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Vaišvilkas was born circa 1223 in Lithuania to Mindaugas (c1200-1263) and died 9 December 1268 of unspecified causes.

Vaišelga or Vaišvilkas (also spelled as Vojszalak, Vojšalk, Vaišalgas,[1] Belarusian: Войшалк,[2] Russian: Войшелк, Polish: Wojsiełk; killed on December 9, 1268) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1264–1267). He was son of Mindaugas, the first and only King of Lithuania.

Nothing is known about Vaišvilkas' youth as he entered historical sources only in 1254 when he made a treaty, in the name of his father King Mindaugas, with Daniil of Halych. In the treaty Galicia-Volhynia transfers Black Ruthenia with center in Navahrudak to Lithuania. So solidify the treaty Daniil's son Shvarn was married to Vaišvilkas' sister.[3] Vaišvilkas was appointed as duke of some of these lands. After Vaišvilkas was baptized in Greek Orthodox rite, he was drawn to the religious life so much that he transferred his title and lands to Roman Danylovich, son of Daniel of Halych.[3]


He himself went to the monastery Poloninsky , in Polonnoe in Volhynia , where he took monastic vows under the name of Lavrish. After three years of life in the monastery, in 1256 or 1257 he went on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, but was forced to return from Bulgaria because of the war in the region. Around 1257, along with 10-12 monks founded at Nieman monastery, which later would be called by its name Lavrishevskim. Abbot of the monastery was Elisha. He founded a monastery, traditionally identified with Lavrashev Monastery on the bank on the Neman River and entered it as a monk.[4] He set off on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos in Greece. However, he did not reach the destination due to wars in the Balkans and returned to Navahrudak.[3]

Orda Veiselga monastery

Dormition Monastery in Leshcha near Pinsk, that was presumably founded by Vaišvilkas (painting by Napoleon Orda)

In 1264 he escaped assassination plot by Treniota and Daumantas against his father and two of his brothers. Treniota was murdered by former servants of Mindaugas. Vaišvilkas allied himself with his brother-in-law Shvarn from Galicia-Volhynia. They managed to take control over Black Ruthenia and Duchy of Lithuania.[5] Then they waged a war against Nalšia and Deltuva, two main centers of opposition to Mindaugas and Vaišvilkas.[6] Daumantas, Duke of Nalšia, was forced to flee to Pskov. Suksė (Suxe), another influential duke from Nalšia, fled to Livonia. Vaišvilkas become the Grand Duke of Lithuania. As a Christian, he tried to maintain friendly relationship with the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order. He signed a peace treaty with Livonia regarding trade on the Daugava River.[3] Lithuanian support of the Great Prussian Uprising ceased, and the orders made advances against Semigallians and Curonians uninterrupted. Together with Shvarn Vaišvilkas attacked Poland in 1265 to avenge devastation of Yotvingians in 1264.[5]

When in 1267 he decided to go back to monastic life, Vaišvilkas transferred the title of Grand Duke to Shvarn. A year later he was killed by Shvarn's brother, Leo I of Halych, who was angry that Vaišvilkas did not divide the powers between him and his brother.[5] He was interred near the Dormition Cathedral (Vladimir-Volynsky).

Name

The original Lithuanian name of the Grand Duke has puzzled many linguists and historians. Their reconstructions resulted in two credible variants Vaišvilkas, based on Woyszwiłk and Vaišelga, based on Vojšalk. The name Vaišvilkas was first reconstructed by Kazimieras Būga.[7] In fact, the first part of the double-stemmed name vaiš- causes no dispute and is attested in many similar names. However, the second part -vilkas, meaning "wolf" is very rare to non existent in Lithuanian names.[7] This led to the hypothesis that the initial form of the name should have been Vaišvilas.[8] The variant Vaišelga/Vaišalga has gained more popularity in historical writings even though the origins of the element -alg and -elg are not entirely clear.[8] Eventually, some researchers even suggest that he had two names, one of them being Vaišvilas.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ (Russian) Baranauskas, Tomas. "Древние литовские имена". Medieval Lithuania. http://viduramziu.istorija.net/ru/names.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 
  2. ^ (Belarusian) Краўцэвіч, Аляксандр. "Войшалк (1264 – 1267 г.)". Pawet. http://pawet.net/library/history/bel_history/kraucewicz/29/Войшалк_(1264_-_1267_г.)._Інтэлігент_на_троне.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
  3. ^ a b c d Simas Sužiedėlis, ed (1970-1978). "Vaišvilkas". Encyclopedia Lituanica. VI. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 29–30. LCCWp globe tiny 74-114275. 
  4. ^ Rowell, S. C. (1994). Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series. Cambridge University Press. p. 149. ISBN 9780521450119. 
  5. ^ a b c Kiaupa, Zigmantas; Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius (2000) [1995]. The History of Lithuania Before 1795 (English ed.). Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History. pp. 68–69. ISBN 9986-810-13-2. 
  6. ^ (Lithuanian) Ivinskis, Zenonas (1978). Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties. Rome: Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija. pp. 197–199. 
  7. ^ a b (Lithuanian) Valentas, Skirmantas (2002). "ISTORINIS VEIKĖJAS EILĖRAŠTYJE: Воишелкъ, Воишевoлкъ". Literatūra. 
  8. ^ a b (Lithuanian) Zinkevičius, Zigmas (2007). Senosios Lietuvos valstybės vardynas. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. p. 48. ISBN 5-420-01606-0. 
  9. ^ (Lithuanian) Kuzavinis, Kazimieras; Bronys Savukynas (1987). Lietuvių vardų kilmės žodynas. Vilnius: Mokslas. 





Residences

Footnotes (including sources)

Afil





Preceded by
Treniota
Grand Duke of Lithuania
1264–1267
Succeeded by
Shvarn


Vaišvilkas (c1223-1268)
Born: c1223
Preceded by
Mindaugas
Prince of Novogrudok
1249–1254
Succeeded by
Roman Daniilovich
Preceded by
Roman Daniilovich
Prince of Novogrudok
1259–1264
Succeeded by
Shvarn Daniilovich
Preceded by
Treniota
Grand Duke of Lithuania
1264–1267
Succeeded by
Shvarn Daniilovich
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