Vaišvilkas

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Vaišvilkas (Woyszwiłk, Vojszalak, Vojšalk, Vaišelga, Vaišalgas; killed on 9 December 1268 in Volodymyr-Volynskyi) was the Prince of Black Ruthenia (1255 – 1267), and the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1264 – 1267).

When he captured Navahradak, Vaišvilkas was baptized and became orthodox. In 1255 he made a treaty, in the name of his father King Mindaugas, with Daniel of Halych-Volhynia. In the treaty Halych-Volhynia transfers Black Rutheria to Lithuania. Vaišvilkas was appointed as duke of some of these lands. He escaped assassination plot against his father. During internal fights and after Treniota's murder Vaišvilkas managed to regain father's powers and become the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He won against Daumantas, together with Švarnas, brother-in-law, attacked Poland in 1265. When in 1267 he decided to go bact to monastic life, Vaišvilkas transferred the title to Švarnas. A year later he was killed by Švarnas' brother, Leo I of Halych, who was angry that Vaišvilkas did not divide the powers between him and his brother.

[edit] See also

• House of Mindaugas – family tree of Vaišvilkas
• List of Belarusian rulers
• List of Lithuanian rulers

Preceded by: Treniota

Grand Prince of Lithuania 1264–1267

Succeeded by: Švarnas

[edit] References

• (Lithuanian) Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.), Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.) (Rulers of Lithuania (13-18th centuries)), Mokslo ir enicklopedijų leidybos institutas, Vilnius 2004. Page 24. ISBN 5-420-01535-8
• Charles Cawley, Lithuania, Medieval Lands, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Accessed August 26, 2006.