Narimantas

A fantasy portrait from the 18th century

Narimantas or Narymunt (baptized Gleb; 1277 or just before 1300 (according to Wasilewski 1992) – 2 February 1348) was a Lithuanian duke and the second eldest son of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. During various periods of his life, he ruled Pinsk and Polotsk. In 1333 he was invited by Novgorod's nobles to rule and protect territories in the north, Ladoga, Oreshek and Korela.^[1] He started the tradition of Lithuanian mercenary service north of Novgorod on the Swedish border that lasted until Novgorod's fall to Moscow in 1477.^[2]

About 1338, the Golden Horde took him as a prisoner. The Muscovite ruler, Ivan Kalita, ransomed him from Tatars, keeping him as hostage in Moscow for a few years.

Narimantas supported his brother Jaunutis when he was deposed by Algirdas and Kęstutis in 1345. In order to avoid getting killed by his younger brothers, he escaped Vilnius in autumn 1344. Narimantas travelled to Jani Beg, Khan of the Golden Horde, asking for support against Algirdas. Though he failed to solicit support, he is rumoured to have married a Tatar princess^[3] (possibly as second wife). After returning, Narimantas reconciled with Algirdas but was killed leading the Battle of Strėva against the Teutonic Knights on 2 February 1348. His descendants include Princes Kurakin, Galitzine, Khovansky, Korecki.^[1]

He took baptism in 1333 in or before Veliki Novgorod. This made him ineligible to succeed his father as ruler of Lithuanians, despite his primogeniture right.^[4]

^ ^a ^b Kiaupa, Zigmantas (2004). "Narimantas". In Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.). Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. p. 42. ISBN 5-420-01535-8.
^ Rowell, C. S. (1994). Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series. Cambridge University Press. p. 175. ISBN 9780521450119.
^ Rowell, C. S. Lithuania Ascending, 114
^ sources: T.Wasilewski, 1992

[kiaupa-1] Kiaupa, Zigmantas (2004). "Narimantas". In Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.). Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. p. 42. ISBN 5-420-01535-8.

[2] Rowell, C. S. (1994). Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series. Cambridge University Press. p. 175. ISBN 9780521450119.

[3] Rowell, C. S. Lithuania Ascending, 114

[4] sources: T.Wasilewski, 1992

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