Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century. Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Russia, Samogitia and other Grand Duchy of Lithuania -

The territorial borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were established in the second half of the 14th century. They stretched from the Baltic to the Black Seas from north to south, from the Brest region to the Smolensk region from west to east.

The creation of the state was started by the Lithuanian prince Mindaugas. Chronicle Lithuania was located on modern eastern Lithuanian and northwestern Belarusian lands. In the second half of the 40s. XIII century Mindovg became a prince in Novogrudok, where he accepted the Orthodox faith in 1246. In the late 40s - early 50s. XIII century he conquers Lithuania for himself, uniting it with Novogrudok, enters into an alliance with the Livonian Order, converts to Catholicism for diplomatic reasons and is crowned in Novogrudok. By this act Catholic world recognized the competence and independence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and equalized it with other European countries.

In 1264, Voishalk (1264 - 1267) became the Grand Duke, who conquered and annexed the Baltic lands of Nalshany and Devoltva to his possessions, and also united the Novogrudok, Pinsk, Polotsk and Vitebsk lands.

The basis of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became the neighboring Baltic and East Slavic lands, because the population of both lands was interested in political unification. Feudal principalities-powers that existed on the territory of Belarus back in the 10th – 12th centuries. brought their experience of statehood, economics and culture to the new state, turning it into a Grand Duchy.

6. Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the XIV – XV centuries.

In the first half of the 14th century. The boundaries of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania expanded and strengthened Gediminas(1316–1341). Gediminas in 1323 founded the new capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Vilna. The power of Gediminas extended to almost all Belarusian lands.

Son of Gediminas Olgerd sought to include everything in ON Russian lands included in Kievan Rus. A significant part of today's Smolensk, Bryansk, Kaluga, Tula, Oryol, Moscow and Tver regions became subject to him.

In the XIV century. There was a further military-political strengthening of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Grand Dukes began to be titled not only Lithuanian, but also Russian. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania became Slavic not only in terms of the official, state language, which was Old Belarusian, but also in terms of the predominance of the Slavic population.

But at the end of the 14th century. a new stage in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania began. The situation changed after the death of Olgerd and the beginning of the reign of his son Jagiello(1377 – 1392). The dynastic struggle between Jagiello, his brother Vytautas and uncle Keistut, the aggressive policy of the Order, the aggravation of relations with the Moscow principality, and the intrigues of Rome against Orthodoxy pushed Jagiello to an alliance with Poland. In 1385 it was signed Union of Krevo– Jogaila converted to Catholicism, took the name Vladislav, married Queen Jadwiga and was declared the Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania.

7. State and political system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

In the initial period, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisted of appanage principalities, as well as regions in federal relations with the central government (Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Samogit lands), and the territories of Lithuania proper with part of the Belarusian lands. The Kiev, Volyn and Podolsk lands had a special autonomous status. They were ruled by princes - governors. In the 15th century Vytautas created a new political and administrative system. The Grand Duchy included six voivodeships: Vilna, Troka, Kiev, Polotsk, Vitebsk, Smolensk and (from the 16th century) two elders - Zhemoytsk and Volyn.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a monarchy headed by the Grand Duke. The prince was elected by the nobility from representatives of the princely dynasty. Under the Grand Duke, the panyrada acted as an advisory body. A narrow circle of people from the members of the rada closest to the prince constituted the front, or secret rada.

At the beginning of the 15th century. (1401) a new body began to operate state power– Val (general) Sejm. From the middle of the 16th century. The Val Sejm consisted of the State Council - the Senate and of the povet ambassadors - deputies who made up the Ambassadorial Hut.

A multi-ethnic and multi-religious state that existed in the 13th - 1st half. XVI century V Eastern Europe. The principality at different times included the lands of Lithuania, individual areas modern Belarus and Ukraine, ancient Russian Podlasie (Poland), as well as part of Western Russia.

Formation of the principality.

