlled by Traidenis. Despite four [[siege engines]] used to throw stones, he was unable to capture the new fortress and had to retreat in 1278. In 1279 the order attacked Lithuanian lands, reaching as far as Kernavė, but on their way back they suffered a great defeat in the [[Battle of Aizkraukle]]. The Order's master, Ernst von Rassburg, became the third master to be killed by Traidenis. The defeat encouraged conquered [[Semigallians]] to rebel. The Semigalians, led by [[Nameisis]], were now willing to acknowledge Lithuania's superiority and asked Traidenis for assistance. In 1281, Traidenis conquered [[Jersika]] Castle in the present-day [[Preiļi district]], and was able to exchange it for Dinaburg Castle. However, Traidenis died soon afterwards, and assistance to Semigalians, exhausted by constant warfare. The exact circumstances of Traidens' death are unkown. He is last mentioned in the Autumn of 1281, so historians believe that the next year he probably died. His death was likely nit natural as immedeatly after the Spring of 1282 Lithuania's foreign policy strategy changes drastically, it suddenly attacks Traidenis' former allies and shifts atention to the east rather than south and North.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jasas |first1=Rimantas |title=Nameisis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/nameisis/ |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |language=lt}}</ref>

[[File:Kernavė Lithuania.jpg|thumb|500px|right|[[Kernavė]] hill forts. Kernavė was the Ducal Seat of Traidenis]]

==Family==

;Brothers
* Bardis, Liesis, and Svalkenis were [[Eastern Orthodox]] and died in fights with Galicia–Volhynia
* Sirputis assisted his brother in military campaigns
;Daughter
* [[Gaudemunda of Lithuania|Gaudemunda]], married [[Boleslaus II of Masovia|Bolesław II]], [[Duke of Masovia]], becoming Duchess of Masovia

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |others= Vytautas Spečiūnas (compiler)|title= Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas |year=2004 |publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas |location=Vilnius |isbn=5-420-01535-8 |pages=26–27|language=lt}}
* {{cite book |first=Zenonas |last=Ivinskis |title=Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties |year=1978 |location=Rome |publisher=Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija |pages=200–206|language=lt}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before=[[Shvarn]] | title=[[List of Lithuanian rulers|Grand Duke of Lithuania]]  | years=1269/1270–1282| after=[[Daumantas of Lithuania|Daumantas]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of Lithuania}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Traidenis}}

[[Category:1220s births]]
[[Category:1282 deaths]]

[[Category:Grand dukes of Lithuania]]