Duchy of Lithuania

This article is about the specific polity Duchy of Lithuania and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

Was a polity created by the Lithuanians in the 13th century. Initially a Duchy, it became Kingdom in 1251 when Duke Mindaugas converted to Christianity. However the rulers immediately after Mindaugas remained pagans and created the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuania grew to be a regional power, being able to defeat the Mongols and inglobate many of the small principalities that had succeeded the Kievan Rus'. Lithuania ceased to exist as a separate polity in 1385 when it entered into a Personal Union wit Poland.

Establishment

January 1238: Lithuania, taking advantage of the conflict between the Teutonic and Livonian Orders, launched an attack on Ruthenia and successfully annexed the regions of Navahrudak and Hrodna.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Mongol invasions and conquests

Were a series of military campaigny by the Mongols that created the largest contiguous Empire in history, the Mongol Empire, which controlled most of Eurasia.

1.1.Mongol Invasions of Germany

Were a series of Mongol raids in Germany.

1.1.1.First Mongol Invasion of Germany

Was a Mongol raid in the Holy Roman Empire.

May 1241: The Mongols invaded the Holy Roman Empire without major clash of arms.The army invaded eastern Germany, and crossed the March of Moravia in April-May 1241.

June 1241: The Mongols left eastern Germany and Moravia.

2. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

January 1241: Principality of Novogrudok under Lithuanian princes.

January 1241: In 1240 Polotsk became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

January 1241: Principality of Volkovyysky under Lithuanian princes.

January 1243: Trying to avoid the Tatar Yoke, the Principality of Minsk sought the protection of their Lithuanian allies and in 1242, Minsk was peacefully annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

July 1251: Indaugas succeeded in convincing the Livonian Order not only to provide military assistance but also to secure for him the royal crown of Lithuania in exchange for his conversion to Catholicism and some lands in western Lithuania. The status of a kingdom was granted on 17 July 1251, when the Bishop of Chełmno was ordered to crown Mindaugas by Pope Innocent IV.