The Union of Lithuanian lands, which included Lietuva, the regions of Upita and Deltuva, Siauliai and part of Samogitia, was first mentioned in the treaty of 1219. Among the five senior Lithuanian princes is called. In the 1230s, he took a leading position among the Lithuanian princes against the backdrop of the consolidation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, due to resistance to the crusaders of the Order of the Sword in Livonia and the Teutonic Order in Prussia. In 1236, at the Battle of Saul, the Lithuanians and Samogitians defeated the army of the Crusaders. By the middle of the 13th century. Black Rus' became part of the principality.

The state of Mindaugas did not have a permanent capital; the ruler and his retinue moved around courtyards and castles, collecting tribute. In order to improve the foreign policy position of the principality and his own power, Mindaugas went to establish relations with the Pope and adopted Catholicism along with his immediate circle in 1251. With the consent of the Pope, Mindaugas was crowned King of Lithuania, thus the state received recognition as a full-fledged European kingdom. The coronation took place on July 6, 1253, and was attended by Master of the Livonian Order Andrei Stirland, Prussian Archbishop Albert Suerber, as well as Dominican and Franciscan monks who poured into the country.

Mindovg's son Voishelk, having renounced the royal title, took monastic vows in an Orthodox monastery in Galich and then, in 1255-1258, went on a pilgrimage to Athos.

Due to the dissatisfaction of his subjects with Catholicism and the increased influence of the Teutonic Order, which carried out crusades against the pagans, in 1260 Mindaugas broke with Catholicism and supported the Prussian uprising against the Order. At this time, Mindovg entered into an alliance with the Grand Duke of Vladimir Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky. In 1260-1263 he made several devastating campaigns in Livonia, Prussia and Poland. In 1263, he was killed along with his sons as a result of a conspiracy by his relatives, after which the position of paganism sharply strengthened in Lithuania and civil strife broke out.

In 1265 appeared in Lithuania Orthodox monastery, who contributed to the spread of Orthodoxy among pagans. The question of Lithuania's adoption of Catholicism was again raised several times, but the constant threat from the Livonian Order interfered.

At the end of the 13th century. was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ethnic territory Lithuania and the territory of modern Western Belarus. Already under the predecessor of Gediminas, whose name is associated with the rise in the importance of the Principality of Lithuania - his older brother Viten - one of the main centers of Eastern Belarus - Polotsk - became part of the state. His son Olgerd reigned in Vitebsk, who married the daughter of a local prince. Entered the zone political influence Lithuania and Minsk. Apparently, Gediminas’s power extended to Polesie; the Smolensk lands and even Pskov fell into the zone of political influence.

In 1317, under Patriarch John Glick (1315-1320), the Orthodox metropolitanate of Lithuania was created with its capital in Novgorod (Novogrudok - Maly Novgorod). Apparently, those dioceses that depended on Lithuania, that is, Turov, Polotsk, and then, probably, Kyiv, submitted to this metropolitanate.

In the early 30s. XIV century, in conditions of aggravated relations between Novgorod and the Moscow prince, a rapprochement between Novgorod and Lithuania and Pskov took place. In 1333, Narimant Gediminovich came to Novgorod and was given control of the western border lands of Novgorod - Ladoga, Oreshek, and Korelskaya land.

In the west, the situation was much more complicated for the Principality of Lithuania and Gediminas. Here he had to defend his borders from the Teutonic Order. When in the early 80s. XIII century knights of the Teutonic Order completed the conquest of the Prussian land, the next object of their expansion was the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where they encountered active resistance. Lithuania tried to find allies: they became the Mazovian princes, and then the Polish king Wladyslaw Loketek.

After the death of Gediminas in the winter of 1340/41, the country was on the verge of collapse. But his son (reigned 1345−1377) managed not only to stop the civil strife, but also to significantly strengthen the principality. In the south, possessions expanded after the annexation of the Bryansk Principality (c. 1360). The position of the state especially strengthened after Olgerd defeated the Tatars in the Battle of Blue Waters in 1362 and annexed Podolsk land to his possessions. Following this, Olgerd removed Prince Fyodor, who reigned in Kyiv and was subordinate to the Golden Horde, and gave Kyiv to his son Vladimir. The annexed principalities bore vassalage in the form of paying tribute and participating in hostilities, while the Lithuanian prince did not interfere in the affairs of local government.

