Jan Kieżgajło
Jan Kieżgajło or Jan Kieżgajłowicz[1] (Lithuanian: Jonas Kęsgaila, Latin: Johannes Kyensgalowicz,[2] died 1485) was a nobleman of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, son of Mikołaj Kieżgajło of the House of Kieżgajło. He fathered two sons (Stanisław Kiężgajło and Mikołaj Kieżgajło) and two daughters.[3]
Jan was Elder of Samogitia (1449–1485), castellan of Trakai (1477) and Vilnius (1478–1485).[3] Jan was a powerful magnate in Samogitia and even conducted independent foreign policy with the Teutonic Knights.[4] During the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66), the Samogitians attacked the Knights, including their stronghold in Klaipėda (Memel) in 1455.[5] The Samogitian border was closed, disrupting communication between the Teutonic Knights in Prussia and its branch in Livonia. These actions are usually interpreted as direct support to Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland.[4] However, this might be oversimplification as the attacks were possibly carried out by unruly Samogitians looking for loot, closing of the border was not considered an act of war, and Greater Lithuanian nobles generally did not support the war.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Spieralski, Zdzisław (1966–1967). "Rec.: Polski Słownik Biograficzny, zeszyt 25 i 26, Kraków 1946". Nasza Przeszłość. 12: 265–269. doi:10.52204/np.1947.3.265-269. ISSN 2720-0590.
- ^ "LNMMB F101-7". Collection of Parchments. Manuscripts Department of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. 2000. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ a b Petrauskas, Rimvydas (2003). Lietuvos diduomenė XIV a. pabaigoje – XV a. (in Lithuanian). Aidai. p. 252. ISBN 9955-445-67-X.
- ^ a b c Petrauskas, Rimvydas; Jūratė Kiaupienė (2009). Lietuvos istorija. Nauji horizontai: dinastija, visoumenė, valstybė (in Lithuanian). Vol. IV. Baltos lankos. pp. 401, 418. ISBN 978-9955-23-239-1.
- ^ Zinkus, Jonas; et al., eds. (1985–1988). "Kęsgailos". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. II. Vilnius: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 298. LCCN 86232954.
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