Whenever History of Middle Ages is studied, most interests on this matter takes us to England or France's History during this period, especially with this latter, whose historiography is most popular and followed by many researchers and historians themselves. However, it still remains difficult the possibility of transferring the dominion of french historiography to other's. With this thought, it's questioned how the History of certain countries is less valuable than others and based on what critters one is more studied than another. Nevertheless, this article presents an attempting to leave behind the anglo-french centralization by giving light to a figure that few have heard about. His name was Algirdas and he was the Grand Duke of Lithuania in Middle Ages, though as the ruler he was his reign began on the year of 1345 and lasted until his death in 1377.
But what we are about to discuss is not his reign as whole or how he helped to unite Lithuania as one, since there were states that his father had divided between their sons until Agirdas became Grand Duke of the whole duchy he united through the deposition he had afflicted his younger brother; but rather his controversial religious views in a century that Christian Churches were already well established, Rome was very powerful and unquestionable as its Holy sovereign that every monarch had to obey and, perhaps most important, no signs of pagans such were the Danes was there to cause the Church of Rome trouble or other Catholics in Europe. Still, Lithuania was regarded as the last pagan region to convert, even though it kept much of paganism in its culture and way of life. But in days of prosecution, where even Christian heretics were burned, how did this duke manage to deal with his own faith and make sure to turn Lithuania into a powerful duchy, some claiming its lands reached until Moscow with the rule of Agirdas? That's what we are discussing today.
Born circa in the year of 1296, probably by the the end of the month of May, he was the oldest son of Gediminas (sometimes spelled Gedymin) Grand Duke of Lithuania (though his lands were on the western side of Lithuania) and his wife, Olga Vsevolodovna of Smolensk. Whilst his father was still alive, Algirdas received Crewa (or Krèva) from him, as said here: "The Origo Regis Jagyelo records that "ducem magnum Lithuanie Gediminum" had seven sons, of whom "tercius Olgerth, pater dominis regis" to whom his father gave "Crewa"."
Few is documented of his childhood and adult affairs, but what else can be said of the last pagan ruler in Europe is about how he used paganism, like his father, to manage diplomacy to favour Lithuania. As it was said before, the youngest brother of Algirdas, Jaunutis, became the heir of his father, probably because his mother was a Polish princess. However, he did not manage well the loyalty of his older brothers and soon he was placed aside when Algirdas became the Grand Duke of Lithuania, uniting the duchy at least. To avoid any sort of rebellion, Algirdas gave some other part of Lithuania to his younger brother, but relied on Kestutis who aided him in military expeditions, expand lands in eastern sides, almost reaching Moscow, but giving Algirdas thrice failures when he attempted to break in the region.
In matters of religion, it is curious to attest that, despite how many people who surrounded him at the time were Christians, Algirdas apparently remained pagan. Below, there is a citation that explains furthermore about how the praise to their own Gods worked:
"While the Lithuanian pantheon consists of dozen of household (i.e minor) gods and goddesses, the two most important ones were Thor-like Perkunas and crafty Velnias (also Velinas). Velninas was the chthonic god of the underworld and was responsible for all mischief on earth - he was the misbehaving trickster god. Missionaries interpreted the cult of Velninas as a form of satanic worship, as Lithuanians would venerate him by sacrificing a goat."
And there's more:
"(...) According to the lore of the time, Velnias was the god responsible for the Lithuanian victory at Tannen-berg. He had extorted the secret of working iron from the god Kalvelis and had supernaturally enhanced the Lithuanians' swords. He was also the keeper of the souls of the dead prior to their final separation from the earth. (...) Perkunas was the chief god and protector of the Lithuanian state. He ruled over fire, thunder and lightning. Soil could not be titled until he blessed it with the first rumble of thunder in the spring. (...) Perkunas was thus the protector of order in the world and was perennially at odds with rascally Velnias".
In present days, this paganism leaded to a new religion, neo paganism, known by the name of Romuva, but, back to the reign of Algirdas, what can we say about these rites and beliefs under this context? Considering how Algirdas was married to a woman of an Orthodox faith and remembering how his father, Gediminas, also married to Christian women, was reported to have welcomed Orthodox and Christian faith in Lithuan, but refusing to be baptized in the new religion. Following his father's politics, Algirdas did not do different. By promising he would convert, he never did. As the excerpt affirms that:
"Modern historians argue, that "For Gediminas and Algirdas, retention of paganism provided a useful diplomatic tool and weapon... that allowed them to use promises of conversion as a means of preserving their power and independence". According to Hermann von Wartberge and Jan Dlugosz, Algirdas remained a pagn until his death in summer 1377. Contemporary Byzantine accounts also support the Western sources: Patriarch Neilos described Algirdas as fire-worshipping prince; another Patriarch Philotheos excommunicated all Ruthenian noblemen who helped impious Algirdas. Algirdas' pagan faith also went into the 14th Byzantine historian's Nicephorus Gregora's accounts."
But such manipulation did not prevent bigger issues to come, such as were the Teutonic Knights, who desired to input Christian faith in Lithuania. However, through his most loyal brother, Kestutis, they were swept away briefly. Although his religious views sometimes confuse historians as whether he was pagan or not - which might explain the good skills in diplomacy this duke was- his death and the name of his children were definitely pagans. As said below:
"Algirdas married Uliana, daughter of Aleksander Mikhailovich, Prince of Tver. During the 27 years of their marriage, Algirdas and Uliana had 7 sons: Jogaila (-Vladislav) in 1351, Skirgaila (-Ivan) in 1453, Katibutas (-Dmitri), Lengvenis (-Simeon) in 1360, Karigaila (-Casimir), Vygundas (-Aleksander), and Svitrigaila (-Boleslav); and 3 daughters: Helen, Maria, and Aleksandra. Because these children were born in still pagan Lithuania, the sons were given pagan Lithuania names. They converted to Christianity for political reasons later in their lives, receiving Christian baptismal names."
Despite this particular controversial view of Algirdas, whose figured was build by Christians historians (or Russians even) who claimed he was Orthodox due to many churches of that faith he build, it can be argued this was a politics of freedom of religion since there is no evidence that he prosecuted Christians, but rather was almost prosecuted by them hence why the Teutonic Knights were instigated in converting him to the "true" Holy Church. But he never did and the proof of significant paganism in his life is in his death.
"On May 24th Algirdas' body was burned on a funeral pyre in a sacred oak grove near Vilnius according to the pagan custom of the time. Cremated with Algirdas were eighteen horses and many of his valuables."
A man of old traditions, Algirdas was definitely a figure who better represented the resistance against Christianism in Lithuania. Although this region was, afterwards, converted to that faith, it can be contested its success in general. After all, paganism there left much more inheritances than Catholicism itself and the result of this struggle was a sort of syncretism that resides in Lithuania until nowadays, especially in holidays.
Historical characters as Algirdas can be found in any country's history, but unfortunately in these days there are other focus to infamous dynasties and its deeds. Although this article was about religion, there is much more in Algirdas we could have written about. His reign was prosperous, and, as a ruler, he was respected and skilled in diplomacy; but few were the sources found that spoke of him or even of his dynasty. Lithuania is as rich in History as any other country, but perhaps the choice in sticking to the already known makes difficult in making way to other discoveries.
Sources: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/LITHUANIA.htm#Algirdasdied1377B
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algirdas
http://www.truelithuania.com/romuva-neo-paganism-in-lithuania-102
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Algirdas,+Grand+Duke+of+Lithuania
http://www.lithaz.org/history/algirdas.html
http://www.gutenberg.us/articles/algirdas,_grand_duke_of_lithuania
http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/1962/
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