In 1368 and 1370 Olgerd besieged Moscow twice to no avail, forced to be distracted by the fight against the crusaders. He supported the Tver princes in the fight against Moscow. But in 1372 Olgerd made peace with. However, in recent years During his reign, Olgerd lost control over the eastern lands of the principality, primarily Bryansk and Smolensk, which were inclined to an alliance with Moscow, including against the Horde.

After his death, civil strife broke out. One of his sons, Jagiello, ascended the throne, who in September 1380 set off to join Mamai against the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich, but never took part in the Battle of Kulikovo. The renewal of the war with the Teutonic Order in 1383 forced Jagiello to turn to Poland. As a result, the Agreement of 1385 () provided for the marriage of the Polish princess Jadwiga and Jagiello, the coronation of Jagiello as King of Poland, the baptism of Jagiello and the Lithuanians (into the Catholic faith) and the release of Polish Christians from Lithuanian captivity. So from 1386 Jagiello became both the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. After the death of his wife, Jogaila's rights to the throne were confirmed by the royal council. From then until 1795, the consent of the royal council was necessary for the election of the king.

The Union of Krevo was received ambiguously in Lithuania itself. Jagiello relied heavily on the Polish feudal lords. A number of territories were transferred to Polish elders, and a Polish army was stationed in Vilna. garrison, which caused discontent among the local boyars. The Lithuanian opposition was led by his cousin Vytautas, who began the fight against Jagiello and achieved that he was recognized as the Grand Duke of Lithuania (Vilna-Radom Union), but under the supreme authority of Jagiello, so that the union of Lithuania with Poland was preserved.

Vytautas pursued a policy to strengthen the centralization of the state: appanage principalities were liquidated, instead of appanage princes, governors appointed from Lithuanian boyars took over the Russian lands, so he significantly strengthened the unity of the state and strengthened his power. Now income from the collection of taxes and from the princely economy began to flow into the grand ducal treasury.

In foreign policy, Vytautas, relying on the support of Jagiello, sought to strengthen the position of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in relation to North-Eastern Rus', Veliky Novgorod and Pskov. At the same time, he strived in every possible way for an alliance with the Teutonic Order to support his expansion to the east. According to the Treaty of Salina with the Teutonic Order (1398), Novgorod was recognized as a zone of interests of Lithuania, Pskov - of the Livonian Order; Samogitia was transferred to the Teutonic Order.

According to the Union of Vilna-Radom of 1401, Lithuania remained an independent state in alliance with Poland. In 1404, the Principality of Smolensk became part of Lithuania. The privileges of 1432 and 1434 equalized the Orthodox and Catholic nobility in some economic and political rights.

In 1409, an uprising began against the crusaders in Samogitia, to which Vytautas provided open support, and as a result the lands were recaptured. In 1410, the united forces of Poland and Lithuania defeated the troops of the order at the Battle of Grunwald. According to the peace concluded in 1411, Samogitia was ceded by the order only for the life of Jagiello and Vytautas. From that time on, for more than a decade, the fight against the order and its European allies (the main one was Sigismund I of Luxemburg) became one of the main tasks foreign policy Jagiello and Vytautas.

Development of ON in the 2nd half. 15th - 16th centuries

In the 30s there was a break in the union between Poland and Lithuania, due to territorial disputes and the struggle of the two elites for influence.

In 1449, the Polish king concluded a peace treaty with the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily II, which divided the zones of influence of the two states in Eastern Europe (in particular, the Novgorod Republic was recognized as a zone of influence of Moscow), prohibited each side from accepting the internal political opponents of the other side and was respected to the end XV century

At the same time, as a result of the Russian-Lithuanian wars, Lithuania at the beginning of the 16th century. lost approximately a third of its territory (Chernigov-Seversk lands), in 1514 - Smolensk lands. In these circumstances, Lithuania sought to subjugate Livonia to its influence. After the beginning, the Treaty of Vilnius of 1559 established the suzerainty of Lithuania over the Livonian Order. After the 2nd Truce of Vilna (11/28/1561), the order's possessions in Livonia underwent secularization and came under the joint ownership of Lithuania and Poland.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Under Sigismund Augustus (1522-1572) it was concluded (1569). The Grand Duchy of Lithuania united with the Kingdom of Poland into a federal state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. According to the act of the Union of Lublin, Lithuania and Poland were ruled by a jointly elected king, and state affairs were decided in the common Sejm. However legal systems, the monetary system, army and governments remained separate, and there was a border between the two states where customs duties were levied. The Lithuanian nobility had an extremely negative attitude towards the signing of the union, since Lithuania suffered territorial losses in favor of Poland: Podlachia (Podlasie), Volyn and Principality of Kiev. Livonia was declared to belong to both states.

