List of early Lithuanian dukes

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This article lists rulers of lands attributed to Lithuania (including Samogitia) before the country was unified by Mindaugas in 13th century.

Only few of the dukes were mentioned by contemporary historical sources. All of these are from 13th century.

[edit] Rulers recorded in historical sources

  • Žvelgaitis - earliest known duke. Attacked Riga in 1205
  • Daugirutis - Livonians imprisonded this Lithuanian duke in 1213, who killed himself in prison (recorded by Henricus Lettus).
  • Steksys (Stakys, Stekšys, Steksė) - another powerful duke, killed in 1214.
  • father of Mindaugas - several sources mention that he was an influential duke, but do not give his name
  • The following Lithuanian dukes signed peace treaty with rulers of Halych-Volhynia in 1219
    • duke elders
    • rulers of Samogitia
    • Ruškaičiai family
      • Kintibutas
      • Vembutas
      • Butautas
      • Vyžeikis
      • Velžys (son of Vyžeikis)
      • Kitenis
      • Plikienė (wife of Plikys, probably widow)
    • Bulionys family (three brothers, all of them killed by Mindaugas)
      • Vismantas
      • Gedvilas
      • Sprudeikis
    • rulers of Deltuva
      • Juodikis
      • Buteikis
      • Bikšys
      • Ligeiky(?)s

Of the dukes who signed peace treaty, only four are mentioned in other sources: Mindaugas (who went on to become the grand duke and later king), Vykintas (leader of anti-Mindaugas coalition in the 1248-1251 war) and Bikšys and Ligeiky(?)s, both mentioned in 1260 as Mindaugas relatives and nobles.

[edit] Possibly mythological rulers

  • The following pre-unification rulers are first mentioned by 16th-17th century historians. Credibility of these works is doubted.

[edit] See also

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