In the XVI-XVIII centuries. gentry democracy dominated in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. By the end of the 17th century. on Polish language spoke most gentry, from 1697 Polish - official language. As a result of the divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire. On December 14 (25), 1795, the Russian Empress Catherine II issued a manifesto “On accession to Russian Empire the entire part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which, after the cessation of the revolts in Lithuania and Poland, was occupied by troops.”

An attempt to revive the principality was made on July 1, 1812, when he signed a decree on the restoration of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, already on November 28 (December 10), Russian troops entered Vilna, thereby putting an end to the revived principality.

History of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the first settlements to the final annexation to the Russian Empire

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania is a medieval feudal state in Eastern Europe. During the years of its prosperity, the state extended from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The principality for its time was one of the most developed in Europe.
From the first tribes to Mindaugas
The first people settled this Baltic region between 10,000 and 9,000 BC. Their main occupation was cattle breeding, farming and hunting. In the 9th-12th centuries AD, the decomposition of the primitive communal system began. The first mentions of Lithuania in German sources date back to the beginning of the 11th century. In Rus', the principality became known from the middle of the same century. Starting from this period, Lithuania organized raids on the border Russian principalities. Proof of the existence of early feudal relations can be seen in the agreement between the Galicia-Volyn principality and the nearby lands of local princes. After this, Prince Mindovg appears on the historical arena of Lithuania...
Board of Mindovg
Most of Mindaugas's reign was filled with struggles with the Teutonic Order and Papal power. In 1236, the Battle of the Saule River took place during which the Teutons were overthrown and fled; this victory allowed him to concentrate on unifying the Lithuanian lands and further expansion into Rus'. Around 1240, he was officially elected Prince of Lithuania and took the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania. At the same time, he annexed Western Belarus. The conclusion of peace with the Pope in 1251 allowed the newly created prince to strengthen the position of his state. Soon after this, peace was concluded with Daniil of Galicia, but soon his principality was captured by the Horde khans, and he was forced to attack his son-in-law. This was the reason for Mindaugas to begin the conquest of the southwestern principalities of Rus'.
In 1260, the Battle of Lake Durbe took place; it was caused by disagreements between the Germans and Lithuanians over the northwestern principalities; in addition, the crusaders still considered the Lithuanians pagans and could not come to terms with their position under catholic church. The battle was won by the Prussians and Lithuanians. The Order suffered heavy losses and was forced to capitulate indefinitely. The victory allowed Mindaugus to break the peace with the Pope and begin fighting against Polish Catholics.
In 1263, Mindaugas was killed by conspirators; there are many opinions about the reasons for the murder.
Period of civil strife and short-term reigns
After the death of the Great Mindvog, a conflict for the throne began. First, Troinat overthrew Tovtivil, after Troinat himself, Mindvog’s son Voishelk overthrew. Before his death, he handed over the throne to Andrei Shvarn, who soon died. After him there was Troyden, he pursued the same policy as Mindvog. He was killed by Dovmont. The penultimate decade of the 13th century is poorly covered in the sources; it is only known that certain Butigade and Budivid ruled.
Viten and Gediminas
In 1292, Viten reigned in the principality. He also pursued a policy of aggression against the Teutons. His name is associated with the liberation of Polotsk and its subsequent annexation to the Principality of Lithuania. After him, Gediminas ruled for 23 years, his relationship with Viten is called into question a large number historians. His entire reign passed under the banner of annexing Russian lands to his principality. The liberal policy of the Lithuanians largely helped them in seizing land; they did not impose their customs and put up with foreign religions. He pursued a policy against the strengthening of Moscow, for this he made peace with Catholics, Teutons, supported Tver and Novgorod and began to introduce Catholicism. In 1323, Grand Duke Gediminas annexed Volhynia, and took the city of Kyiv as his vassal. In 1331, the Battle of Plovtsi took place against the crusaders, who still did not recognize the “Lithuanian pagans,” in which the Principality of Lithuania won. The battle of Velyuon was fatal for Gediminas. In it he lost his life. His reign strengthened
grand-ducal power and strengthened the position of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Europe.
The dualistic rule of Olgerd and Keistut
After the death of Gediminas, the principality was on the verge of collapse, since there was no definite order of succession to the throne. Olgerd and Keistut were the most influential of the seven sons of Gediminas; back in 1341 and 1342, they together defeated the crusaders and the Horde, and in 1345 they removed Eunutius from the grand princely throne. The two brothers divided the country into spheres of influence, Olgerd got Rus' and the Horde, and Keistut got the fight against the Teutons. In 1346 Olgerd plundered the nearby Novgorod lands. In 1349, he participated in the Smolensk-Moscow conflict on the side of Smolensk, but the Moscow prince was able to enlist the support of the Khan of the Horde and threaten Smolensk with plunder, he in turn was forced to retreat, and soon Olgerd himself seized Rzhev from his former ally. After the death of the Prince of Moscow Principality of Lithuania continued the seizure of Russian lands. Beginning in 1362, the lands of the principality expanded to the south, due to the weakening of the Horde; huge steppe territories to the Caspian Sea were annexed to Lithuania. In addition, Grand Duke Olgerd occupied Kyiv without a fight, and opened the road to Moscow, and in 1370 and 72 he even made campaigns against it, but both times were signed peace treaties. At the end of his life, Olgerd did not interfere in the politics of other countries and took a position of neutrality. During the entire period of dual control, his brother did not participate in any major conflicts, but during the reign of Jagiello he took an important step, which ended in failure..
Jogaila, Vytautas and Poland
In 1377 Olgerd dies. His successor is his son Jagiello, who, like other Grand Dukes, continued his anti-Moscow policy. At the beginning of his reign, he pursued a policy of rapprochement with the Teutonic Order; his actions did not please Keistut, who overthrew him in 1381, but a year later a reverse shift occurred. Keistut was tortured to death in prison, and his son Vitovt managed to escape. He asked for help from the Livonian Order, because of this, civil strife began, and in 1384 the brothers made peace and jointly attacked the Livonians, this offensive ended successfully, the Kovno fortress was taken. In 1385, the Union of Krevo was signed, according to which Poland and Lithuania united under the rule of the Grand Duke of Lithuania; such rapprochement was caused by the fragmentation of Poland and the need to save it. The forceful spread of Catholicism in Lithuania began, this did not suit Vytautas and the Orthodox population. In the new state it began again civil war. However, it did not last long, for Jagiello was aware of the precariousness of his throne. According to the agreement of 1401, Vytautas was recognized as the Grand Duke of Lithuania for life without transferring the throne to anyone. The war was still going on on two fronts: on one the Teutons, and on the other the Russians. In 1406 there was a stand on the Ugra River, after which a "conclusion" was concluded between Russia and Lithuania. eternal peace"And in 1410, the Battle of Grunwald took place, during which Polish-Lithuanian troops inflicted a crushing defeat on the Teutonic Order. During this period, Lithuania reached the peak of its power.
Lithuania after Vytautas
Vytautas died in 1430. After this, a series of small political conflicts began. At first, Svidrigail was chosen as prince, but the alliance of Jagiello and Sigismund overthrew him, and Sigismund became the Lithuanian ruler, his reign lasted until 1440, he was killed by the conspirators. After him, Casimir became prince, who in 1449 signed an agreement with Vasily II on the division of spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. Since 1480, the Russian-Lithuanian wars began, during which Lithuania lost 40% of its territories. In 1492 Casimir dies. The following rulers pursued a policy of unification with Poland, Prince Sigismund expanded the rights of the Polish gentry to Lithuanian lands.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
In 1569, the Union of Lublin was signed, according to which Poland and Lithuania became a single state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the ruler of the country was elected by the general diet consisting of both the Polish and Lithuanian elites. The common Polish-Lithuanian state declined in the early 18th century. From that moment on, it became a protectorate of the Russian Empire, and during the last partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1795), the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ceased to exist.

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History and LED

Reasons for the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania The reasons for the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were the following: internal political. Under the reign of the Grand Dukes Viten 12951316 and Gedimina 13161341, almost all Belarusian lands became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During his reign, the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania increased almost 2 times and it became known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Russkoe and Zhemaitskoe. These facts allow us to talk about the federal form of government of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Ticket No. 6

1. Reasons for the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

The reasons for the formation of ON were the following:

Internal political.In the first half of the 13th century, there were about 20 appanage principalities on the Belarusian lands, which fought for primacy in their regions. This state can be defined as pre-state. However, firstly, such a situation could not last for quite a long time. Secondly, small appanage principalities could not protect themselves from external enemies (crusaders, Mongol-Tatars).

- foreign policy.External danger forced an end to the princely feuds and brought to the fore the idea of ​​unification in the fight against the crusaders and Mongol-Tatars.

Economic. Separation of crafts from agriculture contributed to the development of trade relations between different territories of the Belarusian land and contributed to their unification. The expansion of various connections between the population was influenced by the emergence and growth of cities as centers of trade and defense.

The main events that laid the foundation for the Lithuanian state took place in the upper and middle Poneman region. This is due to the rise of NovograDish principality. The first prince of the Lithuanian state was the Lithuanian prince Mindovg. As a result of the struggle with other princes, he was forced to head to neighboring Novogradok. This city became the first capital of the Lithuanian-Belarusian state. At the end of the 40s. XIII century Mindovg conquers Lithuania, and in 1253 His coronation takes place in Novogradka.Mindovg reigned from 1240 to 1263.

Under the son of MindaugasVoishelke (1263-1268)The borders of the principality expanded. He was a monk, but upon learning of the murder of his father, he left the monastery and took revenge on the enemies of Mindaugas. During the reign of the great princes Vitenya (1295-1316) and Gedimina (1316-1341) Almost all Belarusian lands became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. IN 1323 Gediminas moved the capital of the state from Novogradok to Vilna.From 1345-1377 Olgerd was the Grand Duke. During his reign, the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania increased almost 2 times and it became known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Russian and Zhemaitsky. A multinational state was formed, which included Belarusian, Ukrainian and Baltic lands.

The ways for the lands to become part of the Lithuanian state were different: diplomatic agreements, marriage alliances, forced annexation, voluntary entry of the Polotsk and Vitebsk lands. The zemstvo privileges of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania affirmed the autonomous status of the lands included in it. Firstly, the grand ducal judicial power was limited. Secondly, the Polotsk and Vitebsk veche functioned. Thirdly, the monopoly right of the local boyars to occupy all positions of local government was preserved.

These facts allow us to talk about the federal form of government of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This form is based on the unification of several principalities into one union, maintaining their independence while simultaneously subordinating to one center.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a feudal state that existed in the 13th-16th centuries. on the territory of part of modern Lithuania and Belarus. The main occupation of the population was agriculture and cattle breeding. Hunting and fishing played an auxiliary role in the economy. Development of crafts based on iron production, internal and foreign trade(with Russia, Poland, etc.) contributed to the growth of cities (Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, etc.). In the 9th-12th centuries. Feudal relations developed on the territory of Lithuania, and classes of feudal lords and dependent people emerged. Individual Lithuanian political associations had different levels of socio-economic development. The decomposition of primitive communal relations and the emergence of a feudal system led to the formation of a state among the Lithuanians. According to the Galician-Volyn Chronicle, the Russian-Lithuanian treaty of 1219 mentions an alliance of Lithuanian princes led by the “eldest” princes who owned lands in Aukštaitija. This indicates the presence of a state in Lithuania. The strengthening of the grand ducal power led to the unification of the main Lithuanian lands into V. k. L. under the rule of Mindaugas (mid-30s of the 13th century - 1263), who also captured some Belarusian lands (Black Rus'). The formation of the VKL was accelerated by the need to unite to fight the aggression of the German crusaders, which had intensified since the beginning of the 13th century. Lithuanian troops won major victories over the knights in the battles of Siauliai (1236) and Durbe (1260).

In the 14th century, during the reign of Gediminas (1316-1341), Olgerd (1345-77) and Keistut (1345-82). The Principality of Lithuania significantly expanded its possessions, annexing all Belarusian, part of Ukrainian and Russian lands (Volyn, Vitebsk, Turov-Pinsk, Kyiv, Pereyaslavl, Podolsk, Chernigov-Seversk lands, etc.). Their inclusion was facilitated by the fact that Rus' was weakened by the Mongol-Tatar yoke, as well as the fight against the aggression of German, Swedish and Danish invaders. Joining the Great. Prince Lithuanian. Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian lands with more developed social relations and culture contributed to the further development of socio-economic relations in Lithuania. In the annexed lands, the Lithuanian grand dukes retained significant autonomy and immunity rights for local magnates. This, as well as differences in the level of socio-economic development and the ethnic heterogeneity of individual parts of the VKL, determined the lack of centralization in public administration. The head of state was Grand Duke, with him - a council of representatives of the nobility and higher clergy. In order to unite forces to fight the advance of the German knightly orders and strengthen his power, Grand Duke Jagiello (1377-92) concluded the Union of Krevo with Poland in 1385. However, the union concealed the danger of Lithuania becoming a province of Poland in the future. In Lithuania, where until the end of the 14th century. paganism existed, Catholicism began to spread by force. Some of the Lithuanian and Russian princes, led by Vytautas, who in 1392, after an internecine struggle, actually became the Grand Duke of Lithuania, opposed Jagiello’s policy. The united Lithuanian-Russian and Polish troops, with the participation of Czech troops, completely defeated the knights of the Teutonic Order in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and stopped their aggression.

The growth of large feudal landownership and the consolidation of the ruling class in the 14th - 15th centuries. were accompanied by mass enslavement of peasants, causing peasant uprisings (for example, in 1418). The main form of exploitation of peasants was food rent. Simultaneously with the growth of economic dependence, national oppression in the Belarusian and Ukrainian lands intensified. Crafts and trade developed in the cities. In the 15-16th centuries. the rights and privileges of the Lithuanian lords are growing. According to the Union of Gorodel of 1413, the rights of the Polish gentry were extended to Lithuanian Catholic nobles. At the end of the 15th century. A Rada of Gentlemen was formed, which actually put the power of the Grand Duke under its control by the privilege of 1447 and by the privilege of Grand Duke Alexander of 1492. The formation of the general gentry Sejm (at the end of the 15th century), as well as the publication of the Lithuanian statutes of 1529 and 1566, consolidated and increased the rights of the Lithuanian nobility.

The transition to cash rent at the end of the 15th and 16th centuries. was accompanied by an increase in the exploitation of peasants and an intensification of the class struggle: escapes and unrest became more frequent (especially large ones in 1536-37 on the grand ducal estates). In the middle of the 16th century. A reform was carried out on the estates of the Grand Duke, as a result of which the exploitation of peasants intensified due to the growth of corvée (see Volcanic death). From the end of the 16th century. This system is being introduced in the domains of large landowners-magnates. Mass enslavement of peasants, development of corvee farming, receipt by Lithuanian landowners in the 2nd half of the 16th century. rights to duty-free export of grain abroad and import of goods delayed the development of cities.

From the moment of the formation of the VKL, the Lithuanian princes sought to seize Russian lands. However, strengthening in the 14th century. The Grand Duchy of Moscow and the unification of Russian lands around it led to the fact that from the 2nd half of the 15th century. as a result of the wars with Russia (1500-03, 1507-08, 1512-22, 1534-37) B. K. L. lost Smolensk (captured by Grand Duke Vitovt in 1404), Chernigov, Bryansk, Novgorod-Seversky and other Russians land. The growth of anti-feudal protests in the lands of the VKL, the aggravation of intra-class contradictions, the desire for expansion in the East, as well as failures in the Livonian War of 1558-83 against Russia led to the unification of the VKL with Poland under the Union of Lublin in 1569. one state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.